Because I was sure of this: that is, sure that they would understand his motives and purpose. In some languages this will have to be restructured to begin “I knew this very well,” followed by a “therefore…” or “for this reason….” Contemporary English Version makes clear what the demonstrative pronoun this refers to by saying “I was so sure of your pride in us that….”

Paul states in verse 16 that he had planned to visit the Corinthians first on his way to Macedonia and then visit them a second time on his return trip from Macedonia. The Greek word first may be connected closely to the words to you, as in Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, and Revised English Bible, and mean that he wanted to visit the Corinthians first before going to visit the Macedonians. Or the word first may mean “originally” in the sense of Paul’s original intention (so Good News Translation, God’s New Covenant, Bible en français courant, and Translator’s New Testament). Greek word order seems to favor the Good News Translation translation, but the overall context (see verse 16) is more decisive and favors that of Revised Standard Version.

Some Greek manuscripts have the word “joy” (translated as pleasure in Revised Standard Version), and some have “grace” (New American Bible; translated as “blessed” in Good News Translation). Except for one letter, the spelling of the two words is identical in Greek. Either reading makes sense in the context, and both have good manuscript support. But the UBS Greek New Testament favors the reading followed by Good News Translation. This is also adopted by New International Version, Revised English Bible, and New Jerusalem Bible, which use the English word “benefit” in translation.

Whether read as double pleasure or “blessed twice,” the word double refers to the two visits mentioned in the next verse which he had planned to make to Corinth. Contemporary English Version says “In this way you would have the blessing of two visits from me.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellingworth, Paul. A Handbook on Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .