It is not certain whether the pronouns us … our … we … in this verse include the readers or only Paul and Timothy. The same ambiguity exists in verse 5. The liturgical sound of the language in verses 4-5 leads some interpreters to take the pronouns as including the readers. On the other hand, in Greek the words in all our affliction refer to specific afflictions and not afflictions in general. If the reference is to the afflictions mentioned in verses 6-11, then the pronouns do not include the readers. Furthermore, since verse 6 distinguishes between Paul and Timothy on the one hand, and the Corinthians on the other, it is more likely that these pronouns do not include the readers.

Comforts: in the translation of this Greek word, Good News Translation again emphasizes the element of giving active help, while New Revised Standard Version and Revised English Bible emphasize the element of consolation: “who consoles us” (see comments on 2 Cor. 1.3). Note that New Jerusalem Bible uses the verb “support” throughout this section.

Affliction may refer to either external suffering or internal, mental anguish, or both. Since Paul provides very little specific information about the nature of this hardship, it is probably good to use the most general term available for “trouble” or “adversity” in the receptor language.

So that may express either purpose or result. If the former, the sense is that God comforts in order that, or for the purpose that, those who are comforted should then in turn comfort others. If, however, these words express result, the sense is that, as a result of being comforted by God, they will be able in turn to comfort others. The latter interpretation indicating result is probably to be preferred. One way of showing this connection may be to make two or three separate sentences saying something like this: “He comforts us in all our troubles. Because of this we are able to comfort other people, no matter what kind of trouble they may have. We comfort them as God has comforted us.”

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 .