For: the transition word here serves to tie the following statement to what is said in the previous verse. Although Paul has spoken of “our gospel” in verse 3, it is clearly the gospel about the glory of Christ (verse 4).

What we preach is not ourselves: the word ourselves is in an emphatic position in Greek. To give similar emphasis in English, Good News Translation places the pronoun “ourselves” before the verb. In some languages it is unnatural to use the verb “to preach” with a noun or pronoun object as occurs here. One has to say “preach about [something or someone].” Hence “we are not preaching about ourselves” (Contemporary English Version). Note also that the verb tense here is the present, but it does not indicate something that Paul was doing while writing. Rather it affirms an action that he did on a regular basis. For this reason the habitual verb form will be used in languages where such forms exist.

The Greek grammar clearly suggests that Paul’s gospel has two parts: that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that the apostles are the servants of the Christian churches. However, the intended sense may possibly be “we preach Jesus Christ as Lord, and in doing so we are your servants.”

Jesus Christ: some versions follow manuscript evidence that reverses these two terms (King James Version, New American Standard Bible [New American Standard Bible], and Living Bible, for example). But translators are advised to follow the order in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation in this case.

Jesus Christ as Lord: some languages require a possessive pronoun with the word Lord, or a noun phrase indicating the subjects of lordship. A possible translation is “we proclaim that Jesus Christ is our Lord.” To claim that Jesus is Lord is to declare that he is sovereign and is Lord over all. The focus of the translation should be on his sovereign lordship and not on those who have accepted his rule. It may be necessary, therefore, to say “Jesus Christ as Lord of all people” or something similar.

Servants: as indicated in the RSV footnote, this word may be rendered as “slaves” (Anchor Bible and New Revised Standard Version) or “bond-servants” (New American Standard Bible). However, in many languages the word “slave” carries such repulsive connotations that it is better to use a more general term. In some languages, however, a clear distinction is made between a person who works for a definite salary and one whose needs are taken care of by his master but who does not receive a regular, fixed wage. The term used by Paul here is more closely related to the latter. Perhaps the idea of a permanent binding relationship rather than an optional or voluntary association is the most important component of meaning of this word in the present context.

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 .