The fact of Titus’ arrival in Macedonia was a source of comfort for Paul, but the good news that Titus brought regarding the Corinthians was also a source of comfort. On the interpretation and translation of comfort, see comments on 1.4 and 7.6.
Comfort with which he was comforted: the related noun and verb are used together similarly in 1.4, 6. Because a passive form occurs here, some languages will require that an active formulation be used. Some may say “the comfort which he received [from you]” or “the way in which you comforted him.”
The Corinthians were longing to see Paul and to reassure him of their love for him. They were mourning because of the strained relationship between themselves and Paul that occurred because of their failure to deal with the divisive issue (see 2.5-11). And they had a zeal for Paul. How their zeal was expressed is not stated, but it probably took the form of being eager to restore the broken relationship with Paul and to support and defend him. Following the form of the Greek, many translations do not state how they showed their zeal. Other translations such as Good News Translation and Bible en français courant “how ready you are to defend me” do imply that the Corinthians wished to restore the broken relationship.
The Greek is literally “your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me.” Though only the last noun, zeal, has the words for me, Paul is most likely the implied object for the first two nouns also. It is also possible, however, that the implied object is the pronoun “us,” that is, Paul and his co-workers.
The meaning of these three nouns will have to be elaborated in some receptor languages. It may be necessary to say something like the following: “how you sincerely wanted to see me, how sorry you were about what had happened, and how eager you were to support 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 .