Begging us earnestly: literally “with much appealing begging us.” This has been rendered “They begged us insistently” (New American Bible) and “imploring us most urgently” (Anchor Bible). In some languages one may say “they would not stop begging us” or “they urged us time after to time [to allow them] ….”

The favor of taking part in the relief is literally “the grace [charis] and the fellowship [koinōnia] of the service [diakonia].” As in Acts 11.29, the word translated relief in Revised Standard Version, diakonia, is more frequently rendered “service” or “ministry” (see 4.1; 5.18; 6.3), although Revised Standard Version has “dispensation” in 3.7-9. The opportunity of contributing to help fellow Christians was considered an advantage or a privilege instead of a responsibility or a burden. The New Revised Standard Version translation retains the sense that the help is seen as a form of ministry or service: “the privilege of sharing in this ministry.” Similarly Revised English Bible retains the idea of service: “to share in this generous service.”

The relief of the saints refers specifically to the collection that Paul was gathering for Jewish Christians in Jerusalem (see 1 Cor 16.1-4; Gal 2.10; Rom 15.25-28). Good News Translation makes this reference clear with the translation “helping God’s people in Judea.” Since Paul elsewhere states that the collection is for saints in Jerusalem (Rom 15.25, 31; 1 Cor 16.3), translators may wish to follow the model of Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente by adding the words “in Jerusalem” rather than “in Judea,” as in Good News Translation. On the translation of the word saints, see comments on 1.1 above.

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 .