Under the test of this service: or, more literally, “through the testing of this ministry.” Paul indicates here that the Corinthians would prove themselves by their obedience to the Good News of Christ. Some languages may say “this matter will demonstrate that you are true….”

You will glorify God by your obedience: the Greek does not state the subject of the word glorify. The Greek is literally “glorifying God.” It may be the Corinthians themselves who glorify God (so Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version) or, more likely, the Christians in Jerusalem (so Nouvelle version Segond révisée, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente; Revised English Bible “those who receive it will give honour to God”). Thus the reading in the RSV footnote is probably the better one to follow in the receptor language. Curiously New Revised Standard Version omits this footnote. Good News Translation, however, adopts this understanding in translating “many,” leaving the referent less specific than Revised English Bible.

The words the generosity of your contribution (Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version) may be translated in various ways. Generosity may also be translated as “sincerity,” and contribution as “fellowship” (koinōnia). While the demonstration of fellowship took the form of a contribution, for Paul the contribution was a sign of fellowship. Several interpretations and translations are possible: “the sincerity of your fellowship with them”; “the generosity of your fellowship with them” (Nouvelle version Segond révisée, Good News Translation); “the generosity with which you are united with them” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, Nueva Biblia Española).

The pronoun them refers to the “saints” in Jerusalem. All others refers to Christians in other places.

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 .