Thanks be to God: the Greek does not indicate who is to give thanks to God (see 2.14 and 8.16). The implied agent is “we” (Good News Translation, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente).

The inexpressible gift, or “present,” may be the grace that God has given to the Corinthians, and the resulting unity of Jews and Gentiles in one universal Church. Or it may be his son Jesus Christ. Whatever the precise meaning, Paul says that this is a gift so wonderful that it cannot be described in words. The Good News Translation rendering seems to focus more on value rather than on the fact that the gift cannot be described by human speech. However, most versions retain the meaning “indescribable” (New American Bible and New Revised Standard Version): “beyond all telling” (New Jerusalem Bible); “which no words can describe” (Translator’s New Testament); “too wonderful for words!” (Contemporary English Version).

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 .