As noted in “Translating 2 Corinthians,” page 5 and at the beginning of chapter 8, some interpreters regard both chapters 8 and 9 to have been parts of separate letters that were later pieced together to form part of 2 Corinthians as we now have it. One’s decision on this issue has important implications for the translation of this verse, as the following comments will indicate.
The word But indicates a contrast: Paul has the feeling that there is no need to write (9.1), since he knows that the Corinthians are ready to give (9.2); yet he is sending co-workers on ahead of himself to be sure that the money is ready when he will arrive later.
I am sending is in the past tense in Greek, “I sent” (so King James Version, Reina-Valera revisada). New American Standard Bible has “I have sent.” If chapter 9 was originally a separate letter written after chapter 8, then perhaps Paul had already sent these co-workers on to Corinth. If, however, chapters 8 and 9 were originally written as part of the same letter, then the verb “I sent” is probably an epistolary aorist and should be translated in the present tense (see explanations at 8.17 and 9.5). Since we now have the letter in the form of a single, whole letter, the latter explanation should probably be adopted by modern translators.
The brethren translates the Greek word for “brothers.” Though this word sometimes seems to include Christian women also, in this verse it probably does refer to men only. Paul is referring to the three persons already mentioned in 8.16-24. The words “these brothers” (Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, and Moffatt) or “these friends” (Revised English Bible) indicate that Paul is referring to brothers who have already been mentioned. Though the brethren may possibly refer only to the two unnamed men of 8.16-24, Titus is probably included (see 8.18). Translators may want to make explicit the identity of “these brothers”: “I am sending Titus and the two others” (Contemporary English Version). Or one may prefer to say simply “these three men.”
If chapter 9 was a separate letter written later than chapter 8, then possibly the brethren do not refer to Titus and the two brothers of chapter 8 but rather to other Christians whom Paul had sent. The translations of Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version cited in the previous paragraph assume that these two chapters originally were part of the same letter as they now exist.
So that our boasting about you might not prove vain: this explains not why Paul is sending the delegation, but why he expects the Corinthians to be ready with their offering when they arrive. It may be better in some languages to make this a separate sentence as in Contemporary English Version: “This will prove that we were not wrong to brag about you.”
This case means in the matter of their being ready to contribute to the collection. Another way of saying this would be “in this matter” (Barclay). And note that Contemporary English Version leaves this part of the verse implicit.
Ready: in many languages it will be necessary to state clearly what is only implied in this word: “ready to help” or “ready to give.”
As I said you would be: or “just as I promised others you would be ready [to give].”
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 .