This: the reference is back to the act of giving on the part of the Macedonians, explained in verses 3 and 4. New Century Version makes this more explicit by repeating the verb: “and they gave [in a way that we did not expect].”

Not as we expected: more literally “not according as we had hoped.” This element may fit more naturally into the structure of the receptor language at the end of the verse than at the beginning. Having stated what the churches of Macedonia did, one may say in a separate sentence something like “That was not at all what we had expected” or “We did not think that they could give like that.”

The word first may have temporal significance, meaning that the first thing they did was to give themselves to the Lord (so Good News Translation, Bible en français courant). But the meaning can be that the most important thing they did was to give themselves to the Lord. Revised English Bible reflects the second interpretation: “for first of all they gave themselves to the Lord and, under God, to us” (also New American Bible).

They gave themselves to the Lord and to us: the Macedonian Christians submitted their will to that of the Lord and to the apostles. The Lord is most likely Christ, not God the Father.

By the will of God: the sense is that they did that which God wished. These words are frequently used in the introductions to Paul’s letters to explain how he became an apostle (see 1.1). In this context one may wish to translate using a verbal expression such as “because God desired it” or “just as God wanted them to” (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 .

They long for you: the Greek participle “longing” may mean “to have a great affection or love” (so Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version, Nouvelle version Segond révisée, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Reina-Valera revisada). On the other hand it is often used by Paul to indicate his desire to see his converts face to face. If this meaning is present here also, then the sense is that the Jerusalem Christians long to see the Gentile Christians who are giving financial help to them. Contemporary English Version adopts this second interpretation, translating “[they] want to see you.”

The surpassing grace: on the meaning of grace here, see comments on 8.1. Surpassing indicates that this grace is far beyond the ordinary. Compare 3.10, where the same verb is used.

Grace of God in you is better translated in some languages as the grace that God has “given you” (Revised English Bible, New Revised Standard Version, New International Version) or “shown you” (Good News Translation).

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 .

The masculine plural pronouns, nouns, and participle in verse 13 may refer to males only (Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation), or they may include women as well as men. To allow for the latter possibility, Revised English Bible says “Such people,” and New Revised Standard Version says “such boasters.” The reference is to the superapostles of 11.5.

False apostles are people who claim to be apostles but really are not. In some languages one may translate the idea here by saying “such people are not apostles at all, even though they claim to be.” See comments on the heading for this section.

Deceitful workmen: Paul considers these “false apostles” to be deceitful. Pretending to seek the spiritual well-being of the Corinthian Christians, they really seek their own well-being. Perhaps Paul intends a criticism by calling them workmen, that is, they take money from the Corinthians for what they do while Paul did not (11.7-9). Revised English Bible renders this “confidence tricksters,” where New English Bible has “crooked in all their practices.” In some languages these two words may be better rendered by a verbal expression such as “they work at fooling people” or “they deceive people in their work.”

Disguising themselves: the idea of disguise will be translated in some languages as “trying to make themselves look like…” or “they trick people into thinking they are….”

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 .

In what were you less favored: the apostle Paul is the implicit agent of the verb were less favored, that is, “In what way did I treat you any worse than the other churches?” This will be a good way to avoid the passive construction of Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. Another possibility is “What did I do for the other churches that I have not done for you?”

The rest of the churches refers to other churches in other cities where Paul had been and from which he had received financial support.

I … did not burden you: the pronoun is emphatic in Greek as in Revised Standard Version, I myself. Perhaps Paul has in mind the false apostles, who did burden the Corinthian church. In this context the clear meaning is that he did not accept any “financial help” (Good News Translation) from the Corinthians. The verb used here is the same as in 11.9, and it is repeated in the following verse.

Paul is using sarcasm in this verse. His plea that they Forgive me this wrong! is not really a plea for forgiveness but is sarcasm. Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation attempt to communicate this sarcasm by the use of an exclamation mark. Languages that do not use sarcasm in this way may need to restructure and find some way to indicate that Paul is saying just the opposite of what he really means. Williams has a note which states that Paul’s words here are sarcastic. Though the Greek does not state explicitly against whom the wrong was done, Contemporary English Version correctly says “Forgive me for doing you wrong.”

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 .