Translation commentary on 2 Corinthians 13:10

I write this refers to the letter which he is now writing. Revised English Bible says “In writing this letter.” Whether 2 Corinthians was originally one whole letter, or whether it is made up of parts of two or more originally separate letters, is debated by scholars (see “Translating 2 Corinthians,” page 3), but in any case Paul is referring to the entire letter which he is writing and not just the immediately preceding words (see 10.2, 8).

Be severe: although it is not explicitly stated, clearly Paul is talking about being severe with the Corinthian Christians to whom he is writing. This may be directly stated in translation by saying something like “be severe with you,” or “treat you with force,” or “handle you with a strong hand.”

The authority which the Lord has given: this phrase is almost identical with the one in 10.8. The Lord here and in 10.8 is probably Christ, since Paul claims to be speaking for Christ (12.19; 13.3).

On building up and tearing down, see comments on 10.8, where the same words occur in Greek, and where the object is specifically stated as “you” (the Corinthians). Here it may also be necessary to provide the same object for the two verbs. Contemporary English Version translates “so that I could help you and not destroy you.”

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 .

Translation commentary on 2 Corinthians 13:11

Finally: the word so translated is often used to mark the transition to the conclusion of one of Paul’s letters (compare, for example, 1 Thes 4.1 and 2 Thes 3.1). Several versions translate as Good News Translation “and now” (New American Bible, Revised English Bible). New Jerusalem Bible has “to end then….” Others may say “in conclusion” or “now let me finish my letter by saying….”

On brethren see comments on 1.8.

Paul makes four final appeals to the Corinthians: Mend your ways, heed my appeal, agree with one another, and live in peace. If the first verb (farewell in Revised Standard Version) is also an imperative, then Paul makes five final appeals.

The Greek word translated as farewell in many translations (Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New International Version, Bible en français courant) is the same word that is frequently translated as “rejoice.” In form this verb may be an imperative, as are the following four verbs in verse 11, or an indicative mood verb that simply states a fact. Numerous translations take this verb as an imperative and translate it as “rejoice” (Anchor Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Nueva Biblia Española, Luther 1984). Though this same Greek word is commonly used at the beginning of letters to mean “greetings,” there is no solid evidence that it was ever used at the conclusion of a letter to mean “good-bye.” The translation “rejoice” seems preferable.

Mend your ways may be understood in either of two ways: (1) it may refer to something that the Corinthians are to do actively themselves, as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation; or (2) it may be understood in a passive sense. If passive (so King James Version, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Luther 1984), the sense is “be restored [or, perfected] [by God? by Paul?].” But it is difficult to see why Paul would appeal to them with regard to something over which they have no control. It seems much more likely that the meaning found in the majority of English versions (Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New American Bible, Revised English Bible) is the correct understanding of the text. The sense is then “correct the wrong behavior” or “put things in order” (New Revised Standard Version). The verb Mend your ways is from the same root as the noun translated improvement in 2 Cor. 13.9 (see comments there).

Heed my appeal: the words so translated have two possible meanings: (1) “be exhorted” or (2) “exhort one another.” Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation both choose the first option and translate this verb as passive in meaning, that is, “be exhorted by me” (so also New International Version, Revised English Bible, Luther 1984), even though the form in English is not passive. The other option is, however, equally possible in the context, since Paul is encouraging the readers to live in harmony. In this case the meaning is “encourage one another” (New Jerusalem Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Martin, and Barrett). While both interpretations are quite possible, translators will probably want to follow the example of Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation and translate something like “pay attention to what I have said.”

Agree with one another is literally “think the same.” Revised Standard Version translates the same expression as “to live in harmony with one another” in Rom 15.5, and as “be of the same mind” in Phil 2.2.

Live in peace: Paul uses the same verb in Rom 12.18, where he urges the Roman Christians to “live in peace with all people,” and in 1 Thes 5.13, where he exhorts the Thessalonian Christians to “live in peace with one another.” Here in 2 Corinthians Paul does not specify whether they are to live in peace with non-Christians or among themselves, though the latter seems more likely in the context (so Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). If the receptor language requires a choice, it is therefore probably better to say “live in peace with each other” or “have peace with one other.”

God of love and peace: Contemporary English Version says “God, who gives love and peace.” But perhaps the meaning is not only that God creates love and peace among the believers, but that he also is characterized by love and peace. If translators must decide between these two interpretations, they may choose either as being in agreement with Paul’s theology.

Translators in some languages will need to be careful lest the translation suggest that for Paul there is another god (or other gods) who is not the source of love and peace.

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 .

Translation commentary on 2 Corinthians 13:12 – 12:13

Following the UBS Greek New Testament, Good News Translation includes these two verses as one verse, numbered 12. Chapter 13, therefore, has fourteen verses in some translations (Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy) and 13 in others (Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version, Bible en français courant, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). But the content of the different versions is the same. If there is already an established tradition in the area of the receptor language, that tradition may be followed. Otherwise it is probably best to follow the verse division of the UBS Greek New Testament, which is reflected in Good News Translation.

Greet … with a holy kiss: Paul does not specify whether the kiss of greeting should be given only when the believers gather to worship or whether they are to greet each other in this manner in public any time they meet each other. Interpreters are divided on whether Paul’s admonition is intended (1) only for the single occasion of hearing this letter read, (2) for any time that Christians gather to worship, or (3) for any time or place where Christians meet each other. If translators must decide between these options, perhaps it is best to follow the first or second.

A holy kiss is difficult to translate in many languages. The same expression is found in a number of other letters of Paul (see Rom 16.16; 1 Cor 16.20; 1 Thes 5.26). The word holy is often difficult to render correctly, and some languages do not have a word for kiss but use a word that means a sucking on the cheek, such as a mother might do to her baby. In any case this kind of action is not something that would ever take place between adults in many cultures—especially of the same sex. A literal translation will therefore be distracting and misleading. Translators may use a more general expression that basically retains the meaning: “Give one another a Christian greeting,” “a warm embrace,” or “a warm greeting” (Contemporary English Version). An article on the subject of “Kissing in the Bible” may be found in The Bible Translator (October 1990), pages 409-416.

On the saints see 1.1. The Christians who send greetings are Christians in Paul’s company or in the place where Paul is staying when he is writing this letter. It may therefore be more in line with Paul’s intention to translate “All the people of God who are here….”

The saints greet you: the word you is plural. Since the persons giving the greetings are not present in Corinth and therefore cannot greet the Corinthians directly, some translations add the word “send,” as in Good News Translation and Revised English Bible.

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 .

Translation commentary on 2 Corinthians 13:14

Paul often ends his letters with such a benediction (compare 1 Cor 16.23; Gal 6.18; 1 Thes 5.28; 2 Thes 3.18). Since this whole verse is a wish or prayer of Paul for the Christians at Corinth, it may be necessary in the receptor language to introduce it by saying “It is my desire that…” or “I pray that…” (Contemporary English Version).

On The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, see comments on 8.9, and compare 1 Cor 1.3. Grace must not be understood as a quality or characteristic of Christ but as something which he does. In some languages it will be more natural to say something like “I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will show his kindness to you….”

Since the first part of this verse must mean the grace that comes from Jesus Christ, the other two parts of the verse probably mean the love that God has for them (“May God bless you with his love,” Contemporary English Version) and the fellowship that the Holy Spirit creates (“May the Holy Spirit join all your hearts together,” Contemporary English Version). It is possible, however, but not as likely, that Paul refers to love for God and fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

You all: as in Rom 15.33 and 1 Cor 16.24, the second person plural pronoun is accompanied by the inclusive adjective all, thus highlighting the extent of Paul’s wish for the Corinthians. This comprehensiveness is also emphasized several times earlier in this letter (2.3, 5 and 7.13, 15).

The following model may be helpful in some languages: “I pray for all of you that the Lord Jesus Christ will continue to be gracious to you, that God will continue to love you, and that the Holy Spirit will unite you in his fellowship.”

Some manuscripts add the word “Amen” to the end of this letter (see King James Version, Reina-Valera revisada), but scholars today agree that this word was later added by a scribe and was not written by Paul. It should therefore not be used in the receptor language.

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 .