2tn Or “riches.”

3tn Or “spontaneously.”

4tn Or “of ministering to.”

5tn A new sentence was started here in the translation and the word “thus” was supplied to indicate that it expresses the result of the previous clause.

6tn Or “we exhorted.”

7tn The words “this work” are not in the Greek text but are implied. Direct objects in Greek were often omitted and must be supplied from the context.

8tn Grk “this grace.”

9tn Grk “as you abound.”

10tc The reading “the love from us that is in you” is very difficult in this context, for Paul is here enumerating the Corinthians’ attributes: How is it possible for them to excel “in the love from us that is in you”? Most likely, because of this difficulty, several early scribes, as well as most later ones (א C D F G Ψ [33] Ï lat), altered the text to read “your love for us” (so NIV; Grk ἐξ ὑμῶν ἐν ἡμῖν ἀγάπῃ [ex Jumwn en Jhmin agaph]). The reading ἐξ ἡμῶν ἐν ὑμῖν ἀγάπῃ (ex Jhmwn en Jumin agaph) is found, however, in excellent and early witnesses (Ì⁴⁶ B 0243 6 104 630 1175 1739 1881 co). As the harder reading it explains the rise of the other reading. What, then, is the force of “in the love from us that is in you”? Most likely, Paul is commending the Corinthians for excelling in deriving some inspiration from the apostles’ love for them.

11tn Grk “you abound.”

12tn Grk “this grace.”

13tn Grk “by means of the eagerness of others.”

14tn Or “generosity.”

15tn Grk “who.”

16tn Grk “and now also complete the doing.”

17tn Grk “just as the eagerness to want [it].”

18tn Grk “so also it might be completed.” The passive construction was converted to an active one in the translation in keeping with contemporary English style.

19tn Grk “completed from what you have.”

20tn The words “the gift itself” are not in the Greek text but are implied. Translators often supply an English phrase like “it is” (NASB) but in the context, Paul is clearly referring to the collection Titus was to oversee (2 Cor 8:4-7). Therefore there is no reason not to specify the referent (the gift) more narrowly for clarity.

21tn Or “their lack.”

22tn The word “gathered” is not in the Greek text, but is implied (so also for the second occurrence of the word later in the verse).

23sn A quotation from Exod 16:18.

24tn Or “eagerness.”

25tn The comparative form of this adjective is used here with elative meaning.

26tn This verb has been translated as an epistolary aorist.

27tn Or “of his own free will.”

28tn This verb has been translated as an epistolary aorist.

29tn Grk “the brother of whom the praise in the gospel [is] throughout all the churches.”

30tn Grk “gospel, and not only this, but.” Here a new sentence was started in the translation.

31tn Grk “he”; the referent (the brother mentioned in v. 18) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

32tn That is, the offering or collection being taken to assist impoverished Christians.

33tn The words “to help” are not in the Greek text but are implied (see L&N 25.68).

34tn “This” refers to sending the brother mentioned in 2 Cor 8:18 to Corinth along with Titus. The words “We did this” have no equivalent in the Greek text, but are necessary to maintain the thought flow in English. The Greek participle that begins v. 20 continues the sentence begun in v. 18 which concerns the sending of the other brother mentioned there.

35sn An allusion to Prov 3:4.

36tn This verb has been translated as an epistolary aorist.

37tn Grk “If concerning Titus” (εἴτε ὑπὲρ Τίτου, eite Juper Titou); the Greek sentence opens with an ellipsis which must be supplied: If [there is any question] about Titus.”

38tn Grk “apostles.”

39tc The sense of this translation is attested by the fact that most of the later mss, along with several early and important ones (א C D² Ψ 0225 0243 1739 1881 Ï lat), have the imperative verb ἐνδείξασθε (ejndeixasqe) in place of the participle ἐνδεικνύμενοι (endeiknumenoi), which is found in B D* F G 33 pc. Since an imperatival participle is more Hebraic in style, many scribes would not have understood the idiom as easily and would have been likely to change the participle to an imperative (so TCGNT 513-14). But there is no good reason why scribes would change the imperative into a participle. Thus, ἐνδεικνύμενοι is almost surely the wording of the original text.

tn In the Greek text ἐνδεικνύμενοι (endeiknumenoi) is a present participle which is translated as an imperative verb (see BDF §468; ExSyn 650-52).

40tn Or “our boasting about you.”