OET interlinear 2 COR 1:6

1:6

Here, Paul told about the outcome or result of the sufferings that he and his co-workers (the pronoun “we”) experienced; it was the comfort the believers in Corinth (the pronoun “you”) received. Paul’s distress about the problems among the believers in Corinth led to both Paul and the believers being comforted.

1:6a–b

1:6 begins with a Greek conjunction that is often translated “but,” “and,” or “so.” The theme continues from 1:3–5, so the conjunction probably means “and” here. For example:

And (KJV)

The BSB has not translated this conjunction, and some languages do not need to translate it here either.

If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort: There is a textual issue in 1:6b: (1) The earliest Greek manuscripts have the word comfort (BSB, RSV, NIV, GNT, NJB, NASB, NLT, GW, CEV, NET, JBP, REB, ESV, NCV). (2) Some later Greek manuscripts have the words comfort and salvation (KJV only). It is recommended that you follow option (1). Both situations (afflicted, comforted) and their results are assumed to be true here. Using If requires the readers to think about what Paul said and agree with him. Other ways to translate these clause are:

If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort (RSV)

if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort (NASB)

In some languages using If here implies that the readers might not be comforted or saved. If that is true in your language, you may want to translate these clauses without the If. For example:

When we are distressed, you will be comforted and saved. And when we are comforted, you will also be comforted

Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you (NLT)

1:6a

afflicted: This word refers to both the trouble that occurs and the suffering a person experiences from that trouble. Other ways to translate this word are:

experience trouble (JBP)

hardships to undergo (NJB)

salvation: This word means “the act of rescuing someone from danger or trouble.” In this context it refers to “rescuing someone from the spiritual dangers of sin and death.” The word is a noun that refers to an event. In some languages it is more natural to translate with a verb here. For example:

saving/freeing by God of his people

for God to save his people

being saved from death

Here Paul probably implied that when he preached the gospel, people persecuted him. But he accepted that distress from the persecution because people in Corinth believed and God saved them. So salvation is not a direct result of the distress, but both distress and salvation are results of preaching. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that distress or oppression causes God to save other people. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Explain in your translation. For example:

  salvation through our preaching

• Translate literally and explain the meaning in a footnote. An example footnote is:

  This verse indicates that preaching the gospel of Jesus causes persecution. This distresses the preacher, but the preaching causes people to believe, which leads to their salvation.

1:6b

we are comforted: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

God comforts us

we receive comfort

1:6c

which accomplishes in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we experience: God’s comfort strengthened their faith. Then they could patiently endure sufferings. Other ways to translate this clause are:

which enables you to bear with perseverance the same sufferings as we do (NJB)

from that comfort, you can persevere in/through the same sufferings that we also suffer

This clause tells the reader more about comfort to the believers in Corinth. In some languages, other ways must be used to indicate the correct meaning. For example:

…it is for your comfort. It produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer

This helps you to accept patiently the same sufferings we have. (NCV)

which: This word refers to their comfort (1:6b).

patient endurance: The Greek word that the BSB translates as patient endurance refers to continuing to follow God even though there are hardships or opposition. The attitude of patience is included in the meaning. Other ways to translate the Greek word are:

perseverance

patience to continue

the same sufferings we experience: The word same indicates that the believers in Corinth and Paul both suffered in the same ways. Paul was not in Corinth, but both Paul and the believers suffered for their faith. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the same kinds of suffering we have/experience

suffering like ours (CEV)