OET interlinear 2 COR 1:7

1:7a

And: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the BSB translates as And:

1. The conjunction continues the theme from the previous sentence. In English this is done with either And or with no conjunction (as in the RSV). For example:

   and (NASB) (BSB, RSV, NIV, NASB, NLT, GW, CEV, NET, REB, ESV, NCV, KJV)

2. The conjunction introduces the result or conclusion of 1:6. Here is another way to translate this:

   So (GNT) (GNT, NJB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because that is the usual meaning of the Greek word.Thrall (p. 79), Martin (p. 7), Barrett (p. 57), Furnish (p. 108), and Kistemaker (p. 45) translate it as “and.”

hope for you: Paul may hope that:

1. the believers will accept God’s comfort and patiently endure suffering;

2. the believers will continue to believe in Jesus.

Translate in a way that allows one or both meanings. Some languages must say what is hoped. If that is true in your language, follow (1) or (2). For example:

hope regarding your endurance

hope about you continuing to follow Jesus

hope: The Greek word that the BSB translates hope means “expectation” or “looking forward with confidence that something will happen.” The Greek word is usually more certain than the English word hope. Other ways of translating this are:

assurance

confidence (GW)

for you: Here the word for means “about” or “concerning.” See the examples above.

sure: Here the word sure means “strong,” “steadfast,” or “certain.” Paul would not lose his hope in the believers. Other ways to translate this word are:

secure (NJB)

steadfast (NET)

1:7b

because we know: The Greek word that the BSB translates as because we know is literally “knowing.” In this context it indicates that Paul knew that the believers shared in his suffering and comfort, so he was assured about their faith. Other ways of translating this are:

knowing (NASB)

for we know (RSV)

in the knowledge that (NJB)

you share in our sufferings: Like Paul, the believers suffered for the sake of Jesus and his gospel. In this way they shared in the sufferings. This clause may include persecution during the time Paul was in Corinth, or this clause may include the believers having pity for Paul and his sufferings. Other ways to translate this clause are:

you have to suffer troubles as we have done (JBP)

you join with us in experiencing hardships/sufferings

our sufferings: The Greek phrase is literally “the sufferings” (as in the KJV and REB). This Greek phrase probably refers to sufferings that believers have because of persecution. But these are the same sufferings that Paul experienced (1:5a), and so some English versions add the implied our.

1:7c

you will share in our comfort: Just as God comforted Paul, God also comforted the Corinthian believers. In this way they shared the comfort. Other ways to translate this clause are:

you are comforted as we are

you join with us in experiencing comfort

our comfort: The Greek phrase is literally “the comfort/encouragement/consolation” (as in the KJV and REB). This Greek phrase probably refers to God comforting believers because of persecution. But this is the same comfort that Paul experienced (1:4c) and so some English versions add the implied our.

1:7a–c