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InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
2 Cor C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13
2 Cor 7 V1 V2 V3 V4 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16
OET (OET-LV) For/Because also having_come of_us into Makedonia, not_one has_had relaxation the flesh of_us, but in everything being_oppressed, outside quarrels, inside fears.
OET (OET-RV) Actually, since we arrived in Macedonia we’ve had no physical rest but we’ve been oppressed in every way—on the outside there’s quarrels and on the inside we’ve had our fears,
In this section, Paul explained why he had great joy. Earlier he had sent Titus to Corinth because he wanted to know what the believers there were doing and whether they still accepted him. Paul had then gone to Macedonia, a northern province of Greece (7:5). He had met Titus there (7:6), and Titus had reported that the believers still accepted Paul and loved him (7:7a–d).
Then, in 7:8–9, Paul wrote that he was happy because the believers had responded properly to his earlier stern letter (also mentioned in 2:1–4; see also the section on “Paul’s letters to the Corinthians” in the introduction to these Notes). Paul explained the proper results of repentance (7:10–11). Lastly, Paul told them the reason for writing that letter (7:12–13a).
Then Paul told them that he was both encouraged and happy that they had responded properly to Titus (7:13b–16).
Other examples of headings for this section are:
Paul’s Joy (NIV)
Paul’s joy at the repentance of the Corinthians
Titus’ news comforts Paul and makes him happy
For when we arrived in Macedonia,
¶ For when we(excl) entered Macedonia,
¶ Because, after we arrived here in the province of Macedonia,
For: This conjunction introduces an explanation of why Paul had great joy in the midst of troubles (7:4c–d).
when we arrived in Macedonia: Paul and the other evangelists left Troas (2:12) and traveled to Macedonia (2:13). They stayed in one of the cities in that province.
Macedonia: This name refers to a Roman province that today would include the northern part of the country of Greece and the land a bit farther north. But if you explained that the name Macedonia refers to a province in 1:16a or 2:13b, you probably do not need to explain that again here.
our bodies had no rest,
our bodies had no time free of troubles,
we, in our being, had no peace.
our bodies: This phrase probably refers to the whole being, not only to the physical body. Bodies are vulnerable to many diseases and injury, but here Paul probably implied worrying and not trusting God completely. The worrying showed itself in physical restlessness and anxiety. The other evangelists with Paul were also restless and anxious. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
this body of ours (NIV)
our beings
In some languages it is more natural to use the pronoun “we” and allow the context to imply the whole person. For example:
we (NIV11)
had no rest: Here the word rest refers to time free from troubles, conflicts, and worries (7:5c–d). It does not refer to time free from work. Other ways to translate this clause are:
found no relief (REB)
had no peace
but we were pressed from every direction—
but we experienced all kinds of troubles/oppression:
Indeed we underwent/experienced difficulties/hardships in all kinds of ways,
we were pressed: The Greek word that the BSB translates as were pressed refers to both trouble that occurs and the suffering a person experiences from that trouble. The Greek word includes people oppressing Paul and the others, but it also refers to any kind of difficulty or hardship. Other ways to translate this word are:
experience trouble/oppression
undergo hardships/suffering
You may want to translate this Greek word as you did in 1:6 (where the BSB says “are afflicted”) or 4:8 (where the BSB says “are hard pressed”).
from every direction: The Greek words are literally “in every way” (as in the NRSV). The BSB uses an English idiom to indicate that meaning here. Translate the meaning of “in every way.” Other ways to translate this phrase are:
all kinds of (CEV)
in a number of ways (GW)
conflicts on the outside, fears within.
enemies caused conflicts from the outside, and we had fears on the inside.
namely, people opposing us, and the fears that we had.
7:5d describes the two kinds of being harassed (7:5c). The BSB indicates this connection with a long dash (—). Other ways to translate this connection are:
with battles on the outside and fear on the inside (NLT)
namely, conflicts on the outside, fears within
conflicts on the outside, fears within: Paul probably implied conflicts…outside his body/being and fears within his body/being here. People opposed Paul in Macedonia in Acts 16–17, and probably many of those same people opposed him again on this visit. Such conflicts were external to Paul. But within his mind he may have been fearful of the believers in Corinth rejecting him or Titus, and he may possibly have had other fears.
In some languages a literal translation would not indicate the correct implied meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to add the implied meaning. For example:
conflicts on the outside of the body, fears within the body
conflicts on the outside of the/our inner person, fears within the/our inner person
quarrels with others, fears in our hearts (GNT)
conflicts: This word refers to people quarreling or confronting someone because they oppose him. Other ways to translate this word are:
disputes (NRSV)
We were troubled by enemies (CEV)
struggles (NET)
Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases
καὶ γὰρ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί Γάρ ἐλθόντων ἡμῶν εἰς Μακεδονίαν οὐδεμίαν ἔσχηκεν ἄνεσιν ἡ σάρξ ἡμῶν ἀλλʼ ἐν παντί θλιβόμενοι ἔξωθεν μάχαι ἔσωθεν φόβοι)
Here, the phrase For even introduces further explanation of the “afflictions” that Paul mentioned in [7:4](../07/04.md). However, Paul is also speaking again about what he said in [2:13](../02/13.md) about traveling to Macedonia. Consider a natural way to reintroduce Paul’s travel plans, and if possible, use a word or phrase that introduces an explanation of the afflictions. Alternate translation: [Speaking of afflictions, I will tell you more about my journeys:] or [Now as for the travels I have spoken about,]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / go
ἐλθόντων ἡμῶν εἰς
˓having˒_come ˱of˲_us into
In a context such as this, it may be more natural in your language to say “go” instead of come. Alternate translation: [having gone to]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche
ἡ σὰρξ ἡμῶν
the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί Γάρ ἐλθόντων ἡμῶν εἰς Μακεδονίαν οὐδεμίαν ἔσχηκεν ἄνεσιν ἡ σάρξ ἡμῶν ἀλλʼ ἐν παντί θλιβόμενοι ἔξωθεν μάχαι ἔσωθεν φόβοι)
Here, the phrase our flesh refers to the whole person. Paul uses it to emphasize the physical or bodily nature of their suffering. If it would be helpful in your language, you could refer to the whole person and not just their flesh. Alternate translation: [we ourselves]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
οὐδεμίαν ἔσχηκεν ἄνεσιν
not_one ˓has˒_had relaxation
Here Paul continues what he was saying in [2:13](../02/13.md) about how he “had no relief” in his “spirit.” What he means is that traveling to Macedonia did not help with his concerns about Titus or his sufferings. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [had no relief from our sufferings and worries at all]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
οὐδεμίαν ἔσχηκεν ἄνεσιν
not_one ˓has˒_had relaxation
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of relief, you could express the idea by using a verb such as “relieve” or “rest.” Alternate translation: [was not relieved at all] or [could not rest at all]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
θλιβόμενοι
˓being˒_oppressed
If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you must state who did the action, you could use an indefinite subject. Alternate translation: [we were experiencing afflictions] or [people were afflicting us]
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
ἔξωθεν μάχαι, ἔσωθεν φόβοι
outside quarrels inside fears
Here, the word without identifies the source of the conflicts as external to Paul and those with him. The word within identifies the source of the fears as internal to Paul and his fellow workers. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use words or phrases that similarly identify internal and external sources. Alternate translation: [conflicts from others, fears from ourselves] or [conflicts on the outside, fears on the inside]
Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
ἔξωθεν μάχαι, ἔσωθεν φόβοι
outside quarrels inside fears
If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of conflicts and fears, you could express the ideas by using verbs such as “quarrel” and “fear.” Alternate translation: [people fought us without, and we feared within]
7:5-7 Paul’s joy leads him to tell about his recent meeting with Titus, whose presence was a joy when he joined Paul in Macedonia (see study note on 2:14–7:4; Acts 20:1-2).
• Initially, Paul had no rest (this Greek word is used in 2 Cor 2:13, where it is rendered “peace of mind”) but only conflict, battles, and fear. Paul was deeply discouraged, but he received encouragement from God, who encourages those who are discouraged (cp. Ps 42:5-6). Titus arrived from Corinth with the news that Paul’s letter (see 2 Cor 2:3-4) had done its work (7:8-16). This was the chief cause of Paul’s joy.
OET (OET-LV) For/Because also having_come of_us into Makedonia, not_one has_had relaxation the flesh of_us, but in everything being_oppressed, outside quarrels, inside fears.
OET (OET-RV) Actually, since we arrived in Macedonia we’ve had no physical rest but we’ve been oppressed in every way—on the outside there’s quarrels and on the inside we’ve had our fears,
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.
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