2 Korintus 2:16

2:16 to the latter an odor ¹  from death to death, but to the former a fragrance from life to life. And who is adequate for these things? ² 

2 Korintus 6:4

6:4 But as God’s servants, ³  we have commended ourselves in every way, ⁴  with great endurance, in persecutions, ⁵  in difficulties, in distresses,

2 Korintus 10:1

Paul’s Authority from the Lord

10:1 Now I, Paul, appeal to you ⁶  personally ⁷  by the meekness and gentleness ⁸  of Christ (I who am meek ⁹  when present among ¹⁰  you, but am full of courage ¹¹  toward you when away!) –

[2:16]  ¹ tn The same Greek word (ὀσμή, osmh) translated “odor” here (in relation to the stench of death) has been translated “fragrance” in 2:14 and in the next phrase of the present verse. The word itself can describe a smell or odor either agreeable or disagreeable depending on the context (L&N 79.45).

[2:16]  ² sn These things refer to the things Paul is doing in his apostolic ministry.

[6:4]  ³ tn Or “ministers.”

[6:4]  ⁴ tn Or “we have commended ourselves by all things.”

[6:4]  ⁵ tn Or “in trouble and suffering.”

[10:1]  ⁶ tn The Greek pronoun (“you”) is plural.

[10:1]  ⁷ tn The word “personally” is supplied to reflect the force of the Greek intensive pronoun αὐτός (autos) at the beginning of the verse.

[10:1]  ⁸ tn Or “leniency and clemency.” D. Walker, “Paul’s Offer of Leniency of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:1): Populist Ideology and Rhetoric in a Pauline Letter Fragment (2 Cor 10:1-13:10)” (Ph.D. diss., University of Chicago, 1998), argues for this alternative translation for three main reasons: (1) When the two Greek nouns πραΰτης and ἐπιείκεια (prauth" and ejpieikeia) are used together, 90% of the time the nuance is “leniency and clemency.” (2) “Leniency and clemency” has a military connotation, which is precisely what appears in the following verses. (3) 2 Cor 10-13 speaks of Paul’s sparing use of his authority, which points to the nuance of “leniency and clemency.”

[10:1]  ⁹ tn Or “who lack confidence.”

[10:1]  ¹⁰ tn Or “when face to face with.”

[10:1]  ¹¹ tn Or “but bold.”