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2 Corinthians 1 For I decided not to come to you again in painful circumstances. 所以我拿定了主意，不再带忧苦到你们那里去， 2 For if I inflict pain upon you, then who is there to cheer me except the one pained by me? 因为如果我使你们忧苦，那么，除了那由我而受忧苦的人外，又有谁可使我欢乐呢？ 3 And I wrote as I did 1 so that when I came I might not be pained by those in whom I should have rejoiced, confident about all of you that my joy is that of all of you. 为此，我写了那样的信，正是为避免我来到的时候，那本该叫我喜乐的，反而叫我忧苦，因为我相信你们众人都以我的喜乐为你们众人的喜乐。 4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that you might be pained but that you might know the abundant love I have for you. 我在万般的痛心忧苦中，流着许多泪给你们写了信，并不是为叫你们忧苦，而是为叫你们认清我对你们所有的爱，多么卓绝。 5 2 If anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure (not to exaggerate) to all of you. 如果有人使人忧苦，他不是使我忧苦，而是使你们众人，至少使一部份，免得我说得过火。 6 This punishment by the majority is enough for such a person, 这样的人，受了你们大多数人的谴责，已足够了； 7 so that on the contrary you should forgive and encourage him instead, or else the person may be overwhelmed by excessive pain. 你们宽恕劝慰他，反倒更好，免得他一时为过度的忧苦所吞噬。 8 Therefore, I urge you to reaffirm your love for him. 为此，我劝告你们对他再建起爱情来。 9 For this is why I wrote, to know your proven character, whether you were obedient in everything. 其实，也正是为此我才写了那信，为要考验你们，看你们是否在一切事上都服从命令。 10 Whomever you forgive anything, so do I. For indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for you in the presence of Christ, 你们宽恕谁什么，我也宽恕，因为我所宽恕的──如果我曾宽恕过什么──是为你们的缘故，当着基督的面而宽恕的， 11 so that we might not be taken advantage of by Satan, for we are not unaware of his purposes. 免得我们让撒殚占了便宜，因为我们不是不知道他的心意。 12 3 When I went to 当我为宣讲基督福音来到特洛阿时，虽然给我开了为主工作的大门， 13 4 I had no relief in my spirit because I did not find my brother Titus. So I took leave of them and went on to 但因我没有遇到我的弟兄弟铎，我的心神得不到安宁，遂辞别他们，到马其顿去了。 14 5 6 7 8 9 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ and manifests through us the odor of the knowledge of him in every place. 感谢天主时常使我们在基督内参与凯旋的行列，并借我们在各处播扬认识基督的芬芳； 15 For we are the aroma of Christ for God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 因为我们就是献与天主的基督的馨香，在得救的人中是，在丧亡的人中也是； 16 to the latter an odor of death that leads to death, to the former an odor of life that leads to life. Who is qualified 10 for this? 但为后者，是由死入死的芬芳；为前者，却是由生入生的芬芳。对这样的工作，谁够资格呢？ 17 For we are not like the many who trade on the word of God; but as out of sincerity, indeed as from God and in the presence of God, we speak in Christ. 至少我们不像许多人为利而混乱了天主的道理；我们宣讲乃是出于真诚，出于天主，当着天主的面，在基督内。 Footnotes(注解) 1 [3,4] I wrote as I did: we learn for the first time about the sending of a letter in place of the proposed visit. Paul mentions the letter in passing, but emphasizes his motivation in sending it: to avoid being saddened by them (cf 1 Cor 2:1), and to help them realize the depth of his love. Another motive will be added in 2 Cor 7:12 - to bring to light their own concern for him. With many tears: it has been suggested that we may have all or part of this "tearful letter" somewhere in the Corinthian correspondence, either in 1 Cor 5 (the case of the incestuous man), or in 1 Cor as a whole, or in 2 Cor 2:10-13. None of these hypotheses is entirely convincing. See the note on 2 Cor 13:1. 2 [5-11] The nature of the pain (2 Cor 2:5) is unclear, though some believe an individual at Corinth rejected Paul's authority, thereby scandalizing many in the community. In any case, action has been taken, and Paul judges the measuresa adequate to right the situation (2 Cor 2:6). The follow-up directives he now gives are entirely positive: forgive, encourage, love. Overwhelmed (2 Cor 2:7): a vivid metaphor (literally "swallowed") that Paul employs positively at 2 Cor 5:4 and in 1 Cor 15:54 (2 Cor 2:7). It is often used to describe satanic activity (cf 1 Peter 5:8); note the reference to Satan here in 2 Cor 2:11. 3 [12-13] I had no relief: Paul does not explain the reason for his anxiety until he resumes the thread of his narrative at 2 Cor 7:5: he was waiting to hear how the Corinthians would respond to his letter. Since 2 Cor 7:5-16 describes their response in entirely positive terms, we never learn in detail why he found it necessary to defend and justify his change of plans, as in 2 Cor 1:15-24. Was this portion of the letter written before the arrival of Titus with his good news (2 Cor 7:6-7)? 4 [13] 5 [2:14-7:4] This section constitutes a digression within the narrative of the crisis and its resolution (2 Cor 1:12-2:13 and 2 Cor 7:5-16). The main component (2 Cor 2:14-6:10) treats the nature of Paul's ministry and his qualifications for it; this material bears some similarity to the defense of his ministry in chs 2 Cor 2:10-13, but it may well come from a period close to the crisis. This is followed by a supplementary block of material quite different in character and tone (2 Cor 6:14-7:1). These materials may have been brought together into their present position during final editing of the letter; appeals to the Corinthians link them to one another (2 Cor 6:11-13) and lead back to the interrupted narrative (2 Cor 7:2-4). 6 [2:14-6:10] The question of Paul's adequacy (2 Cor 2:16; cf 2 Cor 3:5) and his credentials (2 Cor 3:1-2) has been raised. Paul responds by an extended treatment of the nature of his ministry. It is a ministry of glory (2 Cor 3:7-4:6), of life (2 Cor 4:7-5:10), of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:11-6:10). 7 [14-16a] The initial statement plunges us abruptly into another train of thought. Paul describes his personal existence and his function as a preacher in two powerful images (2 Cor 2:14) that constitute a prelude to the development to follow. 8 [14a] Leads us in triumph in Christ: this metaphor of a festive parade in honor of a conquering military hero can suggest either a positive sharing in Christ's triumph or an experience of defeat, being led in captivity and submission (cf 2 Cor 4:8-11; 1 Cor 4:9). Paul is probably aware of the ambiguity, as he is in the case of the next metaphor. 9 [14b-16a] The odor of the knowledge of him: incense was commonly used in triumphal processions. The metaphor suggests the gradual diffusion of the knowledge of God through the apostolic preaching. The aroma of Christ: the image shifts from the fragrance Paul diffuses to the aroma that he is. Paul is probably thinking of the "sweet odor" of the sacrifices in the Old Testament (e.g., Genesis 8:21; Exodus 29:18) and perhaps of the metaphor of wisdom as a sweet odor (Sirach 24:15). Death . . . life: the aroma of Christ that comes to them through Paul is perceived differently by various classes of people. To some his preaching and his life (cf 1 Cor 1:17-2:6) are perceived as death, and the effect is death for them; others perceive him, despite appearances, as life, and the effect is life for them. This fragrance thus produces a separation and a judgment (cf the function of the "light" in John's gospel). 10 [16b-17] Qualified: Paul may be echoing either the self-satisfied claims of other preachers or their charges about Paul's deficiencies. No one is really qualified, but the apostle contrasts himself with those who dilute or falsify the preaching for personal advantage and insists on his totally good conscience: his ministry is from God, and he has exercised it with fidelity and integrity (cf 2 Cor 3:5-6). |
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