Greek Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Second Epistle to the Corinthians, Chapter 1ΠΡΟΣ ΚΟΡΙΝΘΙΟΥΣ Β′ Α′

Each verse opens with the running Greek, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case (color), parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

1

Παῦλος ἀπόστολος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ διὰ θελήματος θεοῦ καὶ Τιμόθεος ὁ ἀδελφὸς τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ τοῦ θεοῦ τῇ οὔσῃ ἐν Κορίνθῳ, σὺν τοῖς ἁγίοις πᾶσιν τοῖς οὖσιν ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ Ἀχαΐᾳ·

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy the brother, to the church of God that is in Corinth, together with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:

Letter openingasyndetonThe epistolary superscription: co-senders (Paul, Timothy), addressees (the Corinthian church and all Achaia's saints) — apostleship grounded in God's will sets the keynote for a letter defending Paul's ministry.
ΠαῦλοςPaulNominativesubject (nominative of address/superscription)Παῦλος: the apostle's Roman cognomen; the Greek letter-opening names the sender first.
ἀπόστολοςapostleNominativeapposition to Παῦλοςἀπόστολος: 'one sent,' commissioned envoy; from ἀποστέλλω — the title under dispute at Corinth, hence its early assertion.
Χριστοῦof ChristGenitivegenitive of possession/sourceΧριστός: 'Anointed,' the Messiah; here functionally a name-title for Jesus.
ἸησοῦJesusGenitivegenitive in apposition to Χριστοῦ
διὰthroughpreposition + genitive (cause/means)
θελήματοςwillGenitiveobject of διά (cause)θέλημα: 'will'; Paul's apostleship rests on God's choosing, not human appointment — the basis of his authority.
θεοῦof GodGenitivesubjective/possessive genitive
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ΤιμόθεοςTimothyNominativesubject (co-sender)Τιμόθεος: Timothy, Paul's coworker; named as co-sender, not co-author — a lending of his weight to the appeal.
theNominativearticle
ἀδελφὸςbrotherNominativeapposition to Τιμόθεοςἀδελφός: 'brother'; here a title of Christian kinship and ministry partnership.
τῇto theDativearticle
ἐκκλησίᾳchurchDativeindirect object (addressee)ἐκκλησία: 'assembly, congregation'; the LXX term for Israel's gathered assembly, now the Christian community.
τοῦofGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitivepossessive genitive (whose church)θεός: God; the church belongs to God, not to a faction or to Paul — a pointed reminder at Corinth.
τῇthe (one)Dativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
οὔσῃthat isPres Act Ptc · Dat Sg Fem · εἰμίattributive participle→ stative present
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)
ΚορίνθῳCorinthDativedat. of placeΚόρινθος: Corinth, the prosperous Roman colony and provincial capital of Achaia — the letter's destination.
σὺνtogether withpreposition + dative (association)
τοῖςtheDativearticle
ἁγίοιςsaintsDativeobject of σύν (association)ἅγιος: 'holy one, saint'; the set-apart people of God — here the believers of the wider province.
πᾶσινallDativeattributive adjective
τοῖςwhoDativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
οὖσινarePres Act Ptc · Dat Pl Masc · εἰμίattributive participle→ stative present
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)
ὅλῃwholeDativeattributive adjective
τῇtheDativearticle
ἈχαΐᾳAchaiaDativedat. of placeἈχαΐα: Achaia, the senatorial province of southern Greece whose capital was Corinth — the letter's wider readership.
2

χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη ἀπὸ θεοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν καὶ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

GreetingasyndetonThe grace-and-peace blessing closing the salutation — the fixed Pauline greeting, Father and Lord set in parallel as one source.
χάριςgraceNominativesubject (nom. in greeting formula)χάρις: 'grace'; Paul reshapes the Greek χαίρειν greeting into 'grace,' the keynote of the gospel.
ὑμῖνto youDativedat. of recipient
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
εἰρήνηpeaceNominativesubject (coordinate)εἰρήνη: 'peace'; the Hebrew šālôm — wholeness and well-being, the second half of the doubled blessing.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source)
θεοῦGodGenitiveobject of ἀπό (source)
πατρὸςFatherGenitiveapposition to θεοῦπατήρ: 'Father'; the relational name for God shared by Father and people.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
κυρίουthe LordGenitiveobject of ἀπό (coordinate source)κύριος: 'Lord'; the LXX rendering of YHWH, confessed of Jesus and set in parallel with the Father as source of grace.
ἸησοῦJesusGenitiveapposition
ΧριστοῦChristGenitiveapposition
3

Εὐλογητὸς ὁ θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὁ πατὴρ τῶν οἰκτιρμῶν καὶ θεὸς πάσης παρακλήσεως,

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,

Berakah (blessing)asyndetonIn place of the usual thanksgiving, a Jewish-style berakah opens the body: God is named not first by power but by mercy and comfort — the letter's pastoral keynote.
ΕὐλογητὸςblessedNominativepredicate adj. (verbless 'be' clause)εὐλογητός: 'blessed, praised'; verbal adj. of εὐλογέω — in the LXX reserved almost exclusively for God as the one to be praised.
theNominativearticle
θεὸςGodNominativesubject
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
πατὴρFatherNominativesubject (coordinate, one referent)πατήρ: 'Father'; 'God and Father' under one article — a single referent defined by relation to Christ.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle
κυρίουLordGenitivegenitive of relationshipκύριος: 'Lord'; God is identified by his relation to the Lord Jesus.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship
ἸησοῦJesusGenitiveapposition
ΧριστοῦChristGenitiveapposition
theNominativearticle
πατὴρFatherNominativeapposition to subject (restatement)πατήρ: here 'Father of mercies' — a Semitic genitive of quality, 'the merciful Father.'
τῶνof theGenitivearticle
οἰκτιρμῶνmerciesGenitiveattributive (Semitic) genitive of qualityοἰκτιρμός: 'compassion, mercy'; the plural renders Hebrew raḥămîm (womb-love) — God's tender, motherly compassion.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
θεὸςGodNominativeapposition (coordinate title)
πάσηςallGenitiveattributive adjectiveπᾶς: 'all, every'; 'all comfort' — every kind of comfort and its whole supply have their source in God.
παρακλήσεωςcomfortGenitiveattributive (Semitic) genitive of qualityπαράκλησις: 'comfort, encouragement, exhortation' (from παρακαλέω, 'call alongside'); the keyword of vv.3–7, repeated ten times in the section.
4

ὁ παρακαλῶν ἡμᾶς ἐπὶ πάσῃ τῇ θλίψει ἡμῶν, εἰς τὸ δύνασθαι ἡμᾶς παρακαλεῖν τοὺς ἐν πάσῃ θλίψει διὰ τῆς παρακλήσεως ἧς παρακαλούμεθα αὐτοὶ ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ.

who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those in any affliction through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Description of God (purpose)asyndetonA relative-style participial expansion: God's comfort is not terminal but transitive — given to Paul so that it may flow on to others, comfort passed along its received channel.
the (one)Nominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
παρακαλῶνwho comfortsPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · παρακαλέωsubstantival participle (apposition to θεός)→ customary presentπαρακαλέω: 'call alongside,' hence 'comfort, encourage, exhort'; the present pictures God's habitual comforting.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object
ἐπὶinpreposition + dative (occasion/basis)
πάσῃallDativeattributive adjective
τῇtheDativearticle
θλίψειafflictionDativeobject of ἐπί (occasion)θλῖψις: 'pressure, tribulation' (lit. a 'crushing'); the hardship of the apostolic life, met by divine comfort.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession
εἰςso thatpreposition + articular infinitive (purpose)
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with infinitive)
δύνασθαιto be ablePres Mid Inf · δύναμαιarticular infinitive of purpose (w/ εἰς)→ present (potential)δύναμαι: 'be able, have power'; the enabling that comfort received confers.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativeaccusative subject of infinitive
παρακαλεῖνto comfortPres Act Inf · παρακαλέωcomplementary infinitive (of δύνασθαι)→ present (durative)παρακαλέω: here the onward act — Paul becomes a conduit of the comfort he himself receives.
τοὺςthoseAccusativesubstantival article (object of παρακαλεῖν)
ἐνinpreposition + dative (state)
πάσῃanyDativeattributive adjective
θλίψειafflictionDativedat. of state (those in affliction)θλῖψις: 'tribulation'; the universal scope — comfort for those in 'every' affliction.
διὰthroughpreposition + genitive (means)
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
παρακλήσεωςcomfortGenitiveobject of διά (means)παράκλησις: 'comfort'; the very comfort received becomes the instrument of comforting others.
ἧςwith whichGenitiverelative pronoun (attracted to gen. antecedent)
παρακαλούμεθαwe are comfortedPres Pass Indic 1 Pl · παρακαλέωmain verb (rel. clause)→ customary presentπαρακαλέω: passive — Paul as recipient; the divine passive points to God as the comforter.
αὐτοὶourselvesNominativeintensive pronoun (subject emphasis)αὐτός: intensive, 'we ourselves'; underlining that Paul personally is the comforted party.
ὑπὸbypreposition + genitive (agency)
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of agency (object of ὑπό)θεός: God; named as the ultimate agent of all comfort — the section's anchor.
5

ὅτι καθὼς περισσεύει τὰ παθήματα τοῦ Χριστοῦ εἰς ἡμᾶς, οὕτως διὰ τοῦ Χριστοῦ περισσεύει καὶ ἡ παράκλησις ἡμῶν.

For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

Ground (correspondence)ὅτιThe ground of v.4: a καθὼς … οὕτως proportion — the more Paul shares Christ's sufferings, the more, through Christ, his comfort abounds. Suffering and comfort scale together.
ὅτιforcausal conjunction
καθὼςjust ascomparative conjunction (correlative w/ οὕτως)καθώς: 'just as'; opens the protasis of the proportion.
περισσεύειoverflowPres Act Indic 3 Sg · περισσεύωmain verb (protasis)→ gnomic presentπερισσεύω: 'abound, overflow, be in excess'; a favorite Pauline verb of superabundance.
τὰtheNominativearticle
παθήματαsufferingsNominativesubjectπάθημα: 'suffering'; 'the sufferings of Christ' — the afflictions endured in union with him, his sufferings continued in his servants.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle
ΧριστοῦChristGenitivegenitive (possessive/relational; debated)Χριστός: the sufferings 'of Christ' — either belonging to Christ and shared, or Christlike in kind; here as participation in Messianic affliction.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)
ἡμᾶςusAccusativeobject of εἰς (overflow toward us)
οὕτωςsoadverb (apodosis correlative)οὕτως: 'thus, so'; completes the καθώς … οὕτως correspondence.
διὰthroughpreposition + genitive (mediation)
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
ΧριστοῦChristGenitiveobject of διά (mediator of comfort)Χριστός: comfort, like suffering, comes 'through Christ' — he is the channel of both.
περισσεύειoverflowsPres Act Indic 3 Sg · περισσεύωmain verb (apodosis)→ gnomic presentπερισσεύω: the repeated verb makes the symmetry exact — comfort abounds in measure with the suffering.
καὶalsoadverbial/ascensive conjunction
theNominativearticle
παράκλησιςcomfortNominativesubject (apodosis)παράκλησις: 'comfort'; the matching subject — comfort overflows in proportion to the sufferings.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession
6

εἴτε δὲ θλιβόμεθα, ὑπὲρ τῆς ὑμῶν παρακλήσεως καὶ σωτηρίας· εἴτε παρακαλούμεθα, ὑπὲρ τῆς ὑμῶν παρακλήσεως τῆς ἐνεργουμένης ἐν ὑπομονῇ τῶν αὐτῶν παθημάτων ὧν καὶ ἡμεῖς πάσχομεν.

If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is at work in the endurance of the same sufferings that we also suffer.

Application to readersδὲAn εἴτε … εἴτε pair turns the proportion toward the Corinthians: whether Paul suffers or is comforted, both are for their benefit — his experience is vicarious and pastoral.
εἴτεifconjunction (first of a correlative pair)εἴτε … εἴτε: 'whether … or'; sets two alternatives that reach the same conclusion.
δὲandtransitional conjunction
θλιβόμεθαwe are afflictedPres Pass Indic 1 Pl · θλίβωmain verb (first protasis)→ present (ongoing)θλίβω: 'press, oppress, afflict'; the verbal root of θλῖψις — to be under pressure.
ὑπὲρforpreposition + genitive (advantage)
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (emphatic position)
παρακλήσεωςcomfortGenitiveobject of ὑπέρ (purpose/advantage)παράκλησις: 'comfort'; Paul's affliction has the Corinthians' comfort as its aim.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
σωτηρίαςsalvationGenitiveobject of ὑπέρ (coordinate)σωτηρία: 'salvation, deliverance, well-being'; the comprehensive goal — rescue and wholeness, not merely momentary relief.
εἴτεifconjunction (second of pair)
παρακαλούμεθαwe are comfortedPres Pass Indic 1 Pl · παρακαλέωmain verb (second protasis)→ present (ongoing)παρακαλέω: the matching passive — Paul's comfort, no less than his affliction, serves them.
ὑπὲρforpreposition + genitive (advantage)
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession
παρακλήσεωςcomfortGenitiveobject of ὑπέρ (purpose/advantage)παράκλησις: 'comfort'; restated as the constant aim of both states.
τῆςthe (one)Genitivearticle (substantizes ptc.)
ἐνεργουμένηςwhich is at workPres Mid Ptc · Gen Sg Fem · ἐνεργέωattributive participle (modifies παρακλήσεως)→ present (effective)ἐνεργέω: 'be operative, produce effect' (cf. 'energy'); the comfort is no inert feeling but an active power.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere/means)
ὑπομονῇenduranceDativedat. of sphere (where comfort operates)ὑπομονή: 'endurance, steadfastness' (lit. 'remaining under'); the comfort proves itself in patient bearing of suffering.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle
αὐτῶνsameGenitiveattributive (identical) adjectiveαὐτός: 'same'; the Corinthians endure 'the same sufferings' — a shared lot binds apostle and church.
παθημάτωνsufferingsGenitiveobjective genitive (endurance of sufferings)πάθημα: 'suffering'; the common afflictions shared across the body of Christ.
ὧνwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (attracted to gen. antecedent)
καὶalsoadverbial/ascensive conjunction
ἡμεῖςweNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)
πάσχομενsufferPres Act Indic 1 Pl · πάσχωmain verb (rel. clause)→ present (ongoing)πάσχω: 'suffer, experience'; the verb behind πάθημα — Paul shares the very sufferings the Corinthians endure.
7

καὶ ἡ ἐλπὶς ἡμῶν βεβαία ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν, εἰδότες ὅτι ὡς κοινωνοί ἐστε τῶν παθημάτων, οὕτως καὶ τῆς παρακλήσεως.

And our hope for you is firm, since we know that as you share in the sufferings, so also you share in the comfort.

Conclusion (confidence)καὶThe blessing's resolve: a steadfast hope grounded in shared experience — fellowship in suffering guarantees fellowship in comfort.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
theNominativearticle
ἐλπὶςhopeNominativesubject (verbless clause)ἐλπίς: 'hope'; not wishful but confident expectation — here the apostle's settled assurance about them.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession
βεβαίαfirmNominativepredicate adjectiveβέβαιος: 'firm, secure, reliable' (from βαίνω, 'to stand'); a hope on sure footing.
ὑπὲρforpreposition + genitive (reference/advantage)
ὑμῶνyouGenitiveobject of ὑπέρ
εἰδότεςknowingPerf Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · οἶδαcausal participle (ground of the hope)→ intensive perfect (settled knowledge)οἶδα: 'know' (perfect with present sense); settled, certain knowledge underlies the confidence.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of knowing)
ὡςascomparative conjunction (correlative w/ οὕτως)
κοινωνοίsharersNominativepredicate nominativeκοινωνός: 'partner, sharer'; from κοινωνία (fellowship) — partakers together in a common lot.
ἐστεyou arePres Act Indic 2 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (copula)→ stative present
τῶνof theGenitivearticle
παθημάτωνsufferingsGenitivegenitive (of that shared, w/ κοινωνοί)πάθημα: 'suffering'; the first member of the partnership — they share the afflictions.
οὕτωςsoadverb (apodosis correlative)
καὶalsoadverbial conjunction
τῆςof theGenitivearticle
παρακλήσεωςcomfortGenitivegenitive (of that shared; κοινωνοί understood)παράκλησις: 'comfort'; the partnership's second member — shared suffering issues in shared comfort.
8

Οὐ γὰρ θέλομεν ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν, ἀδελφοί, ὑπὲρ τῆς θλίψεως ἡμῶν τῆς γενομένης ἐν τῇ Ἀσίᾳ, ὅτι καθ' ὑπερβολὴν ὑπὲρ δύναμιν ἐβαρήθημεν, ὥστε ἐξαπορηθῆναι ἡμᾶς καὶ τοῦ ζῆν·

For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction that befell us in Asia, that we were burdened beyond measure, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life;

Explanation (disclosure)γὰρA new movement: Paul illustrates the suffering-comfort theme from his own near-death crisis in Asia — the disclosure formula ('we do not want you ignorant') marks fresh, weighty information.
Οὐnotnegative particle
γὰρforexplanatory conjunction
θέλομενwe wantPres Act Indic 1 Pl · θέλωmain verb→ present (ongoing)θέλω: 'will, wish, want'; 'we do not want you to be ignorant' — a fixed Pauline disclosure formula.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeaccusative subject of infinitive
ἀγνοεῖνto be ignorantPres Act Inf · ἀγνοέωcomplementary infinitive (of θέλομεν)→ present (durative)ἀγνοέω: 'not know, be ignorant' (ἀ- + γινώσκω); the litotes 'not want you ignorant' = 'we want you fully to know.'
ἀδελφοίbrothersVocativevocative (direct address)ἀδελφός: 'brother'; the affectionate address softens and personalizes the disclosure.
ὑπὲρofpreposition + genitive (reference)
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
θλίψεωςafflictionGenitiveobject of ὑπέρ (reference)θλῖψις: 'tribulation, distress'; the specific ordeal now to be named.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession
τῆςthe (one)Genitivearticle (substantizes ptc.)
γενομένηςthat befellAor Mid Ptc · Gen Sg Fem · γίνομαιattributive participle→ constative aoristγίνομαι: 'become, happen'; the affliction 'that happened' — a definite past event.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)
τῇtheDativearticle
ἈσίᾳAsiaDativedat. of placeἈσία: the Roman province of Asia (western Asia Minor, capital Ephesus); the site of the unnamed crisis.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content/epexegetic)
καθ'topreposition + accusative (degree)
ὑπερβολὴνexcessAccusativeobject of κατά (adverbial: 'excessively')ὑπερβολή: 'excess, surpassing degree' (cf. 'hyperbole'); καθ' ὑπερβολήν = 'beyond measure.'
ὑπὲρbeyondpreposition + accusative (comparison)
δύναμινstrengthAccusativeobject of ὑπέρ ('beyond ability')δύναμις: 'power, ability'; the burden exceeded all human capacity to bear — the point that prepares for v.9.
ἐβαρήθημενwe were burdenedAor Pass Indic 1 Pl · βαρέωmain verb (ὅτι clause)→ constative aoristβαρέω: 'weigh down, burden' (from βάρος, 'weight'); a crushing, oppressive load.
ὥστεso thatconjunction + infinitive (result)ὥστε: 'so that'; introduces actual result.
ἐξαπορηθῆναιto despairAor Pass Inf · ἐξαπορέομαιinfinitive of result (w/ ὥστε)→ constative aoristἐξαπορέομαι: 'be utterly at a loss, despair' (ἐκ-intensive of ἀπορέω, 'be without a way out'); total, way-less hopelessness.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativeaccusative subject of infinitive
καὶevenascensive conjunction
τοῦofGenitivearticle (with infinitive)
ζῆνlivingPres Act Inf · ζάωarticular infinitive (genitive of reference)→ present (durative)ζάω: 'live'; the articular infinitive τοῦ ζῆν = 'of living' — they despaired even of survival itself.
9

ἀλλὰ αὐτοὶ ἐν ἑαυτοῖς τὸ ἀπόκριμα τοῦ θανάτου ἐσχήκαμεν, ἵνα μὴ πεποιθότες ὦμεν ἐφ' ἑαυτοῖς ἀλλ' ἐπὶ τῷ θεῷ τῷ ἐγείροντι τοὺς νεκρούς·

Indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves, so that we might not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.

Purpose (divine intent)ἀλλὰThe crisis had a teaching purpose: the inward 'death sentence' was meant to break self-reliance and throw Paul wholly onto the God who raises the dead — the theological heart of the section.
ἀλλὰindeedadversative/emphatic conjunctionἀλλά: 'but, rather'; here strongly affirmative ('indeed, in fact'), intensifying the report.
αὐτοὶourselvesNominativeintensive pronoun (subject emphasis)αὐτός: intensive, 'we ourselves'; the experience was personal and inward.
ἐνwithinpreposition + dative (sphere)
ἑαυτοῖςourselvesDativereflexive pronoun (object of ἐν)ἑαυτοῦ: reflexive 'ourselves'; the verdict was felt inwardly, a settled inner conviction of doom.
τὸtheAccusativearticle
ἀπόκριμαsentenceAccusativedirect objectἀπόκριμα: 'official decision, sentence, verdict' (a rare legal term); the death-verdict already pronounced.
τοῦofGenitivearticle
θανάτουdeathGenitiveobjective genitive (sentence of death)θάνατος: 'death'; the content of the verdict — Paul reckoned himself as good as dead.
ἐσχήκαμενwe hadPerf Act Indic 1 Pl · ἔχωmain verb→ dramatic/aoristic perfectἔχω: 'have, hold'; the perfect (with aorist sense) vividly relives the experience as if present.
ἵναso thatconjunction + subjunctive (purpose)
μὴnotnegative particle (w/ subjunctive)
πεποιθότεςtrustingPerf Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · πείθωperiphrastic participle (w/ ὦμεν)→ intensive perfect (settled reliance)πείθω (perf. πέποιθα): 'have come to trust, rely on'; the perfect of settled confidence — here the misplaced self-confidence to be undone.
ὦμενwe might bePres Act Subj 1 Pl · εἰμίsubjunctive (periphrastic w/ ptc.)→ present (durative)
ἐφ'inpreposition + dative (object of trust)
ἑαυτοῖςourselvesDativereflexive pronoun (object of ἐπί)ἑαυτοῦ: 'ourselves'; the false ground of confidence that the crisis demolished.
ἀλλ'butadversative conjunction
ἐπὶinpreposition + dative (object of trust)
τῷtheDativearticle
θεῷGodDativeobject of ἐπί (the true ground)θεός: God; the proper object of trust, set against self.
τῷthe (one)Dativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
ἐγείροντιwho raisesPres Act Ptc · Dat Sg Masc · ἐγείρωattributive participle (defines God)→ gnomic present (characteristic)ἐγείρω: 'raise up, awaken'; God characterized by resurrection power — the answer to a death-sentence is the God who raises the dead.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle
νεκρούςdeadAccusativedirect object of ptc. (substantival adj.)νεκρός: 'dead (one)'; the resurrection echoes a synagogue benediction ('who makes the dead alive') now read through the gospel.
10

ὃς ἐκ τηλικούτου θανάτου ἐρρύσατο ἡμᾶς καὶ ῥύσεται, εἰς ὃν ἠλπίκαμεν ὅτι καὶ ἔτι ῥύσεται,

who delivered us from so great a death and will deliver us; in him we have set our hope that he will yet deliver us,

Relative expansion (deliverance)ὃςA relative clause unfolds God's rescue across time — past, future, and continuing — grounding a settled hope that the same God will deliver again.
ὃςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject, antecedent θεῷ)
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation)
τηλικούτουso greatGenitiveattributive (demonstrative) adjectiveτηλικοῦτος: 'so great, of such size'; magnifies the deadly peril from which God rescued.
θανάτουdeathGenitiveobject of ἐκ (separation)θάνατος: 'death'; here the deadly danger, deliverance 'out of' it.
ἐρρύσατοhe deliveredAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ῥύομαιmain verb (past deliverance)→ constative aoristῥύομαι: 'rescue, deliver, draw to oneself out of danger'; the verb of God's saving rescue (cf. the Lord's Prayer, 'deliver us').
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ῥύσεταιhe will deliverFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ῥύομαιmain verb (future deliverance)→ predictive futureῥύομαι: the future affirms that past rescue is the pledge of future rescue.
εἰςinpreposition + accusative (object of hope)
ὃνwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of εἰς)
ἠλπίκαμενwe have hopedPerf Act Indic 1 Pl · ἐλπίζωmain verb (rel. clause)→ intensive perfect (settled hope)ἐλπίζω: 'hope, set hope on'; the perfect marks a hope fixed and abiding — 'we have come to hope and still do.'
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of hope)
καὶalsoadverbial conjunction
ἔτιstill/yetadverb (time)ἔτι: 'still, yet'; the deliverance will continue into the future, again and again.
ῥύσεταιhe will deliverFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ῥύομαιmain verb (content of hope)→ predictive futureῥύομαι: the threefold rescue (delivered–will deliver–will yet deliver) spans the whole of Paul's experience of God.
11

συνυπουργούντων καὶ ὑμῶν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν τῇ δεήσει, ἵνα ἐκ πολλῶν προσώπων τὸ εἰς ἡμᾶς χάρισμα διὰ πολλῶν εὐχαριστηθῇ ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν.

as you also join in helping us by your prayer, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gracious gift granted to us through many.

Means / purpose (intercession)asyndetonA genitive absolute folds the Corinthians into the rescue: their prayers are part of God's means, and the goal is widespread thanksgiving — the gift, the prayer, and the praise all multiply.
συνυπουργούντωνjoining in helpingPres Act Ptc · Gen Pl Masc · συνυπουργέωgenitive absolute (attendant circumstance)→ present (concurrent)συνυπουργέω: 'help together, lend joint aid' (σύν + ὑπό + ἔργον); a rare triple-compound — cooperating under, alongside Paul.
καὶalsoadverbial/ascensive conjunction
ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive subject of absolute participle
ὑπὲρforpreposition + genitive (advantage)
ἡμῶνusGenitiveobject of ὑπέρ
τῇtheDativearticle
δεήσειprayerDativedat. of means (instrument of help)δέησις: 'petition, entreaty'; specific request-prayer — the concrete form their help takes.
ἵναso thatconjunction + subjunctive (purpose)
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)
πολλῶνmanyGenitiveattributive adjectiveπολύς: 'many'; the breadth of the praying and thanking community.
προσώπωνpersons/facesGenitiveobject of ἐκ (source of thanks)πρόσωπον: 'face, person'; here 'many faces (lifted in thanks)' or 'many persons' — the term's ambiguity makes the clause grammatically dense.
τὸtheNominativearticle
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (recipient)
ἡμᾶςusAccusativeobject of εἰς (attributive: 'gift toward us')
χάρισμαgracious giftNominativesubject of εὐχαριστηθῇχάρισμα: 'gift of grace' (from χάρις); here the gift of deliverance/rescue, the object of the coming thanks.
διὰthroughpreposition + genitive (agency/means)
πολλῶνmanyGenitiveobject of διά (intermediate agency)πολύς: 'many'; the many through whose prayers the gift came and by whom thanks is rendered.
εὐχαριστηθῇmay be given thanksAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · εὐχαριστέωsubjunctive (purpose, w/ ἵνα)→ constative aoristεὐχαριστέω: 'give thanks'; the rare passive ('that thanks be given for the gift') — gratitude as the goal of God's rescue.
ὑπὲρon behalf ofpreposition + genitive (reference)
ἡμῶνusGenitiveobject of ὑπέρ
12

Ἡ γὰρ καύχησις ἡμῶν αὕτη ἐστίν, τὸ μαρτύριον τῆς συνειδήσεως ἡμῶν, ὅτι ἐν ἁπλότητι καὶ εἰλικρινείᾳ τοῦ θεοῦ, οὐκ ἐν σοφίᾳ σαρκικῇ ἀλλ' ἐν χάριτι θεοῦ, ἀνεστράφημεν ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ, περισσοτέρως δὲ πρὸς ὑμᾶς.

For this is our boast: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world, and still more toward you, with godly sincerity and purity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God.

Ground (Paul's integrity)γὰρA new movement defending Paul's conduct: his 'boast' is a clear conscience — sincerity and God-given grace, not fleshly cunning, governed his dealings, above all with Corinth.
theNominativearticle
γὰρforexplanatory conjunction
καύχησιςboastNominativesubjectκαύχησις: 'boasting, the act of glorying'; a major Corinthian theme — but Paul's boast is a clear conscience, not human credentials.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession
αὕτηthisNominativepredicate demonstrative (points forward)οὗτος: 'this'; cataphoric — points ahead to the conscience-testimony just defined.
ἐστίνisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (copula)→ stative present
τὸtheNominativearticle
μαρτύριονtestimonyNominativeapposition to αὕτη (the boast defined)μαρτύριον: 'testimony, witness'; the inner verdict of conscience as Paul's evidence.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle
συνειδήσεωςconscienceGenitivesubjective genitive (conscience testifies)συνείδησις: 'conscience, co-knowledge' (σύν + οἶδα); the inner faculty that judges one's own conduct.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of the testimony)
ἐνin/withpreposition + dative (manner)
ἁπλότητιsincerityDativedat. of mannerἁπλότης: 'simplicity, singleness, sincerity'; an undivided, transparent motive (some editions read ἁγιότητι, 'holiness').
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
εἰλικρινείᾳpurityDativedat. of manner (coordinate)εἰλικρίνεια: 'sincerity, purity' — often derived as 'tested by sunlight,' i.e. unmixed, with nothing to hide.
τοῦofGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of source/quality ('godly')θεός: the sincerity 'of God' — God-given and God-derived, not merely human.
οὐκnotnegative particle
ἐνinpreposition + dative (manner)
σοφίᾳwisdomDativedat. of manner (negated)σοφία: 'wisdom'; here the worldly cleverness Paul disavows (cf. 1 Cor 1–2).
σαρκικῇfleshlyDativeattributive adjectiveσαρκικός: 'fleshly, of the flesh'; characterized by mere human nature apart from the Spirit.
ἀλλ'butadversative conjunction
ἐνinpreposition + dative (manner/means)
χάριτιgraceDativedat. of manner/means (the positive ground)χάρις: 'grace'; God's enabling grace, not human wisdom, governed Paul's conduct.
θεοῦof GodGenitivegenitive of source
ἀνεστράφημενwe conducted ourselvesAor Pass Indic 1 Pl · ἀναστρέφωmain verb (ὅτι clause)→ constative aoristἀναστρέφω: 'turn about,' in the passive/middle 'conduct oneself, behave, live'; one's manner of life (cf. the noun ἀναστροφή).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)
τῷtheDativearticle
κόσμῳworldDativedat. of sphere (arena of conduct)κόσμος: 'world'; the public arena of Paul's whole way of life.
περισσοτέρωςmore abundantlyadverb (comparative, degree)περισσοτέρως: 'more abundantly, especially'; the integrity shown to all was shown 'still more' to the Corinthians.
δὲandconnective/contrastive conjunction
πρὸςtowardpreposition + accusative (relation)
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeobject of πρός
13

οὐ γὰρ ἄλλα γράφομεν ὑμῖν ἀλλ' ἢ ἃ ἀναγινώσκετε ἢ καὶ ἐπιγινώσκετε· ἐλπίζω δὲ ὅτι ἕως τέλους ἐπιγνώσεσθε,

For we write you nothing other than what you read or also understand; and I hope that you will understand fully to the end,

Ground (transparency)γὰρPaul's writing matches his integrity: no hidden agenda, nothing between the lines — a wordplay on reading/understanding presses for full, lasting comprehension.
οὐnotnegative particle
γὰρforexplanatory conjunction
ἄλλαother thingsAccusativedirect object (substantival adj.)ἄλλος: 'other'; Paul writes no 'other' or hidden meaning than the plain text.
γράφομενwe writePres Act Indic 1 Pl · γράφωmain verb→ present (epistolary/ongoing)γράφω: 'write'; of the present letter — its words mean exactly what they say.
ὑμῖνto youDativeindirect object
ἀλλ'butadversative conjunction (ἀλλ' ἤ = 'except')ἀλλ' ἤ: idiom, 'except, other than.'
thanparticle (part of ἀλλ' ἤ idiom)
whatAccusativerelative pronoun (object of the verbs)
ἀναγινώσκετεyou readPres Act Indic 2 Pl · ἀναγινώσκωmain verb (rel. clause)→ present (customary)ἀναγινώσκω: 'read' (lit. 'know again'); plays on γινώσκω — what you 'read' you also 'know.'
ordisjunctive conjunction
καὶalsoadverbial conjunction
ἐπιγινώσκετεyou understandPres Act Indic 2 Pl · ἐπιγινώσκωmain verb (rel. clause)→ present (customary)ἐπιγινώσκω: 'recognize, understand fully' (ἐπί-intensive of γινώσκω); fuller knowledge than mere reading.
ἐλπίζωI hopePres Act Indic 1 Sg · ἐλπίζωmain verb→ present (ongoing)ἐλπίζω: 'hope, expect'; the personal hope that present understanding will become complete and lasting.
δὲandconnective conjunction
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of hope)
ἕωςtopreposition + genitive (extent)
τέλουςthe endGenitiveobject of ἕως (extent of time)τέλος: 'end, goal'; 'to the end' — perhaps the end of the matter, or finally/fully.
ἐπιγνώσεσθεyou will understandFut Mid Indic 2 Pl · ἐπιγινώσκωmain verb (content of hope)→ predictive futureἐπιγινώσκω: the future of full recognition — Paul hopes for complete mutual understanding.
14

καθὼς καὶ ἐπέγνωτε ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ μέρους, ὅτι καύχημα ὑμῶν ἐσμεν καθάπερ καὶ ὑμεῖς ἡμῶν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ.

as you have understood us in part, that we are your boast just as you also are ours on the day of our Lord Jesus.

Correspondence (mutual boasting)καθὼςTheir partial understanding already grasps a mutual relationship: apostle and church are each other's ground of boasting — a bond to be vindicated on the Day of the Lord.
καθὼςascomparative conjunctionκαθώς: 'just as'; links the hoped-for full understanding to the partial one already attained.
καὶindeedadverbial conjunction
ἐπέγνωτεyou understoodAor Act Indic 2 Pl · ἐπιγινώσκωmain verb→ constative aoristἐπιγινώσκω: the aorist of a recognition already achieved, if only partly.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object
ἀπὸinpreposition + genitive (ἀπὸ μέρους = 'in part')
μέρουςpartGenitiveobject of ἀπό (idiom 'partly')μέρος: 'part, portion'; ἀπὸ μέρους = 'in part, partially' — their understanding is real but incomplete.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of understanding)
καύχημαboastNominativepredicate nominativeκαύχημα: 'object/ground of boasting' (vs. καύχησις, the act); the apostle is the church's pride, and vice versa.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession
ἐσμενwe arePres Act Indic 1 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (copula)→ stative present
καθάπερjust ascomparative conjunction (emphatic)καθάπερ: 'exactly as'; a strengthened καθώς, stressing the reciprocity.
καὶalsoadverbial conjunction
ὑμεῖςyouNominativesubject (emphatic; 'are' understood)
ἡμῶνoursGenitivegenitive of possession (predicate)
ἐνonpreposition + dative (time)
τῇtheDativearticle
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedat. of time (when the boast is vindicated)ἡμέρα: 'day'; 'the Day of the Lord Jesus' — the eschatological day of Christ's coming and assessment.
τοῦofGenitivearticle
κυρίουLordGenitivegenitive (possessive: the Lord's day)κύριος: 'Lord'; the OT 'Day of the LORD' now centered on Jesus.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship
ἸησοῦJesusGenitiveapposition
15

Καὶ ταύτῃ τῇ πεποιθήσει ἐβουλόμην πρότερον πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐλθεῖν, ἵνα δευτέραν χάριν σχῆτε,

And in this confidence I intended to come to you first, so that you might have a second grace,

Transition (travel plan)ΚαὶA new movement defending Paul's changed itinerary: confident of their goodwill, he had planned to visit them on the way and on the way back, doubling their benefit.
Καὶandcoordinating conjunction (transitional)
ταύτῃthisDativeattributive demonstrativeοὗτος: 'this'; the confidence just expressed (the mutual boasting) is the basis of the plan.
τῇtheDativearticle
πεποιθήσειconfidenceDativedat. of cause/mannerπεποίθησις: 'confidence, trust' (from πέποιθα); reliance on their affection emboldened the plan.
ἐβουλόμηνI intendedImpf Mid Indic 1 Sg · βούλομαιmain verb→ imperfect (past purpose, now altered)βούλομαι: 'wish, intend, plan'; the imperfect marks a former intention not carried out as stated.
πρότερονfirst/earlieradverb (time/order)πρότερον: 'earlier, first'; the planned first leg of a two-stage visit.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeobject of πρός
ἐλθεῖνto comeAor Act Inf · ἔρχομαιcomplementary infinitive (of ἐβουλόμην)→ constative aoristἔρχομαι: 'come, go'; the content of the intended plan.
ἵναso thatconjunction + subjunctive (purpose)
δευτέρανsecondAccusativeattributive (ordinal) adjectiveδεύτερος: 'second'; a 'second grace/benefit' — a double visit doubling the blessing.
χάρινgrace/benefitAccusativedirect object (of σχῆτε)χάρις: here 'favor, benefit, gracious gift' — the good a visit would bring them.
σχῆτεyou might haveAor Act Subj 2 Pl · ἔχωsubjunctive (purpose, w/ ἵνα)→ ingressive aoristἔχω: 'have, receive'; the ingressive aorist — 'come to have' the second benefit.
16

καὶ δι' ὑμῶν διελθεῖν εἰς Μακεδονίαν, καὶ πάλιν ἀπὸ Μακεδονίας ἐλθεῖν πρὸς ὑμᾶς καὶ ὑφ' ὑμῶν προπεμφθῆναι εἰς τὴν Ἰουδαίαν.

and to pass through you into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and to be sent on by you to Judea.

Itinerary (specification)καὶThe concrete route spells out the doubled visit: through Corinth to Macedonia, back through Corinth, then on to Judea — the plan whose alteration provoked the charge of fickleness.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
δι'throughpreposition + genitive (route)
ὑμῶνyouGenitiveobject of διά (route through Corinth)
διελθεῖνto pass throughAor Act Inf · διέρχομαιinfinitive (coordinate w/ ἐλθεῖν, v.15)→ constative aoristδιέρχομαι: 'go through, pass through' (διά + ἔρχομαι); of passing through Corinth en route.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)
ΜακεδονίανMacedoniaAccusativeobject of εἰς (destination)Μακεδονία: Macedonia, the northern Roman province (Philippi, Thessalonica); the next stage of the journey.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
πάλινagainadverb (repetition)πάλιν: 'again, back'; the return leg of the double visit.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source)
ΜακεδονίαςMacedoniaGenitiveobject of ἀπό (point of departure)
ἐλθεῖνto comeAor Act Inf · ἔρχομαιinfinitive (coordinate)→ constative aoristἔρχομαι: 'come'; the return to Corinth on the way back.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeobject of πρός
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ὑφ'bypreposition + genitive (agency)
ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive of agency (object of ὑπό)
προπεμφθῆναιto be sent onAor Pass Inf · προπέμπωinfinitive (coordinate)→ constative aoristπροπέμπω: 'send forward, help on one's way' (with provisions/escort); a near-technical term for sponsoring a missionary's journey.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
ἸουδαίανJudeaAccusativeobject of εἰς (final destination)Ἰουδαία: Judea; the final goal — likely the Jerusalem collection delivery.
17

τοῦτο οὖν βουλόμενος μήτι ἄρα τῇ ἐλαφρίᾳ ἐχρησάμην; ἢ ἃ βουλεύομαι κατὰ σάρκα βουλεύομαι, ἵνα ᾖ παρ' ἐμοὶ τὸ Ναὶ ναὶ καὶ τὸ Οὒ οὔ;

When I intended this, then, did I act with fickleness? Or do I make my plans according to the flesh, so that with me it should be 'Yes, yes' and 'No, no' at once?

Rhetorical question (charge raised)οὖνPaul voices the accusation rhetorically: did changing the plan prove him fickle, a man whose word is unreliable, saying Yes and No in the same breath? Two questions expecting 'No.'
τοῦτοthisAccusativedirect object (of βουλόμενος)οὗτος: 'this'; the plan just described.
οὖνtheninferential conjunction
βουλόμενοςintendingPres Mid Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · βούλομαιtemporal/causal participle→ present (concurrent)βούλομαι: 'intend, plan'; 'when I was intending this' — the act of planning is in view.
μήτιsurely notinterrogative particle (expects 'No')μήτι: interrogative particle anticipating a negative answer — 'I didn't, did I?'
ἄραtheninferential particleἄρα: 'then, consequently'; sharpens the rhetorical force.
τῇtheDativearticle
ἐλαφρίᾳficklenessDativedat. of means/mannerἐλαφρία: 'levity, fickleness, vacillation' (from ἐλαφρός, 'light'); the lightness of an unreliable character.
ἐχρησάμηνdid I act/useAor Mid Indic 1 Sg · χράομαιmain verb (first question)→ constative aoristχράομαι: 'use, employ, act'; 'did I use fickleness?' = did I behave irresponsibly?
ordisjunctive conjunction (second question)
whatAccusativerelative pronoun (object of βουλεύομαι)
βουλεύομαιI planPres Mid Indic 1 Sg · βουλεύομαιmain verb (rel. clause)→ customary presentβουλεύομαι: 'deliberate, resolve, plan' (mid.); of forming purposes/decisions.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (standard)
σάρκαfleshAccusativeobject of κατά (standard/norm)σάρξ: 'flesh'; here self-interested, merely human calculation — making plans by worldly self-will.
βουλεύομαιdo I planPres Mid Indic 1 Sg · βουλεύομαιmain verb (resumes the question)→ customary presentβουλεύομαι: the repeated verb sharpens the charge — do I plan as a mere worldling?
ἵναso thatconjunction + subjunctive (result/purpose)
it should bePres Act Subj 3 Sg · εἰμίsubjunctive (w/ ἵνα)→ present (durative)
παρ'withpreposition + dative (in someone's case)
ἐμοὶmeDativeobject of παρά ('with me, in my case')
τὸtheNominativearticle (substantizes 'Yes')
ΝαὶYesNominativesubject (articular particle as noun)ναί: 'yes'; the affirmation that should mean what it says.
ναὶyesparticle (doubled for emphasis)ναί: the doubling 'Yes, yes' depicts a vacillating, double-tongued word.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τὸtheNominativearticle (substantizes 'No')
ΟὒNoNominativesubject (articular particle as noun)οὔ: 'no'; the negation set against the affirmation.
οὔnoparticle (doubled for emphasis)οὔ: 'No, no' — a self-contradicting word that affirms and denies at once.
18

πιστὸς δὲ ὁ θεὸς ὅτι ὁ λόγος ἡμῶν ὁ πρὸς ὑμᾶς οὐκ ἔστιν Ναὶ καὶ Οὔ.

But as God is faithful, our word to you is not 'Yes and No.'

Answer (oath/denial)δὲThe denial, sworn on God's faithfulness: Paul's preaching and word were never a self-cancelling Yes-and-No. God's own reliability stands behind the apostle's.
πιστὸςfaithfulNominativepredicate adj. (verbless clause / oath)πιστός: 'faithful, trustworthy'; 'God is faithful' functions as an oath-asseveration guaranteeing what follows.
δὲbutcontrastive conjunction
theNominativearticle
θεὸςGodNominativesubject
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of the oath)
theNominativearticle
λόγοςwordNominativesubject (ὅτι clause)λόγος: 'word, message'; both Paul's spoken promise and his gospel preaching.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession
the (one)Nominativearticle (with prep. phrase, attributive)
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeobject of πρός
οὐκnotnegative particle
ἔστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (copula)→ stative present
ΝαὶYesNominativepredicate (particle as noun)ναί: 'yes'; the affirmation that does not coexist with its denial in Paul's word.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ΟὔNoNominativepredicate (particle as noun)οὔ: 'no'; Paul's word is not a simultaneous Yes-and-No.
19

ὁ τοῦ θεοῦ γὰρ υἱὸς Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς ὁ ἐν ὑμῖν δι' ἡμῶν κηρυχθείς, δι' ἐμοῦ καὶ Σιλουανοῦ καὶ Τιμοθέου, οὐκ ἐγένετο Ναὶ καὶ Οὒ ἀλλὰ Ναὶ ἐν αὐτῷ γέγονεν.

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed among you by us — by me and Silvanus and Timothy — was not 'Yes and No,' but in him it has always been 'Yes.'

Ground (christological)γὰρThe ground of Paul's reliability is the gospel's own content: the proclaimed Son of God is no ambiguous figure but God's unqualified 'Yes' — the messengers' steadiness mirrors their message.
theNominativearticle
τοῦofGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of relationship (Son of God)θεός: God; the Son's divine sonship — the gospel's central figure.
γὰρforexplanatory conjunction
υἱὸςSonNominativesubjectυἱός: 'Son'; the proclaimed Son of God is the gospel's subject and the guarantee of its constancy.
ἸησοῦςJesusNominativeapposition to υἱός
ΧριστὸςChristNominativeapposition
the (one)Nominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (sphere)
ὑμῖνyouDativeobject of ἐν (among you)
δι'bypreposition + genitive (agency)
ἡμῶνusGenitivegenitive of agency (object of διά)
κηρυχθείςwho was proclaimedAor Pass Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · κηρύσσωattributive participle→ constative aoristκηρύσσω: 'proclaim, herald'; the verb of gospel preaching — the apostolic announcement of the Son.
δι'bypreposition + genitive (agency)
ἐμοῦmeGenitivegenitive of agency (object of διά)
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ΣιλουανοῦSilvanusGenitivegenitive of agency (coordinate)Σιλουανός: Silvanus (Silas), Paul's companion in the founding mission to Corinth (cf. Acts 18:5).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ΤιμοθέουTimothyGenitivegenitive of agency (coordinate)Τιμόθεος: Timothy, the co-sender (v.1), also among the founding preachers.
οὐκnotnegative particle
ἐγένετοwas/becameAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb→ constative aoristγίνομαι: 'become, prove to be'; the proclaimed Christ never turned out to be a Yes-and-No.
ΝαὶYesNominativepredicate (particle as noun)ναί: 'yes'.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ΟὒNoNominativepredicate (particle as noun)οὔ: 'no'.
ἀλλὰbutadversative conjunction
ΝαὶYesNominativepredicate (particle as noun)ναί: the divine 'Yes' — in Christ all is affirmation, fulfillment, faithfulness.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)
αὐτῷhimDativeobject of ἐν (in Christ)
γέγονενit has come to bePerf Act Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb→ intensive perfect (abiding result)γίνομαι (perf.): the perfect marks the abiding state — in Christ the 'Yes' has come and stands established.
20

ὅσαι γὰρ ἐπαγγελίαι θεοῦ, ἐν αὐτῷ τὸ Ναί· διὸ καὶ δι' αὐτοῦ τὸ Ἀμὴν τῷ θεῷ πρὸς δόξαν δι' ἡμῶν.

For as many as are the promises of God, in him they are 'Yes'; therefore also through him is the 'Amen,' to the glory of God through us.

Ground (promise fulfilled)γὰρThe climactic ground: every divine promise meets its 'Yes' in Christ, and through him the worshiping 'Amen' rises — God's faithfulness, the church's response, and God's glory all converge in Christ.
ὅσαιas many asNominativecorrelative relative adjectiveὅσος: 'as many as, however many'; all-inclusive — there is no divine promise that escapes its fulfillment in Christ.
γὰρforexplanatory conjunction
ἐπαγγελίαιpromisesNominativesubjectἐπαγγελία: 'promise'; the OT covenant promises of God, all confirmed in Christ.
θεοῦof GodGenitivesubjective/possessive genitive
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)
αὐτῷhimDativeobject of ἐν (in Christ)
τὸtheNominativearticle (substantizes 'Yes')
ΝαίYesNominativepredicate (particle as noun; 'is' understood)ναί: the divine 'Yes' — every promise finds its affirmation and fulfillment in Christ.
διὸthereforeinferential conjunctionδιό: 'therefore' (διʼ ὅ); draws the worshipful consequence.
καὶalsoadverbial conjunction
δι'throughpreposition + genitive (mediation)
αὐτοῦhimGenitiveobject of διά (through Christ)
τὸtheNominativearticle (substantizes 'Amen')
ἈμὴνAmenNominativesubject (transliterated particle as noun)ἀμήν: Hebrew 'amen' ('truly, so be it'); the congregation's worshipful affirmation of God's faithful 'Yes.'
τῷtoDativearticle
θεῷGodDativedat. of advantage/recipient (Amen to God)θεός: God; the Amen is offered to God in worship.
πρὸςto/forpreposition + accusative (goal)
δόξανgloryAccusativeobject of πρός (purpose/goal)δόξα: 'glory'; the ultimate aim — God's glory, served by the Amen rendered through Christ.
δι'throughpreposition + genitive (agency)
ἡμῶνusGenitivegenitive of agency (object of διά)the Amen ascends 'through us' — the apostolic ministry is the channel of the church's worship.
21

ὁ δὲ βεβαιῶν ἡμᾶς σὺν ὑμῖν εἰς Χριστὸν καὶ χρίσας ἡμᾶς θεός,

Now it is God who establishes us together with you in Christ and who anointed us,

Theological grounding (God's work)δὲThe argument's foundation: it is God himself who makes apostle and church stand firm in Christ — the confirming, anointing God whose work guarantees the reliability just claimed.
the (one)Nominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
δὲnowtransitional/developmental conjunction
βεβαιῶνwho establishesPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · βεβαιόωsubstantival participle (predicate w/ θεός)→ customary presentβεβαιόω: 'make firm, confirm, establish' (cf. βέβαιος, v.7); God secures believers on a firm footing — perhaps with legal overtones of guaranteeing.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object
σὺνwithpreposition + dative (association)
ὑμῖνyouDativeobject of σύν (association)
εἰςin/intopreposition + accusative (reference/union)
ΧριστὸνChristAccusativeobject of εἰς (the sphere of establishment)Χριστός: union 'into Christ' — the secure standing is in him alone.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
χρίσαςwho anointedAor Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · χρίωsubstantival participle (coordinate)→ constative aoristχρίω: 'anoint'; the verb behind Χριστός — believers, united to the Anointed One, are themselves anointed (with the Spirit).
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object
θεόςGodNominativesubject (the one doing all the above)θεός: God; the emphatic subject — every verb of security and anointing is his act.
22

ὁ καὶ σφραγισάμενος ἡμᾶς καὶ δοὺς τὸν ἀρραβῶνα τοῦ πνεύματος ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἡμῶν.

who also sealed us and gave the down payment of the Spirit in our hearts.

Continuation (God's work)asyndetonTwo further divine acts complete the chain: God sealed believers as his own and gave the Spirit as the down payment — the guarantee that the divine 'Yes' will be fully made good.
the (one)Nominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
καὶalsoadverbial conjunction
σφραγισάμενοςwho sealedAor Mid Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · σφραγίζωsubstantival participle (coordinate w/ v.21)→ constative aoristσφραγίζω: 'seal, mark with a seal'; a seal denotes ownership, authentication, and protection — believers stamped as God's own.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
δοὺςwho gaveAor Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · δίδωμιsubstantival participle (coordinate)→ constative aoristδίδωμι: 'give'; God's gift of the Spirit as the present installment of future glory.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
ἀρραβῶναdown paymentAccusativedirect objectἀρραβών: 'pledge, down payment, first installment' (a Semitic loanword; in modern Greek, 'engagement ring'); a deposit guaranteeing the full payment to come.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle
πνεύματοςSpiritGenitivegenitive of apposition (the Spirit as the deposit)πνεῦμα: 'Spirit'; the Holy Spirit himself is the down payment — God's own presence as pledge.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)
ταῖςtheDativearticle
καρδίαιςheartsDativedat. of place (inner location)καρδία: 'heart'; the inner self — the seat where the Spirit is given and felt.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession
23

Ἐγὼ δὲ μάρτυρα τὸν θεὸν ἐπικαλοῦμαι ἐπὶ τὴν ἐμὴν ψυχήν, ὅτι φειδόμενος ὑμῶν οὐκέτι ἦλθον εἰς Κόρινθον.

But I call upon God as witness against my own soul, that it was to spare you that I did not come again to Corinth.

Oath / explanation (the real reason)δὲReturning to the changed plan, Paul swears a solemn oath: his failure to return was no fickleness but mercy — he stayed away to spare them a painful confrontation.
ἘγὼINominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)ἐγώ: the emphatic 'I' — Paul stakes himself personally on the oath.
δὲbuttransitional/contrastive conjunction
μάρτυραwitnessAccusativeobject complement (calls God 'as witness')μάρτυς: 'witness'; God is summoned to testify — the gravest possible attestation of truth.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
θεὸνGodAccusativedirect object (of ἐπικαλοῦμαι)
ἐπικαλοῦμαιI call uponPres Mid Indic 1 Sg · ἐπικαλέωmain verb→ present (performative)ἐπικαλέω (mid.): 'call upon, invoke'; the verb of solemn invocation — here invoking God to witness.
ἐπὶagainstpreposition + accusative (basis/risk)
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
ἐμὴνmy ownAccusativeattributive (possessive) adjectiveἐμός: 'my own'; the oath puts Paul's own life at stake if he lies.
ψυχήνsoul/lifeAccusativeobject of ἐπί (what is staked)ψυχή: 'soul, life'; 'against my soul' — may God judge me if I do not speak truly.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of the oath)
φειδόμενοςsparingPres Mid Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · φείδομαιcausal participle (the reason)→ present (concurrent)φείδομαι: 'spare, refrain from'; mercy, not vacillation, kept Paul away — sparing them grief.
ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive object (of φειδόμενος)
οὐκέτιno longer/not againadverb (negation of time)οὐκέτι: 'no longer, not again'; he did not make the further (painful) visit.
ἦλθονI cameAor Act Indic 1 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (ὅτι clause)→ constative aoristἔρχομαι: 'come'; the visit not made — the fact under explanation.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)
ΚόρινθονCorinthAccusativeobject of εἰς (destination)Κόρινθος: Corinth; the destination of the visit Paul deliberately postponed.
24

οὐχ ὅτι κυριεύομεν ὑμῶν τῆς πίστεως, ἀλλὰ συνεργοί ἐσμεν τῆς χαρᾶς ὑμῶν, τῇ γὰρ πίστει ἑστήκατε.

Not that we lord it over your faith, but we are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand firm.

Clarification (apostolic posture)asyndetonLest 'sparing' sound like domineering, Paul defines the apostolic role: not lords over faith but co-workers for joy — for the Corinthians stand by their own faith, not by Paul's authority.
οὐχnotnegative particle
ὅτιthatconjunction (οὐχ ὅτι = 'not that')οὐχ ὅτι: idiom, 'not that, not as though'; pre-empts a possible misunderstanding.
κυριεύομενwe lord it overPres Act Indic 1 Pl · κυριεύωmain verb (negated)→ present (durative)κυριεύω: 'rule over, be lord of' (from κύριος); the domineering posture Paul disclaims — he is no tyrant over their faith.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive (possessor of the faith)
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
πίστεωςfaithGenitivegenitive object (of κυριεύομεν)πίστις: 'faith'; the believers' own trust, over which Paul refuses to play master.
ἀλλὰbutadversative conjunction
συνεργοίfellow workersNominativepredicate nominativeσυνεργός: 'fellow worker, co-laborer' (σύν + ἔργον); the apostle works alongside, not above, the church.
ἐσμενwe arePres Act Indic 1 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (copula)→ stative present
τῆςof theGenitivearticle
χαρᾶςjoyGenitiveobjective genitive (workers for joy)χαρά: 'joy'; the apostolic aim — not domination but the increase of the church's joy.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession
τῇby theDativearticle
γὰρforexplanatory conjunction
πίστειfaithDativedat. of means/cause (by faith)πίστις: 'faith'; the Corinthians stand 'by faith' — their own faith, not Paul's lordship, is their footing.
ἑστήκατεyou standPerf Act Indic 2 Pl · ἵστημιmain verb (γάρ clause)→ intensive perfect (present standing)ἵστημι (perf. ἕστηκα): 'stand, stand firm'; the perfect with present force — 'you are standing, established.' Their stability is by faith.