Paul’s reason for writing as he has is not to defend himself but to insure that the church at Corinth will be what it ought to be. The first sentence of verse 19 may be translated as a question as in Revised Standard Version (so also Bible en français courant, New Revised Standard Version, New International Version, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible), or as a statement as in Good News Translation (so also New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible).

Some manuscripts have the word “again” (see King James Version) in place of all along. The two words are quite similar in spelling in Greek, and the editors of the UBS Greek New Testament follow the more difficult reading (“all along”), which is also supported by the best manuscripts.

In the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ: these same words occur in 2.17 (see comments there). Revised English Bible says “speaking as Christians.” On the meaning and translation of in Christ, see comments on 1.21.

And all for your upbuilding: the Greek contains no verb in this part of the verse. Should one repeat the verb have been speaking, that is, “all that we have been speaking is for your upbuilding”? Or should one supply a different verb such as “we do,” as in Good News Translation? The word all seems to suggest that Paul is referring not just to what he says (Revised Standard Version) but also to what he does (Good News Translation).

Your upbuilding: Paul and his companions are the ones who build up or edify the Corinthians. Good News Translation makes this explicit by using a verb with subject (“we”) and object (“you”).

Beloved: see the comment on 7.1. Good News Translation says “dear friends.” Some languages will require a possessive pronoun here. The context permits either “my dear friends” or “our dear friends.” In most languages this term of address will probably fit better at the beginning of the sentence rather than at the end (Revised Standard Version) or the middle (Good News Translation).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellingworth, Paul. A Handbook on Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .