Finally: the word so translated is often used to mark the transition to the conclusion of one of Paul’s letters (compare, for example, 1 Thes 4.1 and 2 Thes 3.1). Several versions translate as Good News Translation “and now” (New American Bible, Revised English Bible). New Jerusalem Bible has “to end then….” Others may say “in conclusion” or “now let me finish my letter by saying….”
On brethren see comments on 1.8.
Paul makes four final appeals to the Corinthians: Mend your ways, heed my appeal, agree with one another, and live in peace. If the first verb (farewell in Revised Standard Version) is also an imperative, then Paul makes five final appeals.
The Greek word translated as farewell in many translations (Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New International Version, Bible en français courant) is the same word that is frequently translated as “rejoice.” In form this verb may be an imperative, as are the following four verbs in verse 11, or an indicative mood verb that simply states a fact. Numerous translations take this verb as an imperative and translate it as “rejoice” (Anchor Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Nueva Biblia Española, Luther 1984). Though this same Greek word is commonly used at the beginning of letters to mean “greetings,” there is no solid evidence that it was ever used at the conclusion of a letter to mean “good-bye.” The translation “rejoice” seems preferable.
Mend your ways may be understood in either of two ways: (1) it may refer to something that the Corinthians are to do actively themselves, as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation; or (2) it may be understood in a passive sense. If passive (so King James Version, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Luther 1984), the sense is “be restored [or, perfected] [by God? by Paul?].” But it is difficult to see why Paul would appeal to them with regard to something over which they have no control. It seems much more likely that the meaning found in the majority of English versions (Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New American Bible, Revised English Bible) is the correct understanding of the text. The sense is then “correct the wrong behavior” or “put things in order” (New Revised Standard Version). The verb Mend your ways is from the same root as the noun translated improvement in 2 Cor. 13.9 (see comments there).
Heed my appeal: the words so translated have two possible meanings: (1) “be exhorted” or (2) “exhort one another.” Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation both choose the first option and translate this verb as passive in meaning, that is, “be exhorted by me” (so also New International Version, Revised English Bible, Luther 1984), even though the form in English is not passive. The other option is, however, equally possible in the context, since Paul is encouraging the readers to live in harmony. In this case the meaning is “encourage one another” (New Jerusalem Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Martin, and Barrett). While both interpretations are quite possible, translators will probably want to follow the example of Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation and translate something like “pay attention to what I have said.”
Agree with one another is literally “think the same.” Revised Standard Version translates the same expression as “to live in harmony with one another” in Rom 15.5, and as “be of the same mind” in Phil 2.2.
Live in peace: Paul uses the same verb in Rom 12.18, where he urges the Roman Christians to “live in peace with all people,” and in 1 Thes 5.13, where he exhorts the Thessalonian Christians to “live in peace with one another.” Here in 2 Corinthians Paul does not specify whether they are to live in peace with non-Christians or among themselves, though the latter seems more likely in the context (so Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). If the receptor language requires a choice, it is therefore probably better to say “live in peace with each other” or “have peace with one other.”
God of love and peace: Contemporary English Version says “God, who gives love and peace.” But perhaps the meaning is not only that God creates love and peace among the believers, but that he also is characterized by love and peace. If translators must decide between these two interpretations, they may choose either as being in agreement with Paul’s theology.
Translators in some languages will need to be careful lest the translation suggest that for Paul there is another god (or other gods) who is not the source of love and peace.
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 .