The God and Father of the Lord Jesus: this is a repetition of the same basic formula used at the beginning of this letter (1.3) and elsewhere (Rom 15.6; Eph 1.3; 1 Peter 1.3). It is used here to emphasize the solemnity of what Paul is about to say. See discussion under 1.3.

When Paul says I do not lie, he is not speaking in general terms but is referring specifically to what he says in this part of the letter. For that reason the English translation “I am not lying” or “I am speaking the truth” (God’s New Covenant) is preferable to “I do not lie.” Probably he is referring to the previous verses, but some interpreters think he is pointing ahead to story he tells in the next two verses. Either seems equally possible.

Both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation are ambiguous as to whether it is God or Jesus who is blessed for ever. The Greek is clear: God is blessed for ever. Revised English Bible removes the ambiguity in English: “He who is blessed for ever, the God and Father of the Lord Jesus.” As in 1.3, to “bless” means to praise, honor, or glorify. The passive idea will have to be rendered actively in many languages. So the whole verse may read something like “We always praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus forever! For he knows that I am telling the truth.” Or, transposing the two main elements of the verse, “God, the Father of the Lord Jesus, knows that I am not lying. May his name receive honor forever!”

This whole verse is a rather complicated formula used as an oath to guarantee that what has been said is absolutely true. It serves the same purpose as certain expressions in the Muslim world in which the name of Allah is mentioned to support the truth of something said.

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 .