Paul uses this question to acknowledge something that the people may have been thinking. He does this so that he can assure them that it is not true. Alternate translation: "Perhaps you think that all of this time we have been defending ourselves to you." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion]])
This represents the presence of God. Paul and his coworkers teach the Corinthians with the awareness that God is watching them. Alternate translation: "Before God" or "With God as witness" or "In the presence of God" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])
"to strengthen you." Paul speaks of knowing how to obey God and desiring to obey him as if it were physical growth. Alternate translation: "so that you would know God and obey him better" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])