OET interlinear 2COR 12:11

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

γέγονα ἄφρων

˱I˲_/have/_become foolish

Here Paul means that he has spoken in foolish ways in the previous several chapters. He does not mean that he is always a foolish person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “I have been talking in foolish ways”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὑμεῖς με ἠναγκάσατε

you_all me compelled

Here Paul means is that reason why he had to speak in foolish ways is that the Corinthians were behaving wrongly. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “the way you are acting has compelled me to do so” or “how you are behaving has made me act this way”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / rpronouns

ὑμεῖς με ἠναγκάσατε

you_all me compelled

Here, the word translated yourselves emphasizes you. Consider using a natural way to emphasize you in your language. Alternate translation: “you indeed compelled me” or “it is you who compelled me”

Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γὰρ

for

Here, the word For introduces an explanation of how the Corinthians compelled Paul to be foolish. He goes on to explain that they should have been commending him, but they have not done so. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different word or phrase that introduces an explanation. Alternate translation: “That is because” or “You compelled me because, although it has not happened,”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἐγὼ & ὤφειλον ὑφ’ ὑμῶν συνίστασθαι

I & /was/_ought by you_all /to_be_being/_commended

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “you ought to commend me”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὑστέρησα

˱I˲_being_deficient

Here Paul could be using the past tense because: (1) he is referring to the time when he was with the Corinthians. Alternate translation: “when I visited you, I lacked” (2) he is speaking of what is generally true. Alternate translation: “I lack”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / doublenegatives

οὐδὲν & ὑστέρησα τῶν ὑπέρλίαν ἀποστόλων

nothing & ˱I˲_being_deficient ˱of˲_the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: γέγονα ἄφρων ὑμεῖς με ἠναγκάσατε ἐγὼ γὰρ ὤφειλον ὑφʼ ὑμῶν συνίστασθαι οὐδὲν γὰρ ὑστέρησα τῶν ὑπερλίαν ἀποστόλων εἰ καὶ οὐδέν εἰμι)

If it would be clearer in your language, you could use a positive expression to translate this double negative that consists of the negative verb lacked and the negative word nothing. Alternate translation: “I have everything that the ‘super-apostles’ have” or “I am just as good as the ‘super-apostles’”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / irony

τῶν ὑπέρλίαν ἀποστόλων

˱of˲_the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: γέγονα ἄφρων ὑμεῖς με ἠναγκάσατε ἐγὼ γὰρ ὤφειλον ὑφʼ ὑμῶν συνίστασθαι οὐδὲν γὰρ ὑστέρησα τῶν ὑπερλίαν ἀποστόλων εἰ καὶ οὐδέν εἰμι)

Here Paul refers to his opponents, the false teachers, with the words that they themselves or their followers used to describe them: “super-apostles”. He does not actually believe that these people are better apostles or greater than anyone else. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a form that indicates that Paul is speaking from someone else’s perspective to make a point. See how you translated the similar phrase in 11:5. Alternate translation: “of the so-called ‘super-apostles’” or “of those who consider themselves ‘super-apostles’”

Note 9 topic: grammar-connect-condition-fact

εἰ καὶ

if even

Paul speaks as if this were a hypothetical situation, but he means that it is true. If your language does not state something as a condition if it is certain or true, and if your readers might think that what Paul is saying is uncertain, then you could use a word or phrase that introduces something that is contrasting but true. Alternate translation: “although” or “despite the fact that”

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

οὐδέν εἰμι

nothing ˱I˲_am

Here Paul speaks as if he were actually nothing. What he means is that he himself is not great or powerful at all without Christ working through him. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: “I am worthless on my own” or “I myself have no power or authority”