uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

ἀρχόμεθα & ἑαυτοὺς & μὴ χρῄζομεν

˱we˲_/are/_beginning & ourselves & not ˱we˲_/are/_needing

Here, just as in 2:14–15, 17, the word we does not include the Corinthians. It could refer to: (1) Paul and those who proclaim the gospel with him. Alternate translation: “Are we who preach beginning … ourselves … we do not need … do we” (2) just Paul. Alternate translation: “Am I beginning … myself … I do not need … do I”

1 

2 Corinthians 3 General Notes

Structure and Formatting

4. Paul’s ministry (2:14–7:4) * Qualification for ministry (3:1–6) * Ministry of Moses and ministry of Paul (3:7–4:6)

Special Concepts in this Chapter

Letters of recommendation

In 3:1–3, Paul refers to “letters of recommendation.” These were letters that a person carried with them when they traveled to a new place. Someone that the traveler knew would write that the traveler could be trusted and should be welcomed, and the traveler would give this letter to people that he or she visited. If something like this is not a common practice in your culture, you may need to explain it for your readers in a footnote. (See: letter)

Letter and Spirit

In 3:6–8, Paul contrasts “letter” and “Spirit.” In these verses, the word “letter” refers to written characters, and the word “Spirit” refers to the Holy Spirit. Paul’s point is that whatever is characterized by the “letter” is something that is only written down and does not have any power. Whatever is characterized by the “Spirit” has power and can change people. Although it also might be written down, the “Spirit” gives it power. Paul uses this contrast to describe one of the differences between the old covenant (“letter”) and the new covenant (“Spirit”). Consider a natural way to express this contrast in your language.

Glory

Throughout this chapter, Paul speaks extensively of “glory.” He indicates that the old covenant and ministry had glory, but the new covenant and ministry have much more glory. The word “glory” refers to how great, powerful, and amazing someone or something is. Consider how to express this idea throughout the chapter. (See: glory)

Veiling of the glory on Moses’ face

In 3:7, 13, Paul refers to a story about what happened when Moses received the Ten Commandments from God. Because he met God and spoke with him, Moses’ face became bright or shining. Because of that, Moses would cover his face with a veil or cloth when he was with the Israelites after he spoke with God. You can read this story in Exodus 34:29–35. Paul also notes that the brightness or “glory” on Moses’ face would fade away. This detail cannot be found directly in the story in Exodus. Paul either inferred it from the story, or it was tradition to say that the “glory” faded away. If your readers would not understand what Paul refers to in these verses, you could include a footnote or explanatory information. (See: veil)

Important Figures of Speech in this Chapter

The Corinthians as a letter of recommendation

In 3:2–3, Paul describes the Corinthians themselves as a letter of recommendation for him and his fellow workers. He speaks in this way because anyone who knows the Corinthians will know that they believed because of Paul and those who worked with him. In this way, the Corinthians “recommend” Paul as a true apostle of Jesus. If possible, preserve the metaphor of a letter of recommendation or express the idea with a simile.

The “veil”

After he introduces how Moses put an actual “veil” over his face, Paul begins to use the word “veil” and related words in figurative ways (See: 3:14–18). He claims that people who are not united to Christ cannot understand the Old Testament, and he describes this inability to understand as a “veil” that covers their hearts. In other words, just as the the veil obscured the glory on Moses’ face, so the meaning of the Old Testament is obscured for someone who hears it but does not believe in Jesus. However,Paul says that this “veil” is taken away when someone believes in Jesus. Because of that, those who believe have no “veil” and can reflect God’s glory even more than Moses’ did. This is a complex figure of speech that connects directly to the story about Moses and his veil. Because of that, it is important to preserve the “veil” language. If your readers would not understand that Paul is speaking figuratively, you could use a simile to express the idea.

Other Possible Translation Difficulties in this Chapter

“The Lord is the Spirit”

In 3:17, Paul states that “the Lord is the Spirit.” Scholars have understood this sentence in three primary ways. First, Paul could be defining who he meant when he referred to “the Lord” in the previous verse (3:16). Second, Paul could be stating that the way that believers experience “the Lord” is as the Holy Spirit. Third, Paul could be stating that “the Lord” is a spirit or is spiritual. It is most likely true that Paul is defining who “the Lord” he has referred to is, so it is recommended that you follow the first option. See the notes on this verse for translation possibilities.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

ἀρχόμεθα πάλιν ἑαυτοὺς συνιστάνειν?

˱we˲_/are/_beginning again ourselves /to_be/_commending

Paul does not ask this question because he is looking for information. Rather, he asks it to involve the Corinthians in what he is arguing. The question implies that the answer is “no, we are not.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea by using a strong negation. Alternate translation: “We are certainly not beginning to commend ourselves again!”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

πάλιν

again

Here, the word again implies that Paul and his fellow workers had already “commended themselves” at some point in the past. Most likely, this happened when they first met the Corinthians. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that makes this more explicit. Alternate translation: “once more” or “again, like we did at first”

Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

ἢ

or

The word Or introduces an alternative to what Paul asked in the first question. In that question, he implied that they were not “commending” themselves again. With Or, then, Paul poses a question that introduces the incorrect alternative: they might need letters of recommendation. He introduces this incorrect alternative to show that the implication of his first question is true: they are not “commending” themselves again. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express Or with a word that signifies a contrast or gives an alternative. Alternate translation: “Rather,” or “On the contrary,”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

ἢ μὴ χρῄζομεν, ὥς τινες, συστατικῶν ἐπιστολῶν πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἢ ἐξ ὑμῶν?

or not ˱we˲_/are/_needing as some ˱of˲_commendatory letters to you_all or from you_all

Paul does not ask this question because he is looking for information. Rather, he asks it to involve the Corinthians in what he is arguing. The question implies that the answer is “we do not need them.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea by using a strong negation. Alternate translation: “In fact, we certainly do not need, like some, letters of recommendation to you or from you.”

Note 6 topic: writing-pronouns

ὥς τινες

as some

Here, the word some refers generally to people other than Paul and his fellow workers. Paul may more specifically have in mind the people who opposed him in Corinth, but he does not make this explicit. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that refers to people other than Paul and those who serve with him. Alternate translation: “like some others” or “like some people”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

συστατικῶν ἐπιστολῶν

˱of˲_commendatory letters

Here Paul uses the possessive form to refer to letters that gave a recommendation for the person who carry the letter. Many people in Paul’s culture would ask friends to write these letters, and then they would show the letters to people they visited to prove that they were trustworthy and could be welcomed. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a form that naturally refers to this kind of letter. Alternate translation: “letters of reference” or “letters of introduction”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns