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InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
2 Cor C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13
2 Cor 10 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18
OET (OET-LV) Because:
His letters indeed, he_is_saying:
heavy and strong are, but the presence of_his body is weak, and his speech having_been_scorned.
OET (OET-RV) Some are saying, “His letters are heavy and strongly-worded, but when he’s actually here, he’s weak and his words get mocked.”
In this section, Paul asked the believers in Corinth to live in obedience to their faith, or he might have to rebuke or discipline some (10:1–2). He explained how a believer fights against those who oppose God (10:3–4) and how to rebuke them as well as correct a disobedient believer (10:5–6).
He told them to understand their situation, including Paul’s authority (10:7–8). He explained that he was forceful in his letters, and that he would be forceful in person if he had to be (10:9–11).
He told them that people who commend themselves are not wise (10:12). He explained that he boasted only in proper ways. One of those ways was boasting about the faith of people whom he had helped become believers, which included those in Corinth (10:13–15a). He told them that he hoped to preach the gospel in more regions (10:15b–16a). He explained further about proper things to boast about (10:16b–17). Lastly, he told them that God approves of people according to what God himself says in favor of them and not what a person boasts about himself (10:18).
Other examples of headings for this section are:
Paul’s reply to accusations of weakness (NJB)
Paul Describes Himself (NASB)
Paul responded to some who had criticized him
For some say,
For a person says,
Because someone is saying about me,
For someone who has been criticizing me has been saying
For: This conjunction introduces an explanation of why Paul mentioned his letters in 10:9.
some say: The Greek word is literally “he says.” This clause may refer to the same person as in 10:7 or to any of the false teachers. This person probably was saying these things in Corinth during the time when Paul was writing this letter. For example:
someone is saying (GW)
10:10b–c contain a pair of Greek words that together compare two different statements. Here the Greek words indicate that 10:10b refers to opinions about one situation (Paul being away) and 10:10c refers to other opinions about a contrasting situation (Paul being in Corinth). For example:
“On one hand, his letters are severe and pushy; on the other hand, he is unimpressive in person and his speaking amounts to nothing.
“In one case/situation, when he is away, his letters are severe and pushy; in the other case/situation, in person, he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.
His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing. (NIV)
“His letters are weighty and forceful,
“On the one hand, the words in his letters are important and strong;
“In his letters, he writes impressively and powerfully,
weighty: The Greek word that the BSB translates as weighty can also mean “burdensome” or “difficult.” There are two ways to interpret the Greek word:
The word means important here. Paul’s opponents complimented his letters only to contrast with criticizing him in 10:10c–d. For example:
impressive (JBP) (NJB, GW, JBP, NCV)
The word means burdensome here. Paul’s opponents criticized his letters as well as his conduct and speaking (10:10c–d). For example:
severe (GNT) (GNT, NABRE, NLT, CEV)
The English word weighty, like the Greek word, allows both interpretations. However, many languages must choose. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).Thrall (p. 630) says it “more probably means ‘weighty’ in the sense of ‘impressive’. It is contrasted with (the Greek word that means) ‘contemptible’.” Martin (p. 311) calls it a “backhanded…compliment” (something that sounds like a compliment but is used in the middle of an insult).
forceful: This word is probably a compliment, like the word weighty in interpretation (1) above. Other ways to translate this word are:
strong (RSV)
full of strength (NJB)
But if you followed interpretation (2) above, you should translate the Greek word as a criticism. For example:
aggressive
overbearing
demanding
but his physical presence is unimpressive,
on the other hand, his personal presence impresses/inspires no one
but when he is here, people think that he is weak/cowardly
his physical presence is unimpressive: This clause refers to what Paul’s opponents thought of Paul’s personal presentation. They probably thought he did not act like an important leader. Other ways to translate this clause are:
his personal presence is unimpressive (NASB)
he does not act like an important leader in person
his ways as a leader are weak/cowardly when among us
and his speaking is of no account.”
and his speeches are worthless!” (NLT)
and despise his public speaking.”
his speaking is of no account: The Greek words are literally “the speech is being despised.” This clause indicates that Paul’s opponents think that Paul spoke very poorly when speaking publicly (as in sermons and evangelizing). Other ways to translate this clause are:
his speeches are worthless (NLT)
people disdain/ridicule his public speaking
Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases
ὅτι
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὅτι Αἱ ἐπιστολαί μέν φησίν Βαρεῖαι καί ἰσχυραί ἡ δέ παρουσία τοῦ σώματος ἀσθενής καί ὁ λόγος ἐξουθενημένος)
Here, the word For introduces an explanation or reason why the Corinthians might think that Paul is trying to terrify them with his letters (See: [10:9](../10/09.md)). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces an explanation or reason. Alternate translation: [I mention that since]
Note 2 topic: writing-quotations
φησίν
˱he˲_˓is˒_saying
Paul is quoting what he knows a person or some people in Corinth are saying about him. He does not identify who this person or these people are. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a form that refers to what some people are saying. Alternate translation: [it is said] or [people say]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / quotations
αἱ ἐπιστολαὶ μέν, φησίν, βαρεῖαι καὶ ἰσχυραί, ἡ δὲ παρουσία τοῦ σώματος ἀσθενὴς, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἐξουθενημένος.
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὅτι Αἱ ἐπιστολαί μέν φησίν Βαρεῖαι καί ἰσχυραί ἡ δέ παρουσία τοῦ σώματος ἀσθενής καί ὁ λόγος ἐξουθενημένος)
It may be more natural in your language to have an indirect quotation here. If you use the following alternate translation, you will need to remove the quotation marks. Alternate translation: [someone says that my letters are indeed weighty and forceful, but my bodily presence is weak and my speech is despised.]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
βαρεῖαι
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὅτι Αἱ ἐπιστολαί μέν φησίν Βαρεῖαι καί ἰσχυραί ἡ δέ παρουσία τοῦ σώματος ἀσθενής καί ὁ λόγος ἐξουθενημένος)
Here, Paul is speaking of letters as if they were objects that were weighty. He could mean that people think the letters are: (1) severe or burdensome. Alternate translation: [are burdensome] or [are oppressive] (2) important or impressive. Alternate translation: [are impressive] or [are significant]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet
βαρεῖαι καὶ ἰσχυραί
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὅτι Αἱ ἐπιστολαί μέν φησίν Βαρεῖαι καί ἰσχυραί ἡ δέ παρουσία τοῦ σώματος ἀσθενής καί ὁ λόγος ἐξουθενημένος)
The terms weighty and forceful mean similar things. Paul is using the two terms together for emphasis. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. Alternate translation: [are very powerful] or [are very forceful]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
ἡ & παρουσία τοῦ σώματος
the & presence ˱of˲_his body_‹is›
Here, the phrase bodily presence refers to how a person looks and acts when they are around other people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that makes this more explicit. Alternate translation: [his conduct in person] or [his physical bearing]
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
ἐξουθενημένος
˓having_been˒_scorned
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: [is contemptible] or [is something that people despise]
OET (OET-LV) Because:
His letters indeed, he_is_saying:
heavy and strong are, but the presence of_his body is weak, and his speech having_been_scorned.
OET (OET-RV) Some are saying, “His letters are heavy and strongly-worded, but when he’s actually here, he’s weak and his words get mocked.”
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.
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