OET interlinear 2COR 11:15

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

οὐ μέγα & εἰ

not great_‹it_is› & if

Here, the clause it is no great thing indicates that what follows is not surprising or shocking but should be expected. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different clause that expresses this idea. Alternate translation: “it should be no shock if”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / litotes

οὐ μέγα

not great_‹it_is›

Paul is using a figure of speech here that expresses a strongly positive meaning by using a negative word, no, together with an expression that is the opposite of the intended meaning, great thing. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the positive meaning. See the UST.

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-condition-fact

εἰ

if

Paul speaks as if this were a hypothetical situation, but he means that it must be 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 translate his words as an affirmative statement. Alternate translation: “when” or “that”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

μετασχηματίζονται ὡς διάκονοι δικαιοσύνης

/are/_masquerading as servants ˱of˲_righteousness

See how you translated the similar phrase at the end of 11:13. Alternate translation: “pose as servants of righteousness” or “act as if they were servants of righteousness”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

διάκονοι δικαιοσύνης

servants servants ˱of˲_righteousness

Here Paul uses the possessive form to connect servants with righteousness. He could be describing servants: (1) whose goal is righteousness, that is, to make people righteous. Alternate translation: “servants who make people righteous” (2) who serve for the sake of righteousness. Alternate translation: “servants for what is right” (3) who are righteous. Alternate translation: “righteous servants”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

διάκονοι δικαιοσύνης

servants servants ˱of˲_righteousness

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of righteousness, you could express the same idea in another way. Make sure that your translation fits with the interpretation you chose in the previous note. Alternate translation: “servants who make others righteous”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ὧν τὸ τέλος ἔσται κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτῶν

whose ¬the end will_be according_to the works ˱of˲_them

Here Paul refers to how these servants will in the end be judged and punished for their works. He does not make it clear whether he is referring to the end of their lives or to the end of this time, when Jesus comes back. It is recommended that you use a form that refers in general to how people are punished or suffer for the bad things that they do. Alternate translation: “who will in the end get what they deserve” or “who will eventually be punished for what they did”