OET interlinear 2 COR 11:17

11:17a

this confident boasting of mine: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the BSB translates as confident:

1. It means situation or project. For example:

   this matter of boasting (GNT)

   in this boastful state (NABRE) (GNT, NABRE)

2. It means confidence. For example:

   this boastful confidence (RSV) (BSB, RSV, NIV, NASB, NET, REB, NCV, ESV, KJV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because scholars who explain the origin of the Greek word follow interpretation (1).These scholars include Kittel, Moulton and Milligan, Martin, and BDAG. BDAG says that “The sense ‘confidence’, ‘assurance’…must be eliminated, since examples of it cannot be found.”

I am not speaking as the Lord would: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as as the Lord would is literally “according to the Lord.” There are several ways to interpret this phrase:

1. The phrase refers to a style of speech that Jesus never used. Jesus never boasted about himself. For example:

   I shall not be following the Lord’s way in what I say now (NJB) (BSB, NIV, NJB, NASB, NABRE, NET, REB, NCV, KJV)

2. The phrase indicates that the source of the words is not Jesus. Jesus did not give Paul the authority to make these boasts. For example:

   what I am saying now is not what the Lord would have me say (GNT) (RSV, GNT, NLT, ESV)

3. The phrase refers to not speaking on behalf of Jesus. Here Paul’s boasts were not on behalf of Jesus. For example:

   It’s not something I would say if I were speaking for the Lord (GW) (GW, CEV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).Thrall (p. 709) translates the Greek text as “I am not saying in a Christian way.” She says ‘The preposition…indicates (here) that something is done, or occurs, in accordance with the ‘will, pleasure, or manner’ of that person” (p. 713). Hughes (on TW) translates the Greek text as “I speak not after the Lord.” “After” here has the sense of “according to.” He says that boasting about oneself is “incompatible with the Lord’s example of humility.”

the Lord: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Lord means “the one in authority over (something)” or “master.” The word Lord refers to Jesus here. In some languages it is more natural to include the name “Jesus” here. For example:

the Lord Jesus

11:17b

but as a fool: Paul was about to speak of events that really happened, but he did it in a manner of someone who selfishly boasts to make himself look good. In that way he would speak as a fool. He had many things he could boast about but had not done so until now. But the false teachers were boasting and convincing some believers to listen to them. So Paul would show the believers that such boasting did not help them.

He imitated the false teachers’ kind of boasting in order to mock them. He was playing the role of fool to make a point about how foolish they were and how foolish the believers in Corinth were for following them.

In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that Paul was lying. If that is true in your language, you may want to indicate that he was being truthful or that boasting does not help others. For example:

but as a fool although everything I will say is true

but as a fool even though such boasting does not help you

11:17a–b