Open Bible Data Home About News OET Key
OET OET-RV OET-LV ULT UST BSB MSB BLB AICNT OEB WEBBE WMBB NET LSV FBV TCNT T4T LEB BBE Moff JPS Wymth ASV DRA YLT Drby RV SLT Wbstr KJB-1769 KJB-1611 Bshps Gnva Cvdl TNT Wycl SR-GNT UHB BrLXX BrTr Related Topics Parallel Interlinear Reference Dictionary Search
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 12 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18 V19 V20 V21
OET (OET-LV) For/Because what is it that you_all_were_lessened beyond the rest of_the_assemblies, except not/lest that myself I not burdened of_you_all?
Forgive to_me the unrighteousness this.
OET (OET-RV) In what way were you all treated less than the rest of the assemblies, except that I didn’t load you with any burdens? Forgive me for this mistake.
In this section, the attitude of some believers in Corinth forced Paul to act foolishly and boast (12:11a). Paul knew he deserved praise from them and was better than the false teachers even though humanly speaking he deserved nothing (12:11b–d). Paul reminded the believers of all that he had done among them that proved he was an apostle (12:12). He asked them if they were angry at him with a rhetorical question and, using irony, told them that they should not be angry (12:13).
He told them that he would continue to avoid accepting their money for his support and explained why (12:14). He told them of his great love for them (12:15).
Using irony, Paul told them that he had not deceived them (12:16) and that his colleagues had not exploited them either (12:17–18). He explained that he had not been defending himself, but rather he was teaching them to be strong in their faith (12:19). He told them of some of his fears about them (12:20–21).
Other examples for this section heading are:
Paul’s Concern for the Corinthian Church (NRSV)
Paul loved the believers in Corinth
Paul reminded the believers in Corinth about his deeds and explained his worry for them
Paul defended his apostleship and spoke about his concern for the believers
In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you?
One thing that I did to other churches was accept their money to supply my needs. I did not do to you(plur). Does that make you feel inferior?
I asked other churches to support me by sending me money, but I never asked you to do that. Do not think that I treated you worse by doing that!
Do not feel inferior to other churches just because I never required money from you!
In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you?: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes the meaning, “You were not inferior to other churches, except that I was not a burden to you.” This question is also irony because Paul asked them how they were inferior when he wanted them to know that they were not inferior. Paul had not been a burden to them, but that was no reason to feel inferior. Translate in a way that emphasizes that meaning. Some ways to translate this are:
As a rhetorical question. For example:
Is there any way in which you have been given less than the rest of the churches, except that I did not make myself a burden to you? (NJB)
What makes you feel so inferior to other churches? Is it because I have not allowed you to support me financially? (JBP)
There was one thing I did not do to you that I did to other churches, namely, I was never a financial burden to you. Does that make you feel inferior?
As a statement. For example:
There is one way in which I have lowered your status compared with the rest of the churches, namely, I did not make myself a burden to you.
One thing I did not do to you that I did to other churches was to make myself a financial burden to you.
As a command. For example:
Do not feel inferior to other churches just because I was never a burden to you!
were…inferior: This phrase refers to having less status than others. The believers in Corinth felt they had less status than other churches because they had not supported Paul with money. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
were…less favored (RSV)
treated…worse (GNT)
given less (NJB)
the other churches: This phrase refers to groups of believers in other towns where Paul had preached and taught.
I: The Greek words are literally “I alone” or “I myself.” The Greek phrase emphasizes the contrast between what he did and what the false apostles did. For example:
I myself (RSV)
As for me, I
burden: Here the word burden refers to the believers in Corinth needing to give money to Paul for his needs. It would have been a burden because if they gave money to Paul, they would have less for themselves. Other ways to translate this word are:
financial help (GNT)
you didn’t have to support me (CEV)
Forgive me this wrong!
Please forgive me for being so wrong!
I have not been unfair to you(plur) so do not think I have sinned against you!
Forgive me this wrong: This is irony, as in 12:13a. Paul did not need them to forgive him. He wanted them to see their wrong thinking and change their minds. Other ways to translate this are:
Please forgive me for being so unfair! (GNT)
Do you think I have sinned against you in this way? Then forgive me!
In some languages the correct meaning can only be translated by explaining the irony. Some ways to translate this clause in that way are:
I have not been unfair to you so do not think I have sinned against you!
You are wrong to think that I have sinned against you by doing that!
There is no way that my doing that could truly/honestly be considered doing you wrong!
Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases
γάρ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Γάρ ἐστίν ὅ ἡσσώθητε ὑπέρ τάς λοιπάς ἐκκλησίας εἰ μή ὅτι αὐτός ἐγώ οὒ κατενάρκησα ὑμῶν Χαρίσασθε μοί τήν ἀδικίαν ταύτην)
Here, the word For introduces another reason why the Corinthians should consider Paul to be trustworthy. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces another reason, or you could leave For untranslated. Alternate translation: [Even more,]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / irony
τί & ἐστιν ὃ ἡσσώθητε ὑπὲρ τὰς λοιπὰς ἐκκλησίας, εἰ μὴ ὅτι αὐτὸς ἐγὼ οὐ κατενάρκησα ὑμῶν? χαρίσασθέ μοι τὴν ἀδικίαν ταύτην!
what & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Γάρ ἐστίν ὅ ἡσσώθητε ὑπέρ τάς λοιπάς ἐκκλησίας εἰ μή ὅτι αὐτός ἐγώ οὒ κατενάρκησα ὑμῶν Χαρίσασθε μοί τήν ἀδικίαν ταύτην)
Here Paul speaks from the perspective of his opponents, who tell the Corinthians that Paul has committed an injustice in treating them worse than the other churches by not asking them for money. He speaks from their perspective to show the Corinthians that this perspective is foolish and wrong. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a form that clearly expresses that Paul is speaking from another person’s perspective. Alternate translation: [people say that you were treated worse than the remaining churches because I myself did not burden you. If that is true, you need to forgive me for this injustice.] or [what is the way that you were treated worse than the remaining churches? The only way I treated you differently was by not burdening you. If people call that an injustice, please forgive me for it!]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion
τί & ἐστιν ὃ ἡσσώθητε ὑπὲρ τὰς λοιπὰς ἐκκλησίας, εἰ μὴ ὅτι αὐτὸς ἐγὼ οὐ κατενάρκησα ὑμῶν?
what & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Γάρ ἐστίν ὅ ἡσσώθητε ὑπέρ τάς λοιπάς ἐκκλησίας εἰ μή ὅτι αὐτός ἐγώ οὒ κατενάρκησα ὑμῶν Χαρίσασθε μοί τήν ἀδικίαν ταύτην)
Paul is using the question form to show the Corinthians that he treated them like all the other churches except for not asking for money. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or a negation. Alternate translation: [I did not treat you worse than the remaining churches except that I myself did not burden you.] or [Besides not burdening you, I treated you just as well as the remaining churches.]
Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-exceptions
τί & ἐστιν ὃ ἡσσώθητε ὑπὲρ τὰς λοιπὰς ἐκκλησίας, εἰ μὴ ὅτι αὐτὸς ἐγὼ οὐ κατενάρκησα ὑμῶν
what & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Γάρ ἐστίν ὅ ἡσσώθητε ὑπέρ τάς λοιπάς ἐκκλησίας εἰ μή ὅτι αὐτός ἐγώ οὒ κατενάρκησα ὑμῶν Χαρίσασθε μοί τήν ἀδικίαν ταύτην)
If, in your language, it would appear that Paul was making a statement here and then contradicting it, you could reword this to avoid using an exception clause. Alternate translation: [beyond the fact that I myself did not burden you, what is the way that you were treated worse than the remaining churches]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
ἡσσώθητε
˱you_all˲_˓were˒_lessened
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. If you need to say who did the action, it is clear from the context that it was Paul. Alternate translation: [I treated you worse]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
τὰς λοιπὰς ἐκκλησίας
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Γάρ ἐστίν ὅ ἡσσώθητε ὑπέρ τάς λοιπάς ἐκκλησίας εἰ μή ὅτι αὐτός ἐγώ οὒ κατενάρκησα ὑμῶν Χαρίσασθε μοί τήν ἀδικίαν ταύτην)
Here Paul refers to the other churches that he works with. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a form that refers to other churches that Paul knows and helps. Alternate translation: [the other churches that I serve]
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
αὐτὸς ἐγὼ οὐ κατενάρκησα ὑμῶν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Γάρ ἐστίν ὅ ἡσσώθητε ὑπέρ τάς λοιπάς ἐκκλησίας εἰ μή ὅτι αὐτός ἐγώ οὒ κατενάρκησα ὑμῶν Χαρίσασθε μοί τήν ἀδικίαν ταύτην)
Here Paul speaks of asking for money as if it were a heavy burden that he would have asked the Corinthians to carry for him. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable figure of speech or plain language. See how you translated the similar phrase in [11:9](../11/09.md). Alternate translation: [I myself did not trouble you] or [I myself did not ask for money and so harass you]
Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / rpronouns
αὐτὸς ἐγὼ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Γάρ ἐστίν ὅ ἡσσώθητε ὑπέρ τάς λοιπάς ἐκκλησίας εἰ μή ὅτι αὐτός ἐγώ οὒ κατενάρκησα ὑμῶν Χαρίσασθε μοί τήν ἀδικίαν ταύτην)
Here, the word translated myself emphasizes I. Consider using a natural way to emphasize I in your language. Alternate translation: [I, for one,] or [I indeed]
Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
τὴν ἀδικίαν ταύτην
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Γάρ ἐστίν ὅ ἡσσώθητε ὑπέρ τάς λοιπάς ἐκκλησίας εἰ μή ὅτι αὐτός ἐγώ οὒ κατενάρκησα ὑμῶν Χαρίσασθε μοί τήν ἀδικίαν ταύτην)
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of injustice, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [for acting unjustly] or [for doing what is unjust]
OET (OET-LV) For/Because what is it that you_all_were_lessened beyond the rest of_the_assemblies, except not/lest that myself I not burdened of_you_all?
Forgive to_me the unrighteousness this.
OET (OET-RV) In what way were you all treated less than the rest of the assemblies, except that I didn’t load you with any burdens? Forgive me for this mistake.
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.