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2 Cor 1 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18 V19 V20 V21 V22 V23 V24
OET (OET-LV) For/Because the boasting of_us this is:
the testimony of_the conscience of_us, that in holiness and sincerity of_ the _god, and not in wisdom fleshly, but in grace of_god, we_were_conducted in the world, and more_abundantly toward you_all.
OET (OET-RV) So this is our boast: Our consciences testify that we have conducted ourselves in the world (and even more so towards all of you) with purity and godly sincerity, not with worldly wisdom, but relying on God’s grace.
In this section Paul explained that he had earlier planned to visit the Corinthians two times, once on his way to the province of Macedonia and again on his way back from there (1:15–16). But he probably came earlier than planned and had a painful visit (2:1). After he returned to Ephesus, he wrote a painful letter (7:8–9). He then went to Macedonia via Troas (2:12–13) instead of via Corinth. The false teachers probably accused him of not being trustworthy because he had changed his plans. So Paul explained in these verses why he had changed his plans.
Other examples of headings for this section are:
Paul’s Integrity (NASB)
Why Paul changed his plans (NJB)
Paul explained his change of plans
And this is our boast:
¶ Indeed, our(excl) boast is this:
¶ Now, one thing we are proud of is this,
And: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates here as And is often translated as “for” or “because.” But in this context, the conjunction introduces a new theme and only generally connects back to the previous theme. The GNT and NJB allow the context to indicate a new theme and omit this conjunction. The conjunction may emphasize the new theme. For example:
Indeed (NRSV)
There is one thing that… (NJB)
this is our boast: This clause indicates that the boast follows in 1:12b–g. Other ways to translate this clause are:
our boast is this (RSV)
There is one thing that we are proud of, namely (NJB)
boast: This word refers to praising someone or saying how good someone is. Paul used it in both a positive and a negative way. Here he used it in a positive way: to be happy about how he acted. God enabled him to live in a holy and sincere manner (1:12e).
Our conscience testifies that
our conscience accurately/faithfully reports that
and our inner being truthfully asserts that
conscience: The Greek word that the BSB translates as conscience refers to the record of past deeds that a person has in his mind. Paul knew he did nothing wrong, so his conscience was clear and not troubled. Therefore his conscience testified that he had done nothing wrong. Other ways to translate this word are:
inner being
ways of thinking
convictions of the mind
testifies: This word means “report what one saw.” The word is often used where the person is expected to be truthful and accurate. Here Paul knew that his conscience accurately claimed he had done nothing wrong. His conscience was not deceiving him. Other ways to translate this word are:
faithfully reports
accurately/truthfully asserts
we have conducted ourselves in the world,
everything we have done toward people,
whatever we did toward other people in the world,
we have conducted ourselves: Here the word conducted refers to the way they lived and the things they did. Other ways to translate this clause are:
we have behaved (RSV)
everything we have done (NCV)
in the world: Here the word world refers figuratively to the people of the world. Paul referred to people in general here and then to believers in 1:12d. The word does not imply that the people are evil here. For example:
towards everyone (NJB)
and especially in relation to you,
and above all how we have behaved toward you(plur),
and even more so whatever we did toward you,
especially: Paul and the others put special emphasis on doing the right things with the believers in Corinth. Other ways to translate this word are:
all the more (NET)
above all (REB)
in relation to you: The Greek phrase is literally “toward you” (as in the RSV). The phrase “we have conducted ourselves” (1:12c) is implied but not repeated here. For example:
when we were with you (CEV)
in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—
was done in an honest and sincere way, which are attitudes from God.
God enabled us to do them openly and with true/straight motives.
the holiness and sincerity that are from God: The Greek phrase is literally “simplicity and sincerity of God.” There are two ways to interpret how the phrase “of God” connects to “simplicity and sincerity”:
It connects to both simplicity and sincerity. God is the source of both attitudes. For example:
God-given frankness and sincerity (GNT) (BSB, NIV, GNT, NABRE, NLT, GW, NET, NCV)
It connects only to sincerity. For example:
simplicity and godly sincerity (ESV) (RSV, NASB, ESV, REB, KJV)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).Thrall (p. 128) and Harris (p. 183) translate according to interpretation (1). Barnett (p. 95) says, “Each is ‘of God,’ that is, true of God and issuing from God in the course of his service of God.”
the holiness and sincerity: There is a textual issue regarding the Greek word that the BSB translates as holiness here:
Some Greek manuscripts have the word that means simplicity or frankness. For example:
we have had an honest and sincere heart from God (NCV) (GNT, NRSV, NABRE, CEV, NET, ESV, NCV, KJV)
Other Greek manuscripts have the word that means holiness. For example:
with holiness and godly sincerity (RSV) (BSB, RSV, NIV, NJB, NASB, NLT, GW, REB)
It is recommended that you follow option (1), since the UBS Greek New Testament recommends it.
The Greek word refers to something being sincere or honest. Nothing is hidden. All that Paul and the others did was from good motives. Other ways to translate this word are:
openly
without hiding/withholding anything
sincerity: This word refers to having pure motives. Paul and the others did not do anything for selfish or wrong reasons. Other ways to translate this word are:
true/straight motives
for no evil reasons
that are from God: This phrase indicates that God caused Paul and the others to have the attitudes of openness and sincerity. For example:
God-given (GNT)
1:12c–e in Greek has the manner (1:12e) before the main clause (1:12c) and the emphasized clause (1:12d). This order may be more natural in some languages. For example:
12ein the openness and sincerity that are from God 12cwe have conducted ourselves in the world, 12dand especially in our relations with you.
In some languages it is more natural to have the manner clause after the main clause but before the emphasized clause. For example:
12cwe have conducted ourselves in the world 12ein the openness and sincerity that are from God. 12dWe have conducted ourselves this way especially in our relationship with you.
(reordered) We have done like that according to God’s grace and not according to worldly wisdom.
not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God: These phrases contrast worldly wisdom with the grace of God. The two are very different. In some languages it is more natural to have the positive saying first. For example:
according to God’s grace but/and not according to worldly wisdom
not in worldly wisdom,
We(excl) have not depended on human wisdom
We have not lived according to thoughts considered wise by people who do not follow God.
not in worldly wisdom: 1:12a–g is one sentence in the Greek and the BSB. But some translations divide the sentence by adding a phrase here to make reading and understanding easier. For example:
And we were guided by God’s wonderful kindness instead of by the wisdom of this world. (CEV)
We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace. (NIV)
worldly wisdom: The word wisdom means “the ability to understand events and know the right action.” But in this context, the phrase worldly wisdom refers to the thoughts that seem wise to people who do not follow God. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
thoughts considered wise by worldly people
worldly people’s so-called wise thoughts
Paul disliked and avoided using worldly wisdom. Your translation should not imply that worldly wisdom was a good thing that Paul chose not to use.
worldly: The Greek word that the BSB translates as worldly refers to wisdom that people discover without help from God. It implies that these people do not follow God. Other ways of translating this word are:
unspiritual
earthly (RSV)
our own human (NLT)
but in the grace of God.
but we depended on God’s undeserved favor.
Instead, we lived according to God’s way of being kind to those who do not deserve it.
the grace of God: The word grace here refers to God being kind to those who do not deserve it. God does things for people because he wants to and not because they earned it. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
kindness from God
God’s help
God’s favor
voluntarily/graciously be kind
help as a gift/favor
See how you translated the word grace in 1:2.
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive
ἡμῶν & ἡμῶν & ἀνεστράφημεν
˱of˲_us & ˱of˲_us & ˱we˲_˓were˒_conducted
In these verses Paul uses the words our, we, and ourselves to refer to himself and Timothy and possibly others who serve with them. These words do not include the people to whom he is writing.
ἡ γὰρ καύχησις ἡμῶν αὕτη ἐστίν
the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἡ Γάρ καύχησις ἡμῶν αὕτη ἐστίν τό μαρτύριον τῆς συνειδήσεως ἡμῶν ὅτι ἐν ἁγιότητι καί εἰλικρινείᾳ τοῦ Θεοῦ καί οὐκ ἐν σοφίᾳ σαρκικῇ ἀλλʼ ἐν χάριτι Θεοῦ ἀνεστράφημεν ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ περισσοτέρως δέ πρός ὑμᾶς)
Paul assumes that his readers will understand that the word boasting here is used in the positive sense of wanting to tell others your feelings of great satisfaction and joy in doing something well. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [This is something that we feel very good about]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / personification
τὸ μαρτύριον τῆς συνειδήσεως ἡμῶν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἡ Γάρ καύχησις ἡμῶν αὕτη ἐστίν τό μαρτύριον τῆς συνειδήσεως ἡμῶν ὅτι ἐν ἁγιότητι καί εἰλικρινείᾳ τοῦ Θεοῦ καί οὐκ ἐν σοφίᾳ σαρκικῇ ἀλλʼ ἐν χάριτι Θεοῦ ἀνεστράφημεν ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ περισσοτέρως δέ πρός ὑμᾶς)
Here, Paul speaks of his conscience as if it were a person who could testify. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Please note that this alternate translation does not need the comma after conscience. Alternate translation: [we know by our conscience]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
τὸ μαρτύριον τῆς συνειδήσεως ἡμῶν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἡ Γάρ καύχησις ἡμῶν αὕτη ἐστίν τό μαρτύριον τῆς συνειδήσεως ἡμῶν ὅτι ἐν ἁγιότητι καί εἰλικρινείᾳ τοῦ Θεοῦ καί οὐκ ἐν σοφίᾳ σαρκικῇ ἀλλʼ ἐν χάριτι Θεοῦ ἀνεστράφημεν ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ περισσοτέρως δέ πρός ὑμᾶς)
If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of testimony and conscience, you could express the same ideas in another way. Please note that these alternate translations do not need the comma after conscience. Alternate translation: [our hearts tell us it is true] or [we are sure of it within ourselves]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / rpronouns
ἀνεστράφημεν
˱we˲_˓were˒_conducted
The phrase we conducted ourselves means that Paul and his companions controlled their own actions. Use a way that is natural in your language to indicate this idea. Alternate translation: [we acted] or [we comported ourselves]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche
ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ
in in in in the world
Paul is using the world to represent people who live in the world, that is, people in general. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your culture or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [among everyone]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
ἐν ἁγιότητι καὶ εἰλικρινείᾳ τοῦ Θεοῦ
in holiness in in in (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἡ Γάρ καύχησις ἡμῶν αὕτη ἐστίν τό μαρτύριον τῆς συνειδήσεως ἡμῶν ὅτι ἐν ἁγιότητι καί εἰλικρινείᾳ τοῦ Θεοῦ καί οὐκ ἐν σοφίᾳ σαρκικῇ ἀλλʼ ἐν χάριτι Θεοῦ ἀνεστράφημεν ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ περισσοτέρως δέ πρός ὑμᾶς)
If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of holiness and sincerity, you could express the same ideas in another way. Alternate translation: [as people whom God empowers to obey him and to be honest]
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy
οὐκ ἐν σοφίᾳ σαρκικῇ
not in wisdom fleshly
Here, fleshly represents what is natural and human as opposed to what is spiritual and godly. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your language or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [not according to natural human wisdom]
Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
οὐκ ἐν σοφίᾳ σαρκικῇ
not in wisdom fleshly
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of wisdom, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [not according to what people naturally think is wise]
Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
ἐν χάριτι Θεοῦ
in in in grace ˱of˲_God
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of grace, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [according to what God tells us to do because he loves us]
OET (OET-LV) For/Because the boasting of_us this is:
the testimony of_the conscience of_us, that in holiness and sincerity of_ the _god, and not in wisdom fleshly, but in grace of_god, we_were_conducted in the world, and more_abundantly toward you_all.
OET (OET-RV) So this is our boast: Our consciences testify that we have conducted ourselves in the world (and even more so towards all of you) with purity and godly sincerity, not with worldly wisdom, but relying on God’s grace.
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.