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2 Cor C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13

2 Cor 3 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18

OET interlinear 2 COR 3:1

◄ ↨ 2 COR 3:1 ↓ → ► ║ ©

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

    1. Greek word
    2. Greek lemma
    3. OET-LV words
    4. OET-RV words
    5. Strongs
    6. Role/Morphology
    7. OET Gloss
    8. VLT Gloss
    9. CAPS codes
    10. Confidence
    11. OET tags
    12. OET word #
    1. Ἀρχόμεθα
    2. arχō
    3. We are beginning
    4. beginning
    5. 7570
    6. VIPM1··P
    7. ˱we˲ ˓are˒ beginning
    8. ˱we˲ ˓are˒ beginning
    9. PS
    10. Y60; R120621; Person=Paul; R121076; R121078; R121382; Person=Titus
    11. 121478
    1. πάλιν
    2. palin
    3. again
    4. again
    5. 38250
    6. D·······
    7. again
    8. again
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 121479
    1. αὐτούς
    2. autos
    3. -
    4. -
    5. 8460
    6. R···3AMP
    7. them
    8. them
    9. -
    10. -
    11. 121480
    1. ἑαυτούς
    2. heautou
    3. ourselves
    4. ourselves
    5. 14380
    6. R···1AMP
    7. ourselves
    8. ourselves
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 121481
    1. συνιστάνειν
    2. sunistanō
    3. to be commending
    4. -
    5. 49210
    6. VNPA····
    7. ˓to_be˒ commending
    8. ˓to_be˒ commending
    9. -
    10. Y60; R120621; Person=Paul; R121076; R121078; R121382; Person=Titus
    11. 121482
    1. συνιστᾶν
    2. sunistaō
    3. -
    4. -
    5. 49210
    6. VPPA·NMS
    7. commending
    8. commending
    9. -
    10. -
    11. 121483
    1. εἰ
    2. ei
    3. -
    4. -
    5. 14870
    6. C·······
    7. if
    8. if
    9. -
    10. -
    11. 121484
    1. Ἤ
    2. ē
    3. Or
    4. -
    5. 22280
    6. C·······
    7. or
    8. or
    9. S
    10. Y60
    11. 121485
    1. μή
    2. mē
    3. not
    4. Don't
    5. 33610
    6. T·······
    7. not
    8. not
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 121486
    1. χρῄζομεν
    2. χrēzō
    3. we are needing
    4. -
    5. 55350
    6. VIPA1··P
    7. ˱we˲ ˓are˒ needing
    8. ˱we˲ ˓are˒ needing
    9. -
    10. Y60; R120621; Person=Paul; R121076; R121078; R121382; Person=Titus
    11. 121487
    1. ὥσπερ
    2. hōsper
    3. -
    4. -
    5. 56180
    6. C·······
    7. as
    8. as
    9. -
    10. -
    11. 121488
    1. ὡς
    2. hōs
    3. as
    4. -
    5. 56130
    6. C·······
    7. as
    8. as
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 121489
    1. τινές
    2. tis
    3. some
    4. -
    5. 51000
    6. R····NMP
    7. some
    8. some
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 121490
    1. συστατικῶν
    2. sustatikos
    3. of commendatory
    4. -
    5. 49560
    6. A····GFP
    7. ˱of˲ commendatory
    8. ˱of˲ commendatory
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 121491
    1. ἐπιστολῶν
    2. epistolē
    3. letters
    4. -
    5. 19920
    6. N····GFP
    7. letters
    8. letters
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 121492
    1. πρός
    2. pros
    3. to
    4. -
    5. 43140
    6. P·······
    7. to
    8. to
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 121493
    1. ὑμᾶς
    2. su
    3. you all
    4. -
    5. 47710
    6. R···2A·P
    7. you_all
    8. you_all
    9. -
    10. Y60; R120795
    11. 121494
    1. ἤ
    2. ē
    3. or
    4. -
    5. 22280
    6. C·······
    7. or
    8. or
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 121495
    1. ἐξ
    2. ek
    3. from
    4. -
    5. 15370
    6. P·······
    7. from
    8. from
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 121496
    1. ὑμῶν
    2. su
    3. you all
    4. -
    5. 47710
    6. R···2G·P
    7. you_all
    8. you_all
    9. -
    10. Y60; R120795
    11. 121497
    1. συστατικῶν
    2. sustatikos
    3. -
    4. -
    5. 49560
    6. S····GMP
    7. ˱of˲ commendatory ‹ones›
    8. ˱of˲ commendatory ‹ones›
    9. -
    10. -
    11. 121498

OET (OET-LV) We_are_beginning again ourselves to_be_commending?
Or not we_are_needing, as some, of_commendatory letters to you_all or from you_all?

OET (OET-RV) Oh, are we beginning to pat ourselves on the back again? Don’t we need written references for you all, or from you all, like some others do?

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:1–4:6: Confidence in the gospel of Jesus

The false teachers in Corinth were Jews (11:22). In this section, Paul wrote about some of the false teachings of these men. Since they were Jews, Paul referred to people and events in the Old Testament, such as the tablets of stone (3:3), Moses (3:7), and Moses’ veil (3:13). They probably brought letters from other false teachers who said the false teachers in Corinth taught truthfully (3:1–3). The false teachers taught that believers must obey the Jewish laws. But Paul said that believers follow the new covenant with Jesus and not the old covenant with the Jews (3:14). He also spoke against their secret and shameful ways and said that they corrupted God’s word (4:2). Throughout this section Paul also encouraged the believers to follow Jesus.

Other examples of headings for this section are:

The Ministry That Comes From Christ Is Greater Than Moses’ Ministry (GW)

The new covenant is greater than the law of Moses

3:1a

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again?

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again?: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes the fact that Paul and his companions were not beginning to commend themselves again. Translate this clause with that meaning. Some ways are:

commend ourselves: This word refers to introducing or recommending someone to someone else. If someone is well known to a group, someone else may come to him and ask him to introduce him to the group. That way the group can trust the new person. There are two ways to interpret this word:

  1. The word means introduce or recommend here. For example:

    produce our credentials (REB) (BSB, RSV, NIV, NJB, NASB, NABRE, GW, NET, REB, ESV, KJV)

  2. The word means boast here. For example:

    boasting about ourselves (GNT) (GNT, NLT, CEV, NCV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), since that is the usual meaning of the Greek word.Harris (p. 258) defines this word as “bring together as friends,” or “introduce/recommend someone to someone else.” Other ways to translate this word are:

show…our qualifications (GW)

recommend ourselves

3:1b

Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?

Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?: This is also a rhetorical question. It emphasizes the fact that Paul and the others did not need letters of recommendation to the believers in Corinth or from them. But the false teachers did need such letters of recommendation. Translate this clause with that meaning. Some ways are:

like some people: Paul may have been ridiculing the false teachers here, because they probably came with letters of recommendation to Corinth. But the theme of this verse refers generally to Paul’s relationship to the believers in Corinth. So you should not translate this phrase as ridicule. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

as some do (RSV)

like some other people (NCV)

letters of recommendation: This phrase refers to letters that others would write saying that a particular person was a good person and worthy of being accepted. In Acts 15:23–27, the believers in Jerusalem recommended Judas and Silas to the believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. In Acts 18:27, when Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the believers in Ephesus “wrote to the disciples there to welcome him.” Other ways to translate this phrase are:

letters of commendation (NASB)

letters that recommend us (GW)

letters…to tell others about us (CEV)

letters of introduction (REB)

a letter saying that this man is good

to you: Paul evangelized in Corinth, so the believers in Corinth knew him, and he did not need letters of recommendation to give to them.

from you: When Paul went to new places, he probably allowed his teaching and deeds to indicate that he was a true apostle of Jesus. So he did not need the believers in Corinth to write letters of recommendation on his behalf.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

ἀρχόμεθα πάλιν ἑαυτοὺς συνιστάνειν?

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀρχόμεθα πάλιν ἑαυτούς συνιστάνειν Ἤ μή χρῄζομεν ὡς τινές συστατικῶν ἐπιστολῶν πρός ὑμᾶς ἤ ἐξ ὑμῶν)

Paul does not ask this question because he is looking for information. Rather, he asks it to involve the Corinthians in what he is arguing. The question implies that the answer is “no, we are not.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea by using a strong negation. Alternate translation: [We are certainly not beginning to commend ourselves again!]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

πάλιν

again

Here, the word again implies that Paul and his fellow workers had already “commended themselves” at some point in the past. Most likely, this happened when they first met the Corinthians. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that makes this more explicit. Alternate translation: [once more] or [again, like we did at first]

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

ἢ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀρχόμεθα πάλιν ἑαυτούς συνιστάνειν Ἤ μή χρῄζομεν ὡς τινές συστατικῶν ἐπιστολῶν πρός ὑμᾶς ἤ ἐξ ὑμῶν)

The word Or introduces an alternative to what Paul asked in the first question. In that question, he implied that they were not “commending” themselves again. With Or, then, Paul poses a question that introduces the incorrect alternative: they might need letters of recommendation. He introduces this incorrect alternative to show that the implication of his first question is true: they are not “commending” themselves again. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express Or with a word that signifies a contrast or gives an alternative. Alternate translation: [Rather,] or [On the contrary,]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

ἢ μὴ χρῄζομεν, ὥς τινες, συστατικῶν ἐπιστολῶν πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἢ ἐξ ὑμῶν?

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀρχόμεθα πάλιν ἑαυτούς συνιστάνειν Ἤ μή χρῄζομεν ὡς τινές συστατικῶν ἐπιστολῶν πρός ὑμᾶς ἤ ἐξ ὑμῶν)

Paul does not ask this question because he is looking for information. Rather, he asks it to involve the Corinthians in what he is arguing. The question implies that the answer is “We do not need them.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea by using a strong negation. Alternate translation: [In fact, we certainly do not need, like some, letters of recommendation to you or from you.]

Note 5 topic: writing-pronouns

ὥς τινες

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀρχόμεθα πάλιν ἑαυτούς συνιστάνειν Ἤ μή χρῄζομεν ὡς τινές συστατικῶν ἐπιστολῶν πρός ὑμᾶς ἤ ἐξ ὑμῶν)

Here, the word some refers generally to people other than Paul and his fellow workers. Paul may more specifically have in mind the people who opposed him in Corinth, but he does not make this explicit. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that refers to people other than Paul and those who serve with him. Alternate translation: [like some others] or [like some people]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

συστατικῶν ἐπιστολῶν

˱of˲_commendatory letters

Here Paul uses the possessive form to refer to letters that gave a recommendation for the person who carry the letter. Many people in Paul’s culture would ask friends to write these letters, and then they would show the letters to people they visited to prove that they were trustworthy and could be welcomed. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a form that naturally refers to this kind of letter. Alternate translation: [letters of reference] or [letters of introduction]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

συστατικῶν ἐπιστολῶν

˱of˲_commendatory letters

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of recommendation, you could express the idea by using a verb such as “recommend.” Alternate translation: [letters that recommend us]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

    1. OET-LV words
    2. OET-RV words
    3. Strongs
    4. Greek word
    5. Greek lemma
    6. Role/Morphology
    7. OET Gloss
    8. VLT Gloss
    9. CAPS codes
    10. Confidence
    11. OET tags
    12. OET word #
    1. We are beginning
    2. beginning
    3. 7570
    4. PS
    5. arχō
    6. V-IPM1··P
    7. ˱we˲ ˓are˒ beginning
    8. ˱we˲ ˓are˒ beginning
    9. PS
    10. Y60; R120621; Person=Paul; R121076; R121078; R121382; Person=Titus
    11. 121478
    1. again
    2. again
    3. 38250
    5. palin
    6. D-·······
    7. again
    8. again
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 121479
    1. ourselves
    2. ourselves
    3. 14380
    5. heautou
    6. R-···1AMP
    7. ourselves
    8. ourselves
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 121481
    1. to be commending
    2. -
    3. 49210
    5. sunistanō
    6. V-NPA····
    7. ˓to_be˒ commending
    8. ˓to_be˒ commending
    9. -
    10. Y60; R120621; Person=Paul; R121076; R121078; R121382; Person=Titus
    11. 121482
    1. Or
    2. -
    3. 22280
    4. S
    5. ē
    6. C-·······
    7. or
    8. or
    9. S
    10. Y60
    11. 121485
    1. not
    2. Don't
    3. 33610
    5. mē
    6. T-·······
    7. not
    8. not
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 121486
    1. we are needing
    2. -
    3. 55350
    5. χrēzō
    6. V-IPA1··P
    7. ˱we˲ ˓are˒ needing
    8. ˱we˲ ˓are˒ needing
    9. -
    10. Y60; R120621; Person=Paul; R121076; R121078; R121382; Person=Titus
    11. 121487
    1. as
    2. -
    3. 56130
    5. hōs
    6. C-·······
    7. as
    8. as
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 121489
    1. some
    2. -
    3. 51000
    5. tis
    6. R-····NMP
    7. some
    8. some
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 121490
    1. of commendatory
    2. -
    3. 49560
    5. sustatikos
    6. A-····GFP
    7. ˱of˲ commendatory
    8. ˱of˲ commendatory
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 121491
    1. letters
    2. -
    3. 19920
    5. epistolē
    6. N-····GFP
    7. letters
    8. letters
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 121492
    1. to
    2. -
    3. 43140
    5. pros
    6. P-·······
    7. to
    8. to
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 121493
    1. you all
    2. -
    3. 47710
    5. su
    6. R-···2A·P
    7. you_all
    8. you_all
    9. -
    10. Y60; R120795
    11. 121494
    1. or
    2. -
    3. 22280
    5. ē
    6. C-·······
    7. or
    8. or
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 121495
    1. from
    2. -
    3. 15370
    5. ek
    6. P-·······
    7. from
    8. from
    9. -
    10. Y60
    11. 121496
    1. you all
    2. -
    3. 47710
    5. su
    6. R-···2G·P
    7. you_all
    8. you_all
    9. -
    10. Y60; R120795
    11. 121497

OET (OET-LV) We_are_beginning again ourselves to_be_commending?
Or not we_are_needing, as some, of_commendatory letters to you_all or from you_all?

OET (OET-RV) Oh, are we beginning to pat ourselves on the back again? Don’t we need written references for you all, or from you all, like some others do?

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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◄ ↨ 2 COR 3:1 ↑ → ► ║ ©