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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 3 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18
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
Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.
¶ Therefore, we(excl) are very bold/brave because we have hope in that fact.
¶ We have confidence in the new covenant, therefore we do the work of serving in/under the new covenant very boldly.
since we have such a hope, we are very bold: The reason is before the result in this clause. Many English versions translate it that way. For example:
We have this hope, so we are very bold (NCV)
In some languages it is more natural to have the result first. For example:
we are very bold because we have such a hope
we have such a hope: The Greek word that the BSB translates as hope means “confidence about a particular thing.” Paul was confident that the new covenant was permanent and the new ministry was greater than the old ministry. For example:
we have confidence [in the new promise] (GW)
we are very bold: The Greek clause can be translated literally as “we use boldness” or “we do things boldly.” Other ways to translate this clause are:
we behave with great boldness (NET)
we have no fear
Paul did not say what he and the others did boldly. But he implied that they did the new ministry boldly. Some languages must say what they did boldly. If that is true in your language, refer to the ministry. For example:
we serve God very boldly
we do the work of serving the new covenant very boldly
bold: This word refers to being brave. A bold person is not afraid to do something that might be dangerous. Paul and the other evangelists preached boldly, even though other people might persecute them. Other ways to translate this word are:
fearlessness (NJB)
brave
Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result
οὖν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἔχοντες Οὖν τοιαύτην ἐλπίδα πολλῇ παρρησίᾳ χρώμεθα)
Here, the word Therefore introduces an inference from what Paul has already said, especially what he has said about the ministry of “glory” in [3:4–11](../03/04.md). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces an inference from a previous section. Alternate translation: [Because of that] or [Because of this ministry of glory]
Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result
ἔχοντες
having
Here, the word having introduces a reason why Paul and his fellow workers act with much boldness. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make the relationship more explicit. Alternate translation: [because we have]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
ἔχοντες & τοιαύτην ἐλπίδα
having & such hope
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of hope, you could express the idea by using a verb such as “hope” or an adjective such as “hopeful.” Alternate translation: [being hopeful in such a way] or [hoping in that way]
Note 4 topic: writing-pronouns
τοιαύτην ἐλπίδα
such hope
Here, the word such refers to back to what Paul has said about the “glory” of the ministry in [3:7–11](../03/07.md). In other words, the hope is based on the glorious ministry and covenant. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make explicit what such refers to. Alternate translation: [that kind of hope] or [hope in such a covenant]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive
χρώμεθα
˱we˲_˓are˒_resorting
Here, just as in [3:1–6](../03/01.md), the word we does not include the Corinthians. It could refer to: (1) Paul and those who proclaim the gospel with him. Alternate translation: [we who preach the gospel] (2) just Paul. Alternate translation: [I act]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
χρώμεθα
˱we˲_˓are˒_resorting
Here Paul does not say exactly what it is that we do. He implies that it is the “ministry” that he has referred to in [3:7–11](../03/07.md). If it would be helpful in your language, you could make what we do more explicit. Alternate translation: [we perform the ministry] or [we proclaim the good news]
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
πολλῇ παρρησίᾳ
˱to˲_great boldness
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of boldness, you could express the idea by using an adjective such as “bold” or an adverb such as “boldly.” Alternate translation: [as very bold people]
3:4-18 The contrast between Paul’s ministry and the others’ ministries leads Paul to contrast the old covenant of written laws (Exod 31:18) with the new covenant written on human hearts (Jer 31:33).
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.