2 COR 3:3 Interlinear View

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

3:3a

It is clear that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry,

It is plain that you^(plur) are Christ’s letter, because of what we^(excl) did among you,
You have been revealed as a letter written by Christ. This letter was the result of our ministry.
It is evident/obvious that your changed lives are like a letter which Christ wrote. He wrote that letter by means of our work/ministry.

It is clear: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as It is clear can be either passive or active. There are two ways to interpret it:

The verb is passive, therefore the phrase means it is well known. For example:
It is clear (GNT) (BSB, GNT, NJB, NASB, NLT, GW, NET, REB, KJV)
The verb is active, therefore the phrase means you reveal. For example:
you show (RSV) (RSV, NIV, ESV, NABRE, NCV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).Thrall (p. 224) says, “it is perhaps more likely to be passive.” Harris (p. 257) translates the text as “You are shown” and says it is “more probably passive.”

you are a letter from Christ: The metaphor is described further here. Paul helped people believe in Christ and follow him. He did that by the power of Christ. Other people saw the changes and realized that Christ had caused the changes. This was like reading a letter and seeing who had written it. In some languages this metaphor will not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

Translate the metaphor as a simile. For example:
you are like a letter from Christ
Explain the meaning in your translation. For example:
your changed lives are a letter that Christ wrote
Translate literally and explain the meaning in a footnote. An example footnote is:
The metaphor of the letter still refers to the lives of the believers, but it now indicates that Christ enabled them to believe well.

a letter from Christ: The Greek phrase is literally “a letter of Christ” (as in the NRSV). The Greek phrase probably refers to a metaphor of Christ writing the letter. For example:

a letter written by Christ (CEV)

Christ: The word Christ is a title for Jesus and means “the anointed one.” See how you translated this word in 1:1.

In some languages people always use both names “Jesus Christ” and never the title Christ alone. If that is true in your language, you may want to include the name “Jesus” here. For example:

Jesus Christ

the result of our ministry: The Greek is literally “served/helped/cared-for by us.” This phrase continues the metaphor of the letter of Christ. This phrase refers figuratively to ministering to the people in Corinth, including when Paul preached the first time. Teaching and helping others are included as well. Paul and the other evangelists did all these things and in that way helped/served the letter of Christ, namely the believers in Corinth. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

by means of what we did among you

because of our^(excl) work to you^(plur)

entrusted to our care (NJB)

given to us to deliver (REB)

In some languages continuing the metaphor is not natural. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain the meaning in your translation, as the BSB does. Some other examples are:

by means of our work/ministry

cared for by us (NASB)

3:3b

written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God,

written by means of the Spirit of the living God and not with ink,
That letter was written not with ink but the Spirit of the God who lives forever working in your lives,
He wrote it not actually with ink but through the working of the Holy Spirit of the God who is alive.

written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God: The negative phrase is first (not with ink) and the positive phrase is second. In some languages it is more natural to have the positive phrase first. For example:

written with the Spirit of the living God and not with ink

This clause refers figuratively to the Holy Spirit changing the lives of believers. Others see the changes and know that they follow Jesus. This is like ink on a letter, showing the thoughts of the writer. The ink is the means of writing. Similarly, the Holy Spirit is the means of changed lives. Many English versions use the word with here. Another way to translate this clause is:

written by means of the Spirit of the living God and not with ink

In some languages the metaphor is not natural. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

Translate as a simile. For example:
written as if with the Spirit of the living God and not with ink
Explain the meaning in your translation. For example:
written not with ink but the Spirit of the living God, who causes your lives to be an example of Jesus, like a letter telling others about him
Translate literally and explain the meaning in a footnote. An example:
The Holy Spirit causes a believer’s life to be an example of Jesus. This is like a letter telling others about him, because others see the believer’s faith and changed life.

written not with ink: This phrase indicates that the letter of 3:3a is only a metaphor. In some languages it is more natural to indicate that this phrase refers to the metaphor. For example:

not actually written with ink

written in reality not with ink

ink: This word refers to a colored liquid that dries on paper (or other similar materials) and permanently marks it. The words in books are usually written with black ink.

the Spirit of the living God: This phrase refers to the Holy Spirit. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly refer to another spirit. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

Explain in your translation. For example:
the Holy Spirit of the living God
Translate literally and explain the meaning in a footnote. An example footnote is:
Paul described the Holy Spirit in this way.

living God: The word living here refers to God being alive, as opposed to idols, which are not alive. Some other examples for translating are:

the alive GodThis expression should not imply in your language that He is one of many “gods.”

the God who lives forever

In some languages people assume that God lives, so the phrase “the living God” is not natural. If that is true in your language, you may want to translate the meaning in another way. For example:

the God who never dies

3:3c

not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

written on tablets/plaques of human hearts and not on tablets/plaques of stone.
and was written not on writing stones of laws to be obeyed but on the inner being of people.
He changed the spirit/hearts of people to follow him like writing a letter for all to see and not on stone slabs of laws to follow.

not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts: The verb “written” is implied from 3:3b but not repeated here. In some languages it is more natural to repeat the verb. For example:

written not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts

The negative phrase is first (not on tablets of stone) and the positive phrase is second. In some languages it is more natural to have the positive phrase first. For example:

written on tablets of human hearts and not on tablets of stone

These phrases continue the metaphor but now focus on the thing that is written upon. They figuratively indicate that the believers’ hearts are changed. So the believers act and speak based on their faith, and people can see the change, like reading a letter. In some languages the metaphor is not natural. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

Translate as a simile. For example:
written as if on human hearts like a tablet and not on tablets of stone
Explain the meaning in your translation. For example:
written not on tablets of stone but Christ changed your hearts to follow him, like writing a letter upon them for all to see
Translate literally and explain the meaning in a footnote. An example footnote is:
These words indicate that the change to follow Jesus happens at the deepest level in a person. The changes are not just rules to follow like the Ten Commandments, which were written on tablets of stone. These changes at the deepest level in a person also change the way he lives for others to see.

tablets of stone: This phrase refers to the Ten Commandments (Exodus 24:12, 31:18). The writing was carved into the stone. In some languages a literal translation would not imply the Ten Commandments. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

Explain in your translation. For example:
tablets of stone of laws to obey/follow
Translate literally and explain the meaning in a footnote. An example footnote is:
This phrase refers to the Ten Commandments (Exodus 24:12, 31:18). People could publicly obey the laws but still have an unchanged heart that disobeyed God.

tablets: This word indicates the stones were flat, wide, and tall, and not very thick. The word tablets refers to something to write on. Other ways to translate this word are:

flat stones

stones flat like tablets

flat stones to write on

tablets of human hearts: This phrase refers figuratively to hearts as if they were a place on which to write. The word tablets is used here to emphasize the difference between human hearts and stone. If the word tablets is not natural as a metaphor or simile, emphasize the difference between human hearts and stone in another way. This may include explaining the difference. For example:

human hearts, which affect the whole person, unlike stone

hearts: Here the word “heart” refers to the center and source of inner life, that is, thinking, feeling, and will. Use a term that is normally used in your language for “inner life” or the place where words are thought of. It may be a different organ such as the liver, or it may be a general term such as “insides.”

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

φανερούμενοι

˓being˒_revealed

Here, the phrase making known could: (1) indicate that something is well-known or obvious to people. Alternate translation: [being clear] or [so it is evident] (2) state that the Corinthians show or reveal something to others. Alternate translation: [you making it clear] or [you revealing]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐστὲ ἐπιστολὴ Χριστοῦ, διακονηθεῖσα ὑφ’ ἡμῶν, ἐνγεγραμμένη οὐ μέλανι, ἀλλὰ Πνεύματι Θεοῦ ζῶντος, οὐκ ἐν πλαξὶν λιθίναις, ἀλλ’ ἐν πλαξὶν καρδίαις σαρκίναις

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: φανερούμενοι ὅτι ἐστέ ἐπιστολή Χριστοῦ διακονηθεῖσα ὑφʼ ἡμῶν ἐγγεγραμμένη οὒ μέλανι ἀλλά Πνεύματι Θεοῦ ζῶντος οὐκ ἐν πλαξίν λιθίναις ἀλλʼ ἐν πλαξίν καρδίαις σαρκίναις)

Here Paul continues to speak as if the Corinthians were a letter. Here, he states that this letter was written by Christ and administered by Paul and his fellow workers. He means that Christ is the one who enabled the Corinthians to believe, and Christ worked through Paul and his fellow workers to do that. Paul then contrasts a letter written with ink and on tablets of stone with a letter written by the power of the Spirit and on hearts of flesh. What he means by this is that the letter is the Corinthians, not some written document, and that the message is communicated by the Spirit, not by letters written with ink. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea with a simile or in some other natural way. Alternate translation: [you are like a letter of Christ having been administered by us, not written with ink but as if with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but as if on tablets of hearts of flesh] or [you are a message from Christ having been administered by us, not communicated by ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not presented on tablets of stone but on tablets of hearts of flesh]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

ἐπιστολὴ Χριστοῦ

Here Paul uses the possessive form to indicate that the letter is from or written by Christ. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [a letter from Christ] or [a letter written by Christ]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

διακονηθεῖσα ὑφ’ ἡμῶν

˓having_been˒_served by us

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [that we have administered]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

διακονηθεῖσα ὑφ’ ἡμῶν

˓having_been˒_served by us

Here, the phrase having been administered by us could indicate that: (1) “we” delivered the letter. Alternate translation: [having been delivered by us] or [having been sent by us] (2) “we” helped Christ compose the letter. Alternate translation: [having been composed with our help] or [that we wrote down]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

ἡμῶν

Here, just as in [3:1–2](../03/01.md), the word us does not include the Corinthians. It could refer to: (1) Paul and those who proclaim the gospel with him. Alternate translation: [us who preach the gospel] (2) just Paul. Alternate translation: [me]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

ἐνγεγραμμένη οὐ μέλανι, ἀλλὰ Πνεύματι Θεοῦ ζῶντος, οὐκ ἐν πλαξὶν λιθίναις, ἀλλ’ ἐν πλαξὶν καρδίαις σαρκίναις

If your language would not put the negative statements before the positive statements, you could reverse them. Alternate translation: [written with the Spirit of the living God, not with ink, on tablets of hearts of flesh, not on tablets of stone]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

ἀλλὰ Πνεύματι Θεοῦ ζῶντος, οὐκ ἐν πλαξὶν λιθίναις, ἀλλ’ ἐν πλαξὶν καρδίαις σαρκίναις

These phrases leave out some words that many languages might need to be complete. If it would be helpful in your language, you could supply the word written from earlier in the sentence in some or all of the phrases. Alternate translation: [but written with the Spirit of the living God, not written on tablets of stone but written on tablets of hearts of flesh] or [but with the Spirit of the living God, not written on tablets of stone but on tablets of hearts of flesh]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἐνγεγραμμένη οὐ

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you must state who did the action, Paul implies that Christ did it. Alternate translation: [which Christ wrote not]

Note 10 topic: translate-unknown

μέλανι

˱in˲_ink

Here, the word ink refers to colored liquid that people in Paul’s culture used to write letters and words. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use whatever term naturally refers to what people use to write letters and words. Alternate translation: [with a pen]

Note 11 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

Θεοῦ ζῶντος

˱of˲_God ˓the˒_living

Here, the phrase living God identifies God as the one who “lives” and possibly as the one who gives life. The primary point is that God actually lives, unlike inanimate idols and other things that people may call gods. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that emphasizes that God really lives. Alternate translation: [of the God who lives] or [of the true God]

Note 12 topic: translate-unknown

(Occurrence -1) ἐν πλαξὶν

Here, the word tablets refers to thin, flat pieces of stone on which people would write words, especially important words. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that refers to the surface on which people write something important. Paul may be referring here to the tablets on which Moses wrote God’s commandments (See: [Exodus 34:1–4](../exo/34/01.md)), so, if possible, use a word that could refer to those tablets. Alternate translation: [on flat pieces … on flat pieces] or [on plaques … on plaques]

Note 13 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

πλαξὶν λιθίναις

Here Paul uses the possessive form to describe tablets that are made out of stone. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [stone tablets]

Note 14 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

πλαξὶν καρδίαις σαρκίναις

Here Paul uses the possessive form to describe tablets that refer to hearts that are made of flesh. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [tablets that are fleshly hearts] or [tablets that are hearts made of flesh]

Note 15 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

καρδίαις σαρκίναις

˱of˲_hearts fleshy

In the Paul’s culture, hearts are the places where humans think and plan. Here Paul states that these hearts are made of flesh, meaning that they are live, functional body parts. If it would be helpful in your language, you could refer to the place where humans think in your culture or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [of living people] or [of what we think and do]

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

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.

OET interlinear 2 COR 3:3

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

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

3:3a

3:3b

3:3c

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

OET interlinear 2 COR 3:3

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

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

3:3a

3:3b

3:3c

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

OET interlinear 2 COR 3:3