OET interlinear 2COR 3:5

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

οὐχ

not

Here, the word Not introduces a contrast with what Paul said in the previous verse about confidence (See: 3:4). He wishes to clarify that the confidence is not based on human abilities but on God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces this kind of contrast. Alternate translation: “But it is not” or “However, it is not”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

ἑαυτῶν & ἐσμεν & ἑαυτῶν & ἡμῶν

ourselves & ˱we˲_are & ourselves & ˱of˲_us_‹is›

Here, just as in 3:1–4, the words we, ourselves, and our do not include the Corinthians. They could refer to: (1) Paul and those who proclaim the gospel with him. Alternate translation: “we who preach the gospel are … ourselves … ourselves … our” (2) just Paul. Alternate translation: “I am … myself … myself … my”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἀφ’ ἑαυτῶν ἱκανοί & ἡ ἱκανότης ἡμῶν

from ourselves worthy & the qualified ˱of˲_us_‹is›

Here Paul does not state what they are not sufficient to do. He implies that it is serving God by preaching the gospel. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “sufficient in preaching the gospel from ourselves … our sufficiency for this task”

ἑαυτῶν & λογίσασθαί

ourselves & /to/_reckon

Here, the phrase to consider introduces an explanation or elaboration of what sufficient from ourselves means. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces an explanation or elaboration. Alternate translation: “ourselves, that is, we do not consider” or “ourselves, so that we consider”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τι

anything

Here, the word anything refers to whatever they do to serve God well. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “anything we do preach the gospel” or “whatever we do well”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἡ ἱκανότης ἡμῶν ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ

the qualified ˱of˲_us_‹is› of ¬the God

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of sufficiency, you could express the idea by using an adjective such as “sufficient.” Alternate translation: “God makes us sufficient”