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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 4 V1 V2 V3 V4 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18
OET (OET-LV) For/Because not ourselves we_are_proclaiming, but Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) chosen_one/messiah the_master, and ourselves slaves of_you_all because_of Yaʸsous.
OET (OET-RV) because it’s not us ourselves that we’re proclaiming, but the master Yeshua Messiah. We serve as your slaves because of him,
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
For we do not proclaim ourselves,
For we(excl) do not proclaim our importance,
For in our ministry, it is not ourselves that we preach/announce.
For: Here the word For indicates that 4:5 explains some things Paul had said about their ministry of preaching the gospel of Jesus (4:1–4).
proclaim ourselves: This phrase refers to preaching in a way that would have made Paul and the others seem important. Paul did not preach for the purpose of becoming famous. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
preach ourselves (NIV)
Our message is not about ourselves (GW)
preach about ourselves (NCV)
proclaim: This word means “announce” or “preach.” Paul and the others announced that Jesus was the Christ to people in Corinth. For example:
preach (NIV)
See how you translated this word in 1:19.
ourselves: This word is emphasized in the Greek. It emphasizes the contrast with what they do preach (4:5b). For example:
it is not ourselves that we preach (GNT)
but Jesus Christ as Lord,
but that Jesus Christ is Lord,
Rather, we preach/announce that Jesus Christ is ruler over all,
but Jesus Christ as Lord: The words “we preach” are implied from 4:5a but are not repeated here. In some languages it is more natural to repeat some of those words. For example:
but we preach Jesus Christ as Lord
Jesus Christ as Lord: This phrase refers to explaining that Jesus Christ is the Lord. That is, he is the one who, with God, rules all things. For example:
We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord (NLT)
Jesus Christ: There is a textual issue here. Some Greek manuscripts have “Christ Jesus” instead of Jesus Christ:
The order is Jesus Christ. For example:
Jesus Christ (RSV) (BSB, RSV, NIV, GNT, NABRE, NLT, GW, CEV, NET, NCV, ESV)
The order is Christ Jesus. For example:
Christ Jesus (NASB) (NJB, NASB, REB, KJV)
It is recommended that you follow option (1), since the UBS Greek New Testament recommends it.
Lord: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Lord means “the one in authority over (something)” or “master.” It refers to someone greater in status or power. Jesus is ruler over all things. Another way to translate this word is:
ruler over all things
and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
and that we ourselves serve/help you(plur) because of Jesus.
and we made ourselves to be your humble helpers/servants in obedience to Jesus.
and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake: There is no verb in this clause. The words “we proclaim” are implied from 4:5a but are not repeated here. In this context it indicates that Paul and the other evangelists considered themselves to be servants of the believers in Corinth. They helped the believers so that they believed, loved, and obeyed Jesus well. Other ways to translate this clause are:
and we made ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake
and we told you that we were your servants for Jesus’ sake
servants: The Greek word that the BSB translates as servants is literally “slaves.” The word “slaves” figuratively indicates that Paul and the other evangelists cared for the needs of the believers in Corinth. They were humble and submissive to the believers. The difference between a slave and a servant is not important here.
Some languages do not have a word for “servant” or “slave.” If that is true in your language, you may want to use a general term for “worker” or use a phrase that includes humility or submission. Some examples are:
workers
those who serve
humble helpers
for Jesus’ sake: The Greek words that the BSB translates as for Jesus’ sake can be literally translated as “because of Jesus.” Paul and the others served the believers to honor Jesus and in response to what Jesus had done for them. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
because of Jesus
to honor Jesus
Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases
γὰρ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὒ Γάρ ἑαυτούς κηρύσσομεν ἀλλά Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν Κύριον ἑαυτούς δέ δούλους ὑμῶν διά Ἰησοῦν)
Here, the word For introduces a further explanation of what Paul said about “the gospel of the glory of Christ” in [4:4](../04/04.md). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces further explanation, or you could leave For untranslated. Alternate translation: [As you can see,] or [Indeed,]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis
ἀλλὰ Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν Κύριον, ἑαυτοὺς δὲ δούλους ὑμῶν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὒ Γάρ ἑαυτούς κηρύσσομεν ἀλλά Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν Κύριον ἑαυτούς δέ δούλους ὑμῶν διά Ἰησοῦν)
These two clauses leave out some words that many languages might need to be complete. If it would be helpful in your language, you could supply these words from the first half of the verse. Alternate translation: [but we proclaim the Lord Christ Jesus, and we proclaim ourselves as your servants]
Note 3 topic: guidelines-sonofgodprinciples
Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν Κύριον
Jesus Jesus (Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὒ Γάρ ἑαυτούς κηρύσσομεν ἀλλά Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν Κύριον ἑαυτούς δέ δούλους ὑμῶν διά Ἰησοῦν)
Here, the phrase Lord Christ Jesus could: (1) give a title or name for Jesus. Alternate translation: [the Lord, who is Christ Jesus] (2) state that Christ Jesus is the Lord. Alternate translation: [Christ Jesus as Lord]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
διὰ Ἰησοῦν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὒ Γάρ ἑαυτούς κηρύσσομεν ἀλλά Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν Κύριον ἑαυτούς δέ δούλους ὑμῶν διά Ἰησοῦν)
Here Paul could be indicating that he and his fellow workers are servants because of: (1) who Jesus is. Alternate translation: [because of who Jesus is] (2) what Jesus has done. Alternate translation: [because of what Jesus has done] (3) what Jesus wants Paul and his fellow workers to do. Alternate translation: [because that is what Jesus wants]
4:5 We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord: See also Rom 10:9-10; 1 Cor 12:3; Col 2:6.
OET (OET-LV) For/Because not ourselves we_are_proclaiming, but Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) chosen_one/messiah the_master, and ourselves slaves of_you_all because_of Yaʸsous.
OET (OET-RV) because it’s not us ourselves that we’re proclaiming, but the master Yeshua Messiah. We serve as your slaves because of him,
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.