Open Bible Data Home About News OET Key
OET OET-RV OET-LV ULT UST BSB MSB BLB AICNT OEB WEBBE WMBB NET LSV FBV TCNT T4T LEB BBE Moff JPS Wymth ASV DRA YLT Drby RV SLT Wbstr KJB-1769 KJB-1611 Bshps Gnva Cvdl TNT Wycl SR-GNT UHB BrLXX BrTr Related Topics Parallel Interlinear Reference Dictionary Search
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 V5 V6 V7 V8 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18
In this section, Paul continued to speak of the difficulties that he and the other evangelists encountered as they did the work of the new covenant. He referred to their bodies as jars of clay (4:7a), which are easily shattered. He said this to show that our human nature is weak and easily fails as we follow God. But Paul was also encouraged that God enabled him to do the work of the new covenant in spite of great difficulties (4:7b–9).
He wrote that he and the other evangelists experienced things similar to what Jesus experienced before he died, but those experiences showed to other people how Jesus lived (4:10–11). He wrote that the believers experienced the good effects of Jesus’ life (4:12). He supported his ministry of preaching with a quote from the Old Testament (4:13), and he explained the promise there (4:14). He wrote that their ministry benefited the believers in Corinth and others as well (4:15).
Lastly, Paul wrote how they continue in spite of the difficulties (4:16–18).
Other examples of headings for this section are:
Spiritual Treasure in Clay Jars (NCV)
Even though our bodies are weak, God gives us strength to tell the gospel
A glorious, powerful message taught by weak messengers
persecuted, but not forsaken;
We(excl) are persecuted/oppressed, but we are not neglected/forsaken;
Although others harm us, God never leaves us.
persecuted: This word refers to others causing troubles for Paul and his coworkers. The words “we are” are implied from 4:8a but are not repeated here. Other ways to translate this word are:
oppressed
we are harassed
This verb is an implied passive clause. In some languages an active clause must be used. For example:
others persecute us
forsaken: This word refers to leaving someone permanently or refusing to have any relationship with him. For example:
abandoned (NIV)
This verb is an implied passive clause. God does not abandon his people. In some languages an active clause must be used. For example:
God does not abandon us
struck down, but not destroyed.
and we are sometimes knocked down, but we are not destroyed.
Although others strike us severely, they do not destroy us.
struck down: Here the Greek word that the BSB translates as struck down can refer to being physically beaten to the ground or bullied. It can also refer figuratively to a devastating action by an adversary. If possible, translate in a way that can have both a physical and figurative meaning. The words “we are” are implied from 4:8a but are not repeated here. Other ways to translate this Greek word are:
We are hurt sometimes (NCV)
knocked down (NJB)
we are beaten
This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:
others strike us to the ground
destroyed: This word means “ruin, demolish.” When something is destroyed, it cannot work or act, and it cannot be repaired. This verb does not refer to something that disappears and is gone. The words “we are” are implied from 4:8a but are not repeated here. Other ways to translate this word are:
demolished
we are defeated
This clause is passive. It refers generally to other people destroying. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:
they did not destroy us
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
διωκόμενοι, ἀλλ’ οὐκ ἐνκαταλειπόμενοι; καταβαλλόμενοι, ἀλλ’ οὐκ ἀπολλύμενοι
˓being˒_persecuted but not (Some words not found in SR-GNT: διωκόμενοι ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐγκαταλειπόμενοι καταβαλλόμενοι ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἀπολλύμενοι)
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 does the actions, you could use indefinite subjects for persecuted and thrown down, or you could indicate that God is the one who does not “forsake.” Alternate translation: [someone persecuting us, but God not forsaking us; someone throwing us down, but we not perishing]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
καταβαλλόμενοι
˓being˒_struck_down
Here, Paul speaks as if people physically push him and his fellow workers so that they fall down. By speaking in this way, he is referring to any time people act against or bully him and his fellow workers, which may or may not be physical. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [being bullied] or [being attacked]
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.
Open Bible Data site copyright © 2023–2026 Freely-Given.org.
Python source code for creating these static pages is available on GitHub under an open licence.
For Bible data copyrights, see the details for each displayed Bible version.
The Open English Translation (OET) main site is at OpenEnglishTranslation.Bible or OET.Bible.