2 COR 5:11 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. εἰδότες
2. eidō
3. having known
4. having known
5. 14920
6. VPEA·NMP
7. ˓having˒ known
8. ˓having˒ known
9. -
10. Y60
11. 122344
1. Οὖν
2. oun
3. Therefore
4. -
5. 37670
6. C·······
7. therefore
8. therefore
9. PS
10. Y60
11. 122345
1. τόν
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····AMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 122346
1. φόβον
2. fobos
3. fear
4. fear
5. 54010
6. N····AMS
7. fear
8. fear
9. -
10. Y60
11. 122347
1. τοῦ
2. ho
3. of the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GMS
7. ˱of˲ the
8. ˱of˲ the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 122348
1. Κυρίου
2. kurios
3. master
4. Yahweh
5. 29620
6. N····GMS
7. master
8. Lord
9. GN
10. Y60
11. 122349
1. ἀνθρώπους
2. anthrōpos
3. people
4. people
5. 4440
6. N····AMP
7. people
8. people
9. -
10. Y60
11. 122350
1. πείθομεν
2. peithō
3. we are persuading
4. persuading
5. 39820
6. VIPA1··P
7. ˱we˲ ˓are˒ persuading
8. ˱we˲ ˓are˒ persuading
9. -
10. Y60; R122231
11. 122351
1. πείθωμεν
2. peithō
3. -
4. -
5. 39820
6. VSPA1··P
7. ˱we˲ ˓may_be˒ persuading
8. ˱we˲ ˓may_be˒ persuading
9. -
10. -
11. 122352
1. Θεῷ
2. theos
3. to god
4. God
5. 23160
6. N····DMS
7. ˱to˲ god
8. ˱to˲ God
9. GN
10. Y60; Person=God
11. 122353
1. Δέ
2. de
3. But
4. but
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. but
8. but
9. G
10. Y60
11. 122354
1. πεφανερώμεθα
2. faneroō
3. we have been revealed
4. -
5. 53190
6. VIEP1··P
7. ˱we˲ ˓have_been˒ revealed
8. ˱we˲ ˓have_been˒ revealed
9. -
10. Y60; R122231
11. 122355
1. ἐλπίζω
2. elpizō
3. I am hoping
4. hoping
5. 16790
6. VIPA1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ hoping
8. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ hoping
9. -
10. Y60; R120621; Person=Paul
11. 122356
1. δέ
2. de
3. and
4. -
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y60
11. 122357
1. καί
2. kai
3. also
4. -
5. 25320
6. D·······
7. also
8. also
9. -
10. Y60
11. 122358
1. ἐν
2. en
3. in
4. -
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y60
11. 122359
1. ταῖς
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····DFP
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 122360
1. συνειδήσεσιν
2. suneidēsis
3. consciences
4. consciences
5. 48930
6. N····DFP
7. consciences
8. consciences
9. -
10. Y60
11. 122361
1. ὑμῶν
2. su
3. of you all
4. your
5. 47710
6. R···2G·P
7. ˱of˲ you_all
8. ˱of˲ you_all
9. -
10. Y60; R120795
11. 122362
1. πεφανερῶσθαι
2. faneroō
3. to have revealed
4. -
5. 53190
6. VNEP····
7. ˓to_have˒ revealed
8. ˓to_have˒ revealed
9. -
10. Y60; R122231
11. 122363

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 5:11–6:2: Allow God to reconcile with you

In this section, Paul explained the goal that he and his coworkers had (5:11a–b). He also said that God knew and approved of what they did (5:11c). He wrote that their accomplishments should cause the believers in Corinth to be proud of them (5:12). The basis for 5:13 may be that the false teachers had accused Paul of being crazy. Sometimes obeying God requires doing things which do not make sense to people who do not know God. Paul also explained the basis for his ministry (5:14–15).

He explained the new way believers should think of each other (5:16–17). He explained the basis for that new way of thinking (5:18–19). He told them that apostles are like ambassadors for Christ, and he urged people to be reconciled to God (5:20). He explained the basis for believers becoming righteous (5:21). He urged believers to follow God completely (6:1–2).

Other examples of headings for this section are:

The Ministry of Reconciliation (NIV)

Paul explained the basis for his ministry

Friendship with God through Christ (GNT)

God wants all people to reconcile with him

5:11a–b

Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men: The first part, we know what it means to fear the Lord, is the basis or reason for persuading people. For example:

We know what it means to fear the Lord, and so we try to persuade others (GNT)

men: Here the word men is general and refers to both men and women. Here is another way to translate this:

people (NCV)

5:11a

Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord,

¶ So then, always having/experiencing the fear of the Lord,
¶ Therefore, we^(excl) always revere the Lord God in great awe,

Therefore, since we know: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates literally as Therefore indicates that 5:11 is the result of what Paul said in the preceding verses. Here is another way to translate this:

Therefore, knowing (NASB)

we know: Here the word know refers to having the attitude of fearing the Lord. The word does not refer to only knowing about something. The word also does not refer to only knowing the meaning of the words. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

we have/experience

always in mind (NJB)

what it means to fear the Lord: This Greek phrase is literally “the fear of the Lord” (as in the RSV). Here the word fear refers to:

knowing that God rules all things, including each person’s life;
knowing that one day God will judge each person;
awe that God is holy and all powerful;
reverence and honor to God.

The word fear does not imply that God is cruel, mean, or arbitrary.

In some languages a literal translation would not have the meaning as above. If that is true in your language, translate “the fear of the Lord” a way that indicates all or most of the above meaning. For example:

reverence and awe to the Lord

to respect the Lord (CEV)

the Lord: This phrase probably refers to God here.

5:11b

we try to persuade men.

we^(excl) exhort/urge people to believe.
and so help people to accept the truth.

we try to persuade men: The Greek words do not say what Paul was trying to persuade men to believe. There are several ways to translate the Greek:

Paul was trying to persuade people to believe in Jesus. 5:11b connects to 5:11a, and 5:11a would imply his responsibility to preach about Jesus. For example:
encourage everyone to turn to him (CEV) (CEV)
Paul was trying to persuade people that he was sincere and his ministry was proper. 5:11b connects to 5:11c–d, and 5:11c–d would imply his concern about what the believers in Corinth were thinking about him. For example:
we try to help people accept the truth about us (NCV) (NCV)

The BSB and many other English versions translate literally and do not say what or who is believed in. A literal translation in some languages would imply interpretation (1).Thrall (p. 400), Harris (p. 411), Martin (p. 117), Kistemaker (p. 173), Barrett (p. 161), Furnish (p. 305), and Hughes (on TW), in their translations, do not add what thing Paul was persuading people about. But Harris (p. 413) says that Paul was trying to convince the people “of the truth of the gospel.” If that is true in your language, you may want to translate literally. But if a literal translation would imply interpretation (2), you should translate according to interpretation (1).

Some languages must say what Paul was trying to persuade the people to believe. If that is true in your language, follow interpretation (1), since 5:11b is closely connected to 5:11a in the Greek.

try to persuade men: The Greek word that the BSB translates as try to persuade refers to talking to people with the intent to convince them of something. The Greek word does not imply that everyone is convinced. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

exhort/urge people to believe

try to help people accept the truth (NCV)

The Greek phrase indicates an ongoing action. For example:

are persuading people

are trying to persuade people

men: Here the word men is general and refers to both men and women. Here is another way to translate this:

others (GNT)

5:11c

What we are is clear to God,

We are well known to God,
God knows what we truly are,

This sentence begins with a Greek conjunction that probably introduces a new part of the same theme from 5:11a–b. In English, such a connection is often indicated with a new sentence with no conjunction. For example:

God himself knows… (CEV)

What we are is clear to God: This clause indicates that God knew all things about Paul and the other evangelists. There was nothing about them that was hidden from God. Other ways to translate this clause are:

we ourselves are well known to God (NRSV)

God knows us completely (GNT)

God sees us for what we are (NJB)

God knows what we truly are

5:11d

and I hope it is clear to your conscience as well.

and I hope that we are also well known to your consciences. (NRSV)
and I expect that you also know in your^(plur) hearts what we truly are.

I hope it is clear to your conscience as well: Here the word hope probably means “expect but possibly with some doubt.” It indicates that Paul desired that the believers would clearly understand his own life and ministry and that of the others. But he was perhaps a bit worried that the false teachers would deceive them into thinking that he was not a true apostle. So he hoped it was plain to them. Other ways to translate this clause are:

I hope that we are also well known to your consciences (NRSV)

I hope that in your hearts you truly know us as well

I expect that you see us for what we are in your consciences

conscience: The Greek word that the BSB translates as conscience refers to the memories of past deeds. Paul expected the believers to use their conscience and honestly evaluate his life and ministry and decide he had done nothing wrong. Other ways to translate this word are:

inner being

convictions of the mind

See how you translated this word in 1:12 or 4:2.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

οὖν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰδότες Οὖν τόν φόβον τοῦ Κυρίου ἀνθρώπους πείθομεν Θεῷ Δέ πεφανερώμεθα ἐλπίζω δέ καί ἐν ταῖς συνειδήσεσιν ὑμῶν πεφανερῶσθαι)

Here, the word Therefore introduces a conclusion or inference from what Paul has said in [5:10](../05/10.md). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces a conclusion or inference. Alternate translation: [Because of that] or [So]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

εἰδότες

˓having˒_known

Here, the word knowing introduces a reason for why Paul and those with him persuade men. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this relationship more explicit. Alternate translation: [since we know]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τὸν φόβον τοῦ Κυρίου

Here Paul uses the possessive form to identify fear that is directed toward the Lord. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [the fear that is directed to the Lord] or [the fear that we experience for the Lord]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τὸν φόβον τοῦ Κυρίου

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of fear, you could express the idea by using a verb such as “fear.” Alternate translation: [how we fear the Lord] or [what it is to fear the Lord]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἀνθρώπους πείθομεν

people ˱we˲_˓are˒_persuading

Here Paul could be implying that he “persuades” people: (1) to know the fear of the Lord as he and those with him do. Alternate translation: [we persuade men also to know the fear of the Lord] (2) to realize that he and those with him are people who know the fear of the Lord and are thus trustworthy. Alternate translation: [we persuade men that we are those who fear the Lord] or [we persuade men that we are trustworthy] (3) to accept the gospel. Alternate translation: [we persuade men to believe the gospel]

Note 6 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

δὲ

Here, the word But introduces a contrast with how they persuade men. In contrast with that, they do not need to persuade God, since they are already clearly known by him. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that makes this relationship clear. Alternate translation: [On the other hand,]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

Θεῷ & πεφανερώμεθα & πεφανερῶσθαι

˱to˲_God & ˱we˲_˓have_been˒_revealed & ˓to_have˒_revealed

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: [God knows us clearly … that you know us clearly]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

πεφανερώμεθα & ἐν ταῖς συνειδήσεσιν ὑμῶν πεφανερῶσθαι

˱we˲_˓have_been˒_revealed & in the consciences ˱of˲_you_all ˓to_have˒_revealed

Here Paul does not state what it is about them that is clearly known. He implies that God knows that Paul and his coworkers are faithful to God and preach the good news properly. Paul wants the Corinthians to recognize this also. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make the idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [we are clearly known to be faithful … to be clearly known in your consciences as faithful] or [we are clearly known to preach the truth … to be clearly known in your consciences as one preaching the truth]

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 5:11

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

Section 5:11–6:2: Allow God to reconcile with you

5:11a–b

5:11a

5:11b

5:11c

5:11d

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

OET interlinear 2 COR 5:11

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

Section 5:11–6:2: Allow God to reconcile with you

5:11a–b

5:11a

5:11b

5:11c

5:11d

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

OET interlinear 2 COR 5:11