OET interlinear 2 COR 7:11

7:11a–b

Consider what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves: The word earnestness is the first item in the list. The godly sorrow produced everything in the list. It produced them in proper measure. For example:

See what God did with this sadness of yours: how earnest it has made you, how eager to prove your innocence… (GNT)

7:11a

7:11a begins with a Greek conjunction that is often translated as “for” or “because.” In this context it introduces more that Paul wanted to say about godly sorrow. For example:

For (RSV)

Just (NLT)

In some languages it is more natural to allow the context to indicate the connection and omit the conjunction.

Consider what this godly sorrow has produced in you: The Greek words are literally “Look how much this very grieving according to God produced in you.” This clause indicates that godly sorrow produced much godly fruit. The list of godly fruit is in 7:11b–d. Other ways to translate this are:

For see what this very thing, this sadness as God intended, has produced in you (NET)

For just look at what was achieved in your lives by that grief which was in accordance with God’s willTagbanwa Back Translation in Translator’s Workplace.

You experienced your sorrow in the way that God wants, and just look at the results

Consider: This word emphasizes the clause “what this godly sorrow has produced in you.” It is not a command to look at something.

7:11b–d

what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what vindication!: Here the word what emphasizes that the believers did indeed have earnestness, eagerness to clear themselves, indignation, alarm, longing, zeal, and vindication. Repeating the word what continues the emphasis for each phrase. Other ways to translate this are:

such earnestness, such eagerness to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing, such concern, such readiness to see justice done

much earnestness, and also much eagerness to clear yourselves, and also much indignation, and also much alarm, and also much longing, and also much concern, and also much readiness to see justice done

You showed much earnestness and much eagerness to clear yourselves. You also showed much indignation and much alarm. You also showed much longing and concern. And you also showed much readiness to see justice done.

7:11b

earnestness: This word refers to having a strong desire to do the right thing and making every effort to do it. Paul probably indicated some things that were wrong among the believers, and they eagerly corrected those things. Other ways to translate this word are:

devoted to doing the right thing

eagerly doing what was right

deal with the issues/matters seriously

eagerness to clear yourselves: The Greek word is literally “defense.” It refers to defending their own actions properly. Paul may have accused them of some sins in the severe letter he had sent earlier, but the believers needed to correct his misunderstandings and show that they had not done those things. They wanted to show him that they had done the right thing. Other ways to translate this are:

defence (NJB)

vindicate yourselves (REB)

You were ready to clear yourselves of the charges against you (GW)

You sincerely want to prove that you are innocent (CEV)

7:11c

indignation: The word indignation refers to being upset about a wrong. Here they may have been upset at:

1. the wrongdoer for his sin;

2. themselves for not doing as they should have done before Paul wrote.

If possible, translate the word indignation in a way that allows one or more of the above possible situations. Other ways to translate this word are:

upset over the sin

You were disgusted with the wrong that had been done (GW)

You are angry (CEV)

alarm: The Greek word here is usually translated “fear.” Here they may have been:

1. jolted emotionally by the severe letter;

2. fearing God in the usual sense of revering God;

3. worried about the effect of their earlier laziness in obeying Paul, so that he needed to write the severe letter;

4. afraid of not being a good witness to the world because they did not deal with the wrongdoer immediately.

If possible, translate the word alarm in a way that allows one or more of the above possible situations. Other ways to translate this word are:

fear of God

You are shocked (CEV)

This alarm is a good result of the sorrow. Translate in a way that indicates or implies that the alarm was a good result.

longing: The word longing refers to desiring something. Here they may have been desiring:

1. to see Paul again;

2. to restore their relationship with Paul.

Translate the word longing in a way that allows one or both of the above possible interpretations. Other ways to translate this word are:

desire to see me again

You wanted to see us (GW)

desire to restore our relationship

7:11d

zeal: The Greek word that the BSB translates as zeal refers to eagerness or concern to do something. Here the word probably refers to wanting eagerly to do all that Paul told them to do. Other ways to translate this word are:

You are eager to see that justice is done (CEV)

You wanted to show your concern for us (GW)

your devotion (REB)

See how you translated this word in 7:7.

vindication: Here the Greek word that the BSB translates as vindication refers to punishing someone for wrongdoing. When Paul showed the wrongdoer to them, they immediately applied a proper punishment to him. Other ways to translate this Greek word are:

punishment (RSV)

You were ready to punish the wrong that had been done (GW)

your eagerness to see justice done (REB)

7:11e

In every way you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter: The believers in Corinth did not participate in whatever the wrongdoer did. This clause indicates that they proved to Titus and so to Paul that they had done nothing wrong in that case. (But they probably did not try to correct the sinner as soon as they found out, which is partly why Paul wrote the severe letter.) Other ways to translate this clause are:

In every way you have cleared yourselves of blame in this matter (NJB)

You proved you were innocent in the problem (NCV)