2 COR 10:18 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT For that one commending himself is not approved, but whom the Lord commends.

UST Everyone should do that because the Lord Jesus recommends those whom he says are trustworthy, not those who say that about themselves.

BSB For it is not the [one] who commends himself [who is] approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

BLB For the one commending himself, this one is not approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

AICNT for it is not the one who commends oneself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

OEB For it is not those who commend themselves that stand the test, but those who are commended by the Lord.

WEBBE For it isn’t he who commends himself who is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET For it is not the person who commends himself who is approved, but the person the Lord commends.

LSV for he who is commending himself is not approved, but he whom the LORD commends.

FBV It's not those who praise themselves that are respected, but those that the Lord praises.

TCNT For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

T4T You can realize, then, that it is not those who ◄praise themselves/tell you what great things they have done►, as my opponents do, whom you should accept as apostles. Instead, you should accept as true apostles only those whom the Lord commends.

LEB For it is not the one commending himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

BBE For the Lord's approval of a man is not dependent on his opinion of himself, but on the Lord's opinion of him.

Moff for it is not the self-praiser with his own recommendations who is accepted, it is the man whom the Lord recommends.

Wymth For it is not the man that commends himself who is really approved, but he whom the Lord commends.
¶ 

ASV For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

DRA For not he who commendeth himself, is approved, but he, whom God commendeth.

YLT for not he who is commending himself is approved, but he whom the Lord doth commend.

Drby For not he that commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

RV For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

SLT For not he recommending himself, this is acceptable, but whom the Lord recommends.

Wbstr For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

KJB-1769 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

KJB-1611 For, not he that commendeth himselfe is approued, but whom the Lord commendeth.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps For he that prayseth hymselfe, is not alowed, but whom the Lorde prayseth.
(For he that praiseth himself, is not allowed, but whom the Lord praiseth.)

Gnva For hee that praiseth himselfe, is not alowed, but he whome the Lord praiseth.
(For he that praiseth himself, is not allowed, but he whom the Lord praiseth. )

Cvdl for he yt prayseth him selfe, is not alowed, but he who ye LORDE prayseth.
(for he it praiseth himself, is not allowed, but he who ye/you_all LORD praiseth.)

TNT For he that prayseth him silfe is not alowed: but he whom the lorde prayseth.
(For he that praiseth himself is not allowed: but he whom the lord praiseth. )

Wycl For not he that comendith hym silf is preuyd, but whom God comendith.
(For not he that comingdith himself is preuyd, but whom God comingdith.)

Luth Denn darum ist einer nicht tüchtig, daß er sich selbst lobet, sondern daß ihn der HErr lobet.
(Because therefore is one/a not efficient/proficient, that he itself/yourself/themselves himself/itself praises, rather that him/it the/of_the LORD praises.)

ClVg Non enim qui seipsum commendat, ille probatus est: sed quem Deus commendat.[fn]
(Not/No because who/which himself recommends, he/that_one approvesus it_is: but which God recommends. )

10.18 Sed quem Deus. Illum Deus commendat et probatus est, quem dignum habet, ac mittit ut prædicet donum ejus: quem non mittit, non commendat, quia non missus prædicat.

10.18 But which God. Illum God recommends and approvesus it_is, which worthy has, and sends as beforedicet a_gift/present/donation his: which not/no sends, not/no recommends, because not/no missus preach.

UGNT οὐ γὰρ ὁ ἑαυτὸν συνιστάνων, ἐκεῖνός ἐστιν δόκιμος, ἀλλὰ ὃν ὁ Κύριος συνίστησιν.
(ou gar ho heauton sunistanōn, ekeinos estin dokimos, alla hon ho Kurios sunistaʸsin.)

SBL-GNT οὐ γὰρ ὁ ἑαυτὸν ⸀συνιστάνων, ἐκεῖνός ἐστιν δόκιμος, ἀλλὰ ὃν ὁ κύριος συνίστησιν.
(ou gar ho heauton ⸀sunistanōn, ekeinos estin dokimos, alla hon ho kurios sunistaʸsin.)

RP-GNT Οὐ γὰρ ὁ ἑαυτὸν συνιστῶν, ἐκεῖνός ἐστιν δόκιμος, ἀλλ' ὃν ὁ κύριος συνίστησιν.
(Ou gar ho heauton sunistōn, ekeinos estin dokimos, all' hon ho kurios sunistaʸsin.)

TC-GNT Οὐ γὰρ ὁ ἑαυτὸν [fn]συνιστῶν, ἐκεῖνός ἐστι δόκιμος, [fn]ἀλλ᾽ ὃν ὁ Κύριος συνίστησιν.
(Ou gar ho heauton sunistōn, ekeinos esti dokimos, all hon ho Kurios sunistaʸsin. )

10:18 συνιστων ¦ συνιστανων CT

10:18 αλλ ¦ αλλα NA²⁷ SBL WH

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 10:1–18: Paul defended his ministry

In this section, Paul asked the believers in Corinth to live in obedience to their faith, or he might have to rebuke or discipline some (10:1–2). He explained how a believer fights against those who oppose God (10:3–4) and how to rebuke them as well as correct a disobedient believer (10:5–6).

He told them to understand their situation, including Paul’s authority (10:7–8). He explained that he was forceful in his letters, and that he would be forceful in person if he had to be (10:9–11).

He told them that people who commend themselves are not wise (10:12). He explained that he boasted only in proper ways. One of those ways was boasting about the faith of people whom he had helped become believers, which included those in Corinth (10:13–15a). He told them that he hoped to preach the gospel in more regions (10:15b–16a). He explained further about proper things to boast about (10:16b–17). Lastly, he told them that God approves of people according to what God himself says in favor of them and not what a person boasts about himself (10:18).

Other examples of headings for this section are:

Paul’s reply to accusations of weakness (NJB)

Paul Describes Himself (NASB)

Paul responded to some who had criticized him

10:18a

For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved,

For it is not the person who recommends himself who is accepted as genuine,
Since praising oneself is not what the Lord listens to in order to approve him.
What I mean is that you^(plur) praising yourselves does not indicate that the Lord approves you,

For: This conjunction introduces an explanation. 10:18 also concludes what Paul said about a person boasting about what he has done and commending himself (10:12–18).

Many English versions translate the Greek conjunction as For. In some languages it is more natural to allow the context to indicate the connection and omit the conjunction.

it is not the one who commends himself who is approved: This clause is passive. Implicitly, the Lord is the one who approves. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

it is not the one who commends himself whom the Lord approves

It isn’t the person who makes his own recommendation who receives approval (GW)

it is not the one who commends himself: The phrase not the one who commends himself is emphasized in the Greek. English adds the words it is to indicate that emphasis. Emphasize this phrase in a natural way in your language.

the one who commends himself: The Greek word that the BSB translates as commends has the same meaning as in 10:12. The verse here refers to anyone who praises himself for selfish reasons. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

people who tell you how important they are

people who recommend themselves

those who write their own testimonials (JBP, 10:12)

You should translate in a similar way to the way that you translated the word commends in 10:12. The GNT changes its interpretation of the Greek word here and says “when we think well of ourselves.” If you followed the wording in the GNT in 10:12, you may want to:

Translate here as the BSB and other English versions do. For example:
those who commend themselves (NRSV)
Use the same wording here as in the GNT in 10:12:
those who rate themselves so highly

is approved: This phrase indicates that someone tests something and finds it acceptable. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

is accepted as genuine

is acknowledged as having good ways

is good in the Lord’s sight

10:18b

but the one whom the Lord commends.

but the person whom the Lord recommends is accepted by him.
No, instead, if the Lord praises someone, then the Lord has approved him.
but rather, the Lord praising you is what indicates that the Lord approves you.

the one whom the Lord commends: The words “is approved” are implied from 10:18a but are not repeated here. In some languages it is more natural to repeat those words here. For example:

the one whom the Lord commends is approved

General Comment on 10:18a–b

This verse emphasizes “the one who commends himself” and “the one whom the Lord commends.” Paul did that to contrast the two phrases. Paul had an apostleship that God commended. But the false teachers commended themselves. If possible, translate the contrast clearly.

Also, this verse tells what does not happen and then what does happen. In some languages it is more natural to tell what happens first. For example:

^18aFor a person has the Lord’s approval ^18bwhen the Lord commends him ^18aand not when the person commends himself.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γὰρ