UTN uW Translation Notes:

2 Corinthians 11 General Notes

Structure and Formatting

7. Paul defends his apostolic authority (10:1–13:10) * Paul defends his speech and conduct (11:1–15) * Paul boasts about his suffering (11:16–33)

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

Fools and foolishness

Throughout this chapter, Paul refers to being “foolish” or a “fool.” These words refer to a person who makes bad decisions and who cares about things that are not really valuable. It does not primarily refer to someone who does not know very much. Paul argues that the false teachers are “fools,” which means that they make bad decisions and care about things that are not important. He also describes how he is responding to the false teachers as “foolish.” He means that he speaks in ways that he considers to be “foolish,” but he speaks in these ways because he thinks the Corinthians will understand him if he speaks in these “foolish” ways. Consider how you might express the idea of “foolishness” in your language. (See: foolish)

False teachers

Throughout this chapter, Paul is defending himself against false teachers who were claiming to be better than him and to preach a better gospel than his gospel. Paul never refers to these false teachers by name, but he does call them “false apostles” and “deceitful” (See: 11:13). He also responds to some of their claims about themselves in 11:22–23. Paul responds to the false teachers in two primary ways. First, he argues that the things that they boast about and claim for themselves are not important or valuable. Second, he argues that even in these things that are not important, he is better than they are. Make sure that your translation clearly indicates that Paul is responding the false teachers in these ways.

Financial support for teachers

In this chapter, Paul describes how he did not ask for or receive money and support from the Corinthians. In Paul’s culture, it was common for traveling teachers to ask for and receive money from the people they were teaching. Paul implies that his opponents, the false teachers, did ask for and receive money. He also implies that the Corinthians thought that the message of the false teachers was more valuable than Paul’s message because they charged money for their teaching. Paul argues in response that he cares more for the Corinthians than the false teachers do. In fact, he states that he can boast more than the false teachers because he did not receive money. Make sure that your translation expresses and implies these ideas.

Boasting

Just as in the previous chapter, in this chapter Paul refers multiple times to “boasting.” In Paul’s culture, not all boasting was considered bad. Instead, there were good and bad kinds of boasting. In these verses, Paul boasts because his opponents, the false teachers, boast. He does not think that this boasting is necessary or good, but he does it to respond to his opponents. Continue to express the idea as you did in the previous chapter. (See: boast)

Translation Issues in This Chapter

Marriage metaphor

In 11:2, Paul speaks as if the Corinthians were a young woman and as if he were the young woman’s father. He intends to marry his daughter to Christ, and he wants to keep his daughter pure and perfect until then. He means that he has helped unite the Corinthians to Christ, and he wants to make sure they stay completely faithful to Christ until Christ comes back. If possible, preserve the marriage metaphor or express it as a simile. See the notes on 11:2 for translation options. (See: figs-metaphor)

Irony

Multiple times in this chapter, Paul uses irony. In other words, he speaks words that he does not agree with in order to make a point. He does this in 11:5, where he refers to “super-apostles”; in 11:8, where he says that he “robbed other churches”; in 11:19, where he says that the Corinthians gladly bear with the foolish, being wise; and in 11:21, where he says that he speaks according to dishonor that he and his fellow workers have been weak. In each of these verses, he does not actually agree with these words. Rather, he speaks from the perspective of the Corinthians or his opponents. He does this to show that these perspectives are wrong. See the notes on each of these verses for translation options. (See: figs-irony)

Rhetorical questions

In 11:7, 11, 22–23, 29, Paul uses rhetorical questions. Paul asks these questions to include the Corinthians in what he is arguing, not because he is looking for information. If your language does not use questions in this way, you could include answers to the questions or you could express them as statements or exclamations. See the notes on these verses for translation options. (See: figs-rquestion)

Translation Issues in This Chapter

The long list in 11:23–28

In 11:23–28, Paul gives a long list of hardships and difficulties he has experienced while he preached the good news. The ULT and UST illustrate different ways to break this list up into pieces. Consider how you might naturally express a long list in your language.