2 COR 11:13 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=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor.
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 the ones of such kind are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

UST Those people are not really those whom the Messiah sent to represent him. They deceive people with what they do, and they can only pretend to represent the Messiah.

BLB For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

AICNT For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

OEB Such people are false apostles, treacherous workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ!

WEBBE For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ’s apostles.

WMBB For such men are false emissaries, deceitful workers, masquerading as Messiah’s emissaries.

NET For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

LSV for those such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ,

FBV These people are false apostles, dishonest workers, who pretend[fn] to be apostles of Christ.

11:13 Literally, “transform themselves into.” Also in verse 14.

TCNT For such men are false apostles and deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

T4T Those men are lying when they say that they are apostles. They work deceitfully. Even though they say that they work for God, they are working only for themselves. They try to make people think that Christ sent them as his apostles, but they do not truly represent him.

LEB For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

BBE For such men are false Apostles, workers of deceit, making themselves seem like Apostles of Christ.

Moff "Apostles"? They are spurious apostles, false workmen — they are masquerading as "apostles of Christ."

Wymth For men of this stamp are sham apostles, dishonest workmen, assuming the garb of Apostles of Christ.

ASV For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ.

DRA For such false apostles are deceitful workmen, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

YLT for those such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ,

Drby For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.

RV For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ.

SLT For such the falsely sent, crafty workers, being transformed into the sent of Christ.

Wbstr For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

KJB-1769 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

KJB-1611 For such are false Apostles, deceitfull workers, transforming themselues into the Apostles of Christ.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation)

Bshps For such false Apostles are disceiptfull workers, transfourmed into ye Apostles of Christe.
(For such false Apostles are deceitfull workers, transfourmed into ye/you_all Apostles of Christ.)

Gnva For such false apostles are deceitfull workers, and transforme themselues into the Apostles of Christ.
(For such false apostles are deceitful workers, and transforme themselves into the Apostles of Christ. )

Cvdl For soch false Apostles & disceatfull workers fashion them selues like vnto the Apostles of Christ.
(For such false Apostles and deceitful workers fashion themselves like unto the Apostles of Christ.)

TNT For these falce apostles are disceatefull workers and fassion them selves lyke vnto the apostles of Christ.
(For these falce apostles are deceitfull workers and fassion themselves like unto the apostles of Christ. )

Wycl For siche false apostlis ben trecherouse werk men, and transfiguren hem in to apostlis of Crist.
(For such false apostles been trecherouse work men, and transfiguren hem in to apostles of Christ.)

Luth Denn solche falsche Apostel und trügliche Arbeiter verstellen sich zu Christi Aposteln.
(Because such false apostles and trügliche work/jober verstellen itself/yourself/themselves to/for Christi apostles.)

ClVg Nam ejusmodi pseudoapostoli sunt operarii subdoli, transfigurantes se in apostolos Christi.[fn]
(For/Surely hismodi pseudoapostoli are to_worki subdoli, transfigurantes himself in/into/on apostles Christi. )

11.13 Transfigurantes se. Ad tentandum eos quos ita erudire opus est. Vel ad decipiendum prout justum est. Ad hoc magna Dei misericordia necessaria est, ne quisquam cum angelos bonos amicos se habere putat, habeat malos dæmones, fictos amicos; eosque tanto nocentiores, quanto astutiores ac fallaciores patitur inimicos.

11.13 Transfigurantes himself. To tentandum them which so/thus erudire work/need it_is. Or to decipiendum as just it_is. To this big of_God mercy necessary it_is, not anyone when/with messenger/angels goods friends himself to_have thinks, have I_prefers demons, fictos friends; themque so_much they_harmiores, how_much astutiores and fallaciores suffers enemies.

UGNT οἱ γὰρ τοιοῦτοι ψευδαπόστολοι, ἐργάται δόλιοι, μετασχηματιζόμενοι εἰς ἀποστόλους Χριστοῦ.
(hoi gar toioutoi pseudapostoloi, ergatai dolioi, metasⱪaʸmatizomenoi eis apostolous Ⱪristou.)

SBL-GNT οἱ γὰρ τοιοῦτοι ψευδαπόστολοι, ἐργάται δόλιοι, μετασχηματιζόμενοι εἰς ἀποστόλους Χριστοῦ·
(hoi gar toioutoi pseudapostoloi, ergatai dolioi, metasⱪaʸmatizomenoi eis apostolous Ⱪristou;)

RP-GNT Οἱ γὰρ τοιοῦτοι ψευδαπόστολοι, ἐργάται δόλιοι, μετασχηματιζόμενοι εἰς ἀποστόλους χριστοῦ.
(Hoi gar toioutoi pseudapostoloi, ergatai dolioi, metasⱪaʸmatizomenoi eis apostolous ⱪristou.)

TC-GNT Οἱ γὰρ τοιοῦτοι ψευδαπόστολοι, ἐργάται δόλιοι, μετασχηματιζόμενοι εἰς ἀποστόλους Χριστοῦ.
(Hoi gar toioutoi pseudapostoloi, ergatai dolioi, metasⱪaʸmatizomenoi eis apostolous Ⱪristou. )

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 11:1–15: Paul spoke against the false teachers

In 11:1, Paul prepared his readers for what he would say in 11:7–10 and 11:16. He described the way he would speak as “foolishness.” Paul used the term “foolishness” here in a special way. In this chapter Paul said he was “foolish” because he praised himself for his own good character, attitudes, and actions. He called this praise “foolish” especially because he had just said in 10:17–18 that believers should not praise themselves.

Paul was very concerned for the believers in Corinth, like a father wanting his daughter to be faithful to the man whom she would marry one day (11:2). In the same way he worried that the false teachers might have led the believers away from following Jesus (11:3–4).

Since the false teachers had deceived some of the believers in Corinth, Paul had to defend himself to the believers (11:5–6). The false teachers had praised themselves and some of the believers had believed them, so Paul had to praise himself. He reminded them that he had not allowed them to support him. He wanted them to know that he was serving them because he truly loved them and wanted to help them, unlike the false teachers.

In Greek culture, a teacher expected those whom he taught to support him. It was an honor to support a well-known teacher. But Paul had not let the believers in Corinth support him. Using irony, Paul asked them if they were upset about his not letting them support him (11:7). Using irony again, he told them that churches in other cities had supported him while he lived in Corinth so that he could serve them full time (11:8–9). But the false teachers probably did the culturally expected thing and accepted money from the believers. Paul explained that he loved the believers in Corinth and therefore had not accepted their money (11:10–11). This example of love showed that the false teachers were not equals with Paul as apostles (11:12). He described the false teachers as claiming to be apostles while actually following Satan (11:13–15).

Other examples for this section heading are:

Paul Contrasts Himself With False Apostles (GW)

Paul and His Opponents (NET)

11:13a

For such men are false apostles,

For people like that are lying when they say they are apostles.
Such men claim to be chosen messengers of Jesus Christ but lie.

For: This conjunction introduces an explanation. Here Paul explained why he would continue not to accept money from the believers in Corinth.

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.

men: The Greek word here can refer to both men and women. For example:

people (NJB)

But in the culture at that time, probably only men came to Corinth with false teachings.

false apostles: The term false apostles refers to people who claim to be apostles but are lying. They may act like true apostles and expect people to respect them as if they were apostles, but they teach lies and false doctrine. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

those who claim to be apostles but are not

those who lie saying they are apostles

apostles: The Greek word that the BSB translates as “apostle” means “ambassador” or “messenger.” Here an “apostle” is a person whom Jesus sends to represent him and teach his message with authority. The word or phrase for “apostle” in your language should indicate a position of trust and authority. See how you translated this word in 1:1 or 11:5.

11:13b

deceitful workers,

They lie about working for Christ and seek to deceive people,
They falsely claim to be Christ’s workmen, but are only treacherous people.

deceitful workers: Here the word workers implies doing God’s work such as evangelizing, preaching, and teaching. These men pretended to be true workers of Jesus, but their goal was to deceive people. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

who lie about their work (GNT)

those who falsely claim to be Christ’s workmen and deceive people

those who lie saying they are workers for Christ but only try to deceive people

11:13c

masquerading as apostles of Christ.

and they disguise themselves to look like apostles of Christ.
Outwardly they pretend to be chosen messengers of Jesus Christ, but they are only lying.

masquerading as: The word masquerading refers to pretending to be something you are not. The false teachers pretended to be apostles of Christ, but in reality they taught lies and false doctrine. Other ways to translate this word are:

disguising themselves as (RSV)

They only pretend to be (CEV)

falsely claiming to be

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οἱ Γάρ τοιοῦτοι ψευδαπόστολοι ἐργάται δόλιοι μετασχηματιζόμενοι εἰς ἀποστόλους Χριστοῦ)

Here, the word For introduces a further explanation of what Paul said in the previous verse ([9:15](../09/15.md)) about people who desire to be equal in boasting with him. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different word or phrase that introduces further explanation, or you could leave For untranslated. Alternate translation: [Indeed,]

Note 2 topic: writing-pronouns

οἱ & τοιοῦτοι

¬the & such_‹are›

The pronoun ones refers to the people Paul mentioned in the previous verse who desire to be equal in boasting to Paul. If this is not clear for your readers, you could refer to these people more explicitly. Alternate translation: [people of that kind] or [the ones who desire that]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

μετασχηματιζόμενοι εἰς ἀποστόλους

masquerading_‹themselves› for ambassadors

Here Paul means that these false apostles intentionally look and act like true apostles, even though they are not. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [posing as true apostles] or [acting as if they were apostles]

Parallel 2 COR 11:13

Section 11:1–15: Paul spoke against the false teachers

11:13a

11:13b

11:13c

Parallel 2 COR 11:13