2 COR 11:3 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, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
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 But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds might be corrupted from the sincerity and the purity that are to Christ.

UST However, I fear that someone will trick you, just as Satan cleverly tricked Eve, the first woman. I fear that such a person will ruin how you think in ways that are completely loyal to the Messiah.

MSB I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by [the] serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from the simplicity [that is] in Christ.[fn]

11:3 CT from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ

BLB But I am afraid, lest by any means, as the serpent in his craftiness deceived Eve, your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity in Christ.

AICNT But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts may be corrupted from the simplicity [and the purity][fn] that is in Christ.

11:3, and the purity: NA28[] SBLGNT THGNT ‖ Absent from some manuscripts. BYZ TR

OEB Yet I fear that it may turn out that, just as the snake by his craftiness deceived Eve, so your minds may have lost the loyalty and purity due from you to the Christ.

WEBBE But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

WMBB But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Havah in his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Messiah.

NET But I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by his treachery, your minds may be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

LSV and I fear, lest, as the serpent deceived Eve in his subtlety, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that [is] in the Christ;

FBV I worry that in some way, just as the serpent deceived Eve with his devious cunning, that you might be led astray in your thinking from your sincere and pure commitment to Christ.

TCNT But I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, [fn]so your minds will be led astray from [fn]simple devotion to Christ.

11:3 so 86.6% • MSS 8.3% ¦ — CT 2%

11:3 simple 94% ¦ simple and pure CT 4%

T4T However, just like Satan, when he cunningly appeared as a snake, deceived Eve and caused her to disobey the Lord God, I am concerned that those teachers will cause you to think wrongly so that you will no longer be faithful to Christ alone.

LEB But I am afraid lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds may be led astray from the sincerity and the purity of devotion to Christ.

BBE But I have a fear, that in some way, as Eve was tricked by the deceit of the snake, your minds may be turned away from their simple and holy love for Christ.

Moff but I am afraid of your thoughts getting seduced from a single devotion to Christ, just as the serpent beguiled Eve with his cunning.

Wymth But I am afraid that, as the serpent in his craftiness deceived Eve, so your minds may be led astray from their single-heartedness and their fidelity to Christ.

ASV But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ.

DRA But I fear lest, as the serpent seduced Eve by his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted, and fall from the simplicity that is in Christ.

YLT and I fear, lest, as the serpent did beguile Eve in his subtilty, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that [is] in the Christ;

Drby But I fear lest by any means, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craft, [so] your thoughts should be corrupted from simplicity as to the Christ.

RV But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ.
(But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled/deceived Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ. )

SLT And I am afraid lest, as the serpent completely deceived Eve in his craft, so your thoughts be corrupted from the simplicity which in Christ.

Wbstr But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

KJB-1769 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
(But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled/deceived Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. )

KJB-1611 But I feare lest by any meanes, as the Serpent beguiled Eue through his subtilty, so your mindes should bee corrupted from the simplicitie that is in Christ.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps But I feare lest by any meanes, that as the serpent begyled Eue through his subtiltie, euen so your myndes shoulde be corrupted fro the singlenesse that is towarde Christe.
(But I fear lest by any means, that as the serpent beguiled/deceived Eve through his subtlety, even so your minds should be corrupted from the singleness that is toward Christ.)

Gnva But I feare least as the serpent beguiled Eue through his subtiltie, so your mindes shoulde be corrupt from the simplicitie that is in Christ.
(But I fear least as the serpent beguiled/deceived Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupt from the simplicity that is in Christ. )

Cvdl But I feare, lest as ye serpet begyled Eue wt his sutteltie, eue so yor wyttes shulde be corrupte from the synglenesse that is in Christ.
(But I fear, lest as ye/you_all serpet beguiled/deceived Eve with his subtlety, eve/even so your wyttes should be corrupt from the syngleness that is in Christ.)

TNT But I feare lest as the serpent begyled Eve thorow his sutteltie even so youre wittes shuld be corrupte from the singlenes that is in Christ.
(But I fear lest as the serpent beguiled/deceived Eve through his subtlety even so your(pl) wits should be corrupt from the singlenes that is in Christ. )

Wycl But Y drede, lest as the serpent disseyuede Eue with his sutil fraude, so youre wittis ben corrupt, and fallen doun fro the symplenesse that is in Crist.
(But I dread, lest as the serpent deceived_or_dissuaded Eve with his sutil fraude, so your(pl) wits been corrupt, and fallen down from the simpleness that is in Christ.)

Luth Ich fürchte aber, daß nicht, wie die Schlange Eva verführete mit ihrer Schalkheit, also auch eure Sinne verrücket werden von der Einfältigkeit in Christo.
(I fear(v) but, that not, as/like the snake Eva seduced with of_their/her mischievousness, also also your(pl) Sinne verrücket become from the/of_the Einfältigkeit in Christo.)

ClVg Timeo autem ne sicut serpens Hevam seduxit astutia sua, ita corrumpantur sensus vestri, et excidant a simplicitate, quæ est in Christo.[fn]
(Timeo however not like serpens Hevam seduced astutia his_own, so/thus corrumpantur sense yours, and excidant from simplicity, which it_is in/into/on to_Christ/Messiah. )

11.3 Timeo autem. HIER. Serpens Evam de Deo mentiendo seduxit, etc., usque ad penitus non esse, aut æternam non esse affirmat contra auctoritatem omnium Scripturarum.

11.3 Timeo however. HIER. Serpens Evam from/about to_God mentiendo seduced, etc., until to completely not/no to_be, or eternal not/no to_be affirmat on_the_contrary by_authoritym of_all Scripturarum.

UGNT φοβοῦμαι δὲ, μή πως ὡς ὁ ὄφις ἐξηπάτησεν Εὕαν ἐν τῇ πανουργίᾳ αὐτοῦ, φθαρῇ τὰ νοήματα ὑμῶν ἀπὸ τῆς ἁπλότητος καὶ τῆς ἁγνότητος τῆς εἰς τὸν Χριστόν.
(foboumai de, maʸ pōs hōs ho ofis exaʸpataʸsen Heuan en taʸ panourgia autou, ftharaʸ ta noaʸmata humōn apo taʸs haplotaʸtos kai taʸs hagnotaʸtos taʸs eis ton Ⱪriston.)

SBL-GNT φοβοῦμαι δὲ μή πως, ὡς ὁ ὄφις ⸂ἐξηπάτησεν Εὕαν⸃ ἐν τῇ πανουργίᾳ αὐτοῦ, ⸀φθαρῇ τὰ νοήματα ὑμῶν ἀπὸ τῆς ἁπλότητος ⸂καὶ τῆς ἁγνότητος⸃ τῆς εἰς τὸν Χριστόν.
(foboumai de maʸ pōs, hōs ho ofis ⸂exaʸpataʸsen Heuan⸃ en taʸ panourgia autou, ⸀ftharaʸ ta noaʸmata humōn apo taʸs haplotaʸtos ⸂kai taʸs hagnotaʸtos⸃ taʸs eis ton Ⱪriston.)

RP-GNT Φοβοῦμαι δὲ μήπως ὡς ὁ ὄφις Εὔαν ἐξηπάτησεν ἐν τῇ πανουργίᾳ αὐτοῦ, οὕτως φθαρῇ τὰ νοήματα ὑμῶν ἀπὸ τῆς ἁπλότητος τῆς εἰς τὸν χριστόν.
(Foboumai de maʸpōs hōs ho ofis Euan exaʸpataʸsen en taʸ panourgia autou, houtōs ftharaʸ ta noaʸmata humōn apo taʸs haplotaʸtos taʸs eis ton ⱪriston.)

TC-GNT Φοβοῦμαι δὲ μήπως ὡς ὁ ὄφις [fn]Εὔαν ἐξηπάτησεν ἐν τῇ πανουργίᾳ αὐτοῦ, [fn]οὕτω φθαρῇ τὰ νοήματα ὑμῶν ἀπὸ τῆς [fn]ἁπλότητος τῆς εἰς τὸν Χριστόν.
(Foboumai de maʸpōs hōs ho ofis Euan exaʸpataʸsen en taʸ panourgia autou, houtō ftharaʸ ta noaʸmata humōn apo taʸs haplotaʸtos taʸs eis ton Ⱪriston. )

11:3 ευαν εξηπατησεν ¦ εξηπατησεν ευαν CT

11:3 ουτω φθαρη 86.6% ¦ ουτω φθαρει MSS 8.3% ¦ φθαρη CT 2%

11:3 απλοτητος 94% ¦ απλοτητος και της αγνοτητος CT 4%

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (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)

11:3a–c

I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ: The comparison with Eve and the serpent is in the middle of what Paul said he was worried about. In some languages it is more natural to have the comparison before or after it. For example:

But just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, I am afraid that your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ

But I am afraid that your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ, just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning

11:3a

I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning,

But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his clever lies,
However, just like when the snake deceived Eve with guile, I feel anxious that

Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning: This story is in Genesis 3:1–19. Paul used this story as an example of being deceived.

In the BSB, this clause is passive. The Greek clause is active, and many English versions translate it that way. For example:

the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning (RSV)

Eve: Eve was the first woman (Genesis 2:22, 3:20). In some languages people are not familiar with who Eve is. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

Explain in your translation. For example:
the first woman Eve
Explain in a footnote. An example footnote is:
Eve was the first woman.

the serpent’s: The word “serpent” refers generally to any kind of snake.

cunning: This word refers to the ability to deceive people. Other ways to translate this word are:

craftiness (NASB)

clever lies (GNT)

deceitful ways

11:3b

your minds may be led astray

your^(plur) thinking might be led away
someone might pull you astray/away

your minds may be led astray: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. Paul means that the false teachers might lead them astray. But since they are not named here, you may want to refer generally to people. For example:

someone might lead you astray

your minds: The Greek word that the BSB translates as minds is literally “thoughts.” For example:

your thoughts (RSV)

Some languages must refer to people being led astray, not thoughts or minds. For example:

you

11:3c

from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.

from following Christ in a genuine and uncontaminated way.
from frankly/honestly and completely serving/obeying/honoring Christ.

your simple and pure devotion to Christ: There are two issues here:

Issue 1: Greek manuscripts

There is a textual issue here:

Some Greek manuscripts have the Greek phrase that means and pure. (BSB, RSV, NIV, GNT, NLT, NET, ESV)
Some Greek manuscripts do not have that phrase. (NJB, GW, REB, KJV)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), since the UBS Greek New Testament recommends it.But it does say that the Committee had difficulty in deciding.

Issue 2: Meaning

The Greek words are literally “the sincerity and the purity in Christ.” In their relationship with Christ, the believers were both sincere and pure. They did not try to lie to Jesus. They followed him and no one else. Other ways to translate this are:

the sincere and pure relationship you have with Christ

your true and pure following of Christ (NCV)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὡς ὁ ὄφις ἐξηπάτησεν Εὕαν ἐν τῇ πανουργίᾳ αὐτοῦ

as the serpent deceived Eve in the craftiness ˱of˲_him

Here Paul refers to a story in [Genesis 3:1–7](../gen/03/01.md). In this story, a serpent, whom Paul would have identified as Satan, deceives Eve, the first woman, into eating a fruit that God told her not to eat. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit or include a footnote that explains the story. Alternate translation: [as the serpent, Satan, by his craftiness deceived the first woman, Eve, into disobeying God]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐν τῇ πανουργίᾳ αὐτοῦ

in the craftiness ˱of˲_him

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of craftiness, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [in a crafty way] or [by acting craftily]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

φθαρῇ τὰ νοήματα ὑμῶν

˱it˲_˓may_be˒_corrupted (Some words not found in SR-GNT: φοβοῦμαι Δέ μή πώς ὡς ὁ ὄφις ἐξηπάτησεν Εὕαν ἐν τῇ πανουργίᾳ αὐτοῦ φθαρῇ τά νοήματα ὑμῶν ἀπό τῆς ἁπλότητος καί τῆς ἁγνότητος τῆς εἰς τόν Χριστόν)

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you must state who does the action, you could use an indefinite subject. Alternate translation: [people might corrupt your minds] or [some person might corrupt your minds]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

τῆς ἁπλότητος καὶ τῆς ἁγνότητος

the sincerity the ¬which (Some words not found in SR-GNT: φοβοῦμαι Δέ μή πώς ὡς ὁ ὄφις ἐξηπάτησεν Εὕαν ἐν τῇ πανουργίᾳ αὐτοῦ φθαρῇ τά νοήματα ὑμῶν ἀπό τῆς ἁπλότητος καί τῆς ἁγνότητος τῆς εἰς τόν Χριστόν)

The terms sincerity and purity mean similar things. Paul is using the two terms together for emphasis. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. Alternate translation: [full sincerity] or [complete purity]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἀπὸ τῆς ἁπλότητος καὶ τῆς ἁγνότητος τῆς εἰς τὸν Χριστόν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: φοβοῦμαι Δέ μή πώς ὡς ὁ ὄφις ἐξηπάτησεν Εὕαν ἐν τῇ πανουργίᾳ αὐτοῦ φθαρῇ τά νοήματα ὑμῶν ἀπό τῆς ἁπλότητος καί τῆς ἁγνότητος τῆς εἰς τόν Χριστόν)

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of sincerity and purity, you could express the same ideas in another way. Alternate translation: [from how sincere and pure you are to Christ]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τῆς εἰς τὸν Χριστόν

the the ¬which in (Some words not found in SR-GNT: φοβοῦμαι Δέ μή πώς ὡς ὁ ὄφις ἐξηπάτησεν Εὕαν ἐν τῇ πανουργίᾳ αὐτοῦ φθαρῇ τά νοήματα ὑμῶν ἀπό τῆς ἁπλότητος καί τῆς ἁγνότητος τῆς εἰς τόν Χριστόν)

Here, the phrase that are to Christ indicates that the sincerity and purity are directed towards Christ. In other words, the Corinthians think with sincerity and purity in their devotion or loyalty to Christ. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [that you have for Christ] or [in your faith in Christ]

Parallel 2 COR 11:3

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

11:3a–c

11:3a

11:3b

11:3c

Parallel 2 COR 11:3