2 COR 11:4 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.)

OET (OET-RV) Indeed even if another Yeshua came and proclaimed something different from what we proclaimed, or if you receive another spirit that you hadn’t received already, or a good message different from what you’ve already heard, you might tolerate it.

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 if indeed one coming proclaims another Jesus whom we did not proclaim, or you receive a different spirit which you did not receive or a different gospel which you did not accept, you are bearing with it well!

UST I fear for you because I know that people visit you and tell you about Jesus, but it is not the same Jesus we told you about. Others offer you a spirit, but it is not the Holy Spirit that we offered to you. Others proclaim good news to you, but it is not the same good news that you first believed. Despite that, you are very patient when people tell you about these things.

BLB For if indeed the one coming proclaims another Jesus whom we did not proclaim, or you receive a different spirit whom you did not receive, or a different gospel which you did not accept, you are bearing with it well.

AICNT For if the one coming proclaims another Jesus whom we did not proclaim, or you receive a different spirit which you did not receive, or a different gospel which you did not accept, you put up with it well.

OEB For, if some newcomer is proclaiming a Jesus other than him whom we proclaimed, or if you are receiving a Spirit different from the Spirit which you received, or a good news different from that which you welcomed, then you are marvellously tolerant!

WEBBE For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we didn’t preach, or if you receive a different spirit which you didn’t receive, or a different “good news” which you didn’t accept, you put up with that well enough.

WMBB For if he who comes preaches another Yeshua whom we didn’t proclaim, or if you receive a different spirit which you didn’t receive, or a different “good news” which you didn’t accept, you put up with that well enough.

NET For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus different from the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the one you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it well enough!

LSV for if, indeed, he who is coming preaches another Jesus whom we did not preach, or you receive another spirit which you did not receive, or other good news which you did not accept—well were you bearing [it],

FBV If anyone comes and tells you about a different Jesus to the one we shared with you, you easily go along with them,[fn] accepting a different spirit to the one you received, and a different kind of good news to the one you believed.

11:4 In other words, they are too tolerant of others who come with a very different understanding of the good news.

TCNT For if someone comes to you and preaches a different message about Jesus than the one we preached, or if you receive a different spirit than the one you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you bear with it well enough.

T4T I say that because some people have come among you who are teaching their own thoughts about Jesus. They are saying about him things that are entirely different from what I taught you. They are urging you to receive a powerful spirit who would come to live in you, but it is not the same Spirit that you received from God when you believed in Christ. They preach what they call a good message, and you accept their message, even though it is not the same as the good message about Christ that you heard from me. And you have gladly accepted them and their message!

LEB For if the one who comes proclaims another Jesus whom we have not proclaimed, or you receive a different spirit which you did not receive, or a different gospel which you did not accept, you put up with it well enough!

BBE For if anyone comes preaching another Jesus from the one whose preachers we are, or if you have got a different spirit, or a different sort of good news from those which came to you, how well you put up with these things.

Moff You put up with it all right, when some interloper preaches a second Jesus (not the Jesus I preached), or when you are treated to a Spirit different from the Spirit you once received, and to a different gospel from what I gave you! Why not put up with me?

Wymth If indeed some visitor is proclaiming among you another Jesus whom we did not proclaim, or if you are receiving a Spirit different from the One you have already received or a Good News different from that which you have already welcomed, your toleration is admirable!

ASV For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if ye receive a different spirit, which ye did not receive, or a different gospel, which ye did not accept, ye do well to bear with him.

DRA For if he that cometh preacheth another Christ, whom we have not preached; or if you receive another Spirit, whom you have not received; or another gospel which you have not received; you might well bear with him.

YLT for if, indeed, he who is coming doth preach another Jesus whom we did not preach, or another Spirit ye receive which ye did not receive, or other good news which ye did not accept — well were ye bearing [it],

Drby For if indeed he that comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or ye get a different Spirit, which ye have not got, or a different glad tidings, which ye have not received, ye might well bear with [it].

RV For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if ye receive a different spirit, which ye did not receive, or a different gospel, which ye did not accept, ye do well to bear with him.
(For if he that cometh/comes preacheth another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if ye/you_all receive a different spirit, which ye/you_all did not receive, or a different gospel, which ye/you_all did not accept, ye/you_all do well to bear with him. )

SLT For if he coming proclaim another Jesus, which I proclaimed not, or ye receive another spirit, which ye received not, or other good news, which ye received not, ye have held up well.

Wbstr For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him .

KJB-1769 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
(For if he that cometh/comes preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye/you_all receive another spirit, which ye/you_all have not received, or another gospel, which ye/you_all have not accepted, ye/you_all might well bear with him. )

KJB-1611 For if he that commeth preacheth another Iesus whome wee haue not preached, or if yee receiue another spirit, which ye haue not receiued, or another Gospel, which ye haue not accepted, yee might well beare with him.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps For yf he that commeth, preacheth another Iesus, whom we haue not preached: or yf ye receaue another spirite whom ye haue not receaued: either another Gospell which ye haue not receaued, you woulde well haue suffered hym.
(For if he that cometh/comes, preacheth another Yesus/Yeshua, whom we have not preached: or if ye/you_all receive another spirit whom ye/you_all have not received: either another Gospel which ye/you_all have not received, you would well have suffered him.)

Gnva For if he that commeth, preacheth another Iesus whome we haue not preached: or if yee receiue another spirite whome ye haue not receiued: either another Gospell, which yee haue not receiued, ye might well haue suffered him.
(For if he that cometh/comes, preacheth another Yesus/Yeshua whom we have not preached: or if ye/you_all receive another spirit whom ye/you_all have not received: either another Gospel, which ye/you_all have not received, ye/you_all might well have suffered him. )

Cvdl For yf he that commeth vnto you, preach another Iesus, whom we haue not preached, or yf ye receaue another sprete, yt ye haue not receaued, or another Gospell which ye haue not accepted, ye might right well haue bene cotent.
(For if he that cometh/comes unto you, preach another Yesus/Yeshua, whom we have not preached, or if ye/you_all receive another spirit, it ye/you_all have not received, or another Gospel which ye/you_all have not accepted, ye/you_all might right well have been cotent.)

TNT For if he that commeth preache another Iesus then hym whom we preached: or if ye receave another sprete then that which ye have receaved: other another gospell then that ye have receaved ye myght right wel have bene content.
(For if he that cometh/comes preach another Yesus/Yeshua then him whom we preached: or if ye/you_all receive another spirit then that which ye/you_all have received: other another gospel then that ye/you_all have received ye/you_all might right well have been content. )

Wycl For if he that cometh, prechith anothir Crist, whom we precheden not, or if ye taken another spirit, whom ye token not, or another gospel, which ye resseyueden not, riytli ye schulden suffre.
(For if he that cometh/comes, prechith another Christ, whom we precheden not, or if ye/you_all taken another spirit, whom ye/you_all token not, or another gospel, which ye/you_all received not, riytli ye/you_all should suffre.)

Luth Denn so, der da zu euch kommt, einen andern JEsum predigte, den wir nicht geprediget haben, oder ihr einen andern Geist empfinget, den ihr nicht empfangen habt, oder ein ander Evangelium, das ihr nicht angenommen habt, so vertrüget ihr‘s
(Because so, the/of_the there to/for you comes, a change Yesum preached, the we/us not preached have, or you(pl)/their/her a change spirit receivedet, the you(pl)/their/her not received have, or a at_the gospel, the you(pl)/their/her not assumed have, so vertrüget hers)

ClVg Nam si is qui venit, alium Christum prædicat, quem non prædicavimus, aut alium spiritum accipitis, quem non accepistis: aut aliud Evangelium, quod non recepistis: recte pateremini.[fn]
(For/Surely when/but_if is who/which he_came, another Christ/Messiah preach, which not/no beforedicavimus, or another spirit you_accept, which not/no you_received: or something_else the_Gospel, that not/no recepistis: correctly/straight to_suffermini. )

11.4 Nam si is qui venit. Non missus. Recte pateremini. Si aliquid majus vobis sit per eos quam per nos, tunc recte pateremini. Galatis anathema dicit, si aliud reciperent, quod non utique majus esset, sed contrarium.

11.4 For/Surely when/but_if is who/which he_came. Not/No missus. Recte to_suffermini. When/But_if something greater to_you(pl) be through them how through us, then correctly/straight to_suffermini. Galatis anathema he_says, when/but_if something_else to_receivent, that not/no certainly greater was, but opposite/reverse.

UGNT εἰ μὲν γὰρ ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἄλλον Ἰησοῦν κηρύσσει ὃν οὐκ ἐκηρύξαμεν, ἢ πνεῦμα ἕτερον λαμβάνετε ὃ οὐκ ἐλάβετε, ἢ εὐαγγέλιον ἕτερον ὃ οὐκ ἐδέξασθε, καλῶς ἀνέχεσθε.
(ei men gar ho erⱪomenos allon Yaʸsoun kaʸrussei hon ouk ekaʸruxamen, aʸ pneuma heteron lambanete ho ouk elabete, aʸ euangelion heteron ho ouk edexasthe, kalōs aneⱪesthe.)

SBL-GNT εἰ μὲν γὰρ ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἄλλον Ἰησοῦν κηρύσσει ὃν οὐκ ἐκηρύξαμεν, ἢ πνεῦμα ἕτερον λαμβάνετε ὃ οὐκ ἐλάβετε, ἢ εὐαγγέλιον ἕτερον ὃ οὐκ ἐδέξασθε, καλῶς ⸀ἀνέχεσθε.
(ei men gar ho erⱪomenos allon Yaʸsoun kaʸrussei hon ouk ekaʸruxamen, aʸ pneuma heteron lambanete ho ouk elabete, aʸ euangelion heteron ho ouk edexasthe, kalōs ⸀aneⱪesthe.)

RP-GNT Εἰ μὲν γὰρ ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἄλλον Ἰησοῦν κηρύσσει ὃν οὐκ ἐκηρύξαμεν, ἢ πνεῦμα ἕτερον λαμβάνετε ὃ οὐκ ἐλάβετε, ἢ εὐαγγέλιον ἕτερον ὃ οὐκ ἐδέξασθε, καλῶς ἠνείχεσθε.
(Ei men gar ho erⱪomenos allon Yaʸsoun kaʸrussei hon ouk ekaʸruxamen, aʸ pneuma heteron lambanete ho ouk elabete, aʸ euangelion heteron ho ouk edexasthe, kalōs aʸneiⱪesthe.)

TC-GNT Εἰ μὲν γὰρ ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἄλλον Ἰησοῦν κηρύσσει ὃν οὐκ ἐκηρύξαμεν, ἢ πνεῦμα ἕτερον λαμβάνετε ὃ οὐκ ἐλάβετε, ἢ εὐαγγέλιον ἕτερον ὃ οὐκ ἐδέξασθε, καλῶς [fn]ἠνείχεσθε.
(Ei men gar ho erⱪomenos allon Yaʸsoun kaʸrussei hon ouk ekaʸruxamen, aʸ pneuma heteron lambanete ho ouk elabete, aʸ euangelion heteron ho ouk edexasthe, kalōs aʸneiⱪesthe. )

11:4 ηνειχεσθε ¦ ανειχεσθε 𝔐^pt ANT HF TH ¦ ανεχεσθε NA SBL WH

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)

11:4a–e

For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it way too easily: Paul used the words For if rhetorically to cause the believers in Corinth to consider those situations in which someone had preached a different gospel. At that time the false teachers had preached things that disagreed with what Paul taught about Jesus and the gospel.

In some languages using the word if indicates that no such situations have happened yet. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:

For you gladly tolerate anyone who comes to you and preaches a different Jesus, not the one we preached; and you accept a spirit and a gospel completely different from the Spirit and the gospel you received from us! (GNT)

whenever anyone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or whenever you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough

11:4a

For if someone comes and proclaims

Because if anyone comes to you^(plur)
Whenever someone comes to you
For someone arrives among you

For: This conjunction may:

Introduce the reason for the fear Paul had that the false teachers had led the believers in Corinth away from proper faith and doctrine (11:3).
Introduce a second reason for tolerating his temporary foolishness (11:1). Since they tolerate the false teachers, they should also tolerate his foolishness.

You should translate the connection that indicates (1), or possibly both (1) and (2). For example:

Because (NJB)

For this reason

The reason I am worried about you is that

11:4b

a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed,

and preaches a different Jesus, not the one we preached, (GNT)
and proclaims things about Jesus that disagree with what we^(excl) proclaimed,
and preaches a different meaning about Jesus’ sayings and deeds than our preaching.

proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed: The false teachers changed the meaning of what Jesus did and said. It was different from what Paul taught about Jesus. Other ways to translate this are:

preaches a different Jesus, not the one we preached (GNT)

proclaims things about Jesus that disagree with what we preached

preaches a different meaning about Jesus’ sayings and deeds than we did

proclaims: This word means “announces” or “preaches.” For example:

preaches (NIV)

See how you translated this word in 1:19 or 4:5.

11:4c

or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received,

or if you accept a different spirit, not the one you accepted from us,
or you agree to a different spirit than the Holy Spirit whom we taught you about,
He tells you about a different spirit than the Holy Spirit, the spirit we had told you about earlier and you accepted.

if you receive a different spirit than the One you received: Here the word spirit can refer to:

An evil spirit. The false teachers follow an evil spirit rather than the Holy Spirit. For example:
you accept a spirit…completely different from the Spirit (GNT) (GNT, NIV11, NLT, GW, CEV, REB, NCV)
A way of living or thinking. The false teachers taught different ways to live and different attitudes than Paul.Hughes (on TW) says, “a spirit, perhaps…of human wisdom and gnosis (I Cor. 2:12) (and)…bondage.” Kruse (p. 185) says, “The spirit in which Paul’s opponents operated was authoritarian and overbearing (11:20), and as far as Paul was concerned drew its inspiration from Satan (11:13–15).” For example:
adopt a different outlook on life that disagrees with what we taught
receive a different teaching/doctrine about how to live than you did from us

The BSB, RSV, NIV, NJB, ESV, NASB, NET, JBP, and KJV can refer to either interpretation (1) or (2). It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the phrase a different spirit occurs with “a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed” and “a different gospel” in this verse, so Paul is likely thinking of a substitute for the Holy Spirit.Harris (p. 744). Hodge, Bruce, and Martin also support interpretation (1).

Here is another way to translate this according to interpretation (1):

you receive/accept a different spirit, not the one you received/accepted from us

receive: Here the word receive refers to accepting what someone says as true. For example:

accept (ESV)

acknowledge as true

11:4d

or a different gospel than the one you accepted,

or if you accept a different gospel, not the one you accepted from us,
or news different from the good news about Jesus,
He tells you what he calls the gospel of Jesus but it is different from what we taught you earlier and you accepted.

or a different gospel than the one you accepted: The words “if you receive” are implied from 11:4c but are not repeated here. In some languages it is more natural to repeat some or all of the implied words. For example:

or if you receive/accept a different gospel from the one you accepted

a different gospel than the one you accepted: The false teachers changed some of the teachings in the gospel of Jesus to their own teachings. So their gospel was different or false. Other ways to translate this are:

a false gospel, not the one you received/accepted from us

adopt a different gospel about Jesus that disagrees with what we taught

receive a different meaning to the good news about Jesus than you received/did from us

a changed/deceitful message about Jesus that is different from the one you accepted from us

their own lies that they claim to be the good news concerning Jesus as opposed to the true gospel that you received from us

gospel: You may not be able to translate gospel in the usual way here. See the note and examples above.

General Comment on 11:4c–d

It may be natural to combine 11:4c and 11:4d and so omit “from the one you accepted” in 11:4d, because words with the same meaning occur in 11:4c. For example:

^4cor if you receive a different spirit ^4dor a different gospel ^4cfrom the one you received

11:4e

you put up with it way too easily.

that is wrong, butyou do it eagerly!
you wrongly accept it wholeheartedly!
And you change your mind and accept these differences/changes! That is wrong!

you put up with it way too easily: The Greek indicates that Paul used irony here. He wrote as if to commend them for tolerating the false teachers. But he was actually rebuking them for doing that. Translate in a way that clearly shows the irony. For example:

you bear this beautifully (NASB)

you eagerly accept it

You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you (NLT)

In some languages the irony must be explained in the translation so that the correct meaning is clear. Your translation should indicate a rebuke. For example:

you wrongly accept it wholeheartedly!

Why do you accept it? That is wrong!

you put up with: These words refer to tolerating something. Other ways to translate this are:

you submit to (RSV)

you tolerate/permit/allow

it: The BSB adds the pronoun it for natural English. This pronoun refers to the false teachings regarding the “different” Jesus, spirit, and gospel. Other ways to translate this word are:

that (REB)

those things

those false teachings

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Εἰ μέν γάρ ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἄλλον Ἰησοῦν κηρύσσει ὅν οὐκ ἐκηρύξαμεν ἤ πνεῦμα ἕτερον λαμβάνετε ὅ οὐκ ἐλάβετε ἤ εὐαγγέλιον ἕτερον ὅ οὐκ ἐδέξασθε καλῶς ἀνέχεσθε)

Here, the word For could introduce a reason why: (1) Paul is afraid that someone will corrupt the Corinthians (See: [11:3](../11/03.md)). Alternate translation: [I am afraid of that because] (2) the Corinthians should “bear with” Paul (See: [11:1](../11/01.md)), which is that they “bear with” these false teachers. Alternate translation: [You should bear with me because]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-condition-fact

εἰ μὲν & ὁ ἐρχόμενος

Here Paul is speaking as if one coming to the Corinthians and proclaiming another Jesus were a hypothetical possibility, but he means that it had already or will actually happen. If your language does not state something as a condition if it is certain or true, and if your readers might misunderstand and think that what Paul is saying is not certain, then you could express the idea by using a word such as “when.” Alternate translation: [when indeed one coming] or [indeed whenever someone comes and]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὁ ἐρχόμενος

the_‹one› coming

Here Paul could be referring to: (1) any person or group of people. Alternate translation: [anyone coming] or [any person coming] (2) a specific person whom Paul knows about. Alternate translation: [a person coming] or [that person coming]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

πνεῦμα ἕτερον

˓a˒_spirit another

Here, the phrase a different spirit could refer to: (1) an evil spirit in contrast to the Holy Spirit. Alternate translation: [a spirit different than the Holy Spirit] (2) an attitude in contrast to the attitude that Paul and his fellow workers offered to the Corinthians. Alternate translation: [a different mindset] or [a different attitude]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

καλῶς ἀνέχεσθε

well ˱you_all˲_˓are˒_tolerating

See how you translated the similar phrase in [11:1](../11/01.md). Here Paul means that the Corinthians listen patiently even when false teachers are telling them lies. He does not approve of this behavior, but he uses this clause to link what he is saying here with what he said in [11:1](../11/01.md). Alternate translation: [you willingly put up with it] or [you listen attentively to it]

Parallel 2 COR 11:4