2 COR 12:20 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, cyan:dative/indirect 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 I fear that somehow, having come, I might find you not such as I wish, and I might be found by you not such as you wish; that somehow there may be quarreling, jealousy, ragings, rivalries, slanders, gossips, inflated egos, and riots,

UST I have said these things because I am concerned about what will happen when I visit. I am concerned that I will discover that you are not acting as I want you to act and that you will discover that I am not acting as you want me to act. I am concerned that you may be fighting with each other, being jealous of each other, being angry with each other, trying to control each other, saying bad things about each other, telling false stories about others, saying great things about yourselves, or stirring up crowds against each other.

MSB For I am afraid [that] when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find {me} as you wish. [I fear] that there may be quarrels,[fn] jealousies,[fn] rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, [and] disorder.

12:20 NA, F35, SBL, and WH quarreling

12:20 CT jealousy

BLB For I fear lest perhaps having come, I may not find you such as I wish, and I might be found by you such as you do not wish; lest perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, contentions, slander, gossip, conceit, disorder;

AICNT For I fear that perhaps when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and I may be found by you as you do not wish; perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.

OEB for I am afraid that perhaps, when I come, I may find that you are not what I want you to be, and, on the other hand, that you may find that I am what you do not want me to be. I am afraid that I may find quarrelling, jealousy, ill feeling, rivalry, slandering, backbiting, self-assertion, and disorder.

WEBBE For I am afraid that perhaps when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you don’t desire, that perhaps there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, or riots,

WMBB (Same as above)

NET For I am afraid that somehow when I come I will not find you what I wish, and you will find me not what you wish. I am afraid that somehow there may be quarreling, jealousy, intense anger, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.

LSV for I fear lest, having come, I may not find you such as I wish, and I may be found by you such as you do not wish, lest there be strifes, envyings, wraths, revelries, slanders, whisperings, puffings up, insurrections,

FBV I do worry when I visit that somehow I won't find you as I would want to, and that you won't find me as you would want to! I'm afraid that there will be arguments, jealousy, anger, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.

TCNT For I fear that when I come I may not find you as I wish, and that you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be [fn]quarrels, [fn]jealousies, fits of anger, selfish ambitions, insults, words of gossip, puffed up behaviors, and disorderly actions.

12:20 quarrels ¦ quarreling NA PCK SBL WH

12:20 jealousies ¦ jealousy CT

T4T I have written this way to you because I worry that when I come to visit you, I will see that some of you are not conducting your lives the way that I want you to. If that is so, when I get there you will see that I will have to act in a very severe way toward you, and I am sure that you do not want that. Specifically, I am afraid that some of you may be quarreling, or that you are being jealous of each other, or that you quickly get very angry with them, or that you are acting selfishly, or that some of you are saying bad things about others, or that you are ◄spreading false rumors/saying false things► about each other, or that you are acting proudly, or that you are doing things in a disorderly manner.

LEB For I am afraid lest somehow when I[fn] arrive, I will not find you as I want, and I may be found by you as you do not want. I am afraid[fn] lest somehow there will be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, pride, disorder.

12:20 *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“arrive”) which is understood as temporal

12:20 *The words “I am afraid” are not in the Greek text, but are an understood repetition from the previous clause

BBE For I have a fear that, when I come, you may not be answering to my desire, and that I may not be answering to yours; that there may be fighting, hate, angry feeling, divisions, evil talk about others, secrets, thoughts of pride, outbursts against authority;

Moff For I am afraid I may perhaps come and find you are not what I could wish, while you may find I am not what you could wish; I am afraid of finding quarrels, jealousy, temper, rivalry, slanders, gossiping, arrogance, and disorder —

Wymth For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may not find you to be what I desire, and that you may find me to be what you do not desire; that perhaps there may be contention, jealousy, bitter feeling, party spirit, ill-natured talk, backbiting, undue eulogy, unrest;

ASV For I fear, lest by any means, when I come, I should find you not such as I would, and should myself be found of you such as ye would not; lest by any means there should be strife, jealousy, wraths, factions, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults;

DRA For I fear lest perhaps when I come I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found by you such as you would not. Lest perhaps contentions, envyings, animosities, dissensions, detractions, whisperings, swellings, seditions, be among you.

YLT for I fear lest, having come, not such as I wish I may find you, and I — I may be found by you such as ye do not wish, lest there be strifes, envyings, wraths, revelries, evil-speakings, whisperings, puffings up, insurrections,

Drby For I fear lest perhaps coming I find you not such as I wish, and that I be found by you such as ye do not wish: lest [there might be] strifes, jealousies, angers, contentions, evil speakings, whisperings, puffings up, disturbances;

RV For I fear, lest by any means, when I come, I should find you not such as I would, and should myself be found of you such as ye would not; lest by any means there should be strife, jealousy, wraths, factions, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults;
(For I fear, lest by any means, when I come, I should find you not such as I would, and should myself be found of you such as ye/you_all would not; lest by any means there should be strife, jealousy, wraths, factions, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults; )

SLT For I am afraid, lest somehow, having come, I find you not such; as I will, and I find you such as ye wish not: lest somehow, strifes, jealousies, wraths, intrigues, calumnies, whisperings, inflations, derangements:

Wbstr For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found by you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

KJB-1769 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
(For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye/you_all would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: )

KJB-1611 For I feare lest when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall bee found vnto you such as ye would not, lest there bee debates, enuyings, wraths, strifes, backebitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults,
(For I fear lest when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye/you_all would not, lest there be debates, enuyings, wraths, strifes, backebitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults,)

Bshps For I feare lest when I come, I shall not fynde you such as I woulde: and that I shalbe founde vnto you, such as ye woulde not: lest there be debates, enuyinges, wrathes, strifes, backbitinges, whisperinges, swellinges, & seditions:
(For I fear lest when I come, I shall not find you such as I woulde: and that I shall be found unto you, such as ye/you_all would not: lest there be debates, enuyinges, wrathes, strifes, backbitinges, whisperings, swellinges, and seditions:)

Gnva For I feare least when I come, I shall not finde you such as I would: and that I shalbe found vnto you such as ye woulde not, and least there be strife, enuying, wrath, contentions, backebitings, whisperings, swellings and discord.
(For I fear least when I come, I shall not find you such as I would: and that I shall be found unto you such as ye/you_all would not, and least there be strife, enuying, wrath, contentions, backebitings, whisperings, swellings and discord. )

Cvdl For I feare, lest whan I come, I shal not fynde you soch as I wolde: and lest ye shal fynde me soch as ye wolde not: lest there be amonge you, debates, envyenges, wrathes, stryuynges, bacbytinges, whysperinges, swellinges, vproures:
(For I fear, lest when I come, I shall not find you such as I wolde: and lest ye/you_all shall find me such as ye/you_all would not: lest there be among you, debates, envyenges, wrathes, strivings, bacbytinges, whysperinges, swellinges, uproures:)

TNT For I feare lest it come to passe that when I come I shall not fynde you soche as I wolde: and I shalbe foude vnto you soche as ye wolde not: I feare lest ther be founde amonge you debate envyinge wrath stryfe backbytynges whisperynges swellynges and discorde.
(For I fear lest it come to pass that when I come I shall not find you such as I wolde: and I shall be found unto you such as ye/you_all would not: I fear lest there be found among you debate envyinge wrath strife backbytynges whisperynges swellynges and discorde. )

Wycl But Y drede, lest whanne Y come, Y schal fynde you not suche as Y wole, and Y schal be foundun of you suche as ye wolen not; lest perauenture stryuyngis, enuyes, sturdynessis, dissenciouns and detraccions, preuy spechis of discord, bolnyngis bi pride, debatis ben among you;
(But I dread, lest when I come, I shall find you not such as I will, and I shall be found of you such as ye/you_all woollen not; lest peradventure/perhaps strivingis, enuyes, sturdynessis, dissenciouns and detraccions, privy/private speeches of discord, bolnyngis by pride, debatis been among you;)

Luth Denn ich fürchte, wenn ich komme, daß ich euch nicht finde, wie ich will, und ihr mich auch nicht findet, wie ihr wollet: daß nicht Hader, Neid, Zorn, Zank, Afterreden, Ohrenblasen, Aufblähen, Aufruhr da sei;
(Because I fear(v), when I come, that I you not find, as/like I will, and you(pl)/their/her me also not finds, as/like you(pl)/their/her wanted: that not Hader, Neid, anger, quarrel(n), Afterreden, earsblasen, Aufblähen, revolt there be;)

ClVg Timeo enim ne forte cum venero, non quales volo, inveniam vos: et ego inveniar a vobis, qualem non vultis: ne forte contentiones, æmulationes, animositates, dissensiones, detractiones, susurrationes, inflationes, seditiones sint inter vos:
(Timeo because not perhaps when/with venero, not/no what_kind I_want, I_will_find you(pl): and I I_foundar from to_you(pl), qualem not/no do_you_want: not perhaps contentiones, competition/rivalrynes, in_mindsitates, dissensiones, detractiones, susurrationes, inflationes, seditions let_them_be between you(pl): )

UGNT φοβοῦμαι γὰρ, μή πως ἐλθὼν οὐχ οἵους θέλω, εὕρω ὑμᾶς, κἀγὼ εὑρεθῶ ὑμῖν οἷον οὐ θέλετε; μή πως ἔρις, ζῆλος, θυμοί, ἐριθεῖαι, καταλαλιαί, ψιθυρισμοί, φυσιώσεις, ἀκαταστασίαι;
(foboumai gar, maʸ pōs elthōn ouⱪ hoious thelō, heurō humas, kagō heurethō humin hoion ou thelete; maʸ pōs eris, zaʸlos, thumoi, eritheiai, katalaliai, psithurismoi, fusiōseis, akatastasiai;)

SBL-GNT φοβοῦμαι γὰρ μή πως ἐλθὼν οὐχ οἵους θέλω εὕρω ὑμᾶς, κἀγὼ εὑρεθῶ ὑμῖν οἷον οὐ θέλετε, μή πως ⸀ἔρις, ⸀ζῆλος, θυμοί, ἐριθεῖαι, καταλαλιαί, ψιθυρισμοί, φυσιώσεις, ἀκαταστασίαι·
(foboumai gar maʸ pōs elthōn ouⱪ hoious thelō heurō humas, kagō heurethō humin hoion ou thelete, maʸ pōs ⸀eris, ⸀zaʸlos, thumoi, eritheiai, katalaliai, psithurismoi, fusiōseis, akatastasiai;)

RP-GNT Φοβοῦμαι γάρ, μήπως ἐλθὼν οὐχ οἵους θέλω εὕρω ὑμᾶς, κἀγὼ εὑρεθῶ ὑμῖν οἷον οὐ θέλετε· μήπως ἔρεις, ζῆλοι, θυμοί, ἐριθεῖαι, καταλαλιαί, ψιθυρισμοί, φυσιώσεις, ἀκαταστασίαι·
(Foboumai gar, maʸpōs elthōn ouⱪ hoious thelō heurō humas, kagō heurethō humin hoion ou thelete; maʸpōs ereis, zaʸloi, thumoi, eritheiai, katalaliai, psithurismoi, fusiōseis, akatastasiai;)

TC-GNT Φοβοῦμαι γάρ, μήπως ἐλθὼν οὐχ οἵους θέλω εὕρω ὑμᾶς, κἀγὼ εὑρεθῶ ὑμῖν οἷον οὐ θέλετε· μήπως [fn]ἔρεις, [fn]ζῆλοι, θυμοί, [fn]ἐριθεῖαι, καταλαλιαί, ψιθυρισμοί, φυσιώσεις, ἀκαταστασίαι·
(Foboumai gar, maʸpōs elthōn ouⱪ hoious thelō heurō humas, kagō heurethō humin hoion ou thelete; maʸpōs ereis, zaʸloi, thumoi, eritheiai, katalaliai, psithurismoi, fusiōseis, akatastasiai; )

12:20 ερεις ¦ ερις NA PCK SBL WH

12:20 ζηλοι ¦ ζηλος CT

12:20 εριθειαι ¦ εριθιαι WH

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 12:11–21: Proof that Paul was an apostle and his concern for the believers

In this section, the attitude of some believers in Corinth forced Paul to act foolishly and boast (12:11a). Paul knew he deserved praise from them and was better than the false teachers even though humanly speaking he deserved nothing (12:11b–d). Paul reminded the believers of all that he had done among them that proved he was an apostle (12:12). He asked them if they were angry at him with a rhetorical question and, using irony, told them that they should not be angry (12:13).

He told them that he would continue to avoid accepting their money for his support and explained why (12:14). He told them of his great love for them (12:15).

Using irony, Paul told them that he had not deceived them (12:16) and that his colleagues had not exploited them either (12:17–18). He explained that he had not been defending himself, but rather he was teaching them to be strong in their faith (12:19). He told them of some of his fears about them (12:20–21).

Other examples for this section heading are:

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthian Church (NRSV)

Paul loved the believers in Corinth

Paul reminded the believers in Corinth about his deeds and explained his worry for them

Paul defended his apostleship and spoke about his concern for the believers

12:20a

For I am afraid that when I come,

For I fear that when I come
For I am concerned/worried that when I come to visit you,

For: This conjunction introduces the reason why Paul wanted to strengthen the faith of the believers in Corinth. Another way to translate this word is:

because

In some languages it is more natural to allow the context to indicate the connection and omit the conjunction.

I am afraid: This clause indicates that Paul was concerned about finding that the believers were quarreling and so forth (12:20d–f). Other ways to translate this are:

I fear (RSV)

I am uneasy

I am concerned

12:20b

I may not find you as I wish,

I shall not perhaps find you as I should like to find you, (JBP)
I will perhaps see that you^(plur) are not living as I want you to live.

I may not find you as I wish: Paul wanted the believers to live according to the ways of Jesus. This clause indicates that they might instead have the problems listed in 12:20d–f. Other ways to translate this are:

I may find you different from what I should like you to be (NJB)

I shall not perhaps find you as I should like to find you (JBP)

I might discover that you are not living for Christ as I would like for you to live

I may…find you: The Greek phrase is literally “I may perhaps find you.” The word “perhaps” indicates uncertainty or gentleness. By saying 12:20, Paul hoped that if there were problems, the believers would correct them before he arrived. For example:

perhaps…I may find you (ESV)

find you: The word find refers to seeing for himself that the believers were a certain way. In some languages it is more natural to use another verb here. For example:

see that you

discover that you

observe that you

12:20c

and you may not find me as you wish.

and you shall not perhaps find me as you should like to find me.
And because of that, you will perhaps see that I will not act as gently with you as you would like.

you may not find me as you wish: If the believers had problems as in 12:20d–f, then Paul would have to correct them. In that case, the believers might not see Paul as an encouraging leader. They would want an encouraging leader rather than someone who disciplined them. Other ways to translate this are:

you may find me what you would not like me to be (NJB)

you will not find me coming quite as you would like me to come (JBP)

you may not find me: The word “perhaps” is implied but not repeated here.

find: The word find has the same meaning here as in 12:20b.

12:20d

I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy,

For I fear that perhaps you may be arguing, resenting other believers,
I am concerned/worried that I will perhaps see that you are bickering, or acting as rivals,

I fear that there may be: The Greek phrase includes the word “perhaps,” as in 12:20b.

jealousy: Here the Greek word that the BSB translates as jealousy refers to zeal for the wrong things. It may have been rivalry between believers over what was correct Christian teaching, support for false teachers, or perhaps bad feelings towards other believers because of what they have. The word does not refer to a man being jealous about a woman or a woman being jealous about a man. Other ways to translate this word are:

resentment

evil zeal

rivalry

12:20e–f

rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder: The items in this list are all plural. This indicates that each of these things might happen more than once, or that many people were involved in doing these things.

12:20e

rage, rivalry, slander,

acting in anger, being selfish, insulting/dishonoring other believers with words,
or that you are often angry, selfish, or speaking evil things against another,

rage: This phrase refers to strong anger and not to just being upset. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

intense anger (NET)

hot tempers (GNT)

rivalry: There are three ways to interpret the Greek word that the BSB translates as rivalry:

It means selfishness. For example:
selfish ambition (GW) (RSV, GNT, NABRE, NLT, GW, CEV, NET, NCV)
It means divisions between groups who are arguing with one another. For example:
personal rivalries (REB) (BSB, NIV, REB)
It means quarrels. For example:
disputes (NASB) (NJB, NASB, ESV, KJV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).Martin (p. 463) translates the Greek word as “selfish ambitions” and says, “Originally this word was used to describe one seeking political office for selfish reasons.” Kistemaker (p. 435) translates it as “outbreaks of selfishness.” Furnish (p. 557) translates it as “cases of self-seeking.” It is not recommended that you follow interpretation (3), because “quarrels” had already been mentioned in 12:20d.

slander: This word refers to lies told for the purpose of hurting someone’s reputation, name, or status. Other ways to translate this word are:

insults (GNT)

speaking evil things against another

12:20f

gossip, arrogance, and disorder.

telling gossip/rumors, acting proudly, or being rebellious.
or that you are spreading lies, being conceited, or disturbing others.

gossip: This word refers to telling harmful information to one person about someone else. Often this information is not true but only what people are saying. Other ways to translate this word are:

rumor telling

spreading lies

arrogance: This word refers to acting in a proud and conceited way. Such a person thinks he is better than others. Other ways to translate this word are:

pride (GNT)

conceit (RSV)

thinking he is important

disorder: This word refers to a person doing things that disturb others or being rebellious. Other ways to translate this word are:

acting like a mob (CEV)

disturbances (NASB)

defying authority

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: φοβοῦμαι Γάρ μή πώς ἐλθών οὐχ οἵους θέλω εὕρω ὑμᾶς κἀγώ εὑρεθῶ ὑμῖν οἷον οὒ θέλετε μή πώς ἔρις ζῆλος θυμοί ἐριθεῖαι καταλαλιαί ψιθυρισμοί φυσιώσεις ἀκαταστασίαι)

Here, the word For could introduce: (1) a reason why Paul has written what he has in this letter. Alternate translation: [I have written these things because] (2) a reason why Paul wants to build them up. Alternate translation: [I want to build you up because]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

οὐχ οἵους θέλω & οἷον οὐ θέλετε

not such_as ˱I˲_˓am˒_wanting & such_as (Some words not found in SR-GNT: φοβοῦμαι Γάρ μή πώς ἐλθών οὐχ οἵους θέλω εὕρω ὑμᾶς κἀγώ εὑρεθῶ ὑμῖν οἷον οὒ θέλετε μή πώς ἔρις ζῆλος θυμοί ἐριθεῖαι καταλαλιαί ψιθυρισμοί φυσιώσεις ἀκαταστασίαι)

Here Paul refers to how both he and the Corinthians have ideas about how they think the other person should be behaving. He fears that these ideas will not be accurate. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [not such as I expect … not such as you expect] or [not what I want you to be like … not what you want me to be like]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

θέλετε; μή πως

˱you_all˲_˓are˒_wanting lest (Some words not found in SR-GNT: φοβοῦμαι Γάρ μή πώς ἐλθών οὐχ οἵους θέλω εὕρω ὑμᾶς κἀγώ εὑρεθῶ ὑμῖν οἷον οὒ θέλετε μή πώς ἔρις ζῆλος θυμοί ἐριθεῖαι καταλαλιαί ψιθυρισμοί φυσιώσεις ἀκαταστασίαι)

Paul is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You can supply these words from earlier in the sentence if it would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: [you wish; I fear that somehow there may be]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

μή πως ἔρις

lest lest (Some words not found in SR-GNT: φοβοῦμαι Γάρ μή πώς ἐλθών οὐχ οἵους θέλω εὕρω ὑμᾶς κἀγώ εὑρεθῶ ὑμῖν οἷον οὒ θέλετε μή πώς ἔρις ζῆλος θυμοί ἐριθεῖαι καταλαλιαί ψιθυρισμοί φυσιώσεις ἀκαταστασίαι)

Here Paul implies that they are doing all these wrong things within their own group. He does not mean that they are doing these things to people outside their group. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this more explicit. Alternate translation: [that, within your group, somehow there may be quarreling]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

μή πως ἔρις, ζῆλος, θυμοί, ἐριθεῖαι, καταλαλιαί, ψιθυρισμοί, φυσιώσεις, ἀκαταστασίαι

If your language does not use abstract nouns for any of the ideas in this list, you could express the same ideas in another way. Alternate translation: [that somehow you may be quarrelsome, jealous, angry, competitive, slanderous, gossiping, proud, and disruptive]

Parallel 2 COR 12:20