2 COR 13:4 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) Although he was executed in weakness, now he’s living by God’s power. We also falter in him, but will be living with him by God’s power towards you all.

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 For he was also crucified as a result of weakness, but he lives as a result of God’s power. For we also are weak in him, but we will live with him as a result of God’s power toward you.

UST You see, as a man, the Messiah allowed himself to be weak when people nailed him to a cross. But God is powerful, and he has made him alive again. We, too, are weak human beings, as he was. But God also works powerfully in us to make us live as the Messiah does, so we will work powerfully among you.

BSB For He was indeed crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God’s power. For we are also weak in Him, yet by God’s power we will live with Him concerning you.

BLB For indeed He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God's power. For we also are weak in Him, but we will live with Him by God's power toward you.

AICNT For indeed [[if]][fn] he was crucified out of weakness, but he lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we will live with him by the power of God toward you.

13:4, if: Later manuscripts add. A(02) BYZ TR ‖ Absent from 𝔓46 ℵ(01) B(03) D(05) NA28 SBLGNT THGNT

OEB For though his crucifixion was due to weakness, his life is due to the power of God. And we, also, are weak in his weakness, but with him we will live for you through the power of God.

WEBBE For he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we will live with him through the power of God towards you.

WMBB (Same as above)

MSG ^(1-4)Well, this is my third visit coming up. Remember the Scripture that says, “A matter becomes clear after two or three witnesses give evidence”? On my second visit I warned that bunch that keeps sinning over and over in the same old ways that when I came back I wouldn’t go easy on them. Now, preparing for the third, I’m saying it again from a distance. If you haven’t changed your ways by the time I get there, look out. You who have been demanding proof that Christ speaks through me will get more than you bargained for. You’ll get the full force of Christ, don’t think you won’t. He was sheer weakness and humiliation when he was killed on the cross, but oh, he’s alive now—in the mighty power of God! We weren’t much to look at, either, when we were humiliated among you, but when we deal with you this next time, we’ll be alive in Christ, strengthened by God.

NET For indeed he was crucified by reason of weakness, but he lives because of God’s power. For we also are weak in him, but we will live together with him, because of God’s power toward you.

LSV for even if He was crucified from weakness, yet He lives from the power of God; for we also are weak in Him, but we will live with Him from the power of God toward you.

FBV Even though he was crucified in weakness, now he lives through the power of God. We too are weak in him, but you will see that we live with him through the power of God.

TCNT For [fn]though he was crucified in weakness, he lives by the power of God. Now we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.

13:4 though he was crucified in weakness, ¦ he was crucified in weakness, but CT

T4T It is true that Christ seemed to be weak when he was crucified {when people killed him by nailing him to the cross}. But it is also true that he now lives because God worked powerfully to bring him back to life. Similarly, as I serve God, I also am a weak human being as Christ was. But I also have a close relationship with Christ who is now alive again. And with his authority I will use God’s power to discipline you.

LEB For indeed, he was crucified because of weakness, but he lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we will live together with him because of the power of God toward you.

BBE For he was feeble in that he was put to death on the cross, but he is living by the power of God. And we are feeble in him, but we will be living with him through the power of God in relation to you.

Moff For though he was crucified in his weakness, he lives by the power of God; and though I am weak as he was weak, you will find I am alive as he is alive by the power of God.

Wymth For though it is true that He was crucified through weakness, yet He now lives through the power of God. We also are weak, sharing His weakness, but with Him we shall be full of life to deal with you through the power of God.

ASV for he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him through the power of God toward you.

DRA For although he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him: but we shall live with him by the power of God towards you.

YLT for even if he was crucified from infirmity, yet he doth live from the power of God; for we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him from the power of God toward you.

Drby for if indeed he has been crucified in weakness, yet he lives by [fn]God's power; for indeed we are weak in him, but we shall live with him by [fn]God's power towards you,)

13.4 Elohim

RV for he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him through the power of God toward you.
(for he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth/lives through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him through the power of God toward you. )

SLT For also if he was crucified from weakness, but he lives from the power of God. For also we are weak in him, but we live with him from the power of God to you.

Wbstr For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God towards you.

KJB-1769 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
(For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth/lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you. )

KJB-1611 For though hee was crucified through weaknesse, yet he liueth by the power of God: for wee also are weake [fn]in him, but wee shall liue with him by the power of God toward you.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation and footnotes)

13:4 Or, with him.

Bshps For though he was crucified of weakenesse, yet liueth he of the power of God. And we no doubt, are weake in hym: but we shall lyue with hym, by ye might of God towarde you.
(For though he was crucified of weakeness, yet liveth/lives he of the power of God. And we no doubt, are weak in him: but we shall live with him, by ye/you_all might of God toward you.)

Gnva For though hee was crucified concerning his infirmitie, yet liueth hee through the power of God. And wee no doubt are weake in him, but we shall liue with him, through the power of God towarde you.
(For though he was crucified concerning his infirmitie, yet liveth/lives he through the power of God. And we no doubt are weak in him, but we shall live with him, through the power of God toward you. )

Cvdl And though he was crucified in weaknes, yet lyueth he in the power of God. And though we are weake in him, yet lyue we with him in the power of God amonge you.
(And though he was crucified in weaknes, yet liveth/lives he in the power of God. And though we are weak in him, yet live we with him in the power of God among you.)

TNT And verely though it came of weaknes that he was crucified yet liveth he thorow the power of God. And we no dout are weake in him: but we shall live with him by the myght of God amonge you.
(And verily/truly though it came of weaknes that he was crucified yet liveth/lives he through the power of God. And we no dout are weak in him: but we shall live with him by the might of God among you. )

Wycl For thouy he was crucified of infirmyte, but he lyueth of the vertu of God. For also we ben sijk in hym, but we schulen lyue with him of the vertu of God in vs.
(For though he was crucified of infirmyte, but he liveth/lives of the virtue of God. For also we been sick in him, but we should live with him of the virtue of God in us.)

Luth Und ob er wohl gekreuziget ist in der Schwachheit, so lebet er doch in der Kraft Gottes. Und ob wir auch schwach sind in ihm, so leben wir doch mit ihm in der Kraft Gottes unter euch.
(And if/whether he probably/well crucified is in the/of_the weakness, so lives he though/but in the/of_the strength/power God’s. And if/whether we/us also weak are in him, so life we/us though/but with him in the/of_the strength/power God’s under you.)

ClVg Nam etsi crucifixus est ex infirmitate: sed vivit ex virtute Dei. Nam et nos infirmi sumus in illo: sed vivemus cum eo ex virtute Dei in vobis.[fn]
(For/Surely even_though crucified it_is from weakness: but lives from by_virtue of_God. For/Surely and us sick we_are in/into/on that/there: but we_will_live when/with by_him from by_virtue of_God in/into/on to_you(pl). )

13.4 Nam et nos infirmi. Vivit Christus qui prius fuerat infirmus. Nam et nos multo minores, licet infirmi in illo, id est licet ad imitationem ejus multa patimur a perfidis, tamen vivemus, id est potestatem habebimus per eum in vobis judicandis. Vel, vivemus cum eo, id est in simili beatitudine cum eo: et hoc ex virtute Dei; quod tale est in vobis, id est in conscientiis vestris: In vobis. Erga vos. Mors illata a perfidis vita est erga credentes, quia virtute Dei resurgentes vivent cum Christo.

13.4 For/Surely and us sick. Vivit Christ/Messiah who/which first/before had_been weak/sick. For/Surely and us much minors, although sick in/into/on that/there, that it_is although to imitationem his fine patimur from perfidis, nevertheless we_will_live, that it_is power habebimus through him in/into/on to_you(pl) judgendis. Or, we_will_live when/with by_him, that it_is in/into/on similar happiness when/with by_him: and this from by_virtue of_God; that tale it_is in/into/on to_you(pl), that it_is in/into/on conthey_will_knowiis yours: In to_you(pl). Erga you(pl). Mors thatta from perfidis life it_is towards believers, because by_virtue of_God resurgentes they_will_live when/with to_Christ/Messiah.

UGNT καὶ γὰρ ἐσταυρώθη ἐξ ἀσθενείας, ἀλλὰ ζῇ ἐκ δυνάμεως Θεοῦ. καὶ γὰρ ἡμεῖς ἀσθενοῦμεν ἐν αὐτῷ, ἀλλὰ ζήσομεν σὺν αὐτῷ ἐκ δυνάμεως Θεοῦ εἰς ὑμᾶς.
(kai gar estaurōthaʸ ex astheneias, alla zaʸ ek dunameōs Theou. kai gar haʸmeis asthenoumen en autōi, alla zaʸsomen sun autōi ek dunameōs Theou eis humas.)

SBL-GNT καὶ ⸀γὰρ ἐσταυρώθη ἐξ ἀσθενείας, ἀλλὰ ζῇ ἐκ δυνάμεως θεοῦ. καὶ γὰρ ἡμεῖς ἀσθενοῦμεν ἐν αὐτῷ, ἀλλὰ ⸀ζήσομεν σὺν αὐτῷ ἐκ δυνάμεως θεοῦ εἰς ὑμᾶς.
(kai ⸀gar estaurōthaʸ ex astheneias, alla zaʸ ek dunameōs theou. kai gar haʸmeis asthenoumen en autōi, alla ⸀zaʸsomen sun autōi ek dunameōs theou eis humas.)

RP-GNT καὶ γὰρ εἰ ἐσταυρώθη ἐξ ἀσθενείας, ἀλλὰ ζῇ ἐκ δυνάμεως θεοῦ. Καὶ γὰρ ἡμεῖς ἀσθενοῦμεν ἐν αὐτῷ, ἀλλὰ ζησόμεθα σὺν αὐτῷ ἐκ δυνάμεως θεοῦ εἰς ὑμᾶς.
(kai gar ei estaurōthaʸ ex astheneias, alla zaʸ ek dunameōs theou. Kai gar haʸmeis asthenoumen en autōi, alla zaʸsometha sun autōi ek dunameōs theou eis humas.)

TC-GNT καὶ γὰρ [fn]εἰ ἐσταυρώθη ἐξ ἀσθενείας, ἀλλὰ ζῇ ἐκ δυνάμεως Θεοῦ. Καὶ γὰρ [fn]ἡμεῖς ἀσθενοῦμεν ἐν αὐτῷ, ἀλλὰ [fn]ζησόμεθα σὺν αὐτῷ ἐκ δυνάμεως Θεοῦ εἰς ὑμᾶς.
(kai gar ei estaurōthaʸ ex astheneias, alla zaʸ ek dunameōs Theou. Kai gar haʸmeis asthenoumen en autōi, alla zaʸsometha sun autōi ek dunameōs Theou eis humas. )

13:4 ει ¦ — CT

13:4 ημεις ¦ και ημεις SCR

13:4 ζησομεθα ¦ ζησομεν CT

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 13:1–10: Some warnings

In this section, Paul warned the believers that he would punish anyone who was sinning and refusing to repent (13:1–2). He said he would do that because some believers in Corinth were demanding proof from him that he was a true apostle (13:3a). He told them that he could work powerfully because Jesus is powerful (13:3b). He told them that they were weak in their natural abilities but had God’s power, as Jesus did when he lived on earth (13:4).

Then Paul commanded them to look carefully at themselves to see if they were truly believers or not (13:5). Paul expected that if they studied Paul’s words and deeds, then they would see that he was a true apostle (13:6). Paul told them that he and his coworkers prayed for the believers in Corinth that they would not sin and that they would do what was right (13:7). Paul told them that he and his coworkers worked in accordance with the truth (13:8). He told the believers that he prayed that they would always do as God wanted them to do (13:9). He told them that he wrote about their problems so that they would correct those problems themselves. Then he would encourage them when he went there and would not have to discipline them (13:10).

Other examples for this section heading are:

Examine Yourselves (NASB)

Paul gave final warnings

Final warnings and greetings

13:4a

For He was indeed crucified in weakness,

For indeed he was killed on a cross because of him being man and therefore weak,
It is true that he was weak like any other person when people nailed him to a cross and left him to die.

For: This word introduces an explanation about Christ’s weakness and power. Other ways to translate this word are:

Because

What I am saying is

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

He was indeed crucified: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. Roman soldiers crucified him, but Paul wanted to focus on the fact that Jesus was crucified rather than the people who crucified him. For example:

people/they crucified him

If possible, keep the focus on the fact that Jesus was crucified and not on the people who crucified him.

He was indeed: The Greek word that the BSB translates as indeed is the word often translated “and” or “even.” Here it emphasizes the following words. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

to be sure (NIV)

It is true that (NCV)

crucified: This verb refers to a person being nailed to a cross, someone placing the cross upright, and the person remaining there until he dies.

Other ways to translate this word are:

killed on the cross (NCV)

nailed to a cross and left to die

crucified in weakness: Here the Greek word that the BSB translates as in probably indicates that Jesus as a human being was weak. He did not have political or economic power. Other ways to translate this are:

crucified because he had no earthly power

Christ’s weakness in his human form was seen in his being nailed to the cross

13:4b

yet He lives by God’s power.

but he now lives because of the power of God.
However, he now lives because God used his power to make him alive again.

He lives by God’s power: The Greek word that the BSB translates as by is literally “out of.” Here the Greek word indicates that God used his power to raise Jesus back to life after his death on the cross. It also implies that Jesus continues to live and be powerful. Other ways to translate this are:

He lives because of the power of God (NASB)

from God’s power he now lives

13:4c

And though we are weak in Him,

Similarly, in our^(excl) relationship/union with him we also experience the same weaknesses,
And we who joined ourselves with him are weak just as he was,

And: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as And is literally “For indeed,” as in 13:4a. But here Paul probably repeated the phrase to introduce a comparison between Christ’s weakness and his power. So the BSB translates the Greek phrase as And. Here is another way to translate this:

also (GNT)

though we are weak in Him: This clause indicates that in our relationship with Jesus we experience difficulties of life just as he did. Other ways to translate this are:

We, too, are weak, just as Christ was (NLT)

we share in experiencing his weakness because we are joined to him

We are in Christ and we also are weak

we who joined ourselves with him have weakness just as he did

This clause does not indicate that believers have a weak relationship with Jesus.

13:4d

yet by God’s power we will live with Him to serve you.

but from God’s power we will share in his life in our relationship/union with him when we deal with you^(plur).
but God will powerfully cause us to live experiencing his life because we are joined to him as we minister/relate to you.

by God’s power: As in 13:4b, the Greek word that the BSB translates as by is literally “out of.” Here the Greek word indicates that God empowers the apostles to do the work that God gave them. Other ways to translate this are:

because of the power of God (NASB)

from God’s power

we will live with Him: Here the phrase with Him indicates that the apostles will share the empowered life of Jesus. Other ways to translate this are:

we shall share…in his life (GNT)

we will be alive with him (NLT)

we will share in experiencing his life because we are joined to him

we also will live having a share of his life

we will live just as he did

to serve you: The Greek words are literally “toward you” (as in the KJV). This phrase may indicate:

helping them believe in Jesus well;
punishing the sinners among them.

It probably implies both meanings, as it does in 13:3b (“in dealing with you”). Translate the phrase in a similar way here. For example:

in dealing with you (RSV)

in our relationship with you

to help you

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

καὶ & ἐσταυρώθη

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί Γάρ ἐσταυρώθη ἐξ ἀσθενείας ἀλλά ζῇ ἐκ δυνάμεως Θεοῦ καί Γάρ ἡμεῖς ἀσθενοῦμεν ἐν αὐτῷ ἀλλά ζήσομεν σύν αὐτῷ ἐκ δυνάμεως Θεοῦ εἰς ὑμᾶς)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [they crucified him]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

(Occurrence -1) ἐξ ἀσθενείας

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of weakness, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [when he was weak]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

(Occurrence -1) ἐκ δυνάμεως Θεοῦ

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of power, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [because God works powerfully … because God works powerfully]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

(Occurrence -1) ἀσθενοῦμεν ἐν αὐτῷ

Here, Paul is speaking of his relationship to Christ as if he were inside of Christ. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [are weak as we imitate him] or [are weak, just as he was]

Parallel 2 COR 13:4

Section 13:1–10: Some warnings

13:4a

13:4b

13:4c

13:4d

Parallel 2 COR 13:4