2 COR 13:5 Parallel Verse View

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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 Test yourselves, whether you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you not fully realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you are unapproved?

UST Each of you should ask yourself: “Do I trust the Messiah and live as he directs me?” Each of you should test yourself in this way. Then you will know that you truly live as one with Jesus the Messiah. That is true unless, of course, you fail this test.

BLB Examine yourselves whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Or do you not recognize yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you, unless you are unapproved?

AICNT Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize yourselves, that {Jesus Christ}[fn] is {among you}?[fn] — unless perhaps you are disqualified?

13:5, Jesus Christ: NA28 SBLGNT BYZ TR ‖ Later manuscripts read “Christ Jesus.” THGNT

13:5, among you: Later manuscripts read “in you.” BYZ TR

OEB Put yourselves to the test, to see whether you are holding to the faith. Examine yourselves. Surely you recognise this fact about yourselves – that Jesus Christ is in you! Unless indeed you cannot stand the test!

WEBBE Examine your own selves, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or don’t you know about your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.

WMBB Examine your own selves, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or don’t you know about your own selves, that Yeshua the Messiah is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.

NET Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you – unless, indeed, you fail the test!

LSV Try yourselves, if you are in the faith; prove yourselves; do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you, if you are not disapproved of in some respect?

FBV Examine yourselves to see if you are trusting God. Put yourselves to the test. Don't you yourselves realize that Jesus Christ is in[fn] you? Unless you have failed the test…

13:5 Or “in union with.”

TCNT Examine yourselves to see if you are in the faith; test yourselves. Or do you not realize that [fn]Jesus Christ is in you?—unless, of course, you fail to meet the test.

13:5 Jesus Christ ¦ Christ Jesus TH

T4T Each of you should ask yourself: “Do I believe God’s message about Christ?” Each of you should examine yourselves to make sure that you truly do believe in Christ and so truly belong to him, and that his Spirit lives in you (pl). When you examine yourselves in that way, I am sure that you will [RHQ] say to me, “Yes, of course we belong to Christ.”

LEB Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you, unless you are unqualified?

BBE Make a test of yourselves, if you are in the faith; make certain of yourselves. Or are you not conscious in yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you, if you are truly Christ's?

Moff Put yourselves to the proof, not me; test yourselves, to see if you are in the faith. Do you not understand that Christ Jesus is within you? Otherwise you must be failures.

Wymth Test yourselves to discover whether you are true believers: put your own selves under examination. Or do you not know that Jesus Christ is within you, unless you are insincere?

ASV Try your own selves, whether ye are in the faith; prove your own selves. Or know ye not as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed ye be reprobate.

DRA Try your own selves if you be in the faith; prove ye yourselves. Know you not your own selves, that Christ Jesus is in you, unless perhaps you be reprobates?

YLT Your own selves try ye, if ye are in the faith; your own selves prove ye; do ye not know your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you, if ye be not in some respect disapproved of?

Drby examine your own selves if ye be in the faith; prove your own selves: do ye not recognise yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you, unless indeed ye be reprobates?

RV Try your own selves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Or know ye not as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed ye be reprobate.
(Try your own selves, whether ye/you_all be in the faith; prove your own selves. Or know ye/you_all not as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed ye/you_all be reprobate. )

SLT Try yourselves, if ye are in the faith; prove yourselves. Or know ye not yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you, unless ye are not tried?

Wbstr Examine yourselves, whether ye are in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye are reprobates?

KJB-1769 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
(Examine yourselves, whether ye/you_all be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye/you_all not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye/you_all be reprobates? )

KJB-1611 Examine your selues, whether ye be in the faith: proue your owne selues. Know yee not your owne selues, how that Iesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps Examine your selues, whether ye are in the fayth: Proue your owne selues. Knowe ye not your owne selues, howe that Iesus Christe is in you? except ye be reprobates.
(Examine yourselves, whether ye/you_all are in the faith: Prove your own selves. Know ye/you_all not your own selves, how that Yesus/Yeshua Christ is in you? except ye/you_all be reprobates.)

Gnva Proue your selues whether ye are in the faith: examine your selues: knowe yee not your owne selues, howe that Iesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
(Prove yourselves whether ye/you_all are in the faith: examine yourselves: know ye/you_all not your own selves, how that Yesus/Yeshua Christ is in you, except ye/you_all be reprobates? )

Cvdl Proue youre selues, whether ye are in the faith, exame youre selues. Or knowe ye not yor selues, yt Iesus Christ is in you? Excepte ye be cast awayes.
(Prove yourselves, whether ye/you_all are in the faith, exame yourselves. Or know ye/you_all not yourselves, it Yesus/Yeshua Christ is in you? Except ye/you_all be cast aways.)

TNT Prove youre selves whether ye are in the fayth or not. Examen youre owne selves: knowe ye not youre awne selves how that Iesus Christ is in you excepte ye be castawayes?
(Prove your(pl) selves whether ye/you_all are in the faith or not. Examine your(pl) own selves: know ye/you_all not your(pl) own selves how that Yesus/Yeshua Christ is in you except ye/you_all be castawayes? )

Wycl Asaie you silf, if ye ben in the feith; ye you silf preue. Whether ye knowen not you silf, for Crist Jhesu is in you? but in happe ye ben repreuable.
(Asaie yourself, if ye/you_all been in the faith; ye/you_all yourself preue. Whether ye/you_all known not yourself, for Christ Yhesu is in you? but in happen ye/you_all been repreuable.)

Luth Versuchet euch selbst, ob ihr im Glauben seid, prüfet euch selbst! Oder erkennet ihr euch selbst nicht, daß JEsus Christus in euch ist? Es sei denn, daß ihr untüchtig seid.
(Versuchet you himself/itself, if/whether you(pl)/their/her in_the faith are, checks/examines you himself/itself! Or recognises/realises you(pl)/their/her you himself/itself not, that Yesus Christ in you is? It be because/than, that you(pl)/their/her incompetent are.)

ClVg Vosmetipsos tentate si estis in fide: ipsi vos probate. An non cognoscitis vosmetipsos quia Christus Jesus in vobis est? nisi forte reprobi estis.
(You(pl)metipsos tentate when/but_if you_are in/into/on with_faith: themselves you(pl) approvese. An not/no you_know you(pl)metipsos because Christ/Messiah Yesus in/into/on to_you(pl) it_is? except perhaps reprobate you_are. )

UGNT ἑαυτοὺς πειράζετε εἰ ἐστὲ ἐν τῇ πίστει; ἑαυτοὺς δοκιμάζετε. ἢ οὐκ ἐπιγινώσκετε ἑαυτοὺς, ὅτι Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς ἐν ὑμῖν, εἰ μήτι ἀδόκιμοί ἐστε?
(heautous peirazete ei este en taʸ pistei; heautous dokimazete. aʸ ouk epiginōskete heautous, hoti Yaʸsous Ⱪristos en humin, ei maʸti adokimoi este?)

SBL-GNT Ἑαυτοὺς πειράζετε εἰ ἐστὲ ἐν τῇ πίστει, ἑαυτοὺς δοκιμάζετε· ἢ οὐκ ἐπιγινώσκετε ἑαυτοὺς ὅτι ⸂Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς⸃ ἐν ⸀ὑμῖν; εἰ μήτι ἀδόκιμοί ἐστε.
(Heautous peirazete ei este en taʸ pistei, heautous dokimazete; aʸ ouk epiginōskete heautous hoti ⸂Yaʸsous Ⱪristos⸃ en ⸀humin; ei maʸti adokimoi este.)

RP-GNT Ἑαυτοὺς πειράζετε εἰ ἐστὲ ἐν τῇ πίστει, ἑαυτοὺς δοκιμάζετε. Ἢ οὐκ ἐπιγινώσκετε ἑαυτούς, ὅτι Ἰησοῦς χριστὸς ἐν ὑμῖν ἐστίν; Εἰ μήτι ἀδόκιμοί ἐστε.
(Heautous peirazete ei este en taʸ pistei, heautous dokimazete. Aʸ ouk epiginōskete heautous, hoti Yaʸsous ⱪristos en humin estin; Ei maʸti adokimoi este.)

TC-GNT Ἑαυτοὺς πειράζετε εἰ ἐστὲ ἐν τῇ πίστει, ἑαυτοὺς δοκιμάζετε. Ἢ οὐκ ἐπιγινώσκετε ἑαυτούς, ὅτι [fn]Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς ἐν ὑμῖν [fn]ἐστιν; Εἰ μήτι ἀδόκιμοί ἐστε.
(Heautous peirazete ei este en taʸ pistei, heautous dokimazete. Aʸ ouk epiginōskete heautous, hoti Yaʸsous Ⱪristos en humin estin; Ei maʸti adokimoi este. )

13:5 ιησους χριστος ¦ χριστος ιησους TH

13:5 εστιν ¦ — CT

Key for above GNTs: 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

13:5b

test yourselves.

and prove that you have true faith.
and prove it is true by doing the right thing in this regard.
Carefully examine them, do they prove what you claim about your faith?

13:5a–b

Examine yourselves…test yourselves: The two Greek verbs that the BSB translates as Examine and test are similar in meaning. The first verb refers to determining the nature of something by testing it. In other words, something is examined to discover its true nature. The second verb refers to checking something to see if it is genuine. In other words, something is examined to see if it is what it claims to be. An example explaining the difference is:

Examine yourselves to discover the true nature of your faith, test yourselves to see if what you say about your faith is true

yourselves…yourselves: Both times this pronoun is used, it is emphasized in the Greek clause. Paul probably emphasized these pronouns because some of the believers were wrongly examining and testing Paul. They were doing that because they doubted that he was a true apostle. Some languages can emphasize the pronoun in a natural way. Some examples in English are:

It is yourselves whom you must examine…it is yourselves whom you must test

You are the ones you need to examine…test yourselves to see if your faith is true/genuine

13:5a

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith;

¶ Examine yourselves to see if you have true faith
¶ It is you yourselves that you must examine to discover the true nature of your faith
¶ Look at your own ways, do they match the ways of faith?

to see whether you are in the faith: The clause you are in the faith refers to living and believing according to Christian teaching. Paul commanded them here to prove that they were living the proper Christian way. Other ways to translate this are:

to see whether you are holding to your faith (RSV)

to find out whether you are living in faith (GNT)

find out if you really are true to your faith (CEV)

are you living the life of faith? (REB)

13:5c–d

Can’t you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you actually fail the test?: This is a rhetorical question. Paul expected the believers to answer that they knew that Jesus was in them. But he used the rhetorical question to imply that some of them might not be completely following proper Christian ways (13:5a–b). These words exhort the believers to live according to the fact that Jesus was in them. Translate in a way that indicates that meaning. Some ways to translate this are:

As a rhetorical question. For example:
Do you not recognise yourselves as people in whom Jesus Christ is present?—unless, that is, you fail the test. (NJB)
Don’t you recognize that you are people in whom Jesus Christ lives? Could it be that you’re failing the test? (GW)
Surely you recognize that Jesus Christ is present in you, don’t you? If not, you have failed the test.
As a statement. For example:
You ought to know by this time that Christ is in you, unless you are not real Christians at all. (JBP)
You know that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you fail the test. (NCV)

13:5c

Can’t you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—

Do you not recognize yourselves as people in whom Jesus Christ is present? (NJB)
Certainly you know that Jesus Christ is in you!

Jesus Christ: There is a textual issue here. The Greek manuscripts differ in the order of these two words:

The order of the words is Jesus Christ. For example, see the BSB. (BSB, RSV, NJB, NASB, NABRE, NLT, GW, NET, REB, NCV, ESV, KJV)
The order of the words is Christ Jesus. For example:
Christ Jesus (GNT) (NIV, GNT)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) because the UBS Greek New Testament has that order.The meaning is basically the same in either order. But having “Christ” first emphasizes that Jesus is the Christ.

is in you: This phrase refers to Jesus encouraging, guiding, correcting, and helping the believers, both individually and as a group. The believers experience changes in their lives because they follow Jesus. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

people in whom Jesus Christ is present (NJB)

walks with/guides you

lives in your heart/insides

13:5d

unless you actually fail the test?

But perhaps you will examine yourselves and find that God has not approved you!
I do not expect many of you to be unable to prove that you truly believe!

unless you actually fail the test: This is irony. To fail the test refers here to not having faith. Paul expected the believers to pass the test. But Paul used irony to encourage them to examine themselves. He probably implied that a few people in the church in Corinth did not truly believe or had sinned greatly. For the irony you may want to:

Translate in a way that clearly shows the irony. For example:
unless you have completely failed (GNT)
Translate the irony with a rhetorical question or a rhetorical “if.” For example:
Could it be that you’re failing the test? (GW)
But if Christ isn’t living in you, you have failed (CEV)
Translate in a way that explains the irony. For example:
I do not expect many of you to fail that test!

you…fail the test: The Greek words here are literally “you are unapproved.” Here it indicates that they were unable to show that they had true faith in Jesus. Other ways to translate this are:

you are unable to prove your faith

you cannot pass the test

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

ἑαυτοὺς πειράζετε & ἑαυτοὺς δοκιμάζετε

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἑαυτούς πειράζετε εἰ ἐστέ ἐν τῇ πίστει ἑαυτούς δοκιμάζετε Ἤ οὐκ ἐπιγινώσκετε ἑαυτούς ὅτι Χριστός Ἰησοῦς ἐν ὑμῖν εἰ μήτι ἀδόκιμοι ἐστέ)

These two phrases mean the same thing. The second emphasizes the meaning of the first by repeating the same idea with different words. If your language does not have two ways to say this, you could repeat the same phrase and provide emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: [Test yourselves … Indeed, you must test yourselves]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / rpronouns

(Occurrence -1) ἑαυτοὺς

The word translated yourselves is plural, referring to all of the Corinthian believers. However, the meaning is that each believer is to examine himself, not that they should examine each other. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate this as singular, as in the UST.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐστὲ ἐν τῇ πίστει

Here, Paul is speaking of faith as if it were something which the Corinthians could be inside. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [you truly believe in the Messiah] or [you are being faithful to the Messiah]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

ἢ οὐκ ἐπιγινώσκετε ἑαυτοὺς, ὅτι Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς ἐν ὑμῖν, εἰ μήτι ἀδόκιμοί ἐστε

Paul is using the question form here to emphasize to the Corinthian believers something that is true: that Jesus Christ does live in them. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: [You know that it is Jesus Christ himself who lives within you—unless you are not in the faith.]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐν ὑμῖν

in in you_all

Here, in you could mean: (1) Jesus is intimately connected to each believing individual, as if Jesus were living inside each person. Alternate translation: [part of who you are] (2) Jesus is living among them, part of and the most important member of the group. Alternate translation: [among you]

Parallel 2 COR 13:5