2 COR 1:23 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=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor.
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 Now I invoke God as a witness upon my soul that sparing you, I have not yet come to Corinth.

UST So now I will tell you why I changed my mind and did not visit you again as I intended to do. May God strike me dead if I am lying, but he knows that what I am telling you is true. The reason that I did not return to Corinth was so that I might not grieve you by having to speak to you severely about the wrong things that you have done.

BLB But I call God as witness upon my soul, that sparing you, I have not yet come to Corinth.

AICNT But I call upon God as witness against my soul, that to spare you I did not come again to Corinth.

OEB But, as my life will answer for it, I call God to witness that it was to spare you that I deferred my visit to Corinth.

WEBBE But I call God for a witness to my soul, that to spare you, I didn’t come to Corinth.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Now I appeal to God as my witness, that to spare you I did not come again to Corinth.

LSV And I call on God for a witness on my soul, that sparing you, I did not come to Corinth yet;

FBV I call God as my witness that it was to avoid causing you pain that I chose not to come to Corinth.

TCNT I call upon God as a witness against me, that the reason I did not return to Corinth was to spare you.

T4T So now I will tell you why I changed my mind and did not visit you as I intended to do: God himself knows that what I am telling you is true. The reason that I did not return to Corinth was so that I might not have to speak to you severely about the wrong that you had done.

LEB But I call upon God as witness against my life, that in order to[fn] spare you, I did not come again to Corinth.

1:23 *Here “in order to” is supplied as a component of the participle (“spare”) which is understood as purpose

BBE But God is my witness that it was in pity for you that I did not come to Corinth at that time.

Moff I call God to witness against my soul, it was to spare you that I refrained from revisiting Corinth.

Wymth But as for me, as my soul shall answer for it, I appeal to God as my witness, that it was to spare you pain that I gave up my visit to Corinth.

ASV But I call God for a witness upon my soul, that to spare you I forbare to come unto Corinth.

DRA But I call God to witness upon my soul, that to spare you, I came not any more to Corinth:

YLT And I for a witness on God do call upon my soul, that sparing you, I came not yet to Corinth;

Drby But I call [fn]God to witness upon my soul that to spare you I have not yet come to Corinth.

1.23 Elohim

RV But I call God for a witness upon my soul, that to spare you I forbare to come unto Corinth.

SLT And I call upon God a witness upon my soul, that, sparing you, I came no more to Corinth.

Wbstr Moreover, I call God for a witness upon my soul, that to spare you I have not as yet come to Corinth.

KJB-1769 Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
(Moreover/What’s_more I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth. )

KJB-1611 Moreouer, I call God for a record vpon my soule, that to spare you I came not as yet vnto Corinth.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps I call God for a recorde vnto my soule, that to spare you I came not as yet vnto Corinthus.
(I call God for a record unto my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinthus.)

Gnva Nowe, I call God for a recorde vnto my soule, that to spare you, I came not as yet vnto Corinthus.
(Nowe, I call God for a record unto my soul, that to spare you, I came not as yet unto Corinthus. )

Cvdl Bvt I call God to recorde vnto my soule, that to fauoure you withall I came not agayne vnto Corinthum.
(But I call God to record unto my soul, that to favour you also/fully I came not again unto Corinthum.)

TNT I call God for a recorde vnto my soule that forto faver you with all I came not enymoare vnto Corinthum.
(I call God for a record unto my soul that forto faver you with all I came not enymoare unto Corinthum. )

Wycl For Y clepide God to witnesse ayens my soule, that Y sparynge you cam not ouer to Corynthe; not that we ben lordis of youre feith, but we ben helperis of youre ioye; for thorouy bileue ye stonden.
(For I called God to witness against my soul, that I sparing you came not over to Corynthe; not that we been lords of your(pl) faith, but we been helpers of your(pl) joy; for through believe ye/you_all stood.)

Luth Ich rufe aber GOtt an zum Zeugen auf meine SeeLE, daß ich euer verschonet habe in dem, daß ich nicht wieder gen Korinth kommen bin.
(I call/cry/shout but God at/to for_the witnesses(n) on/in/to my soul, that I your(pl) spared have in to_him, that I not again to/toward Korinth coming am.)

ClVg Ego autem testem Deum invoco in animam meam, quod parcens vobis, non veni ultra Corinthum: non quia dominamur fidei vestæ, sed adjutores sumus gaudii vestri: nam fide statis.[fn]
(I however testem God invoco in/into/on the_soul of_mine, that parcens to_you(pl), not/no I_came beyond/besides Corinthum: not/no because dominamur of_faith vestæ, but helperes we_are of_joy yours: for/surely with_faith standing. )

1.23 Ego autem, etc. Quasi dicat: Pro levitate vel terreno commodo non dimisi, sed parcens. Spiritualis tunc dispositum non implet, quando providentius aliquid ad salutem meditatur. Non quia dominamur. Ne indignarentur quasi de dominio, eo quod dixerat, parcens vobis non veni, subdit: Non quia dominamur, etc.

1.23 I however, etc. As_if let_him_say: For levitate or on_the_ground commodo not/no dimisi, but parcens. By_Spiritalis then dispositum not/no fills, when providentius something to health meditatur. Not/No because dominamur. Don't indignarentur as_if from/about mastero, by_him that had_said, parcens to_you(pl) not/no I_came, I_submit: Not/No because dominamur, etc.

UGNT ἐγὼ δὲ μάρτυρα τὸν Θεὸν ἐπικαλοῦμαι ἐπὶ τὴν ἐμὴν ψυχήν, ὅτι φειδόμενος ὑμῶν οὐκέτι ἦλθον εἰς Κόρινθον.
(egō de martura ton Theon epikaloumai epi taʸn emaʸn psuⱪaʸn, hoti feidomenos humōn ouketi aʸlthon eis Korinthon.)

SBL-GNT Ἐγὼ δὲ μάρτυρα τὸν θεὸν ἐπικαλοῦμαι ἐπὶ τὴν ἐμὴν ψυχήν, ὅτι φειδόμενος ὑμῶν οὐκέτι ἦλθον εἰς Κόρινθον.
(Egō de martura ton theon epikaloumai epi taʸn emaʸn psuⱪaʸn, hoti feidomenos humōn ouketi aʸlthon eis Korinthon.)

RP-GNT Ἐγὼ δὲ μάρτυρα τὸν θεὸν ἐπικαλοῦμαι ἐπὶ τὴν ἐμὴν ψυχήν, ὅτι φειδόμενος ὑμῶν οὐκέτι ἦλθον εἰς Κόρινθον.
(Egō de martura ton theon epikaloumai epi taʸn emaʸn psuⱪaʸn, hoti feidomenos humōn ouketi aʸlthon eis Korinthon.)

TC-GNT Ἐγὼ δὲ μάρτυρα τὸν Θεὸν ἐπικαλοῦμαι ἐπὶ τὴν ἐμὴν ψυχήν, ὅτι φειδόμενος ὑμῶν οὐκέτι ἦλθον εἰς Κόρινθον.
(Egō de martura ton Theon epikaloumai epi taʸn emaʸn psuⱪaʸn, hoti feidomenos humōn ouketi aʸlthon eis Korinthon. )

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:12–2:4: Paul’s change in plans

In this section Paul explained that he had earlier planned to visit the Corinthians two times, once on his way to the province of Macedonia and again on his way back from there (1:15–16). But he probably came earlier than planned and had a painful visit (2:1). After he returned to Ephesus, he wrote a painful letter (7:8–9). He then went to Macedonia via Troas (2:12–13) instead of via Corinth. The false teachers probably accused him of not being trustworthy because he had changed his plans. So Paul explained in these verses why he had changed his plans.

Other examples of headings for this section are:

Paul’s Integrity (NASB)

Why Paul changed his plans (NJB)

Paul explained his change of plans

1:23a

I call God as my witness that

¶ So now, upon penalty of death, I myself appeal to him as a witness that what I say here is true:
¶ Indeed, I myself ask God to verify this truth and punish me with death if I lie:

This verse begins with a Greek conjunction that is often translated “But” (as in the RSV). But here the conjunction probably introduces a new part of what Paul wants to say. The conjunction probably does not indicate contrast to 1:22.

I call God as my witness: The Greek clause is literally “I call God as witness regarding my soul.”The KJV says, “…upon my soul.” The BDAG says that the Greek word that often means “upon” means “feelings directed toward someone, in, on, for, toward” (sense 15, page 366). It can also mean “power, authority, control of or over someone or something, over” (sense 9.c, page 365), or “hostile opposition, against” (sense 12.b, page 366). It indicates that God can say what Paul had done. It probably indicates that both:

God would testify against Paul if Paul lied in 1:23b;
God would testify for Paul if Paul spoke the truth in 1:23b.

If possible, translate in a way that allows both situations. For example:

I call upon God as witness over my life

I ask God to verify this truth

I: This pronoun is emphasized in the Greek. If possible, emphasize the pronoun here. For example:

I myself

call God as my witness: This clause asks God to verify that what Paul is about to say is true. Other ways to translate this clause are:

call upon God as my witness (NLT)

appeal to God as a witness on my behalf (GW)

ask God to be my witness that this is true: (NCV)

God is my witness, he knows what is true

1:23b

it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.

I did not return to Corinth because I did not want to cause you^(plur) further pain.
the reason that I did not return to visit you in Corinth was that I might not have to punish you but allow you time to repent.

it was in order to spare you: The phrase in order to indicates reason or purpose. Other ways to translate this clause are:

because I wanted to spare you (GW)

for the purpose of sparing you

to spare you: Here the word spare refers to not doing something that would cause further pain to the believers in Corinth. Paul did not want to rebuke and discipline them at that time. He perhaps hoped that they would correct the problems themselves. Other ways to translate this word are:

to keep from punishing you

to keep from being hard on you (CEV)

ato void hurting you (JBP)

to give you opportunity to repent so that I would not have to cause you further pain

not to scold you

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-oathformula

ἐγὼ δὲ μάρτυρα τὸν Θεὸν ἐπικαλοῦμαι ἐπὶ τὴν ἐμὴν ψυχήν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐγώ Δέ μάρτυρα τόν Θεόν ἐπικαλοῦμαι ἐπί τήν ἐμήν ψυχήν ὅτι φειδόμενος ὑμῶν οὐκέτι ἦλθον εἰς Κόρινθον)

The phrase I invoke God as a witness upon my soul could be: (1) an oath formula. Use a natural way in your language to express an oath. Alternate translation: [Now I swear to God upon my soul] (2) simply a statement that God knows Paul’s motives. Alternate translation: [Now I call upon God as a witness to my intentions]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ἐγὼ δὲ μάρτυρα τὸν Θεὸν ἐπικαλοῦμαι ἐπὶ τὴν ἐμὴν ψυχήν

Here, soul represents the life of the person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your language or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [So may God take my life if I am lying, but he knows]

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-logic-goal

ὅτι φειδόμενος ὑμῶν

that sparing ˱from˲_you_all

Here, that introduces a goal or purpose relationship. The purpose for which Paul canceled his visit to Corinth was to spare causing pain to the Corinthian believers (See: 2:1). Use a connector or phrase in your language that makes it clear that this is the purpose. Alternate translation: [that it was in order to spare you]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

ὅτι φειδόμενος ὑμῶν οὐκέτι ἦλθον εἰς Κόρινθον

that sparing ˱from˲_you_all no_longer ˱I˲_came to Corinth

Paul is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You could supply these words from the context if it would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: [that it was in order to spare you sorrow that I have not yet come to Corinth] or [that it was to keep from grieving you that I have not yet traveled to Corinth again]

Parallel 2 COR 1:23

Section 1:12–2:4: Paul’s change in plans

1:23a

1:23b

Parallel 2 COR 1:23