2COR 2:16 Parallel Verse View

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

OET (OET-RV) On one hand we’re an aroma of death to those choosing death, and on the other hand, an aroma of life to those choosing life. Wow, who’s worthy enough for that?

Key: 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 OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT to the ones, indeed, an aroma from death to death, but to the others, an aroma from life to life. And for these things, who is sufficient?

UST Those who are passing away think that we are like a smell that comes from a dead body and that causes people to die. On the other hand, those whom God is rescuing think that we are like a smell that comes from a living thing and that causes people to live. No one can perfectly proclaim the good news in that way!

BSB To the one, we are an odor of death and demise; to the other, a fragrance that brings life.[fn] And who is qualified for such a task?

2:16 Literally To the one, indeed, an aroma from death to death; but to the other, an aroma from life to life.

BLB to one indeed an odor from death to death, and to the other a fragrance from life to life. And who is sufficient for these things?

AICNT to the one an aroma {from}[fn] death to death, to the other an aroma {from}[fn] life to life. And who is sufficient for these things?

2:16, from: Later manuscripts read “of.” BYZ TR

OEB To the latter we are a stench which arises from death and tells of death; to the former a fragrance which arises from life and tells of life. But who is equal to such a task?

WEBBE to the one a stench from death to death, to the other a sweet aroma from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?

WMBB (Same as above)

NET to the latter an odor from death to death, but to the former a fragrance from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?

LSV to one, indeed, a fragrance of death to death, and to the other, a fragrance of life to life; and who is sufficient for these things?

FBV To those who are dying it is the smell of decay, while to those who are being saved it is the scent of life! But who is up to such an assignment?

TCNT to the latter we are a smell of death leading to death, but to the former we are a fragrance of life leading to life. And who is equal to such a task?

T4T To those who are on the way to hell, our message is like [MET] a foul smell because it is about dying and being separated from God forever. But, to those on the way to heaven, the message that we teach is like a pure fragrant smell, because we tell them that they will live forever with God. As we think about that, we think ◄no one is able to do such important work for God!/how can anyone be able to do such important work for God?► [RHQ]

LEB to those on the one hand an odor from death to death, and to those on the other hand a fragrance from life to life. And who is qualified for these things?

BBE To the one it is a perfume of death to death; to the other a perfume of life to life. And who is enough for such things?

Moff No Moff 2COR book available

Wymth to the last-named an odor of death predictive of death, and to the others an odor of life predictive of life. And for such service as this who is competent?

ASV to the one a savor from death unto death; to the other a savor from life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

DRA To the one indeed the odour of death unto death: but to the others the odour of life unto life. And for these things who is so sufficient?

YLT to the one, indeed, a fragrance of death to death, and to the other, a fragrance of life to life; and for these things who is sufficient?

Drby to the one an odour from death unto death, but to the others an odour from life unto life; and who [is] sufficient for these things?

RV to the one a savour from death unto death; to the other a savour from life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

Wbstr To the one we are the savor of death to death; and to the other the savor of life to life. And who is sufficient for these things?

KJB-1769 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

KJB-1611 To the one wee are the sauour of death vnto death; and to the other, the sauour of life vnto life: and who is sufficient for these things?
(To the one we are the sauour of death unto death; and to the other, the sauour of life unto life: and who is sufficient for these things?)

Bshps To the one part are we the sauour of death, vnto death: and vnto the other part are we the sauour of lyfe vnto lyfe. And who is meete vnto these thynges?
(To the one part are we the sauour of death, unto death: and unto the other part are we the sauour of life unto life. And who is meet unto these things?)

Gnva To the one we are the sauour of death, vnto death, and to the other the sauour of life, vnto life: and who is sufficient for these things?
(To the one we are the sauour of death, unto death, and to the other the sauour of life, unto life: and who is sufficient for these things? )

Cvdl To these, ye sauoure of death vnto death: but vnto ye other, the sauoure of life vnto life. And who is mete therto?
(To these, ye/you_all sauoure of death unto death: but unto ye/you_all other, the sauoure of life unto life. And who is meet thereto?)

TNT To the one parte are we the savoure of deeth vnto deeth. And vnto the other parte are we the savoure of lyfe vnto lyfe. And who is mete vnto these thinges?
(To the one part are we the savoure of death unto death. And unto the other part are we the savoure of life unto life. And who is meet unto these things? )

Wycl To othere sotheli odour of deth in to deth, but to othere we ben odour of lijf in to lijf. And to these thingis who is so able?
(To other truly odour of death in to death, but to other we been odour of life in to life. And to these things who is so able?)

Luth diesen ein Geruch des Todes zum Tode, jenen aber ein Geruch des Lebens zum Leben. Und wer ist hiezu tüchtig?
(diesen a Geruch the Todes for_the Tode, jenen but a Geruch the life for_the Leben. And who is hiezu tüchtig?)

ClVg aliis quidem odor mortis in mortem: aliis autem odor vitæ in vitam. Et ad hæc quis tam idoneus?[fn]
(aliis indeed odor mortis in mortem: aliis however odor of_life in vitam. And to these_things who/any tam idoneus? )

2.16 Odor mortis. Ut de nostra prædicatione procedat mors, inde ruentibus in æternam damnationem.

2.16 Odor mortis. Ut about nostra prælet_him_sayione procedat mors, inde ruentibus in eternal damnationem.

UGNT οἷς μὲν ὀσμὴ ἐκ θανάτου εἰς θάνατον, οἷς δὲ ὀσμὴ ἐκ ζωῆς εἰς ζωήν. καὶ πρὸς ταῦτα τίς ἱκανός?
(hois men osmaʸ ek thanatou eis thanaton, hois de osmaʸ ek zōaʸs eis zōaʸn. kai pros tauta tis hikanos?)

SBL-GNT οἷς μὲν ὀσμὴ ⸀ἐκ θανάτου εἰς θάνατον, οἷς δὲ ὀσμὴ ⸁ἐκ ζωῆς εἰς ζωήν. καὶ πρὸς ταῦτα τίς ἱκανός;
(hois men osmaʸ ⸀ek thanatou eis thanaton, hois de osmaʸ ⸁ek zōaʸs eis zōaʸn. kai pros tauta tis hikanos;)

TC-GNT οἷς μὲν ὀσμὴ [fn]θανάτου εἰς θάνατον, οἷς δὲ ὀσμὴ [fn]ζωῆς εἰς ζωήν. Καὶ πρὸς ταῦτα τίς ἱκανός;
(hois men osmaʸ thanatou eis thanaton, hois de osmaʸ zōaʸs eis zōaʸn. Kai pros tauta tis hikanos; )

2:16 θανατου ¦ εκ θανατου CT

2:16 ζωης ¦ εκ ζωης CT

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

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

οἷς μὲν & οἷς δὲ

˱to˲_one on_one_hand & ˱to˲_one on_the_other_hand

Here, the word translated as indeed indicates that the author is introducing the first of two parts. The word but introduces the second part. The author uses this form to contrast “the ones perishing” and “the ones being saved” (See: 2:15). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a form that naturally contrasts two groups of people. Alternate translation: [on one hand, to the ones … but on the other hand, to the others] or [to the ones … but to the others]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

οἷς μὲν ὀσμὴ ἐκ θανάτου εἰς θάνατον, οἷς δὲ ὀσμὴ ἐκ ζωῆς εἰς ζωήν

˱to˲_one on_one_hand /an/_aroma from death to death ˱to˲_one on_the_other_hand /an/_aroma from life to life

Here Paul refers to “the ones perishing” before he refers to “the ones being saved,” which is the opposite of the order he used in 2:15. This was good style in his culture. If reversing the order from 2:15 would be confusing for your readers, and if it would not be good style, you could reverse the order here to match that in 2:15. Alternate translation: [to the ones indeed, an aroma from life to life, but to the others, an aroma from death to death]

Note 3 topic: writing-pronouns

(Occurrence -1) οἷς

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οἷς μὲν ὀσμὴ ἐκ θανάτου εἰς θάνατον οἷς δὲ ὀσμὴ ἐκ ζωῆς εἰς ζωήν καὶ πρὸς ταῦτα τίς ἱκανός)

Here, the phrase to the ones refers to “the ones perishing,” and the phrase to the others refers to “the ones being saved” (See: 2:15). If it would be helpful in your language, you could clarify to whom these phrases refer. Alternate translation: [to the latter … to the former] or [to the ones perishing … to the ones being saved]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / exmetaphor

(Occurrence -1) ὀσμὴ

Here Paul continues to speak about fragrance and good smells (See: 2:14–15). He specifically explains what kind of aroma he and his fellow workers are. Those who do not believe think that the aroma smells bad, while those who do believe think that the aroma smells good. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a simile or express the idea plainly. Make sure that your translation fits with how you translated the “smelling” language in 2:14–15. Alternate translation: [we smell like an aroma … we smell like an aroma] or [our message is … our message is]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐκ θανάτου εἰς θάνατον & ἐκ ζωῆς εἰς ζωήν

from death to death & from life to life

Twice here Paul uses the words from and to with the same word. He could be using this form because: (1) from indicates the source of the aroma, and to indicates the effects of the aroma. Alternate translation: [that smells like death and leads to death … that smells like life and leads to life] or [of death causing death … of life causing life] (2) from and to together emphasize that the aroma is characterized completely by either death or life. Alternate translation: [of death … of life] or [characterized completely by death … characterized completely by life]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐκ θανάτου εἰς θάνατον & ἐκ ζωῆς εἰς ζωήν

from death to death & from life to life

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of death and life, you could express the ideas by using verbs such as “die” and “live” or adjectives such as “dead” and “alive.” Make sure your translation fits with the option you chose in the previous note. Alternate translation: [that comes from something dying and that leads to people dying … that comes from something living and leads to people living] or [that smells like something dead … that smells like something alive]

Note 7 topic: writing-pronouns

πρὸς ταῦτα

for these_‹things›

Here, the phrase these things refers back to what those who proclaim the good news must do, things that Paul has outlined in 2:14–16. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make explicit to what these things refers. Alternate translation: [to do what I have said] or [to preach the gospel like this]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

πρὸς ταῦτα τίς ἱκανός?

for these_‹things› who_‹is› worthy

Paul does not ask this question because he is looking for information. Rather, he asks it to involve the Corinthians in what he is arguing. The question could imply that the answer is that: (1) Paul and his fellow workers are sufficient since God works through them. Alternate translation: [for these things, we are indeed sufficient!] (2) no one is sufficient. Alternate translation: [for these things, nobody is sufficient!]

Parallel 2COR 2:16