2COR 2:17 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) We’re not like the many others who’re peddling God’s message to make a profit, but we speak in front of God in sincerity. As followers of God, we speak about Messiah.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, red:negative.
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 For we are not like the many peddling the word of God; but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the presence of God in Christ.

UST You can tell that we do not do so perfectly because we do not sell the message that God has given us for money, like many other people do. Rather, we only want to serve God, not to gain something. Indeed, we proclaim the good news because that is what God sent us to do. So, as those whom God has united to the Messiah, we proclaim the good news to please God, not people.

BSB § For we are not like so many others, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God.

BLB For we are not like the many, peddling the word of God, but as of sincerity, but as of God, we speak before God in Christ.

AICNT For we are not like the {many},[fn] peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, before God, in Christ we speak.

2:17, many: Later manuscripts read “others.” BYZ TR

OEB Unlike many people, we are not in the habit of making profit out of God’s message; but in all sincerity, and bearing God’s commission, we speak before him in union with Christ.

WEBBE For we are not as so many, peddling the word of God. But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.

WMBB For we are not as so many, peddling the word of God. But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Messiah.

NET For we are not like so many others, hucksters who peddle the word of God for profit, but we are speaking in Christ before God as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God.

LSV For we are not as the many, adulterating the word of God, but as of sincerity—but as of God; in the presence of God, in Christ we speak.

FBV We are not like the majority who trade in the word of God for profit. Quite the opposite: we are sincere in sharing the word of God in Christ, knowing God is watching us.

TCNT For we are not like [fn]others who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak with sincerity in the presence of God, as men sent from God.

2:17 others 51.9% ¦ so many others BYZ CT TR 46.1%

T4T But perhaps God considers us(exc) able, because we do not work/act like so many others whom you know. They teach God’s message in a way that they think people will like, and they think that people will pay them for teaching that way. We (exc) certainly do not do that. On the contrary, as servants of Christ, and knowing that God is watching us (exc), we teach sincerely the message that God sent us to proclaim.

LEB For we are not like the majority who peddle the word of God, but as from pure motives—but as from God—we speak before God in Christ.

BBE For we are not like the great number who make use of the word of God for profit: but our words are true, as from God, being said as before God in Christ.

Moff No Moff 2COR book available

Wymth We are; for, unlike most teachers, we are not fraudulent hucksters of God's Message; but with transparent motives, as commissioned by God, in God's presence and in communion with Christ, so we speak.
¶ 

ASV For we are not as the many, corrupting the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, speak we in Christ.

DRA For we are not as many, adulterating the word of God; but with sincerity, but as from God, before God, in Christ we speak.

YLT for we are not as the many, adulterating the word of God, but as of sincerity — but as of God; in the presence of God, in Christ we do speak.

Drby For we do not, as the many, make a trade of the word of [fn]God; but as of sincerity, but as of [fn]God, before [fn]God, we speak in Christ.

2.17 Elohim

RV For we are not as the many, corrupting the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, speak we in Christ.

Wbstr For we are not as many, who corrupt the word of God: but as from sincerity, but as from God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

KJB-1769 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

KJB-1611 [fn]For wee are not as many which corrupt the word of God: but as of sinceritie, but as of God, in the sight of God speake we in Christ.
(For we are not as many which corrupt the word of God: but as of sinceritie, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.)

2:17 Or, deale deceitfully with.

Bshps For we are not as many are, whiche chop & chaunge with the word of God: but as of purenesse of God, in the syght of God, so speake we in Christe.
(For we are not as many are, which chop and chaunge with the word of God: but as of purenesse of God, in the sight of God, so speak we in Christ.)

Gnva For wee are not as many, which make marchandise of the woorde of God: but as of sinceritie, but as of God in ye sight of God speake we in Christ.
(For we are not as many, which make marchandise of the woorde of God: but as of sinceritie, but as of God in ye/you_all sight of God speak we in Christ. )

Cvdl For we are not as many are, which choppe & chaunge wt the worde of God, but eue out of purenesse, and out of God, in ye sighte of God, so speake we in Christ.
(For we are not as many are, which choppe and chaunge with the word of God, but eue out of purenesse, and out of God, in ye/you_all sight of God, so speak we in Christ.)

TNT For we are not as many are which choppe and chaunge with the worde of God: but even oute of purenes and by the power of God and in the sight of God so speake we in Christ.
(For we are not as many are which choppe and chaunge with the word of God: but even oute of pureness and by the power of God and in the sight of God so speak we in Christ. )

Wycl For we ben not as many, that don auoutrie bi the word of God, but we speken of clennesse, as of God, bifor God in Crist.
(For we been not as many, that done auoutrie by the word of God, but we speken of clennesse, as of God, before God in Christ.)

Luth Denn wir sind nicht wie etliche viele, die das Wort Gottes verfälschen, sondern als aus Lauterkeit und als aus GOtt, vor GOtt reden wir in Christo.
(Because we/us are not like several viele, the the Wort God’s verfälschen, rather als out_of purity/integrity and als out_of God, before/in_front_of God reden we/us in Christo.)

ClVg non enim sumus sicut plurimi, adulterantes verbum Dei, sed ex sinceritate, sed sicut ex Deo, coram Deo, in Christo loquimur.[fn]
(non because sumus like plurimi, adulterantes the_word of_God, but from sinceritate, but like from Deo, coram Deo, in Christo loquimur. )

2.17 Sicut plurimi. Hic pseudoapostolos tangit, qui corrupta doctrina veritatem violabant, de quibus Isaias ait: Caupones tui vino aquam miscent.

2.17 Sicut plurimi. Hic pseudoapostolos tangit, who corrupta doctrina words violabant, about to_whom Isaias he_said: Caupones yours vino waterm miscent.

UGNT οὐ γάρ ἐσμεν ὡς οἱ πολλοὶ, καπηλεύοντες τὸν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἀλλ’ ὡς ἐξ εἰλικρινείας, ἀλλ’ ὡς ἐκ Θεοῦ, κατέναντι Θεοῦ ἐν Χριστῷ λαλοῦμεν.
(ou gar esmen hōs hoi polloi, kapaʸleuontes ton logon tou Theou, all’ hōs ex eilikrineias, all’ hōs ek Theou, katenanti Theou en Ⱪristōi laloumen.)

SBL-GNT οὐ γάρ ἐσμεν ὡς οἱ ⸀πολλοὶ καπηλεύοντες τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ, ἀλλʼ ὡς ἐξ εἰλικρινείας, ἀλλʼ ὡς ἐκ θεοῦ ⸀κατέναντι θεοῦ ἐν Χριστῷ λαλοῦμεν.
(ou gar esmen hōs hoi ⸀polloi kapaʸleuontes ton logon tou theou, allʼ hōs ex eilikrineias, allʼ hōs ek theou ⸀katenanti theou en Ⱪristōi laloumen.)

TC-GNT Οὐ γάρ ἐσμεν ὡς οἱ [fn]λοιποί, καπηλεύοντες τὸν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ· ἀλλ᾽ ὡς ἐξ [fn]εἰλικρινείας, ἀλλ᾽ ὡς ἐκ Θεοῦ, [fn]κατενώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἐν Χριστῷ λαλοῦμεν.
(Ou gar esmen hōs hoi loipoi, kapaʸleuontes ton logon tou Theou; all hōs ex eilikrineias, all hōs ek Theou, katenōpion tou Theou, en Ⱪristōi laloumen. )

2:17 λοιποι 51.9% ¦ πολλοι BYZ CT TR 46.1%

2:17 ειλικρινειας ¦ ειλικρινιας WH

2:17 κατενωπιον του 87.3% ¦ κατεναντι CT 3.5%

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-result

γάρ

for

Here, the word For could introduce: (1) an explanation of the implied answer to the previous question, which is that Paul and his fellow workers are “sufficient” since God works through them. Alternate translation: “But we are sufficient, because” (2) an explanation of why Paul and his fellow workers are like an aroma of life or death (See: 2:16). Alternate translation: “We are an aroma of life or death because”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

ἐσμεν & λαλοῦμεν

˱we˲_are & ˱we˲_/are/_speaking

Here, just as in 2:14–15, the word we does not include the Corinthians. It could refer to: (1) Paul and those who proclaim the gospel with him. Alternate translation: “we who preach are … we speak” (2) just Paul. Alternate translation: “I am … I speak”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

οἱ πολλοὶ

the many

Paul is using the adjective many as a noun in order to refer many people. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this one with a noun phrase. Alternate translation: “the many people”

Note 4 topic: translate-unknown

καπηλεύοντες

peddling

Here, the word peddling refers to the practice of selling goods that one has. The word implies that the person who is peddling is trying to make as much profit as they can, whether by honest or deceitful means. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that refers to selling something for as much money as possible. Alternate translation: “trading in” or “selling off”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τὸν λόγον

the word

Here, the word word represents what someone says in words. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: “the words” or “the communication”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τὸν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ

the word ¬the ˱of˲_God

Here Paul uses the possessive form to describe the word that could be: (1) from God. Alternate translation: “the word from God” (2) about God. Alternate translation: “the word about God”

Note 7 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

(Occurrence -1) ἀλλ’ ὡς

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὐ γάρ ἐσμεν ὡς οἱ πολλοὶ καπηλεύοντες τὸν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀλλʼ ὡς ἐξ εἰλικρινείας ἀλλʼ ὡς ἐκ Θεοῦ κατέναντι Θεοῦ ἐν Χριστῷ λαλοῦμεν)

Here Paul uses but as to introduce a contrast with the many who “peddle” God’s word. Paul repeats but as to continue and emphasize this contrast, not to contrast sincerity and from God. If the repetition of but as would be confusing, you could use but as once and express the emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: “but instead as … and even more as”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐξ εἰλικρινείας

of sincerity

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of sincerity, you could express the idea by using an adjective such as “sincere.” Alternate translation: “those who are sincere”

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὡς ἐκ Θεοῦ

like as as of God

Here, the phrase as from God indicates that God sent Paul and his fellow workers to speak the gospel. The word as indicates how they speak. It does not mean that they are not really from God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “as those whom God has sent” or “as ones sent by God”

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

λαλοῦμεν

˱we˲_/are/_speaking

Here, Paul implies that they are speaking the word of God that he already mentioned. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make what they speak more explicit. Alternate translation: “we speak the word of God”

Note 11 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

κατέναντι Θεοῦ

in_front_of God

Here, the phrase in the presence of God could indicate that: (1) they speak as they do because they know that God sees or knows what they do. So, they speak in a way that pleases God. Alternate translation: “as God desires” or “with God watching” (2) they speak with God as a witness guaranteeing what they say. Alternate translation: “with God as witness” or “with God guaranteeing it”

Note 12 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐν Χριστῷ

in Christ

Paul uses the spatial metaphor in Christ to describe the union of believers with Christ. In this case, being in Christ, or united to Christ, explains how they speak. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a phrase that indicates that they speak as those who are united to Christ. Alternate translation: “as Christians” or “as those united to Christ”

Parallel 2COR 2:17