2 COR 4:5 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=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, 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 For we do not proclaim ourselves, but the Lord Christ Jesus, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

UST I say that the good news is about the Messiah because we do not tell other people about ourselves. Rather, we tell them about Jesus the Messiah, the Lord, and about how we serve you because of him.

BLB For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord; and ourselves as your servants for the sake of Jesus.

AICNT For we do not proclaim ourselves, but {Christ Jesus}[fn] as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.

4:5, Christ Jesus: SBLGNT THGNT BYZ TR ‖ Some manuscripts read “Jesus Christ.” NA28

OEB (For it is not ourselves that we proclaim, but Christ Jesus, as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.)

WEBBE For we don’t preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake,

WMBB For we don’t proclaim ourselves, but Messiah Yeshua as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Yeshua’s sake,

NET For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake.

LSV for we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus—LORD, and [we are] ourselves your servants because of Jesus;

FBV We are not promoting[fn] ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord. In fact we are your servants for Jesus' sake.

4:5 Literally, “preaching.”

TCNT For what we preach is not ourselves, but [fn]Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.

4:5 Christ Jesus ¦ Jesus Christ NA

T4T That is why, when we(exc) teach people, we do not boast about ourselves, as some people say that we do. Instead, we teach you that Jesus Christ is our Lord. We ourselves are only your servants. We want to honor and obey Jesus.

LEB For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Christ Jesus[fn] as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for the sake of Jesus.

4:5 Some manuscripts have “Jesus Christ”

BBE For our preaching is not about ourselves, but about Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants through Jesus.

Moff (It is Christ Jesus as Lord, not myself, that I proclaim; I am simply a servant of yours for Jesus" sake.)

Wymth (For we do not proclaim ourselves, but we proclaim Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bondservants for the sake of Jesus.)

ASV For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

DRA For we preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ our Lord; and ourselves your servants through Jesus.

YLT for not ourselves do we preach, but Christ Jesus — Lord, and ourselves your servants because of Jesus;

Drby For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus Lord, and ourselves your bondmen for Jesus' sake.

RV For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

SLT For we proclaim not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus.

Wbstr For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

KJB-1769 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.

KJB-1611 For we preach not our selues, but Christ Iesus the Lord, and our selues your seruants for Iesus sake.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps For we preache not our selues, but Christe Iesus the Lord, and our selues your seruauntes for Iesus sake.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Gnva For we preach not our selues, but Christ Iesus the Lord, and our selues your seruaunts for Iesus sake.
(For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Yesus/Yeshua the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Yesus/Yeshua sake. )

Cvdl For we preach not or selues, but Iesus Christ to be the LORDE, and oure selues youre seruauntes for Iesus sake.
(For we preach not or selves, but Yesus/Yeshua Christ to be the LORD, and ourselves your(pl) servants for Yesus/Yeshua sake.)

TNT For we preache not oure selves but Christ Iesus to be the Lorde and oure selves youre servautes for Iesus sake.
(For we preach not our selves but Christ Yesus/Yeshua to be the Lord and our selves your(pl) servantes for Yesus/Yeshua sake. )

Wycl But we prechen not vs silf, but oure Lord Jhesu Crist; and vs youre seruauntis bi Jhesu.
(But we preaching not us self, but our Lord Yhesu Christ; and us your(pl) servants by Yhesu.)

Luth Denn wir predigen nicht uns selbst, sondern JEsum Christ, daß er sei der HErr, wir aber eure Knechte um JEsu willen.
(Because we/us preaching not us/to_us/ourselves himself/itself, rather Yesum Christ, that he be the/of_the LORD, we/us but your(pl) servant(s) around/by/for Yesu will.)

ClVg Non enim nosmetipsos prædicamus, sed Jesum Christum Dominum nostrum: nos autem servos vestros per Jesum:[fn]
(Not/No because nosmetipsos beforedicamus, but Yesus Christ/Messiah the_Master our: us however server/keepers yours through Yesus: )

4.5 Non enim. Quasi dicat: Bene dico gloriæ Christi, vel: Commendavimus nos coram Deo in manifestatione veritatis, et cætera talia facimus; et hoc propter Christum.

4.5 Not/No because. As_if let_him_say: Well I_mean/say of_glory Christi, vel: Commendavimus us before to_God in/into/on obvioustione to_the_truths, and the_rest such_(things) we_do; and this because Christ/Messiah.

UGNT οὐ γὰρ ἑαυτοὺς κηρύσσομεν, ἀλλὰ Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν Κύριον, ἑαυτοὺς δὲ δούλους ὑμῶν διὰ Ἰησοῦν.
(ou gar heautous kaʸrussomen, alla Yaʸsoun Ⱪriston Kurion, heautous de doulous humōn dia Yaʸsoun.)

SBL-GNT οὐ γὰρ ἑαυτοὺς κηρύσσομεν ἀλλὰ ⸂Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν⸃ κύριον, ἑαυτοὺς δὲ δούλους ὑμῶν διὰ Ἰησοῦν.
(ou gar heautous kaʸrussomen alla ⸂Ⱪriston Yaʸsoun⸃ kurion, heautous de doulous humōn dia Yaʸsoun.)

RP-GNT Οὐ γὰρ ἑαυτοὺς κηρύσσομεν, ἀλλὰ χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν κύριον· ἑαυτοὺς δὲ δούλους ὑμῶν διὰ Ἰησοῦν.
(Ou gar heautous kaʸrussomen, alla ⱪriston Yaʸsoun kurion; heautous de doulous humōn dia Yaʸsoun.)

TC-GNT Οὐ γὰρ ἑαυτοὺς κηρύσσομεν, [fn]ἀλλὰ Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν Κύριον· ἑαυτοὺς δὲ δούλους ὑμῶν διὰ Ἰησοῦν.
(Ou gar heautous kaʸrussomen, alla Ⱪriston Yaʸsoun Kurion; heautous de doulous humōn dia Yaʸsoun. )

4:5 αλλα χριστον ιησουν ¦ αλλα ιησουν χριστον NA²⁷ ¦ αλλ ιησουν χριστον NA²⁸

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:1–4:6: Confidence in the gospel of Jesus

The false teachers in Corinth were Jews (11:22). In this section, Paul wrote about some of the false teachings of these men. Since they were Jews, Paul referred to people and events in the Old Testament, such as the tablets of stone (3:3), Moses (3:7), and Moses’ veil (3:13). They probably brought letters from other false teachers who said the false teachers in Corinth taught truthfully (3:1–3). The false teachers taught that believers must obey the Jewish laws. But Paul said that believers follow the new covenant with Jesus and not the old covenant with the Jews (3:14). He also spoke against their secret and shameful ways and said that they corrupted God’s word (4:2). Throughout this section Paul also encouraged the believers to follow Jesus.

Other examples of headings for this section are:

The Ministry That Comes From Christ Is Greater Than Moses’ Ministry (GW)

The new covenant is greater than the law of Moses

4:5a

For we do not proclaim ourselves,

For we^(excl) do not proclaim our importance,
For in our ministry, it is not ourselves that we preach/announce.

For: Here the word For indicates that 4:5 explains some things Paul had said about their ministry of preaching the gospel of Jesus (4:1–4).

proclaim ourselves: This phrase refers to preaching in a way that would have made Paul and the others seem important. Paul did not preach for the purpose of becoming famous. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

preach ourselves (NIV)

Our message is not about ourselves (GW)

preach about ourselves (NCV)

proclaim: This word means “announce” or “preach.” Paul and the others announced that Jesus was the Christ to people in Corinth. For example:

preach (NIV)

See how you translated this word in 1:19.

ourselves: This word is emphasized in the Greek. It emphasizes the contrast with what they do preach (4:5b). For example:

it is not ourselves that we preach (GNT)

4:5b

but Jesus Christ as Lord,

but that Jesus Christ is Lord,
Rather, we preach/announce that Jesus Christ is ruler over all,

but Jesus Christ as Lord: The words “we preach” are implied from 4:5a but are not repeated here. In some languages it is more natural to repeat some of those words. For example:

but we preach Jesus Christ as Lord

Jesus Christ as Lord: This phrase refers to explaining that Jesus Christ is the Lord. That is, he is the one who, with God, rules all things. For example:

We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord (NLT)

Jesus Christ: There is a textual issue here. Some Greek manuscripts have “Christ Jesus” instead of Jesus Christ:

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

It is recommended that you follow option (1), since the UBS Greek New Testament recommends it.

Lord: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Lord means “the one in authority over (something)” or “master.” It refers to someone greater in status or power. Jesus is ruler over all things. Another way to translate this word is:

ruler over all things

4:5c

and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

and that we ourselves serve/help you^(plur) because of Jesus.
and we made ourselves to be your humble helpers/servants in obedience to Jesus.

and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake: There is no verb in this clause. The words “we proclaim” are implied from 4:5a but are not repeated here. In this context it indicates that Paul and the other evangelists considered themselves to be servants of the believers in Corinth. They helped the believers so that they believed, loved, and obeyed Jesus well. Other ways to translate this clause are:

and we made ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake

and we told you that we were your servants for Jesus’ sake

servants: The Greek word that the BSB translates as servants is literally “slaves.” The word “slaves” figuratively indicates that Paul and the other evangelists cared for the needs of the believers in Corinth. They were humble and submissive to the believers. The difference between a slave and a servant is not important here.

Some languages do not have a word for “servant” or “slave.” If that is true in your language, you may want to use a general term for “worker” or use a phrase that includes humility or submission. Some examples are:

workers

those who serve

humble helpers

for Jesus’ sake: The Greek words that the BSB translates as for Jesus’ sake can be literally translated as “because of Jesus.” Paul and the others served the believers to honor Jesus and in response to what Jesus had done for them. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

because of Jesus

to honor Jesus

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὒ Γάρ ἑαυτούς κηρύσσομεν ἀλλά Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν Κύριον ἑαυτούς δέ δούλους ὑμῶν διά Ἰησοῦν)

Here, the word For introduces a further explanation of what Paul said about “the gospel of the glory of Christ” in [4:4](../04/04.md). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces further explanation, or you could leave For untranslated. Alternate translation: [As you can see,] or [Indeed,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

ἀλλὰ Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν Κύριον, ἑαυτοὺς δὲ δούλους ὑμῶν

These two clauses leave out some words that many languages might need to be complete. If it would be helpful in your language, you could supply these words from the first half of the verse. Alternate translation: [but we proclaim the Lord Christ Jesus, and we proclaim ourselves as your servants]

Note 3 topic: guidelines-sonofgodprinciples

Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν Κύριον

Jesus Jesus (Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὒ Γάρ ἑαυτούς κηρύσσομεν ἀλλά Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν Κύριον ἑαυτούς δέ δούλους ὑμῶν διά Ἰησοῦν)

Here, the phrase Lord Christ Jesus could: (1) give a title or name for Jesus. Alternate translation: [the Lord, who is Christ Jesus] (2) state that Christ Jesus is the Lord. Alternate translation: [Christ Jesus as Lord]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

διὰ Ἰησοῦν

Here Paul could be indicating that he and his fellow workers are servants because of: (1) who Jesus is. Alternate translation: [because of who Jesus is] (2) what Jesus has done. Alternate translation: [because of what Jesus has done] (3) what Jesus wants Paul and his fellow workers to do. Alternate translation: [because that is what Jesus wants]

Parallel 2 COR 4:5

Section 3:1–4:6: Confidence in the gospel of Jesus

4:5a

4:5b

4:5c

Parallel 2 COR 4:5