2 COR 6:4 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, cyan:dative/indirect object.
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 instead, we commend ourselves in everything as servants of God; in much endurance, in tribulations, in hardships, in distresses,

UST Rather, we prove that we are trustworthy in every way while we serve God. We always persevere when people hurt and persecute us.

BLB in everything, rather, we are commending ourselves as God's servants: in great endurance, in tribulations, in hardships, in distresses;

AICNT but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,

OEB No, we are trying to commend ourselves under all circumstances, as God’s assistants should – in many an hour of endurance, in troubles, in hardships, in difficulties,

WEBBE but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God: in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,

WMBB (Same as above)

NET But as God’s servants, we have commended ourselves in every way, with great endurance, in persecutions, in difficulties, in distresses,

LSV but in everything recommending ourselves as God’s servants; in much patience, in tribulations, in necessities, in distresses,

FBV Instead we try to demonstrate we are good servants of God in every way we can. With a great deal of patience we put up with all kinds of trouble, hardship, and distress.

TCNT Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,

T4T Instead, in everything that we(exc) say and do, we show people that we serve God faithfully. We patiently endure all the things that happen to us. People cause us many troubles and, as a result, we are anxious and often do not know what to do.

LEB but commending ourselves as servants of God in every way, in much endurance, in afflictions, in distresses, in difficulties,

BBE But in everything making it clear that we are the servants of God, in quiet strength, in troubles, in need, in sorrow,

Moff I prove myself at all points a true minister of God, by great endurance, by suffering, by troubles, by calamities,

Wymth On the contrary, as God's servants, we seek their full approval—by unwearied endurance, by afflictions, by distress, by helplessness;

ASV but in everything commending ourselves, as ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

DRA But in all things let us exhibit ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in tribulation, in necessities, in distresses,

YLT but in everything recommending ourselves as God's ministrants; in much patience, in tribulations, in necessities, in distresses,

Drby but in everything commending ourselves as [fn]God's ministers, in much endurance, in afflictions, in necessities, in straits,

6.4 Elohim

RV but in everything commending ourselves, as ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

SLT But in every thing recommending ourselves as servants of God, in much patience, in pressures, in necessities, in extremities,

Wbstr But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

KJB-1769 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

KJB-1611 But in all things [fn]approuing our selues, as the Ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
(But in all things approuing ourselves, as the Ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,)

6:4 Gr. commending.

Bshps But in all thynges let vs behaue our selues as ye ministers of God, in much pacience, in afflictions, in necessities, in anguisshes,
(But in all things let us behave ourselves as ye/you_all ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in anguisshes,)

Gnva But in all things we approue our selues as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
(But in all things we approve ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, )

Cvdl but in all thinges let vs behaue oure selues as the mynisters of God: in moch pacience, in troubles, in necessities, in anguysshes,
(but in all things let us behave ourselves as the ministers of God: in much patience, in troubles, in necessities, in anguysshes,)

TNT but in all thynges let vs behave oure selves as the ministers of God. In moche pacience in affliccions in necessite in anguysshe
(but in all things let us behave our selves as the ministers of God. In much patience in afflictions in necessity in anguysshe )

Wycl but in alle thingis yyue we vs silf as the mynystris of God, in myche pacience, in tribulaciouns,
(but in all things give we us self as the ministers of God, in much patience, in tribulations,)

Luth sondern in allen Dingen lasset uns beweisen als die Diener Gottes: in großer Geduld, in Trübsalen, in Nöten, in Ängsten,
(rather in all/everyone things let us/to_us/ourselves prove as the servant God’s: in large Geduld, in gloom/sorrow/afflictionsen, in needs, in fears(n),)

ClVg sed in omnibus exhibeamus nosmetipsos sicut Dei ministros in multa patientia, in tribulationibus, in necessitatibus, in angustiis,[fn]
(but in/into/on to_all exhibeamus nosmetipsos like of_God ministers in/into/on fine patience/endurance, in/into/on tribulations, in/into/on necessitatibus, in/into/on narrow, )

6.4 Sicut Dei ministros. Hi non adulantur, ut pseudo studentes lucro. In multa patientia, in tribulationibus. In tot duris, leve est onus Christi et requies, intus Spiritu sancto vivificante, et spe futuri omnia mitigante, omnia enim sæva et immania, facilia et prope nulla facit amor. Et secundum hoc intellige quod dicitur: Venite ad me, omnes qui laboratis et onerati estis, et ego reficiam vos Matth. 11.. Et iterum: Tollite jugum meum super vos, et invenietis requiem animabus vestris. Jugum enim meum suave est Ibid., etc.

6.4 Like of_God ministers. They not/no adulantur, as pseudo studentes lucro. In fine patience/endurance, in/into/on tribulations. In so_many duris, leve it_is burden/load of_Christ and rest/repose, inside/within By_Spirit holy aliveficante, and with_hope of_the_future everything mitigante, everything because sæva and immania, facilia and near none he_does love. And after/second this intellige that it_is_said: Come to me, everyone who/which worksis and burdensti you_are, and I reficiam you(pl) Matth. 11.. And again: Take_it_away yoke/collar mine over you(pl), and you_will_find rest/repose souls yours. Yugum because mine sweet it_is Ibid., etc.

UGNT ἀλλ’ ἐν παντὶ συνιστάντες ἑαυτοὺς ὡς Θεοῦ διάκονοι: ἐν ὑπομονῇ πολλῇ, ἐν θλίψεσιν, ἐν ἀνάγκαις, ἐν στενοχωρίαις,
(all’ en panti sunistantes heautous hōs Theou diakonoi: en hupomonaʸ pollaʸ, en thlipsesin, en anagkais, en stenoⱪōriais,)

SBL-GNT ἀλλʼ ἐν παντὶ ⸀συνιστάνοντες ἑαυτοὺς ὡς θεοῦ διάκονοι· ἐν ὑπομονῇ πολλῇ, ἐν θλίψεσιν, ἐν ἀνάγκαις, ἐν στενοχωρίαις,
(allʼ en panti ⸀sunistanontes heautous hōs theou diakonoi; en hupomonaʸ pollaʸ, en thlipsesin, en anagkais, en stenoⱪōriais,)

RP-GNT ἀλλ' ἐν παντὶ συνιστῶντες ἑαυτοὺς ὡς θεοῦ διάκονοι, ἐν ὑπομονῇ πολλῇ, ἐν θλίψεσιν, ἐν ἀνάγκαις, ἐν στενοχωρίαις,
(all' en panti sunistōntes heautous hōs theou diakonoi, en hupomonaʸ pollaʸ, en thlipsesin, en anagkais, en stenoⱪōriais,)

TC-GNT ἀλλ᾽ ἐν παντὶ [fn]συνιστῶντες ἑαυτοὺς ὡς Θεοῦ διάκονοι, ἐν ὑπομονῇ πολλῇ, ἐν θλίψεσιν, ἐν ἀνάγκαις, ἐν στενοχωρίαις,
(all en panti sunistōntes heautous hōs Theou diakonoi, en hupomonaʸ pollaʸ, en thlipsesin, en anagkais, en stenoⱪōriais, )

6:4 συνιστωντες ¦ συνισταντες NA TH ¦ συνιστανοντες SBL WH

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 6:3–10: Paul’s life showed he was a true apostle

In this section, Paul explained that he served God properly in all circumstances. This was also true about his coworkers. They did not purposely offend others (6:3). They showed that they were true servants of God by persevering in many kinds of difficulties (6:4–5), in the way they lived (6:6–7), and in the way they responded to others (6:8–10).

Other examples of headings for this section are:

Our Lives Demonstrate That We Are God’s Servants (GW)

Proof that Paul and his coworkers were truly God’s servants

6:4a

Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way:

But instead, since our work is to serve God, we commend ourselves in every way:
Instead, as people who do God’s work, we^(excl) recommend ourselves in all the ways we can.

as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: There are two ways to interpret as servants of God:

In this clause, Paul is saying that he and the other evangelists are servants of God and they commend themselves in a manner fitting to their identity as servants of God. For example:
as God’s servants, we have commended ourselves in every way (NET) (BSB, RSV, NIV, NABRE, NET, REB, ESV)
This clause indicates that Paul and the other evangelists had to prove that they were servants of God. For example:
we prove ourselves authentic servants of God (NJB) (GNT, NJB, NLT, GW, CEV, NCV, KJV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because it follows the normal meaning of the Greek words.Thrall (p. 455) says “he commends himself in the way proper to such a vocation.” Harris (p. 470) and Martin (p. 172) understand the Greek text in the same way.

servants of God: The Greek word that the BSB translates as servants refers to people who do ministry (according to the meaning of this word in 6:3b). Here Paul and the others serve God by:

preaching to people about Jesus;
showing God’s love for them by helping them.

Other ways to translate this phrase are:

people who serve God

people who do God’s work

commend: Here the word commend refers to saying they are good people. The list of their good deeds is in 6:4b–10c. The people saw that they were worthy of their approval. For example:

recommend (REB)

show that we are good people

See how you translated this word in 3:1 or 4:2.

6:4b–10c

In these verses, Paul listed some of the ways in which he and the other evangelists lived. These deeds commended them. These deeds showed that God was powerful and that the believers in Corinth should accept them as approved by God.

The BSB indicates the list begins at 6:4b with a colon (:) at the end of 6:4a. It shows the list continues until 6:10c by translating 6:4a–10c as one sentence.

Other English versions have several sentences in 6:4b–10c. In some languages it is more natural to use several sentences here. If that is true in your language, indicate that the list continues at each new sentence, for example, by repeating “We also commend ourselves” at the beginning of each new sentence:

^4bin great endurance; in troubles, hardships, and distresses; ⁵in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights, and hunger. ⁶We also commend ourselves in purity, understanding, patience, and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; ⁷in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left. ⁸We also commend ourselves through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; ⁹known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; ¹⁰sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

6:4b–5b

in great endurance; in troubles, hardships, and calamities; in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in labor, sleepless nights, and hunger: The phrase in great endurance describes the way Paul and the evangelists with him lived during the other things that he lists here. Other ways to indicate that relationship here are:

by means of great endurance in the midst of troubles, hardships, distresses, beatings, imprisonments, riots, hard work, sleepless nights, and hunger

with great endurance during troubles, hardships, distresses, beatings, imprisonments, riots, hard work, sleepless nights, and hunger

6:4b

in great endurance;

by persevering many times
Some of those ways are: when we patiently endure many

in: Here the word in indicates that “great endurance” was one of the ways that Paul and the others commended themselves. They practiced great endurance, and that showed that people should accept them. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

by (ESV)

with (NET)

through (RSV)

by means of

endurance: The Greek word that the BSB translates as endurance refers to continuing to follow God even though there are hardships or opposition. The attitude of patience is included in the meaning. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

perseverance

patience to continue

See how you translated this Greek word in 1:6 (“patient endurance”).

6:4c–5b

in troubles, hardships, and calamities; in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in labor, sleepless nights, and hunger: This list is probably three groups of three items:

troubles, hardships, and calamities
beatings, imprisonments, and riots
labor, sleepless nights, and hunger

Within each group, the items are similar in some way to each other. The BSB indicates the three groups by using and only once within each group and separating the groups with semi-colons (;). If possible, indicate in your translation that these items are in three groups. But clearly indicating that all these items connect to “great endurance” is more important for the correct meaning of these verses.

6:4c

in troubles, hardships, and calamities;

in the midst of difficulties, disasters, terrible situations/circumstances;
bad times, hard times, unavoidable disasters;

in: Here the word in indicates that the list in 6:4c–5b describes various situations that Paul and the others experienced. They practiced great endurance during those situations. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

in the midst of

during

In the Greek, the word in occurs with each of the nine items. The BSB translates it three times, corresponding to the three groups of items. Other versions, such as the RSV, translate it only once, at the beginning of the list.

troubles, hardships, and calamities: These three words refer to difficult situations of various kinds. Since God rules all things, you should not use words such as “misfortune” or “bad luck.”

troubles: This word probably refers to persecution and physical dangers. Paul describes some of his troubles in 1:8–10 and 11:23–27. Other ways to translate this word are:

afflictions (RSV)

adversity

See how you translated this word in 1:4 (where the BSB says “troubles”) or 4:17 (where the BSB says “affliction”). But you should use a word that is different from “hardships” and “distresses.”

hardships: This word refers to very difficult circumstances/situations. Other ways to translate this word are:

disasters (JBP)

difficulties (NJB)

calamities: This refers to very bad situations or circumstances that overwhelm the people in them. The people have no way to escape from those situations. They must endure through them. Other ways to translate this word are:

distresses (NIV)

very hard times

terrible situations/circumstances

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐν παντὶ συνιστάντες ἑαυτοὺς ὡς Θεοῦ διάκονοι

in in in in in (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀλλʼ ἐν παντί συνιστάντες ἑαυτούς ὡς Θεοῦ διάκονοι ἐν ὑπομονῇ πολλῇ ἐν θλίψεσιν ἐν ἀνάγκαις ἐν στενοχωρίαις)

Here the word as could introduce: (1) who they are (servants of God) while they commend themselves. Alternate translation: [we who are servants of God commend ourselves in everything] (2) what it is that they must commend themselves to be. Alternate translation: [we commend ourselves in everything, proving that we are servants of God]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

Θεοῦ διάκονοι

˱of˲_God servants

Here Paul uses the possessive form to refer servants who serve God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [servants for God] or [God’s servants]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

Θεοῦ & ἐν ὑπομονῇ πολλῇ, ἐν

˱of˲_God & in endurance great in

Here, the phrase in much endurance could go with: (1) the list that follows. In this case, the list gives the situation in which they have much endurance. Alternate translation: [of God; we have much endurance in] (2) we commend ourselves. In this case, the phrase gives an explanation for how they commend themselves, and the list gives the situations in which this occurs. Alternate translation: [of God by having much endurance; we show this in]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐν ὑπομονῇ πολλῇ, ἐν θλίψεσιν, ἐν ἀνάγκαις, ἐν στενοχωρίαις

in in endurance great in tribulations in hardships in distresses

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of endurance, tribulations, hardships, and distresses, you could express the ideas in another way. Alternate translation: [enduring at all times while we are persecuted, pressured, and distressed]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

ἐν θλίψεσιν, ἐν ἀνάγκαις, ἐν στενοχωρίαις

in in in tribulations in hardships in distresses

Here, the words tribulations, hardships, and distresses function together to refer to many different kinds of persecution and suffering. It is possible that tribulations refers to direct persecution, hardships refers to being forced to do something difficult, and distresses refers to being unable to do what one wants. If you do not have three words for these categories, and if the repetition would be confusing, you could use one or two words or phrases to refer to suffering and persecution. Alternate translation: [in persecutions, in suffering] or [in every tribulation]

Parallel 2 COR 6:4