← 10 | ← 2 Corinthians | 12 →
Chapter 11
Paul and the False Apostles
1
I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness, but… [you are already doing that]…
Ὄφελον ἀνείχεσθέ τι μικρόν μου ἀφροσύνης ἀλλὰ καὶ ἀνέχεσθέ μου Ophelon aneichesthe ti mikron mou aphrosynēs alla kai anechesthe mou — NA/TR · 1
2
- I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present [you] [as] a pure virgin to Christ.
γὰρ ζηλῶ ὑμᾶς Θεοῦ ζήλῳ γὰρ ἡρμοσάμην ὑμᾶς ἑνὶ ἀνδρὶ παραστῆσαι ἁγνὴν παρθένον τῷ Χριστῷ gar zēlō hymas Theou zēlō gar hērmosamēn hymas heni andri parastēsai hagnēn parthenon tō Christō — NA/TR · 2
3
I am afraid -, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s - cunning, your minds may be led astray from [your] simple and pure [devotion] to Christ.
Φοβοῦμαι μή δὲ πως ὡς Εὕαν ἐξηπάτησεν ἐν ὁ ὄφις αὐτοῦ τῇ πανουργίᾳ ὑμῶν τὰ νοήματα φθαρῇ ἀπὸ τῆς ἁπλότητος καὶ τῆς ἁγνότητος τῆς εἰς τὸν Χριστόν Phoboumai mē de pōs hōs Heuan exēpatēsen en ho ophis autou tē panourgia hymōn ta noēmata phtharē apo tēs haplotētos kai tēs hagnotētos tēs eis ton Christon — NA/TR · 3
4
For if [someone] comes [and] proclaims [a] Jesus other [than the One]… we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit [than the One]… you received, or a different gospel [than the one]… you accepted, you put up with it very easily.
γὰρ εἰ μὲν ὁ ἐρχόμενος κηρύσσει Ἰησοῦν ἄλλον ὃν οὐκ ἐκηρύξαμεν ἢ λαμβάνετε ἕτερον πνεῦμα ὃ οὐκ ἐλάβετε ἢ ἕτερον εὐαγγέλιον ὃ οὐκ ἐδέξασθε ἀνέχεσθε καλῶς gar ei men ho erchomenos kēryssei Iēsoun allon hon ouk ekēryxamen ē lambanete heteron pneuma ho ouk elabete ē heteron euangelion ho ouk edexasthe anechesthe kalōs — NA/TR · 4
5
- I consider myself in no way inferior to those “super-apostles…
γὰρ Λογίζομαι μηδὲν ὑστερηκέναι τῶν Ὑπερλίαν ἀποστόλων gar Logizomai mēden hysterēkenai tōn Hyperlian apostolōn — NA/TR · 5
6
- Although… [I am] not a polished speaker, vvv I am certainly not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every way possible…
δὲ καὶ εἰ ἰδιώτης τῷ λόγῳ ἀλλ’ οὐ τῇ γνώσει ἀλλ’ φανερώσαντες εἰς ὑμᾶς ἐν παντὶ ἐν πᾶσιν de kai ei idiōtēs tō logō all’ ou tē gnōsei all’ phanerōsantes eis hymas en panti en pasin — NA/TR · 6
7
[Was it] a sin [for me] to humble myself in order to vvv exalt you, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?
Ἢ ἁμαρτίαν ἐποίησα ταπεινῶν ἐμαυτὸν ἵνα ὑμεῖς ὑψωθῆτε ὅτι εὐηγγελισάμην τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ Θεοῦ ὑμῖν δωρεὰν Ē hamartian epoiēsa tapeinōn emauton hina hymeis hypsōthēte hoti euēngelisamēn to euangelion tou Theou hymin dōrean — NA/TR · 7
8
I robbed other churches by accepting [their] support in order to serve you.
ἐσύλησα ἄλλας ἐκκλησίας λαβὼν ὀψώνιον πρὸς τὴν διακονίαν ὑμῶν esylēsa allas ekklēsias labōn opsōnion pros tēn diakonian hymōn — NA/TR · 8
9
And when I was with you and in need, vvv I was not a burden [to anyone]; for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have refrained… from being a burden to you in any way, and I will continue to do so.
καὶ παρὼν πρὸς ὑμᾶς καὶ ὑστερηθεὶς οὐ κατενάρκησα οὐθενός γὰρ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ ἐλθόντες ἀπὸ Μακεδονίας προσανεπλήρωσαν μου τὸ ὑστέρημά καὶ ἐτήρησα ἐμαυτὸν ἀβαρῆ ὑμῖν ἐν παντὶ καὶ τηρήσω kai parōn pros hymas kai hysterētheis ou katenarkēsa outhenos gar hoi adelphoi elthontes apo Makedonias prosaneplērōsan mou to hysterēma kai etērēsa emauton abarē hymin en panti kai tērēsō — NA/TR · 9
10
[As surely as the] truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine vvv will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia.
ἀλήθεια Χριστοῦ ἔστιν ἐν ἐμοὶ ὅτι αὕτη ἡ καύχησις εἰς ἐμὲ οὐ φραγήσεται ἐν τοῖς κλίμασιν τῆς Ἀχαΐας alētheia Christou estin en emoi hoti hautē hē kauchēsis eis eme ou phragēsetai en tois klimasin tēs Achaias — NA/TR · 10
11
Why…? Because vvv I do not love you? God knows [I do]!
διὰ τί ὅτι οὐκ ἀγαπῶ ὑμᾶς ὁ Θεὸς οἶδεν dia ti hoti ouk agapō hymas ho Theos oiden — NA/TR · 11
12
But vvv I will keep on doing what I am doing, in order to undercut - those who want an opportunity to be regarded as our equals… in the things of which they boast.
δὲ καὶ ποιήσω Ὃ ποιῶ ἵνα ἐκκόψω τὴν ἀφορμὴν τῶν θελόντων ἀφορμήν ἵνα εὑρεθῶσιν καθὼς καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐν ᾧ καυχῶνται de kai poiēsō Ho poiō hina ekkopsō tēn aphormēn tōn thelontōn aphormēn hina heurethōsin kathōs kai hēmeis en hō kauchōntai — NA/TR · 12
13
For such men [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.
γὰρ οἱ τοιοῦτοι ψευδαπόστολοι δόλιοι ἐργάται μετασχηματιζόμενοι εἰς ἀποστόλους Χριστοῦ gar hoi toioutoi pseudapostoloi dolioi ergatai metaschēmatizomenoi eis apostolous Christou — NA/TR · 13
14
And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
καὶ οὐ θαῦμα γὰρ ὁ Σατανᾶς αὐτὸς μετασχηματίζεται εἰς ἄγγελον φωτός kai ou thauma gar ho Satanas autos metaschēmatizetai eis angelon phōtos — NA/TR · 14
15
[It is] not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. [Their] end will correspond to… their actions.
οὐ μέγα οὖν εἰ αὐτοῦ οἱ διάκονοι καὶ μετασχηματίζονται ὡς διάκονοι δικαιοσύνης ὧν τὸ τέλος ἔσται κατὰ αὐτῶν τὰ ἔργα ou mega oun ei autou hoi diakonoi kai metaschēmatizontai hōs diakonoi dikaiosynēs hōn to telos estai kata autōn ta erga — NA/TR · 15
Paul’s Suffering and Service
16
vvv I repeat: {Let} no one take me for a fool. But if [you do], [then] receive me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.
Πάλιν λέγω μή τίς δόξῃ με εἶναι ἄφρονα δὲ εἰ μή¦γε δέξασθέ με κἂν ὡς ἄφρονα ἵνα κἀγὼ καυχήσωμαι τι μικρόν Palin legō mē tis doxē me einai aphrona de ei mē¦ge dexasthe me kan hōs aphrona hina kagō kauchēsōmai ti mikron — NA/TR · 16
17
- In this confident boasting [of mine], vvv I am not speaking as [the] Lord {would}, but as a fool.
ὃ λαλῶ ἐν ταύτῃ τῆς ὑποστάσει τῇ καυχήσεως οὐ λαλῶ κατὰ Κύριον ἀλλ’ ὡς ἐν ἀφροσύνῃ ho lalō en tautē tēs hypostasei tē kauchēseōs ou lalō kata Kyrion all’ hōs en aphrosynē — NA/TR · 17
18
Since many are boasting according to the flesh, I too will boast.
ἐπεὶ πολλοὶ καυχῶνται κατὰ τὴν σάρκα κἀγὼ καυχήσομαι epei polloi kauchōntai kata tēn sarka kagō kauchēsomai — NA/TR · 18
19
For you gladly put up with… fools, since you are so wise.
γὰρ ἀνέχεσθε ἡδέως τῶν ἀφρόνων ὄντες φρόνιμοι gar anechesthe hēdeōs tōn aphronōn ontes phronimoi — NA/TR · 19
20
In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you [or]… exploits [you] [or]… takes advantage [of you] [or]… exalts himself [or]… strikes you in the face.
γὰρ ἀνέχεσθε εἴ τις καταδουλοῖ ὑμᾶς εἴ τις κατεσθίει εἴ τις λαμβάνει εἴ τις ἐπαίρεται εἴ τις δέρει ὑμᾶς εἰς πρόσωπον gar anechesthe ei tis katadouloi hymas ei tis katesthiei ei tis lambanei ei tis epairetai ei tis derei hymas eis prosōpon — NA/TR · 20
21
To [my] shame I concede that we were too weak [for that]! Speaking vvv as a fool, however, I can [match] what anyone else… dares [to boast about].
κατὰ ἀτιμίαν λέγω ὡς ὅτι ἡμεῖς ἠσθενήκαμεν λέγω ἐν ἀφροσύνῃ δ’ κἀγώ τολμῶ Ἐν ᾧ τις ἄν τολμᾷ kata atimian legō hōs hoti hēmeis ēsthenēkamen legō en aphrosynē d’ kagō tolmō En hō tis an tolma — NA/TR · 21
22
Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
εἰσιν Ἑβραῖοί κἀγώ εἰσιν Ἰσραηλῖταί κἀγώ εἰσιν σπέρμα Ἀβραάμ κἀγώ eisin Hebraioi kagō eisin Israēlitai kagō eisin sperma Abraam kagō — NA/TR · 22
23
Are they servants of Christ? (I am speaking as if I were out of my mind.) I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death.
εἰσιν διάκονοι Χριστοῦ λαλῶ παραφρονῶν ἐγώ ὑπὲρ ἐν περισσοτέρως κόποις ἐν περισσοτέρως φυλακαῖς ἐν ὑπερβαλλόντως πληγαῖς ἐν πολλάκις θανάτοις eisin diakonoi Christou lalō paraphronōn egō hyper en perissoterōs kopois en perissoterōs phylakais en hyperballontōs plēgais en pollakis thanatois — NA/TR · 23
24
Five times I received from [the] Jews [the] forty [lashes] minus one.
πεντάκις ἔλαβον Ὑπὸ Ἰουδαίων τεσσεράκοντα παρὰ μίαν pentakis elabon Hypo Ioudaiōn tesserakonta para mian — NA/TR · 24
25
Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open [sea].
τρὶς ἐραβδίσθην ἅπαξ ἐλιθάσθην τρὶς ἐναυάγησα πεποίηκα νυχθήμερον ἐν τῷ βυθῷ tris erabdisthēn hapax elithasthēn tris enauagēsa pepoiēka nychthēmeron en tō bythō — NA/TR · 25
26
In my frequent journeys…, [I have been] in danger from rivers [and] from bandits, in danger from [my] countrymen [and] from [the] Gentiles, in danger in [the] city [and] in [the] country, in danger on [the] sea [and] among false brothers,
ὁδοιπορίαις πολλάκις κινδύνοις ποταμῶν κινδύνοις λῃστῶν κινδύνοις ἐκ γένους κινδύνοις ἐξ ἐθνῶν κινδύνοις ἐν πόλει κινδύνοις ἐν ἐρημίᾳ κινδύνοις ἐν θαλάσσῃ κινδύνοις ἐν ψευδαδέλφοις hodoiporiais pollakis kindynois potamōn kindynois lēstōn kindynois ek genous kindynois ex ethnōn kindynois en polei kindynois en erēmia kindynois en thalassē kindynois en pseudadelphois — NA/TR · 26
27
in labor and toil [and] often vvv without sleep, in hunger and thirst [and] often vvv without food, in cold and exposure.
κόπῳ καὶ μόχθῳ πολλάκις ἐν ἀγρυπνίαις ἐν λιμῷ καὶ δίψει πολλάκις ἐν νηστείαις ἐν ψύχει καὶ γυμνότητι kopō kai mochthō pollakis en agrypniais en limō kai dipsei pollakis en nēsteiais en psychei kai gymnotēti — NA/TR · 27
28
Apart from these external [trials], I [face] vvv vvv daily the pressure [of my] concern for all the churches.
Χωρὶς παρεκτὸς τῶν μοι καθ’ ἡ ἡμέραν ἡ ἐπίστασίς ἡ μέριμνα πασῶν τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν Chōris parektos tōn moi kath’ hē hēmeran hē epistasis hē merimna pasōn tōn ekklēsiōn — NA/TR · 28
29
Who is weak, and vvv I am not weak? Who is led into sin, and I {do} not burn with grief?
τίς ἀσθενεῖ καὶ οὐκ ἀσθενῶ τίς σκανδαλίζεται καὶ ἐγὼ οὐκ πυροῦμαι tis asthenei kai ouk asthenō tis skandalizetai kai egō ouk pyroumai — NA/TR · 29
30
If I must boast, I will boast [of] the things [that show] my weakness.
Εἰ δεῖ καυχᾶσθαι καυχήσομαι τὰ τῆς μου ἀσθενείας Ei dei kauchasthai kauchēsomai ta tēs mou astheneias — NA/TR · 30
31
The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is vvv vvv forever worthy of praise, knows that vvv I am not lying.
ὁ Θεὸς καὶ Πατὴρ τοῦ Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ ὁ ὢν εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας εὐλογητὸς οἶδεν ὅτι οὐ ψεύδομαι ho Theos kai Patēr tou Kyriou Iēsou ho ōn eis tous aiōnas eulogētos oiden hoti ou pseudomai — NA/TR · 31
32
In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas secured the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me.
ἐν Δαμασκῷ ὁ ἐθνάρχης τοῦ βασιλέως Ἁρέτα ἐφρούρει τὴν πόλιν Δαμασκηνῶν πιάσαι με en Damaskō ho ethnarchēs tou basileōs Hareta ephrourei tēn polin Damaskēnōn piasai me — NA/TR · 32
33
But I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his grasp.
καὶ ἐχαλάσθην ἐν σαργάνῃ διὰ θυρίδος διὰ τοῦ τείχους καὶ ἐξέφυγον αὐτοῦ τὰς χεῖρας kai echalasthēn en sarganē dia thyridos dia tou teichous kai exephygon autou tas cheiras — NA/TR · 33