2 Corinthians 11:3-5

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. 2 Corinthians 11:3 tn Grk “I fear lest somehow.”
2. 2 Corinthians 11:3 tn Or “the snake.”
3. 2 Corinthians 11:3 tn Or “craftiness.”
4. 2 Corinthians 11:3 tn Or “corrupted,” “seduced.”
5. 2 Corinthians 11:3 tc Although most mss (א² H Ψ 0121 0243 1739 1881 M) lack “and pure” (καὶ τῆς ἁγνότητος, kai tēs hagnotētos; Grk “and purity”) several significant and early witnesses (P⁴⁶ א* B D^[2] F G 33 81 104 ar r co) retain these words. Their presence in such mss across such a wide geographical distribution argues for their authenticity. The omission from the majority of mss can be explained by haplography, since the -τητος ending of ἁγνότητος is identical to the ending of ἁπλότητος (haplotētos, “sincerity”) three words back (ἁπλότητος καὶ τῆς ἁγνότητος); further, since the meanings of “sincerity” and “purity” are similar they might seem redundant. A copyist would scarcely notice the omission because Paul’s statement still makes sense without “and from purity.”
6. 2 Corinthians 11:4 tn Or “preaches.”
7. 2 Corinthians 11:4 tn Grk “another Jesus whom we have not proclaimed.”
8. 2 Corinthians 11:4 tn Grk “a different spirit which you did not receive.”
9. 2 Corinthians 11:4 tn Grk “a different gospel which you did not accept.”
10. 2 Corinthians 11:4 tn Or “you endure it very well.”
11. 2 Corinthians 11:5 tn The implicit irony in Paul’s remark is brought out well by the TEV “I do not think that I am the least bit inferior to those very special so-called ‘apostles’ of yours!”sn The ‘super-apostles’ refers either (1) to the original apostles (the older interpretation) or (2) more probably, to Paul’s opponents in Corinth, in which case the designation is ironic.