2 Korintus 4:5-7

4:5 For we do not proclaim ¹  ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves ²  for Jesus’ sake. 4:6 For God, who said “Let light shine out of darkness,” ³  is the one who shined in our hearts to give us the light of the glorious knowledge ⁴  of God in the face of Christ. ⁵ 

An Eternal Weight of Glory

4:7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power ⁶  belongs to God and does not come from us.

2 Korintus 10:12-18

Paul’s Mission

10:12 For we would not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who recommend themselves. But when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding. ⁷  10:13 But we will not boast beyond certain limits, ⁸  but will confine our boasting ⁹  according to the limits of the work to which God has appointed us, ¹⁰  that reaches even as far as you. 10:14 For we were not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach as far as you, because we were the first to reach as far as you with the gospel about Christ. ¹¹  10:15 Nor do we boast beyond certain limits ¹²  in the work ¹³  done by others, but we hope ¹⁴  that as your faith continues to grow, our work may be greatly expanded ¹⁵  among you according to our limits, ¹⁶  10:16 so that we may preach the gospel in the regions that lie beyond you, and not boast of work already done in another person’s area. 10:17 But the one who boasts must boast in the Lord. ¹⁷  10:18 For it is not the person who commends himself who is approved, but the person the Lord commends.

[4:5]  ¹ tn Or “preach.”

[4:5]  ² tn Traditionally, “servants.” Though δοῦλος (doulos) is normally translated “servant,” the word does not bear the connotation of a free individual serving another. BDAG notes that “‘servant’ for ‘slave’ is largely confined to Biblical transl. and early American times…in normal usage at the present time the two words are carefully distinguished” (BDAG 260 s.v.). The most accurate translation is “bondservant” (sometimes found in the ASV for δοῦλος), in that it often indicates one who sells himself into slavery to another. But as this is archaic, few today understand its force.

[4:6]  ³ sn An allusion to Gen 1:3; see also Isa 9:2.

[4:6]  ⁴ tn Grk “the light of the knowledge of the glory”; δόξης (doxhs) has been translated as an attributive genitive.

[4:6]  ⁵ tc ‡ Most witnesses, including several early and important ones (Ì⁴⁶ א C H Ψ 0209 1739^c Ï sy), read ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ (Ihsou Cristou, “Jesus Christ”), while other important witnesses, especially of the Western text (D F G 0243 630 1739* 1881 lat Ambst), have Χριστοῦ ᾿Ιησοῦ. The reading with just Χριστοῦ is found in A B 33 {sa} Tert {Or Ath Chr}. Even though the witnesses for the shorter reading are not numerous, they are weighty. And in light of the natural scribal proclivity to fill out the text, particularly with reference to divine names, as well as the discrepancy among the witnesses as to the order of the names, the simple reading Χριστοῦ seems to be the best candidate for authenticity. NA²⁷ reads ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ with ᾿Ιησοῦ in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.

[4:7]  ⁶ tn Grk “the surpassingness of the power”; δυνάμεως (dunamew") has been translated as an attributed genitive (“extraordinary power”).

[10:12]  ⁷ tn Or “they are unintelligent.”

[10:13]  ⁸ tn Or “boast excessively.” The phrase εἰς τὰ ἄμετρα (ei" ta ametra) is an idiom; literally it means “into that which is not measured,” that is, a point on a scale that goes beyond what might be expected (L&N 78.27).

[10:13]  ⁹ tn The words “will confine our boasting” are not in the Greek text, but the reference to boasting must be repeated from the previous clause to clarify for the modern reader what is being limited.

[10:13]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “according to the measure of the rule which God has apportioned to us as a measure”; for the translation used in the text see L&N 37.100.

[10:14]  ¹¹ tn Grk “with the gospel of Christ,” but since Χριστοῦ (Cristou) is clearly an objective genitive here, it is better to translate “with the gospel about Christ.”

[10:15]  ¹² tn Or “boast excessively.” The phrase εἰς τὰ ἄμετρα (ei" ta ametra) is an idiom; literally it means “into that which is not measured,” that is, a point on a scale that goes beyond what might be expected (L&N 78.27).

[10:15]  ¹³ tn Or “in the labors.”

[10:15]  ¹⁴ tn Grk “but we have the hope.”

[10:15]  ¹⁵ tn Or “greatly enlarged.”

[10:15]  ¹⁶ tn That is, Paul’s work might be greatly expanded within the area of activity assigned to him by God.

[10:17]  ¹⁷ tn The traditional translation (“let the one who boasts boast in the Lord”) can be understood as merely permissive by the English reader, but the Greek verb καυχάσθω (kaucasqw) is a third person imperative.

[10:17]  sn A quotation from Jer 9:24 (also quoted in 1 Cor 1:31).