2 Corinthians 2:17
 
2 Corinthians 2:17
(KJV) For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
(1611 KJV) For wee are not as many which corrupt the word of God: but as of sinceritie, but as of God, in the sight of God speake we in Christ.
(1568 Bishop’s Bible) For we are not as many are, whiche chop & chaunge with the word of God: but as of purenesse of God, in the syght of God, so speake we in Christe.
(1526 Tyndale) For we are not as many are which choppe and chaunge with the worde of God: but even oute of purenes and by the power of God and in the sight of God so speake we in Christ.
 
Counterfeit Versions
(CSB) For we do not market the word of God for profit like so many. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.
(NIV) Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.
(NASV) For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.
(THE MESSAGE) No— but at least we don't take God's Word, water it down, and then take it to the streets to sell it cheap. We stand in Christ's presence when we speak; God looks us in the face. We get what we say straight from God and say it as honestly as we can.
(AMP) For we are not, like so many, [like hucksters making a trade of] peddling God's Word [shortchanging and adulterating the divine message]; but like [men] of sincerity and the purest motive, as [commissioned and sent] by God, we speak [His message] in Christ (the Messiah), in the [very] sight and presence of God.
(NLT) You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us.
(ESV) For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
(CEV) A lot of people try to get rich from preaching God's message. But we are God's sincere messengers, and by the power of Christ we speak our message with God as our witness.
(NKJV) For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.
(NCV) We do not sell the word of God for a profit as many other people do. But in Christ we speak the truth before God, as messengers of God.
(HCSB) For we are not like the many who make a trade in God's message [for profit], but as those with sincerity, we speak in Christ, as from God and before God.
(RSV) For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word; but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
(NAB-Roman Catholic) For we are not like the many who trade on the word of God; but as out of sincerity, indeed as from God and in the presence of God, we speak in Christ.
(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) [We are;] for we are not peddlers of the word of God as many men are, but as out of sincerity, yes, as sent from God, under God’s view, in company with Christ, we are speaking.
 
Textus Receptus
- Traditional Text
ou gar esmen wV oi polloi kaphleuonteV ton logon tou qeou all wV ex eilikrineiaV all wV ek qeou katenwpion tou qeou en cristw laloumen
 
Hort-Westcott
Critical Text
ou gar esmen wV oi polloi kaphleuonteV ton logon tou qeou all wV ex eilikrineiaV all wV ek qeou katenanti qeou en cristw laloumen
 
Corrupted Manuscripts
None
 
Affected Teaching
This is another situation concerning a word meaning. If you will notice the KJV, 1611 KJV, Tyndale, and Bishop’s Bible carry understood the meaning to be a corruption of God’s word. Tyndale and the Bishop’s Bible both have the correct idea of this word when they translated it “chop and change.” The Greek word behind “corrupt” does come from a merchandising term but it took on the meaning of “someone who sells goods deceitfully.” The word is “kapeleuo” which carries with it the idea of “peddling, hawk, trade, or corrupt.” It is like someone in a market who puts the best produce on top and the bad on the bottom. It is a deceitful sales gimmick. The bad product will eventually corrupt the good product. The term “corrupt” would be a problem for the new version editors since they have been corrupting the word of God since 1881. So it was necessary for them to give it a surface meaning and turn it into a meaning of someone who peddles the word of God for profit. Paul did fight against the idea of financial profit from preaching and he did what he could to avoid any accusations in that area. However, the subject in view goes deeper than just financial hawking. It is the corruption of God’s word which is the subject of this verse. This why the Bishop’s Bible and Tyndale had it right when they translated it “chop and change” because this is what is happening to the word of God, especially in our day. Modern version editors are chopping up the word of God and this chopping causes massive changes which results in substantial corruption. It goes way beyond a simple financial gain from God’s word to the actual corruption of it. By replacing the word “corruption” with words that deal with financial gain in the modern versions, it removes any suspicion of someone using a corrupted modern version. 2 Corinthians 2:17 is a warning about the corrupting of God’s word. There are two basic ways to corrupt God’s word. The first is by actually deleting and omitting verses or phrases from the text. The second is more subtle and that is to skew an interpretation away from a core truth and replace it with conjecture favorable to the false teacher or teaching.

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