- 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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