2 Corinthians 5:13

THE MESSAGE

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
If you thought we were genuinely crazy, it is for the glory of God. But if you thought we were sane, it was for you.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.

Legacy Standard Bible
For if we are out of our mind, it is for God, or if we are of right mind, it is for you.

Bible in Basic English
For if we are foolish, it is to God; or if we are serious, it is for you.

Darby Translation
For whether we are beside ourselves, [it is] to God; or are sober, [it is] for you.

Christian Standard Bible®
For if we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we have a sound mind, it is for you.

World English Bible
For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God. Or if we are of sober mind, it is for you.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For if we are transported beyond ourselves, it is to God; if we are sober, it is for your sakes.

Weymouth's New Testament
For if we have been beside ourselves, it has been for God's glory; or if we are now in our right senses, it is in order to be of service to you.

King James Version (1611)
For whether wee bee besides our selues, it is to God: or whether we bee sober, it is for your cause.

Literal Translation
For if we are insane, it is to God; or if we are clear-minded, it is for you.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For yf we do to moch, we do it vnto God: yf we kepe measure,we do it for youre sakes.

Mace New Testament (1729)
for if I glory even to transport, my glorying is in God: if I am moderate, my glorying is for your service.

Amplified Bible
If we are out of our mind [just unstable fanatics as some critics say], it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for your benefit.

American Standard Version
For whether we are beside ourselves, it is unto God; or whether we are of sober mind, it is unto you.

Revised Standard Version
For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For yf we be to fervent to God are we to fervent. Yf we kepe measure for youre cause kepe we measure.

Update Bible Version
For whether we are beside ourselves, it is to God; or whether we are of sober mind, it is to you.

Webster's Bible Translation
For whether we are beside ourselves, [it is] to God: or whether we are sober, [it is] for your cause.

Young's Literal Translation
for whether we were beside ourselves, [it was] to God; whether we be of sound mind -- [it is] to you,

New Century Version
If we are out of our minds, it is for God. If we have our right minds, it is for you.

New English Translation
For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.

Berean Standard Bible
If we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.

Contemporary English Version
If we seem out of our minds, it is between God and us. But if we are in our right minds, it is for your good.

Complete Jewish Bible
If we are insane, it is for God's sake; and if we are sane, it is for your sake.

English Standard Version
For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

Geneva Bible (1587)
For whether we be out of our wit, we are it to God: or whether we be in our right minde, we are it vnto you.

George Lamsa Translation
For if we go wrong, we answer to God, and if we go straight, it is for you.

Hebrew Names Version
For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God. Or if we are of sober mind, it is for you.

International Standard Version
So if we were crazy, it was for God; if we are sane, it is for you.2 Corinthians 11:1,16-17;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
13 For if we be beside ourselves, (it is) unto Aloha; and if we be right, [fn] (it is) unto you.

Murdock Translation
For if we are extravagant, it is for God: and if we are discreet, it is for you.

New King James Version
For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you.

New Living Translation
If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit.

New Life Bible
Are we crazy to talk like this? It is all because of what God has done. If we are using our minds well, it is for you.

English Revised Version
For whether we are beside ourselves, it is unto God; or whether we are of sober mind, it is unto you.

New Revised Standard
For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, whether we have been beside ourselves, it hath been for God, or, whether we are sober-minded, it is for you.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For whether we be transported in mind, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for you.

King James Version
For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.

Lexham English Bible
For if we are out of our senses, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For yf we be to feruent, to God are we to feruent: Or yf we kepe measure, for your cause kepe we measure.

Easy-to-Read Version
If we are crazy, it is for God. If we have our right mind, it is for you.

New American Standard Bible
For if we have lost our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.

Good News Translation
Are we really insane? It is for God's sake. Or are we sane? Then it is for your sake.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For ethir we bi mynde passen to God, ether we ben sobre to you.

Contextual Overview

¹⁵ For instance, we know that when these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven—God-made, not handmade—and we'll never have to relocate our "tents" again. Sometimes we can hardly wait to move—and so we cry out in frustration. Compared to what's coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack, and we're tired of it! We've been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies! The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what's ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we'll never settle for less. That's why we live with such good cheer. You won't see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don't get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. It's what we trust in but don't yet see that keeps us going. Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we'll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming. But neither exile nor homecoming is the main thing. Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that's what we aim to do, regardless of our conditions. Sooner or later we'll all have to face God, regardless of our conditions. We will appear before Christ and take what's coming to us as a result of our actions, either good or bad. That keeps us vigilant, you can be sure. It's no light thing to know that we'll all one day stand in that place of Judgment. That's why we work urgently with everyone we meet to get them ready to face God. God alone knows how well we do this, but I hope you realize how much and deeply we care. We're not saying this to make ourselves look good to you. We just thought it would make you feel good, proud even, that we're on your side and not just nice to your face as so many people are. If I acted crazy, I did it for God; if I acted overly serious, I did it for you. Christ's love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do. Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

we be beside: 2 Corinthians 11:1, 2 Corinthians 11:16, 2 Corinthians 11:17, 2 Corinthians 12:6, 2 Corinthians 12:11, Acts 26:24, Acts 26:25, 1 Corinthians 4:10-13, 1 Thessalonians 2:3-11

it is to: 2 Samuel 6:21, 2 Samuel 6:22

sober: Acts 26:25, Romans 12:3

for: 2 Corinthians 7:12, Colossians 1:24, 1 Thessalonians 1:5, 2 Timothy 2:10

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 9:11 - this mad fellow 1 Chronicles 15:29 - she despised Job 32:18 - the spirit Isaiah 59:15 - maketh himself a prey Jeremiah 20:9 - was in Jeremiah 29:26 - for every Hosea 9:7 - mad Mark 3:21 - He is 2 Corinthians 12:19 - but 2 Timothy 1:7 - a sound Titus 2:2 - temperate 2 Peter 1:8 - they

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For whether we be besides ourselves,.... As some took them to be, and as Festus thought the Apostle Paul was, because of the doctrines they preached, and the self-commendation they were obliged to enter into through the calumnies of their adversaries; in which they did not so much seek their own reputation, as the honour and glory of God, which was struck at through them:

it is to God; it is for his glory, and not our own, that we act this part, for which we are condemned as madmen.

Or whether we be sober; think and speak meanly of ourselves, and behave with all modesty and lowliness of mind: it is for your cause; for your instruction and imitation. The glory of God, and the good of his churches, were what concerned them in every part of life. Some refer this to the apostle's being, or not being, in an ecstasy or rapture. Others to his speaking, either of the more sublime doctrines of the Gospel, on account of which he was reckoned mad, though in the delivering of them he had nothing else but the glory of God in view; or of the lower and easier truths of it, which were more accommodated to meaner capacities; in doing which he sought their edification and advantage.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For whether we be beside ourselves - This is probably designed to meet some of the charges which the false teachers in Corinth brought against him, and to furnish his friends there with a ready answer, as well as to show them the true principles on which he acted, and his real love for them. It is altogether probable that he was charged with being deranged; that many who boasted themselves of prudence, and soberness, and wisdom, regarded him as acting like a madman. It has not been uncommon, by any means, for the cold and the prudent; for formal professors and for hypocrites to regard the warm-hearted and zealous friends of religion as maniacs. Festus thought Paul was deranged, when he said, “Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad,” Acts 26:24; and the Saviour himself was regarded by his immediate relatives and friends as beside himself, Mark 3:21. And at all times there have been many, both in the church and out of it, who have regarded the friends of revivals, and of missions, and all those who have evinced any extraordinary zeal in religion, as deranged. The object of Paul here is to show, whatever might be the appearance or the estimate which they affixed to his conduct, what were the real principles which actuated him. These were zeal for God, love to the church, and the constraining influences of the love of Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15. The word rendered here as “be beside ourselves” (ἐξέστημεν exestēmen, from ἐξίστημι existēmi) means properly, to put out of place; to be put out of place; and then to be put out of oneself, to astonish, to fill with wonder; Luke 24:22; Acts 8:9, Acts 8:11; and then to be out of one’s mind, to be deranged. Here it means that they were charged with being deranged, or that others esteemed, or professed to esteem Paul and his fellow-laborers deranged.

It is to God - It is in the Cause of God, and from love to him. It is such a zeal for him; such an absorbing interest in his cause; such love prompting to so great self-denial, and teaching us to act so much unlike other people as to lead them to think that we are deranged. The doctrine here is, that there may be such a zeal for the glory of God, such an active and ardent desire to promote his honor, as to lead others to charge us with derangement. It does not prove however that a man is deranged on the subject of religion because he is unlike others, or because he pursues a course of life that differs materially from that of other professors of religion, and from the man of the world. He may be the truly sane man after all; and all the madness that may exist may be where there is a profession of religion without zeal; a professed belief in the existence of God and in the realities of eternity, that produces no difference in the conduct between the professor and other people; or an utter unconcern about eternal realities when a man is walking on the brink of death and of hell. There are a few people that become deranged by religion; there are millions who have no religion who act as madmen. And the highest instances of madness in the world are those who walk over an eternal hell without apprehension or alarm.

Or whether we be sober - Whether we are sane, or of sound mind; compare Mark 5:15. Tyndale renders this whole passage: “For if we be too fervent, to God we are too fervent; if we keep measure, for our cause keep we measure.” The sense seems to be, “if we are esteemed to be sane, and sober-minded, as we trust you will admit us to be, it is for your sake. Whatever may be the estimate in which we are held, we are influenced by love to God, and love to man. In such a cause, we cannot but evince zeal and self-denial which may expose us to the charge of mental derangement; but still we trust that by you we shall be regarded as influenced by a sound mind. We seek your welfare. We labor for you. And we trust that you will appreciate our motives, and regard us as truly sober-minded.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Corinthians 5:13. Beside ourselves — Probably he was reputed by some to be deranged. Festus thought so: Paul, thou art beside thyself; too much learning hath made thee mad. And his enemies at Corinth might insinuate not only that he was deranged, but attribute his derangement to a less worthy cause than intense study and deep learning.

It is to God — If we do appear, in speaking of the glories of the eternal world, to be transported beyond ourselves, it is through the good hand of our God upon us, and we do it to promote his honour.

Whether we be sober — Speak of Divine things in a more cool and dispassionate manner, it is that we may the better instruct and encourage you.