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New Living Translation

2 Corinthians 11:6

I may be unskilled as a speaker, but I'm not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every possible way.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Minister, Christian;   Paul;   The Topic Concordance - Deception;   Disciples/apostles;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Rude;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Tongue;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Fool, Foolishness, Folly;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Corinth;   Holman Bible Dictionary - False Apostles;   Oration, Orator;   Rude in Speech;   2 Corinthians;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Corinthians, First Epistle to the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Word;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - 2 Unlearned Ignorant;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Saul of Tarsus;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Corinthians, Second Epistle to the;   Ignorance;   Rude;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Even if I am untrained in public speaking, I am certainly not untrained in knowledge. Indeed, we have in every way made that clear to you in everything.
King James Version (1611)
But though I be rude in speach, yet not in knowledge; but we haue bene throughly made manifest among you in all things.
King James Version
But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.
English Standard Version
Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.
New American Standard Bible
But even if I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in knowledge; in fact, in every way we have made this evident to you in all things.
New Century Version
I may not be a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have shown this to you clearly in every way.
Amplified Bible
But even if I am unskilled in speaking, yet I am not [untrained] in knowledge [I know what I am talking about]; but we have made this evident to you in every way, in all things.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
But even if I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in knowledge; in fact, in every way we have made this evident to you in all things.
Legacy Standard Bible
But even if I am unskilled in word, yet I am not so in knowledge; in fact, in every way we have made this evident to you in all things.
Berean Standard Bible
Although I am not a polished speaker, I am certainly not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every way possible.
Contemporary English Version
I may not speak as well as they do, but I know as much. And this has already been made perfectly clear to you.
Complete Jewish Bible
I may not be a skilled speaker, but I do have the knowledge; anyhow, we have made this clear to you in every way and in every circumstance.
Darby Translation
But if [I am] a simple person in speech, yet not in knowledge, but in everything making [the truth] manifest in all things to you.
Easy-to-Read Version
It is true that I am not a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have shown this to you clearly in every way.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And though I be rude in speaking, yet I am not so in knowledge, but among you wee haue beene made manifest to the vttermost, in all things.
George Lamsa Translation
But though I am a poor speaker, I am not poor in knowledge; but we have been thoroughly made manifest among you in all things.
Good News Translation
Perhaps I am an amateur in speaking, but certainly not in knowledge; we have made this clear to you at all times and in all conditions.
Lexham English Bible
But even if I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not in knowledge; certainly in everything we have made this clear to you in every way.
Literal Translation
But even if I am unskilled in speech, yet not in knowledge. But in every way I have been clearly revealed to you in all things.
American Standard Version
But though I be rude in speech, yet am I not in knowledge; nay, in every way have we made this manifest unto you in all things.
Bible in Basic English
But though I am rough in my way of talking, I am not so in knowledge, as we have made clear to all by our acts among you.
Hebrew Names Version
But though I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not unskilled in knowledge. No, in every way we have been revealed to you in all things.
International Standard Version
Even though I may be untrained as an orator, I am not so in the field of knowledge. We have made this clear to all of you in every possible way.1 Corinthians 1:17; 2 Corinthians 4:2; 5:11; 10:10; 12:12; Ephesians 3:4;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
For if I am rude in my speech, I yet am not in my knowledge; but in every thing we are manifest among you.
Murdock Translation
For, though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but in all things we have been manifest among you.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But though [I be] rude in speakyng, yet not in knowledge, but in all thynges among you, we haue ben well knowen to the vtmost.
English Revised Version
But though [I be] rude in speech, yet [am I] not in knowledge; nay, in everything we have made [it] manifest among all men to you–ward.
World English Bible
But though I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not unskilled in knowledge. No, in every way we have been revealed to you in all things.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For if I am unskilful in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly manifest to you in all things.
Weymouth's New Testament
And if in the matter of speech I am no orator, yet in knowledge I am not deficient. Nay, we have in every way made that fully evident to you.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For thouy Y be vnlerud in word, but not in kunnyng. For in alle thingis Y am open to you.
Update Bible Version
But though [I am] unskilled in speaking, yet [I am] not [unskilled] in knowledge; certainly, in every way we have made [this] manifest to you in all things.
Webster's Bible Translation
But though [I am] rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been thoroughly made manifest among you in all things.
New English Translation
And even if I am unskilled in speaking, yet I am certainly not so in knowledge. Indeed, we have made this plain to you in everything in every way.
New King James Version
Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge. But we have been thoroughly manifested [fn] among you in all things.
New Life Bible
Even if it is hard for me to speak, I know what I am talking about. You know this by now.
New Revised Standard
I may be untrained in speech, but not in knowledge; certainly in every way and in all things we have made this evident to you.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, even if uncultured in my discourse, certainly not in my knowledge, - but, in every way, having made it manifest, in all things, unto you.
Douay-Rheims Bible
For although I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge: but in all things we have been made manifest to you.
Revised Standard Version
Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not in knowledge; in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Though I be rude in speakynge yet I am not so in knowledge. How be it amonge you we are knowen to the vtmost what we are in all thynges.
Young's Literal Translation
and even if unlearned in word -- yet not in knowledge, but in every thing we were made manifest in all things to you.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And though I be rude in speakynge, yet am I not rude in knowlege. Howbeit amoge you I am knowne to the vttemost.
Mace New Testament (1729)
if my language is inelegant, my knowledge is not contemptible; but has been fully display'd among you on all occasions.
Simplified Cowboy Version
I may not be a great speaker, but that don't mean the knowledge I have isn't valuable. This has been clear to y'all from the start.

Contextual Overview

5 But I don't consider myself inferior in any way to these "super apostles" who teach such things. 6 I may be unskilled as a speaker, but I'm not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every possible way. 7 Was I wrong when I humbled myself and honored you by preaching God's Good News to you without expecting anything in return? 8 I "robbed" other churches by accepting their contributions so I could serve you at no cost. 9 And when I was with you and didn't have enough to live on, I did not become a financial burden to anyone. For the brothers who came from Macedonia brought me all that I needed. I have never been a burden to you, and I never will be. 10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, no one in all of Greece will ever stop me from boasting about this. 11 Why? Because I don't love you? God knows that I do. 12 But I will continue doing what I have always done. This will undercut those who are looking for an opportunity to boast that their work is just like ours. 13 These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

rude: 2 Corinthians 10:10, 1 Corinthians 1:17, 1 Corinthians 1:21, 1 Corinthians 2:1-3, 1 Corinthians 2:13

not: Ephesians 3:4, 2 Peter 3:15, 2 Peter 3:16

but we: 2 Corinthians 4:2, 2 Corinthians 5:11, 2 Corinthians 7:2, 2 Corinthians 12:12

Reciprocal: Exodus 4:10 - eloquent 1 Corinthians 14:6 - knowledge 2 Corinthians 6:6 - knowledge 2 Corinthians 6:9 - well Galatians 4:13 - through

Cross-References

Genesis 3:22
Then the Lord God said, "Look, the human beings have become like us, knowing both good and evil. What if they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it? Then they will live forever!"
Genesis 6:5
The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil.
Genesis 8:21
And the Lord was pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice and said to himself, "I will never again curse the ground because of the human race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood. I will never again destroy all living things.
Genesis 9:19
From these three sons of Noah came all the people who now populate the earth.
Genesis 11:1
At one time all the people of the world spoke the same language and used the same words.
Genesis 11:4
Then they said, "Come, let's build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world."
Judges 10:14
Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen! Let them rescue you in your hour of distress!"
1 Kings 18:27
About noontime Elijah began mocking them. "You'll have to shout louder," he scoffed, "for surely he is a god! Perhaps he is daydreaming, or is relieving himself. Or maybe he is away on a trip, or is asleep and needs to be wakened!"
Ecclesiastes 11:9
Young people, it's wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do.
Luke 1:51
His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But though I be rude in speech,.... Which might be objected to him, setting himself upon a level with men so famous for their diction, and elegance of style; and to this he answers, not by owning he was so, but granting it to be so; for the Apostle Paul was not an unlearned man, an idiot in speech, unskilful in language, his writings testify the contrary; he did not indeed, in his public ministry, dress his sermons with the flowers of rhetoric, or adorn his discourses with the words of human wisdom, with bombast, and great swelling words of vanity; he chose a plainer and easier style, more accommodated to the vulgar, to the capacities of the people he was concerned with; for he had not to do with philosophers and senators, but with the common people chiefly; with persons of every sex, age, and condition of life: in this sense indeed he acted as an idiot, a plebeian, a private person; he used a popular style, or, as the Jews say of several of their Rabbins s, he דורש לשון הדיוט, "preached", or explained "in the common language" of people; which the common people used, and not the learned, and to which reference may be had here: but though he wisely pursued this method, as being most likely to be useful,

yet he was

not rude

in knowledge, or unskilful in the mysteries of the Gospel; he was well learned in the knowledge of Christ, and in the doctrines of grace, as all his discourses, sermons, and letters testified; and however negligent he might be thought to be of his style, and take no pains or care about the elegance of his language, but rather studied a plain and popular diction, yet he was always careful to convey profitable and useful knowledge to the souls of men; and thought his discourses might not be fraught with all the beauties of oratory, and enticing words of man's wisdom, they were full of spiritual knowledge, and showed him to have a large understanding of divine things, for the truth of which he appeals to the Corinthians:

but we have been thoroughly manifest among you in all things; his faith and doctrine, as well as manner of life, were well known unto them; he had not shunned to declare the whole counsel of God unto them: his knowledge in the mystery of Christ's person and grace, and in all the parts of the everlasting Gospel, was no secret to them; he had used no artful methods to hide himself, or conceal the truth; but by manifestation of it, had commended himself to every man's conscience in the sight of God; and by observing this, as he had witnesses now among them of the truth of it, so he strikes at the hypocrisy and deceitful methods the false teachers took to cover themselves, their practices, and principles.

s T. Bab. Bava Metzia, fol. 104. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But though I be rude in speech - see the note, 2 Corinthians 10:10. The word rendered “rude” here (ἰδιώτης idiōtēs) means properly a private citizen, in opposition to one in a public station; then a plebeian, or one unlettered or unlearned, in opposition to one of more elevated rank, or one who is learned; see the Acts 4:13 note; 1 Corinthians 14:16 note. The idea is, my language is that of a plain unlettered person. This was doubtless charged upon him by his enemies, and it may be that he designed in part to admit the truth of the charge.

Yet not in knowledge - I do not admit that I am ignorant of the religion which I profess to teach. I claim to be acquainted with the doctrines of Christianity. It does not appear that they charged him with ignorance. If it be asked how the admission that he was rude in speech consists with the fact that he was endowed by the Holy Spirit. with the power of speaking languages, we may observe that Paul had undoubtedly learned to speak Greek in his native place (Tarsus in Cilicia). and that the Greek which he had learned there was probably a corrupt kind, such as was spoken in that place. It was this Greek which he probably continued to speak; for there is no more reason to suppose that the Holy Spirit would aid him in speaking language which he had thus early learned than he would in speaking Hebrew. The endowments of the Holy Spirit were conferred to enable the apostles to speak languages which they had never learned, not in perfecting them in languages with which they were before acquainted. It may have been true, therefore, that Paul may have spoken some languages which he never learned with more fluency and perfection than he did those which he had learned to speak when he was young. See the remarks of the Archbishop of Cambray, as quoted by Doddridge in loc. It may be remarked. also, that some estimate of the manner of Paul on this point may be formed from his writings. Critics profoundly acquainted with the Greek language remark, that while there is great energy of thought and of diction in the writings of Paul; while he chooses or coins most expressive words, yet that there is everywhere a lack of Attic elegance of manner, and of the smoothness and beauty which were so grateful to a Grecian ear.

But we have been thoroughly made manifest ... - You have known all about me. I have concealed nothing from you, and you have had ample oppotunity to become thoroughly acquainted with me. The meaning is, “I need not dwell on this. I need speak no more of my manner of speech or knowledge. With all that you are well acquainted.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Corinthians 11:6. But though I be rude in speech — ιδιωτης τω λογω Though I speak like a common unlettered man, in plain unadorned phrase, studying none of the graces of eloquence; yet I am not unskilled in the most profound knowledge of God, of spiritual and eternal things, of the nature of the human soul, and the sound truths of the Gospel system: ye yourselves are witnesses of this, as in all these things I have been thoroughly manifested among you.

Inspired men received all their doctrines immediately from God, and often the very words in which those doctrines should be delivered to the world; but in general the Holy Spirit appears to have left them to their own language, preventing them from using any expression that might be equivocal, or convey a contrary sense to that which God intended.

That St. Paul wrote a strong, nervous, and sufficiently pure language, his own writings sufficiently testify; but the graces of the Greek tongue he appears not to have studied, or at least he did not think it proper to use them; for perhaps there is no tongue in the world that is so apt to seduce the understanding by its sounds and harmony, as the Greek. It is not an unusual thing for Greek scholars to the present day to be in raptures with the harmony of a Greek verse, the sense of which is but little regarded, and perhaps is little worth! I should suppose that God would prevent the inspired writers from either speaking or writing thus, that sound might not carry the hearer away from sense; and that the persuasive force of truth might alone prevail, and the excellence of the power appear to be of God and not of man. Taking up the subject in this point of view, I see no reason to have recourse to the supposition, or fable rather, that the apostle had an impediment in his speech, and that he alludes to this infirmity in the above passage.


 
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