6Even if I am untrained in speech, I certainly am not with respect to knowledge; certainly in every way and in all things we have made this evident to you.
Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)
The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).
For this verse, translators typically select the exclusive form (excluding the addressee).
Source: Velma Pickett and Florence Cowan in Notes on Translation January 1962, p. 1ff.
Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Corinthians 11:6:
Uma: “For though I don’t know how to speak very well, but neither am I a stupid person-e’ [The enclitic -e’ is like an exclamation point, and perhaps could be translated as ‘listen up!’ or ‘Watch out, I mean business’]. I know true teaching. You heard and saw this yourselves in all our (excl.) actions/behavior with you.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Perhaps I am not an expert in speaking, but I really know all the true teaching. And I have always made this clear to you because of all my teaching.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Because even though I do not know how to talk, I know what the true doctrine is. And this is what we taught you long ago at all times and in every way.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “I am admittedly not skilled in speaking, but I am definitely not lacking in what I know about God. You know that is true, because I have continually been showing it to you in all that I have taught.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Admittedly it could be said that I am not skilled in speaking, but I really thoroughly understand what I am teaching. Did I not cause you to comprehend this on more than just one occasion?” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Even though people say that I do not know how to make my words sound beautiful when I speak, yet I know very well about the matters which I teach. Concerning this, you have heard very well about all the words I have spoken in my teaching.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
The name that is transliterated as “Judah” or “Judea” in English (referring to the son of Jacob, the tribe, and the territory) is translated in Spanish Sign Language as “lion” (referring to Genesis 49:9 and Revelation 5:5). This sign for lion is reserved for regions and kingdoms. (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. and Steve Parkhurst)
Unskilled in speaking: the word unskilled means “untrained” (New Revised Standard Version). Paul was not an expert in this area. In speaking refers specifically to “public speaking” (Anchor Bible). The meaning is clearly expressed in God’s New Covenant, “Granted that I lack skill as an orator.” Or a better model in some languages may be “It is true that I do not speak well before crowds [or, other people].” See comments on 10.10.
Not in knowledge: the translation of these words will depend to some extent on the way the first part of this verse has been rendered. But in many cases a verbal expression will be called for: “I may not speak as well as they do, but I know as much as they do” or “my knowledge is not inferior to theirs, even if my public speaking is.”
In every way and in all things: according to both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, Paul has made plain his knowledge in every way and in all things to the Corinthians. Another interpretation is possible, however. The words in all things may be masculine, that is, “among all men.” If this second interpretation is followed, the sense of 11.6b is that expressed in God’s New Covenant: “And that is a fact which we have made evident in every way among men, wherever they may be, through what we are in our relations with you.”
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellingworth, Paul. A Handbook on Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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