complete verse (2 Corinthians 12:11)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Corinthians 12:11:

  • Uma: “These words of mine earlier, [they make me sound] like I am really a stupid person for I was praising myself, but you, relatives, are the reason I was doing it. Actually, it should have been you, relatives, who praised me. For though I’m not really anybody, but I am still really the Lord Yesus’ apostle/messenger, I am not inferior [lit., younger-siblinged] to those apostles/messengers there [where you are] who make-big their own names.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “I am really like a stupid/bad person to make myself great. But I blame you because I would not make myself great if you had made me great/had honored me. Because even though some say that I am of no use, I am not surpassed by those people there who pretend that they are commissioned by Almasi.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “I’m acting like a stupid person because I’m boasting, but you forced me to do it, for you should be the ones to give my arguments in answer to those false apostles of Christ. In spite of the fact that I have no wisdom, I am not overshadowed by these people who pretend to be so high, who are false apostles of Christ.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “I am like a person who has a (mental) lack because of this boasting-about myself, but you (particle = you ought to know) are the ones who have-forced-me. Because you should have been the ones to boast-about me. Because even though I have no importance, I am still not lower than those aforementioned pretend apostles who say that they reportedly are the highest.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “It could now be said that I went-crazy in this boasting of mine, but it’s like you are the ones who pushed me into doing like that. You should have been the ones to stand up for me, at that time when people there were belittling me saying that they reportedly are real apostles who are unsurpassable. For it cannot really be said that I am behind those people, even though I have no ability of my own which can be relied on.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “In my opinion, I am now speaking like a person who does not feel shame in bragging. But this word I have spoken needs to be said. Because you have not overcome the words of those teachers who say that I do what is not good. Shouldn’t you have been able to tell them I do what is good? You know that these teachers whose words you follow say that they are Christ’s supreme representatives. But how can it be that they are supreme when concerning the word they know, I also know even though they say that I am of no value.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 2 Corinthians 12:11

The words I have been a fool translate a Greek verb which indicates that he continues to be a fool. Paul is referring to what he has just said in the preceding paragraphs, for to boast has he has been doing is the mark of a fool. As indicated in verse 6 above, it may be better to say “I have been acting like a fool…” as in Good News Translation.

You forced me to it: the subject pronoun is emphatic here. The idea is “you are the ones who made me [act like a fool].” One dynamic-equivalent rendering of this is “but it is your fault.”

I ought to have been commended by you: since the agent is identified in the text, this passive construction can easily be made active as “you are the people who should have commended me.” On the verb commend, note that this should reflect the expressions used in the discussion about needing “letters of recommendation” and “commending oneself,” as in 3.1; 4.2; and elsewhere.

I was not at all inferior translates a verb in the past tense. In light of verse 12 Paul is probably referring to the time when he was in Corinth and performed miracles and other signs (so Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). Some interpreters, however, understand the past tense verb to be a “timeless” past tense and translate with the present tense, as in Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version, Bible en français courant, and New American Bible: “I am in no way inferior.”

These superlative apostles: see the comments on 11.5. The Greek is literally “the superlative apostles.” The context indicates that these “superlative apostles” were recognized as apostles with authority by at least some of the Corinthians. For that reason Good News Translation adds the words “of yours.”

Even though I am nothing: as frequently in chapters 10–13, Paul speaks with sarcasm here in claiming to be nothing. The “superapostles” who oppose Paul consider him to be “nothing.” “True,” Paul says sarcastically, “but I am not inferior to them.”

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 .