inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (2Cor. 6:3)

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 inclusive form (including the reader of the letter).

Source: SIL International Translation Department (1999)

complete verse (2 Corinthians 6:3)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Corinthians 6:3:

  • Uma: “We(excl.) really are careful so that our (excl.) behavior is beyond reproach, so that no-one will disparage our (excl.) work carrying God’s Word.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “We (excl.) don’t want that anyone can find fault with our (excl.) doing, therefore we (excl.) really take care so that there is no reason that people do not follow Almasi.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “We want that there is nothing of our activity that people can scold us for, so that no one will be able to criticize our spreading the word of God.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “We (excl.) take-care that we (excl.) do nothing that would be a cause-of-offense or cause-of-sinning of our (excl.) fellow people so that no one will criticize/look-down-on this work of ours (excl.).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “We (excl.) are really careful not to do anything like something-to-be-tripped-and-fallen-over by anyone, so that our teaching of the Good News will not be shamefully-criticized.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “I search for how what I do will come out well, because I do not want the people to say that the word of God which I speak is no good.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 2 Corinthians 6:3

Note that Good News Translation has reversed the order of the two main clauses in this verse in order to make it read more naturally in English. This may serve as a good model for certain other languages as well.

On the translation of the first person plural pronouns in this verse and through the rest of this section, see the first paragraph of comments on 6.1.

We put no obstacle: literally “not … giving obstacle.” In accordance with possible Greek verb usage, some interpreters understand the verb translated We put (literally “giving”) in this context to be expressing intention rather than actual fact. So Good News Translation says “we try not to put obstacles” (so also Barrett). The noun translated obstacle occurs only here in the New Testament, but the related verb is found several times. This verb is usually rendered “stumble.” So the obstacle involved here is a cause for stumbling or a basis for taking offense. It may be translated “offense” (New American Bible), “stumbling-block” (Translator’s New Testament), or “discredit” (Revised English Bible).

In any one’s way: these words translate two words in Greek, a preposition and a pronoun. The Greek pronoun may be either masculine (“anyone,” as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation) or neuter (“anything,” as in Revised English Bible, which reads “we avoid giving any offense in anything”). The latter interpretation is supported by the use of “in everything” in verse 4, which seems to state the opposite side of Paul’s claim. Even if one follows the interpretation of Revised English Bible, it still remains implicit that Paul does not want to give offense “to anyone.”

No fault may be found: the Greek does not express the agent of the verb “to find fault.” The context suggests to some interpreters that Paul is here concerned that people (Good News Translation “anyone”) not find fault. People, not God, are the implied agent of the verb. On the other hand, some interpreters understand Paul to be referring here to God’s judgment at the end time (see 1 Cor 4.2-5). In those languages where the use of the passive form is difficult or impossible, it is probably best to translate something like “we do not want other people to criticize the work….” Translators who follow the interpretation reflected in Good News Translation, that Paul is concerned that people may find fault, may wish to include the following translation as an alternative in a footnote: Or “We do not want God to find fault with our work, so….”

Our ministry: the pronoun our has been supplied by Revised Standard Version but is not explicitly stated in the best manuscripts of the original, “the diakonia.” There is, however, little question that Paul is referring to his own work and that of his associates. Some translators may prefer to say “this ministry.”

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 .