complete verse (2 Corinthians 8:11)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Corinthians 8:11:

  • Uma: “So, these are my words to you, relatives: it is so very appropriate [lit., it is the way] that you finish the work that you began last year, since you, relatives, are the first ones who wanted to gather your helping money, and you also are first ones who began to gather this money. So, like your diligence to make plans, I hope that also is how your diligence will be to continue this work as far as your ability goes.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Therefore do it and finish now your help. You were really happy when you started it therefore you should also be happy to finish it, however much each one of you can afford.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “What I advise you to do is, that collecting of money that you started last year. You were the first ones to collect money to help the people of Judea, and that’s not all, because this idea of helping them came from you. And because of this, you should continue so that you can finish according to what you can do. It is necessary for your desire to be great to finish this work, just like your desire was big when you first started it.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Carry-through then to fulfill your plan in proportion to your ability. May your desire to fulfill your plan be equal to your desire to plan.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therefore, what’s good is, finish- it -off now. That enthusiasm/perseverance you had when you began, hopefully it will continue-indefinitely. But that which you give, it should of course be in accordance with what you have ability to give.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “So now, just like you did before in that you were eager to give help, so also now be eager to give whatever bit you have the ability to give.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 2 Corinthians 8:11

So that: Revised Standard Version continues the sentence started at the beginning of verse 10, but this connection is misleading. The Greek of this verse actually begins “but now….” This contrasts the present time with “last year” in verse 10. Having reminded his readers that they had initiated the idea of a collection during the previous year, Paul now urges them to see to it that the task is completed.

Readiness: this word is repeated in verses 12 and 19 of this chapter as well as in 9.2. In Acts 17.11 it is translated “eagerness.” It has to do with a willingness or predisposition to do something.

Desiring … completing: here Paul uses two infinitives preceded by definite articles, literally “the to will … the to complete.” That is, the verbs are used as nouns. This may be translated “you eagerly wanted to do it, so now do it,” or in some cases reversing the order to these two elements, “be as eager to complete … as to plan.”

May be matched: this may be translated “be as eager to X as to Y,” as indicated above. Such a structure will avoid the difficult passive form of Revised Standard Version.

Out of what you have: obviously whatever the Corinthians would give would have to come out of what they had. The sense seems to be that they were to give, not by concerning themselves with how much the Macedonians had given, but rather by considering how much they were able to give out of what resources they had. Barrett translates “as far as your resources permit.”

A literal translation of this verse reads as follows: “But now also finish the doing just as the readiness to desire so also the finishing from the having.” Possible models for the verse as a whole are: “I think you should finish what you started. If you give according to what you have, you will prove that you are as eager to give as you were to think about giving” (Contemporary English Version), “It is now time to complete what you started, using what you have now. Prove that you can finish the job as eagerly as you started it,” or “So now finish the job. By giving as much as you can, you will show people that you are eager to act as well as to plan for action.”

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 .