The signs of a true apostle: the Greek word which Revised Standard Version translates as signs occurs twice in this verse. But the first occurrence of this noun appears to have a more general meaning and may be translated as “the marks of a true apostle” (so Martin, New English Bible), that is, “the signs that mark out a true apostle.”
The Greek does not state directly who performed among the Corinthians The signs of a true apostle, though the context indicates that the subject of the action was Paul himself. Good News Translation does not directly say that Paul himself performed the miracles and wonders that prove he is an apostle, though Good News Bible does show that the true apostle refers to Paul himself. Revised English Bible makes explicit that Paul was the subject of the action: “The signs of an apostle were there in the work I did among you.” Contemporary English Version says “When I was with you, I was patient and worked all the powerful miracles and signs and wonders of a true apostle.”
A true apostle is literally only “an apostle.” However, nearly all translations insert the word true, since the context indicates that Paul is contrasting the work of true apostles with the work of those who are only “false apostles.”
On the translation of apostle, see 1.1.
In all patience: most interpreters understand these words to be stating the manner in which Paul performed signs of an apostle (so Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation). It is also possible to understand these words as parallel to and included in the series of signs, wonders, and mighty works, as does New Jerusalem Bible: “All the marks … have been at work among you: complete perseverance, signs, marvels, demonstrations of power.” Though the interpretation reflected in New Jerusalem Bible is grammatically possible, most interpreters follow the alternative interpretation found in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. In all patience, then, expresses the manner in which the signs of an apostle were performed; and the words with signs and wonders and mighty works express the means by which the signs were performed.
With signs and wonders and mighty works: are these three items miracles that were performed along with, that is, in addition to, the signs of a true apostle (Revised Standard Version)? The Greek does not have the separate word with, but the sentence allows for its translation in English. Or are they simply an elaboration or explanation of what the signs of a true apostle are (Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible)? New International Version follows the latter interpretation and says “The things that mark an apostle-signs, wonders and miracles-were done among you.” See also Moffatt, which is similar to New International Version.
According to the interpretation reflected in Good News Translation, Paul claims that the miracles he performed prove that he is a true apostle. Perhaps the implication is that the “superapostles” do not perform such miracles and are not, therefore, true apostles. But to claim that miracles are the signs of a true apostle seems to contradict what Paul says in chapters 11–13, so the Good News Bible translation should probably not be followed.
According to Revised Standard Version the signs and wonders and mighty works (12.12b) are not equated with the signs of a true apostle (12.12a); rather such miracles were performed in addition to the signs of a true apostle. The grammatical construction in Greek favors this interpretation. Perhaps the “superapostles” perform miracles, but they do not have the signs of the true apostle as Paul does.
The three terms signs, wonders, and mighty works, should not be pushed to find three different kinds of miracles. Probably these words indicate three different ways of looking at miracles: signs refers to the ability of the miracle to increase spiritual understanding by pointing to a spiritual reality; wonders refers to the sense of awe which the miracle creates; and mighty works refers the fact that these are acts of God. The first two terms occur frequently together (Mark 13.22; John 4.48; Rom 15.9; 1 Thes 2.9; and several times in Acts). And all three terms occur together in Heb 2.4.
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 .