complete verse (2 Corinthians 11:18)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Corinthians 11:18:

  • Uma: “Since so many praise themselves and recount the work they have done with their own strength, thus also I will praise myself.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But because many boast about their doings/work here in the world, na, perhaps I can also boast even a little about myself.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And since there are many who boast about their works here on the earth, perhaps it can be for just a little bit that I boast also about mine.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But since many there (near addressee) are boasting-about themselves based on what is important on the earth, kindly give me a chance as well (lit. OK please so that I also).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But I’m constrained to do this in order to teach you. Because many are boasting about their own situation here in the world, I will boast too so that you will listen to my teaching.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “You can see that many teachers tell you about all the matters they are doing. Therefore I also want to tell you about all that I am doing.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 2 Corinthians 11:18

Of worldly things is literally “according to flesh.” Revised English Bible says “of their earthly distinctions” (similarly New American Bible). Anchor Bible, on the other hand, translates “in a worldly way,” indicating that this expression refers to the manner in which the boasting is done rather than the things of which other people boast. The latter interpretation seems somewhat more likely and is followed by New International Version, “in the way the world does.”

As in 11.16, Paul says that he too will boast, that is, in addition to the many. In this context, many is an indirect reference to the “superapostles.”

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 2 Corinthians 11:18

11:18a Since many are boasting according to the flesh,

Since many are boasting according to human standards, (NET Bible)
-or-
Since many people boast about themselves in worldly ways,

11:18b I too will boast.

I also will boast.
-or-
I too will boast ⌊about myself⌋ ⌊in that way⌋.

© 2016 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.