complete verse (2 Corinthians 3:10)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Corinthians 3:10:

  • Uma: “The power of the previous Promise was indeed big. But if we compare that power with the power of the new Promise, we can say: the previous one no longer has any power.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “The truth is that even though the first law was great, now it is like choked/defeated (like plants) by the new covenant.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And as for that Law which had great power long ago, today it has been made so that it has no power, because it has already been replaced by a new way which has much greater power.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The truth of it is, it’s as if the importance (lit. highness) of the law has already ceased-to-exist if we compare it to the importance of God’s plan which has now replaced it.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “It’s true, there is indeed glory/praiseworthiness in that former system (lit. trail) of obeying the laws. But now, it’s like it no longer has glory/praiseworthiness when we compare it to the superior glory/praiseworthiness of this new initiated-agreement.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Very much was the Law respected which was before. But the law can’t be compared with the greatness of the good news now.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 2 Corinthians 3:10

Indeed: the transition, again omitted by Good News Translation, introduces a further development of Paul’s argument. In some languages this kind of clarification may be introduced by something like “Truly” or “In fact” (Contemporary English Version). Moffatt takes the whole verse as parenthetical but introduces it with “Indeed.”

In this case: literally “in this part.” These words apparently refer to the preceding statement of verses 7-9. Many languages will say “in this matter.”

What once had splendor has come to have no splendor is literally “what has had splendor has not had splendor.” Paul refers here to the Law of Moses. The splendor that surpasses it refers to the glory of the gospel.

Contemporary English Version serves as a good model translation of this verse: “In fact, the new agreement is so wonderful that the Law is no longer glorious at all.” Another model says “In truth, the glory of the old covenant does not look like glory at all any longer because of the brightness of the present glory.”

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 .