2 Corinthians 11:23 Parallel Translations

Are they Christ's servants? It's insane to say it, but I'm a far better one. I've done much more work, been in prison many more times, been beaten more severely, and have faced death more often.(GOD'S WORD®)

KJV:

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

ASV:

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I more; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths oft.

BBE:

Are they servants of Christ? (I am talking foolishly) I am more so; I have had more experience of hard work, of prisons, of blows more than measure, of death.

DBY:

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as being beside myself) I above measure so; in labours exceedingly abundant, in stripes to excess, in prisons exceedingly abundant, in deaths oft.

ERV:

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I more; in labours more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths oft.

WEY:

Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as if I were out of my mind.)

WBS:

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths often.

WEB:

Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I am more so; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths often.

YLT:

ministrants of Christ are they? -- as beside myself I speak -- I more; in labours more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths many times;

2 Corinthians 11:23 Cross References

XREF:

Acts 16:23 When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely;

Romans 8:36 Just as it is written, "FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED."

1 Corinthians 3:5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one.

1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.

2 Corinthians 3:6 who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

2 Corinthians 6:5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger,

2 Corinthians 10:7 You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ's, so also are we. (NASB ©1995)

Commentaries and Concordances

GSB:

11:23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I [am] {n} more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in {o} deaths oft.
(n) Paul being honourable indeed, defends his ministry openly, not for his own sake, but because he saw his doctrine come into danger.
(o) In danger of present death.

PNT:

11:23 Are they ministers of Christ?. I [am] more. Not only a minister, but a pre-eminent sufferer for Christ. To show how much he exceeded them, he gives some account of his sufferings.
I speak as a fool. Speaking foolishly, that is, commending himself. See 2Co 11:1.
In labours more abundant. The record of Acts shows how his labors abounded.
In stripes above measure. See 2Co 11:24,25.
In prisons more frequent. Clement, who wrote about the close of the first century, says in his Epistle to the Corinthians that Paul was imprisoned seven times. In Acts only one occurrence is named before the date of this letter, that at Philippi (Ac 16:24). It is evident from this enumeration that Acts is only a part of the history of his labors.
In deaths oft. Often in peril of death. Dean Stanley says that the catalogue of sufferings given in 2Co 11:25-33 shows that Paul's life was then without precedent in the history of the world. The only explanation of such a life, continued now for more than fourteen years, is that given by himself: The love of Christ constraineth us (2Co 5:14).

WES:

11:23 I am more so than they. In deaths often - Surrounding me in the most dreadful forms.

MHC:

11:22-33 The apostle gives an account of his labours and sufferings; not out of pride or vain-glory, but to the honour of God, who enabled him to do and suffer so much for the cause of Christ; and shows wherein he excelled the false apostles, who tried to lessen his character and usefulness. It astonishes us to reflect on this account of his dangers, hardships, and sufferings, and to observe his patience, perseverance, diligence, cheerfulness, and usefulness, in the midst of all these trials. See what little reason we have to love the pomp and plenty of this world, when this blessed apostle felt so much hardship in it. Our utmost diligence and services appear unworthy of notice when compared with his, and our difficulties and trials scarcely can be perceived. It may well lead us to inquire whether or not we really are followers of Christ. Here we may study patience, courage, and firm trust in God. Here we may learn to think less of ourselves; and we should ever strictly keep to truth, as in God's presence; and should refer all to his glory, as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed for evermore.

CONC:

Abundant Abundantly Beaten Beatings Beside Better Blows Christ Countless Danger Death Deaths Exceedingly Excess Experience Exposed Flogged Fool Foolishly Frequent Frequently Greater Harder Imprisonments Insane-i Labors Labours Madman Measure Mind Ministers Ministrants Myself Oft Often Prison Prisons Servants Severely Speak Stripes Talk Talking Worked

Abundant Abundantly Beaten Christ Christ-I Countless Deaths Experience Exposed Far Flogged Fool Foolishly Frequent Frequently Hard Harder Imprisonments Labors Measure Mind Ministers Oft Often Prison Prisons Servants Severely Speak Stripes Talk Talking Times Worked

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