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Monday, July 21st, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Mace New Testament

2 Corinthians 11:5

for I think I am not at all inferior to the chiefest of the apostles.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Minister, Christian;   Thompson Chain Reference - Apostles;   Apostleship of Paul;   Christ;   Disciples;   Leaders;   Paul's;   Religious;   The Topic Concordance - Deception;   Disciples/apostles;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Apostles, the;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Boasting;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Fool, Foolishness, Folly;   Mission;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Primacy;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Corinth;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Apostles;   2 Corinthians;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Obsolete or obscure words in the english av bible;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Corinthians;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Saul of Tarsus;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Chief;   Corinthians, Second Epistle to the;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Now I consider myself in no way inferior to those “super-apostles.”
King James Version (1611)
For, I suppose, I was not a whit behinde the very chiefest Apostles.
King James Version
For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.
English Standard Version
Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles.
New American Standard Bible
For I consider myself not in the least inferior to the most eminent apostles.
New Century Version
I do not think that those "great apostles" are any better than I am.
Amplified Bible
Yet I consider myself in no way inferior to the [so-called] super-apostles.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
For I consider myself not in the least inferior to the most eminent apostles.
Legacy Standard Bible
For I consider myself in no way inferior to the most-eminent apostles.
Berean Standard Bible
I consider myself in no way inferior to those "super-apostles."
Contemporary English Version
I think I am as good as any of those super apostles.
Complete Jewish Bible
For I don't consider myself in any way inferior to these "super-emissaries."
Darby Translation
For I reckon that in nothing I am behind those who are in surpassing degree apostles.
Easy-to-Read Version
I don't think that those "super apostles" are any better than I am.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Verely I suppose that I was not inferior to the very chiefe Apostles.
George Lamsa Translation
For I think that I am not in the least inferior to the most distinguished apostles.
Good News Translation
I do not think that I am the least bit inferior to those very special so-called "apostles" of yours!
Lexham English Bible
For I consider myself in no way to be inferior to the preeminent apostles.
Literal Translation
For I judge myself to have come behind the highest apostles in nothing.
American Standard Version
For I reckon that I am not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.
Bible in Basic English
For in my opinion, I am in no way less than the most important of the Apostles.
Hebrew Names Version
For I reckon that I am not at all behind the very best apostles.
International Standard Version
I do not think I'm inferior in any way to those "super-apostles."1 Corinthians 15:10; 2 Corinthians 12:11; Galatians 2:6;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
For I consider that I am nothing inferior to those apostles who are most excellent.
Murdock Translation
For, I suppose, I came not short of those legates who most excel.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Ueryly I suppose that I was not behynde the chiefe Apostles.
English Revised Version
For I reckon that I am not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.
World English Bible
For I reckon that I am not at all behind the very best apostles.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But I suppose that I fall nothing short of the very chief apostles.
Weymouth's New Testament
Why, I reckon myself in no respect inferior to those superlatively great Apostles.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For Y wene that Y haue don no thing lesse than the grete apostlis.
Update Bible Version
For I reckon that I am not a bit behind the very chiefest apostles.
Webster's Bible Translation
For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very greatest apostles.
New English Translation
For I consider myself not at all inferior to those "super-apostles."
New King James Version
For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles.
New Living Translation
But I don't consider myself inferior in any way to these "super apostles" who teach such things.
New Life Bible
I do not think I am less than those special missionaries who are coming to you.
New Revised Standard
I think that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For I reckon not to have come a whit behind the exceeding overmuch apostles;
Douay-Rheims Bible
For I suppose that I have done nothing less than the great apostles.
Revised Standard Version
I think that I am not in the least inferior to these superlative apostles.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
I suppose that I was not behynde ye chefe apostles.
Young's Literal Translation
for I reckon that I have been nothing behind the very chiefest apostles,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For I suppose that I am no lesse the the hye Apostles are.
Simplified Cowboy Version
But I don't think I'm any less of a cowboy than those other "top hands."

Contextual Overview

5 for I think I am not at all inferior to the chiefest of the apostles. 6 if my language is inelegant, my knowledge is not contemptible; but has been fully display'd among you on all occasions. 7 If I have degraded myself for your advantage by preaching the holy gospel to you gratis, is that such a trespass? 8 by taking wages of other churches, I may have injured them, to do you service. 9 when I was present among you, and in want, I was chargeable to no man: for the brethren which came from Macedonia, supplied my necessities: and as I have, so I always shall keep myself from being burdensome to you. 10 I solemnly protest, no man shall hinder me of this applause, in the regions of Achaia. 11 why so? is it because I love you not? far otherwise, God knows. 12 but this I do, and shall do, to make them drop their hire, who are so bent upon hire: and then indeed they will be as they pretend to be, like me. 13 for these are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguised so as to pass for true apostles. 14 and no wonder; for satan himself may put on the appearance of an angel of light.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I was not: 2 Corinthians 12:11, 2 Corinthians 12:12, 1 Corinthians 15:10, Galatians 2:6-9

Reciprocal: Numbers 12:3 - above Job 12:3 - But I have Job 13:2 - General Job 15:9 - knowest Matthew 20:27 - whosoever Acts 15:2 - the apostles Romans 1:1 - called 1 Corinthians 1:1 - an 1 Corinthians 9:1 - I not an 1 Corinthians 15:9 - the least 2 Corinthians 11:23 - I am Galatians 2:8 - the same Galatians 2:11 - I withstood

Cross-References

John 3:13
for no man hath penetrated into the secrets of heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the son of man, who is in heaven.
Hebrews 4:13
so that there is not a creature that is concealed from his view: but all is naked and open to the eyes of him of whom we speak. Having then so great a high priest,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For I suppose I was not a whit behind,.... This is very modestly expressed by the apostle; for he does not assert, and in a haughty and confident way affirm, but only supposes, or thinks that this might be admitted, that he was not inferior to, or did not come short of, in gifts, grace, and usefulness,

the very chiefest of the apostles: such as Peter, James, and John; who seemed to be pillars, were eminent apostles, of great note among them, and such as Christ, in the days of his flesh, took particular notice of. This he says, not to exalt himself, but to show, how weakly and injudiciously the Corinthians acted in setting up the false apostle above him; or else these words are spoken ironically, and design the false teachers, who vaunted so much of their gifts, learning, eloquence, and usefulness; and extolled themselves at such a rate, as if they were υπερ λιαν αποστολων, "greatly above the apostles"; and therefore he jeeringly calls them

the very chiefest of them; and yet thinks fit to put himself at least, upon an equality with them: one manuscript reads, "the chiefest of the apostles among you"; and the Ethiopic version seems to have read you.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For I suppose ... - I think that I gave as good evidence that I was commissioned by God as the most eminent of the apostles. In the miracles which I performed; in the abundance of my labors, and in my success, I suppose that I did not fall behind any of them. If so, I ought to be regarded and treated as an apostle; and if so, then the false teachers should not be allowed to supplant me in your affections, or to seduce you from the doctrines which I have taught. On the evidence that Paul was equal to others in the proper proof of a commission from God; see notes on 2 Corinthians 11:21-30.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Corinthians 11:5. I was not - behind the very chiefest apostles. — That is: The most eminent of the apostles have not preached Christ, ministered the spirit, explained and enforced the doctrines of the Gospel in a more powerful and effectual manner than I have done.


 
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