2 Corinthians 11:6 kjv
But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.
2 Corinthians 11:6 nkjv
Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge. But we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things.
2 Corinthians 11:6 niv
I may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way.
2 Corinthians 11:6 esv
Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.
2 Corinthians 11:6 nlt
I may be unskilled as a speaker, but I'm not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every possible way.
2 Corinthians 11 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Cor 10:10 | "For his letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible." | Directly echoes the accusation |
| Gal 1:6-7 | "I am astonished that you are so quickly turning away from him who called you in the grace of Christ to another gospel— not that the other belongs to a different kind; but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ." | Paul's concern about false teaching |
| 1 Cor 2:1, 4-5 | "And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty Rhetoric or wisdom... And my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." | Paul's prior approach to ministry |
| Col 2:4 | "I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments." | Warning against persuasive but false arguments |
| Eph 4:14 | "so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes." | Danger of deceptive teachings |
| 1 Tim 4:1-2 | "Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared..." | Future deception by false teachers |
| 2 Pet 2:1-3 | "But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, by reason of which the way of truth will be reviled. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from of old is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep." | Description of false teachers |
| Matt 7:15-20 | "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves." | Identifying false prophets by their fruit |
| Acts 20:29-30 | "I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock, and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after themselves." | Foreshadowing internal opposition |
| John 14:6 | "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" | Christ as the ultimate truth |
| Rom 16:17-18 | "I urge you, brothers, to keep an eye on those who create divisions and cause obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have learned, and turn away from them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting." | Paul's warning against deceivers |
| Titus 1:9 | "He must hold firm to the trustworthy word, as taught by the orthodox doctrine, so that he may be able both to exhort with sound teaching and to rebuke those who contradict it." | The importance of sound doctrine |
| 1 Cor 1:23 | "but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles," | The simple but powerful message of the cross |
| Phil 3:18-19 | "For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame, with minds set on earthly things." | Contrast with those who pervert the gospel |
| 2 Cor 4:2 | "but have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by open declaration of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God." | Paul's own integrity and straightforwardness |
| 2 Cor 5:11 | "Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is also known to your conscience." | Paul's accountability and integrity |
| 1 John 4:1 | "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world." | Testing the spirits and teachings |
| Jude 1:3 | "Beloved, while I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you urging you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints." | The need to defend the faith |
2 Corinthians 11 verses
2 Corinthians 11 6 Meaning
This verse emphasizes that while Paul might lack the sophisticated eloquence or refined speech of some, he possesses genuine knowledge and understanding of God's truth. He hasn't compromised this truth for popular appeal or made himself look foolish by adopting misleading teachings. His message is straightforward and grounded in the reality of Christ.
2 Corinthians 11 6 Context
In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul is responding to criticisms and attacks from rival apostles or teachers who were undermining his authority and message in Corinth. These individuals were likely employing persuasive rhetoric and perhaps a more imposing personal presence to win over the Corinthians. Paul, however, contrasts their approach with his own. He acknowledges that his speech might not be as eloquent or his physical presence as commanding, but he insists that this doesn't diminish the truth and power of the message he proclaims. He asserts that he and his message are not "second-rate" or inferior because he faithfully conveys God's truth without dilution or embellishment, unlike those who may be subtly manipulating the Corinthians.
2 Corinthians 11 6 Word Analysis
- But: (Greek: ἀλλά - alla) - Introduces a contrast, signifying "but" or "however," setting up Paul's defense against implied criticisms.
- though: (Greek: εἰ καί - ei kai) - A concessive conjunction, meaning "even if" or "although." It acknowledges a perceived deficiency to immediately counter it.
- in: (Greek: ἐν - en) - Indicates involvement or in; "by," "with," "in," "among."
- speech: (Greek: λόγῳ - logo) - Refers to oratorical ability, eloquence, or style of speaking. The opponents likely had a more sophisticated style.
- I: (Greek: ἐγώ - ego) - Emphatic first-person pronoun. Paul personalizes the statement.
- am: (Greek: εἰμί - eimi) - The verb "to be."
- rude: (Greek: ἰδιώτης - idiotes) - Literally means "private person" or "layman." In a negative sense, it implies uneducated, unskilled, or lacking in the refined skills of rhetoric and oratory that the false apostles possessed. It’s not about lack of intelligence, but lack of polished, formal, or perhaps theatrical presentation.
- knowledge: (Greek: γνώσει - gnosei) - Refers to the content of understanding and doctrine. Paul asserts he has this in abundance.
- But: (Greek: ἀλλά - alla) - Another contrasting conjunction.
- in: (Greek: ἐν - en) - In or among.
- all: (Greek: πᾶν - pan) - All things, every aspect.
- things: (Greek: πρᾶγμα - pragma) - Matters, deeds, things done.
- we: (Greek: ἡμεῖς - hemeis) - Emphasizes Paul and his fellow workers.
- have: (Greek: φανερόω - phaneroo) - To make manifest, reveal, show clearly. Paul means they have made known or revealed these things.
- manifested: (Greek: φανερώσαμεν - phanerōsamēn) - Past tense of phaneroo. The past action of making known.
- among: (Greek: εἰς - eis) - "Into," "to," indicating the direction or target.
- you: (Greek: ὑμᾶς - humas) - The plural "you," the Corinthian believers.
Word Groups:
- "rude in speech" (ἐν λόγῳ ἰδιώτης - en logo idiotes): This phrase highlights the perceived lack of oratorical skill or rhetorical finesse on Paul’s part, in contrast to his opponents. It wasn't a lack of substance, but a lack of impressive delivery.
- "in all things manifested ourselves among you" (ἐν πᾶν πρᾶγμα φανερώσαμεν εἰς ὑμᾶς - en pan pragma phanerōsamēn eis humas): This emphasizes Paul's openness and transparency with the Corinthians. He hadn't hidden anything; his actions, motives, and message were evident to them. The phrase implies thoroughness and completeness.
2 Corinthians 11 6 Bonus Section
The Greek word translated as "rude" (idiotes) could also imply being "unskilled" or "untrained" in the context of rhetorical arts. This isn't an admission of ignorance about God's Word, but about the style of delivery. The false apostles likely boasted in their human wisdom and eloquence, a common practice among Sophists of the era. Paul, however, intentionally distinguished his ministry from such methods (1 Cor 2:1-5), relying on the "demonstration of the Spirit and power" rather than persuasive words of human wisdom. The emphasis on "manifested" suggests a process that unfolded over time, allowing the Corinthians to judge Paul's ministry not just by his words, but by his consistent character and actions.
2 Corinthians 11 6 Commentary
Paul preemptively addresses a potential accusation: that his lack of polished eloquence or perceived weakness in presentation made his message somehow less valid or authentic. He admits, indirectly, that he might appear "rude" or unskilled in the refined art of rhetoric, especially when contrasted with those who were charming or manipulative. However, he immediately pivots to his strength: knowledge. Paul possessed a profound and genuine understanding of the Gospel, not a superficial or deceptive one. He asserts that this true knowledge has been thoroughly "manifested" or made plain and clear to the Corinthians. This transparency means they have witnessed his sincere commitment to the truth, rather than being swayed by empty oration. His lack of pretentiousness in speech was compensated by the unmistakable reality and depth of the truth he proclaimed and lived out amongst them.