• 2 Corinthians 2:17
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 17 οὐ Not γάρ for ἐσμεν we are ὡς as οἱ the πολλοὶ many (ones) καπηλεύοντες peddling τὸν the λόγον word τοῦ of the θεοῦ, God, ἀλλ’ but ὡς as ἐξ out of εἰλικρινίας, sincerity, ἀλλ’ but ὡς as ἐκ out of θεοῦ God κατέναντι down in front θεοῦ of God ἐν in Χριστῷ Christ λαλοῦμεν. we are speaking.

  • 2 Corinthians Study Notes—Chapter 2
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 2:17

      We are, for we are not: This is in answer to the question found at the end of verse 16. Paul is not presumptuous when stating that he and his fellow workers are qualified for such a ministry. Rather, he clearly shows that they speak as sent from God, that is, they recognize that they are fully dependent on God in order to be qualified. Also, their ministry is conducted in all sincerity, that is, with pure motives.​—2Co 3:4-6.

      for we are not peddlers of the word of God: Or “for we are not commercializing [or, “not making profit from”] God’s message.” In contrast with false teachers, Paul, the apostles, and their associates had good motives when they preached the pure message of God. The Greek verb rendered “to be a peddler” (ka·pe·leuʹo) was initially used to refer to someone engaging in retail business or an innkeeper, but it gradually included the idea of being deceptive and having greedy motives. A Greek word related to the one used here appears in the Septuagint at Isa 1:22 in the phrase “your wine merchants [“taverners”] mix the wine with water.” In the Greco-Roman world, wine was generally diluted with water before consumption. In order to make more money, some would increase the amount of water used to dilute the wine. Some scholars have therefore suggested that Paul was alluding to such dishonest wine dealers. The same metaphor was used in Greek literature to describe the activity of itinerant philosophers who peddled their teaching for money. When Paul spoke about many men who were “peddlers” of God’s word, he apparently had in mind false ministers who added human philosophies, traditions, and false religious ideas to Jehovah’s Word. As a result, they figuratively watered down God’s word, spoiling its fragrance and taste and weakening its power to impart joy.​—Ps 104:15; see study note on 2Co 4:2.