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2 Corinthians 11

2 Co. 11:23 KJV (With Strong’s)

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23
Are they
eisi (Greek #1526)
they are
KJV usage: agree, are, be, dure, X is, were.
Pronounce: i-see'
Origin: 3d person plural present indicative of 1510
ministers
diakonos (Greek #1249)
an attendant, i.e. (genitive case) a waiter (at table or in other menial duties); specially, a Christian teacher and pastor (technically, a deacon or deaconess)
KJV usage: deacon, minister, servant.
Pronounce: dee-ak'-on-os
Origin: probably from an obsolete διάκω (to run on errands; compare 1377)
of Christ
Christos (Greek #5547)
anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus
KJV usage: Christ.
Pronounce: khris-tos'
Origin: from 5548
? (I
ego (Greek #1473)
a primary pronoun of the first person I (only expressed when emphatic)
KJV usage: I, me. For the other cases and the plural see 1691, 1698, 1700, 2248, 2249, 2254, 2257, etc.
Pronounce: eg-o'
speak
laleo (Greek #2980)
to talk, i.e. utter words
KJV usage: preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter. Compare 3004.
Pronounce: lal-eh'-o
Origin: a prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb
as a fool
paraphroneo (Greek #3912)
to misthink, i.e. be insane (silly)
KJV usage: as a fool.
Pronounce: par-af-ron-eh'-o
Origin: from 3844 and 5426
) I
huper (Greek #5228)
"over", i.e. (with the genitive case) of place, above, beyond, across, or causal, for the sake of, instead, regarding; with the accusative case superior to, more than
KJV usage: (+ exceeding, abundantly) above, in (on) behalf of, beyond, by, + very chiefest, concerning, exceeding (above, -ly), for, + very highly, more (than), of, over, on the part of, for sake of, in stead, than, to(-ward), very. In the comparative, it retains many of the above applications.
Pronounce: hoop-er'
Origin: a primary preposition
am more
huper (Greek #5228)
"over", i.e. (with the genitive case) of place, above, beyond, across, or causal, for the sake of, instead, regarding; with the accusative case superior to, more than
KJV usage: (+ exceeding, abundantly) above, in (on) behalf of, beyond, by, + very chiefest, concerning, exceeding (above, -ly), for, + very highly, more (than), of, over, on the part of, for sake of, in stead, than, to(-ward), very. In the comparative, it retains many of the above applications.
Pronounce: hoop-er'
Origin: a primary preposition
; in
en (Greek #1722)
"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
KJV usage: about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.
Pronounce: en
Origin: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537)
labors
kopos (Greek #2873)
a cut, i.e. (by analogy) toil (as reducing the strength), literally or figuratively; by implication, pains
KJV usage: labour, + trouble, weariness.
Pronounce: kop'-os
Origin: from 2875
g more abundant
perissoteros (Greek #4056)
more superabundantly
KJV usage: more abundant(-ly), X the more earnest, (more) exceedingly, more frequent, much more, the rather.
Pronounce: per-is-sot-er'-oce
Origin: adverb from 4055
, in
en (Greek #1722)
"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
KJV usage: about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.
Pronounce: en
Origin: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537)
stripes
plege (Greek #4127)
a stroke; by implication, a wound; figuratively, a calamity
KJV usage: plague, stripe, wound(-ed).
Pronounce: play-gay'
Origin: from 4141
h above measure
huperballontos (Greek #5234)
excessively
KJV usage: beyond measure.
Pronounce: hoop-er-bal-lon'-toce
Origin: adverb from present participle active of 5235
, in
en (Greek #1722)
"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
KJV usage: about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.
Pronounce: en
Origin: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537)
prisons
phulake (Greek #5438)
a guarding or (concretely, guard), the act, the person; figuratively, the place, the condition, or (specially), the time (as a division of day or night), literally or figuratively
KJV usage: cage, hold, (im-)prison(-ment), ward, watch.
Pronounce: foo-lak-ay'
Origin: from 5442
more frequent
perissoteros (Greek #4056)
more superabundantly
KJV usage: more abundant(-ly), X the more earnest, (more) exceedingly, more frequent, much more, the rather.
Pronounce: per-is-sot-er'-oce
Origin: adverb from 4055
, in
en (Greek #1722)
"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
KJV usage: about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.
Pronounce: en
Origin: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537)
deaths
thanatos (Greek #2288)
(properly, an adjective used as a noun) death (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: X deadly, (be...) death.
Pronounce: than'-at-os
Origin: from 2348
k oft
pollakis (Greek #4178)
many times, i.e. frequently
KJV usage: oft(-en, -entimes, -times).
Pronounce: pol-lak'-is
Origin: multiplicative adverb from 4183
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Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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ministers.
I am.
in labours.
in stripes.
in prison.
Hch. 9:16• 16Porque yo le mostraré cuánto le sea menester que padezca por mi nombre. (Hch. 9:16)
;
Hch. 16:24• 24El cual, recibido este mandamiento, los metió en la cárcel de más adentro; y les apretó los pies en el cepo. (Hch. 16:24)
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Hch. 20:23• 23Mas que el Espíritu Santo por todas las ciudades me da testimonio, diciendo que prisiones y tribulaciones me esperan. (Hch. 20:23)
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Hch. 21:11• 11Y venido á nosotros, tomó el cinto de Pablo, y atándose los pies y las manos, dijo: Esto dice el Espíritu Santo: Así atarán los Judíos en Jerusalem al varón cuyo es este cinto, y le entregarán en manos de los Gentiles. (Hch. 21:11)
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Hch. 24:26‑27• 26Esperando también con esto, que de parte de Pablo le serían dados dineros, porque le soltase; por lo cual, haciéndole venir muchas veces, hablaba con él.
27Mas al cabo de dos años recibió Félix por sucesor á Porcio Festo: y queriendo Félix ganar la gracia de los Judíos, dejó preso á Pablo.
(Hch. 24:26‑27)
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Hch. 25:14• 14Y como estuvieron allí muchos días, Festo declaró la causa de Pablo al rey, diciendo: Un hombre ha sido dejado preso por Félix, (Hch. 25:14)
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Hch. 27:1• 1Mas como fué determinado que habíamos de navegar para Italia, entregaron á Pablo y algunos otros presos á un centurión, llamado Julio, de la compañía Augusta. (Hch. 27:1)
;
Hch. 28:16,30• 16Y como llegamos á Roma, el centurión entregó los presos al prefecto de los ejércitos, mas á Pablo fué permitido estar por sí, con un soldado que le guardase.
30Pablo empero, quedó dos años enteros en su casa de alquiler, y recibía á todos los que á él venían,
(Hch. 28:16,30)
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Ef. 3:1• 1Por esta causa yo Pablo, prisionero de Cristo Jesús por vosotros los Gentiles, (Ef. 3:1)
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Ef. 4:1• 1Yo pues, preso en el Señor, os ruego que andéis como es digno de la vocación con que sois llamados; (Ef. 4:1)
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Ef. 6:20• 20Por el cual soy embajador en cadenas; que resueltamente hable de él, como debo hablar. (Ef. 6:20)
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Fil. 1:13• 13De manera que mis prisiones han sido célebres en Cristo en todo el pretorio, y á todos los demás; (Fil. 1:13)
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2 Ti. 1:8,16• 8Por tanto no te avergüences del testimonio de nuestro Señor, ni de mí, preso suyo; antes sé participante de los trabajos del evangelio según la virtud de Dios,
16Dé el Señor misericordia á la casa de Onesíforo; que muchas veces me refrigeró, y no se avergonzó de mi cadena:
(2 Ti. 1:8,16)
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2 Ti. 2:9• 9En el que sufro trabajo, hasta las prisiones á modo de malhechor; mas la palabra de Dios no está presa. (2 Ti. 2:9)
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Flm. 9• 9Ruégo te más bien por amor, siendo tal cual soy, Pablo viejo, y aun ahora prisionero de Jesucristo: (Flm. 9)
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He. 10:34• 34Porque de mis prisiones también os resentisteis conmigo, y el robo de vuestros bienes padecisteis con gozo, conociendo que tenéis en vosotros una mejor sustancia en los cielos, y que permanece. (He. 10:34)
in deaths.
 It is hardly exposition that is needed here, but thanksgiving for the grace bestowed of God on a man of like passions with ourselves, when the eye surveys such a roll of suffering labor for Christ (Notes on 2 Corinthians 11:22-33 by W. Kelly)
 Here in fact God has allowed this invasion of the Apostle’s work by these wretched Judaizing men (calling themselves Christians) to be the means of acquainting us with something of the indefatigable labors of the Apostle, carried on in a thousand circumstances of which we have no account. In the Acts, God has given us the history of the establishment of the assembly in the great principles on which it was founded, and the phases through which it passed on coming out of Judaism. The Apostle will have his own reward in the kingdom of glory, not by speaking of it among men. (2 Corinthians 11 by J.N. Darby)
 He turns from his very abundant labors to the excess of stripes which had befallen him, his very abundant imprisonments, and his frequent exposures to death. Those who sought to undermine him might boast of their learning or their originality, their logic or their imagination, their depth of thought or their piquancy of illustration. (Notes on 2 Corinthians 11:22-33 by W. Kelly)
 He puts them to shame with (not miracles but) sufferings. (Notes on 2 Corinthians 11:22-33 by W. Kelly)

J. N. Darby Translation

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23
Are they ministersa of Christ? (I speak as being beside myself) *I* above measure sob; in labours exceedingly abundant, in stripes to excess, in prisons exceedingly abundant, in deaths oft.

JND Translation Notes

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a
Diakonos. see Note. 1 Cor. 4.1.
b
The word here translated "above measure" is so used constantly by the apostle, though not indeed separated from the word it refers to. But I do not find that it is used adverbially for "more than"; and the expression "as being beside myself" seems to refer to the extra-ordinariness of what he was saying, for he felt that to say "minister of Christ" was to say all that was excellent. Hence he does not repeat "in folly," but says "as being beside myself," "wandering quite away from a right mind." His own heart did not allow him to say he was "minister of Christ" without judging the expression, though forced to use it for these foolish Corinthians. The word translated "exceedingly abundant" is not really a comparison, and the words translated "to excess" and "oft" show that no comparison with others is instituted. He left his miserable competitor far behind, and his soul turned back with true heartfelt satisfaction to all he had undergone for Christ. His folly is given to us for gain by God. However, if anyone prefer "more than they" or "beyond them" to "above measure," in result the sense is not altered, though, it seems to me, feebler and more disjointed.

W. Kelly Translation

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23
Are they ministers of Christ? (Beside myself I speak) I above measure; in labours very abundantlya, in prisons very abundantly, in stripes exceedingly, in deaths often.

WK Translation Notes

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a
No doubt the comparative occurs both with "labours" and with "prisons," Were there only the two comparatives employed, it would be strange to depart from the literal meaning "more abundantly." But as the context stands before and after, and taking account of the moral considerations, as well as the delicate dignity of the apostle, I incline to the version given as preferable.