Passage

2 Corinthians 11.14

Book: 2 Corinthians · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"12. But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them that desire an occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. 13. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ."

"14. And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light."

"15. It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works. 16. I say again, let no man think me foolish; but if ye do, yet as foolish receive me, that I also may glory a little." (2 Corinthians 11:12-16, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"12. But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them that desire an occasion, that in which they boast, they may be found even as we. 13. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ’s apostles."

"14. And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light."

"15. It is no great thing therefore if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. 16. I say again, let no one think me foolish. But if so, yet receive me as foolish, that I also may boast a little." (2 Corinthians 11:12-16, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"12. But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. 13. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ."

"14. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."

"15. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. 16. I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little. ^{receive: or, suffer}" (2 Corinthians 11:12-16, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"12. and what I do, I also will do, that I may cut off the occasion of those wishing an occasion, that in that which they boast they may be found according as we also; 13. for those such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ,"

"14. and no wonder, for even the Adversary doth transform himself into a messenger of light;"

"15. no great thing, then, if also his ministrants do transform themselves as ministrants of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works. 16. Again I say, may no one think me to be a fool; and if otherwise, even as a fool receive me, that I also a little may boast." (2 Corinthians 11:12-16, YLT)

Setting

Speaker: Paul the Apostle
Audience: Christian believers in Corinth
Location: composed in Macedonia; addressed to Corinth
Time period: composed c. AD 56

Theological reading

Key words

G4567 - satanas, satanas (Strong's G4567). Also appears in: Mark 3.20-30, Acts 5.3-4, Revelation 12.9.

Quoted in

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.