2 Corinthians 11:3
11:3 But I am afraid that 1 just as the serpent 2 deceived Eve by his treachery, 3 your minds may be led astray 4 from a sincere and pure 5 devotion to Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:11-13
11:11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do! 6
11:12 And what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may eliminate any opportunity for those who want a chance to be regarded as our equals 7 in the things they boast about.
11:13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful 8 workers, disguising themselves 9 as apostles of Christ.
1 tn Grk “I fear lest somehow.”
2 tn Or “the snake.”
3 tn Or “craftiness.”
4 tn Or “corrupted,” “seduced.”
5 tc Although most mss (א2 H Ψ 0121 0243 1739 1881 Ï) lack “and pure” (καὶ τῆς ἁγνότητος, kai th" Jagnothto"; Grk “and purity”) several important and early witnesses (Ì46 א* B D[2] F G 33 81 104 pc ar r co) retain these words. Their presence in such mss across such a wide geographical distribution argues for their authenticity. The omission from the majority of mss can be explained by haplography, since the -τητος ending of ἁγνότητος is identical to the ending of ἁπλότητος (Japlothto", “sincerity”) three words back (ἁπλότητος καὶ τῆς ἁγνότητος); further, since the meanings of “sincerity” and “purity” are similar they might seem redundant. A copyist would scarcely notice the omission because Paul’s statement still makes sense without “and from purity.”
6 tn Grk “God knows!” The words “I do” are supplied for clarity. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
7 tn Grk “an opportunity, so that they may be found just like us.”
8 tn Or “dishonest.”
9 tn Or “workers, masquerading.”