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 12:20

12:20 For I am afraid that somehow when I come I will not find you what I wish, and you will find me ⁶  not what you wish. I am afraid that ⁷  somehow there may be quarreling, jealousy, intense anger, selfish ambition, ⁸  slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.

[11:3]  ¹ tn Grk “I fear lest somehow.”

[11:3]  ² tn Or “the snake.”

[11:3]  ³ tn Or “craftiness.”

[11:3]  ⁴ tn Or “corrupted,” “seduced.”

[11:3]  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.”

[12:20]  ⁶ tn Grk “and I will be found by you.” The passive construction has been converted to an active one in the translation.

[12:20]  ⁷ tn The words “I am afraid that” are not repeated in the Greek text, but are needed for clarity.

[12:20]  ⁸ tn Or “intense anger, hostility.”