2 Corinthians 11:6

But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.

2 Corinthians 11:6, King James Version

2 Corinthians 11:6 in other translations

BSB	Although I am not a polished speaker, I am certainly not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every way possible.
WEB	But though I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not unskilled in knowledge. No, in every way we have been revealed to you in all things.
ASV	But though I be rude in speech, yet am I not in knowledge; nay, in every way have we made this manifest unto you in all things.
YLT	and even if unlearned in word--yet not in knowledge, but in every thing we were made manifest in all things to you.
DARBY	But if I am a simple person in speech, yet not in knowledge, but in everything making the truth manifest in all things to you.
BBE	But though I am rough in my way of talking, I am not so in knowledge, as we have made clear to all by our acts among you.
Webster	But though I am rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been thoroughly made manifest among you in all things.

What does 2 Corinthians 11:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

6. rude--Greek, "a common man"; a "laic"; not rhetorically trained; unskilled in finish of diction. 1Co 2:1-4, 13; 2Co 10:10, 11, shows his words were not without weight, though his "speech" was deficient in oratorical artifice. "Yet I am not so in my knowledge" (2Co 12:1-5; Ep 3:1-5). have been ... made manifest--Read with the oldest manuscripts, "We have made things (Gospel truths) manifest," thus showing our "knowledge." English Version would mean, I leave it to yourselves to decide whether I be rude in speech ... : for we have been thoroughly (literally, "in everything") made manifest among you (literally, "in respect to you"; "in relation to you"). He had not by reserve kept back his "knowledge" in divine mysteries from them (2Co 2:17; 4:2; Ac 20:20, 27). in all things--The Greek rather favors the translation, "among all men"; the sense then is, we have manifested the whole truth among all men with a view to your benefit [Alford]. But the Greek in Php 4:12, "In each thing and in all things," sanctions English Version, which gives a clearer sense.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 6. But though I be rude in speech. 2Cor 10:10. The word rendered rude here (ιδιωτης) means, properly, a private citizen, in opposition to one in a public station; then a plebeian, or one unlettered or unlearned, in opposition to one of more elevated rank, or one who is learned. Acts 4:13; 1Cor 14:16. The idea is, my language is that of a plain unlettered person. This was doubtless charged upon him by his enemies; and it may be that he designed in part to admit the truth of the charge.

Yet not in knowledge. I do not admit that I am ignorant of the religion which I profess to teach. I claim to be acquainted with the doctrines of Christianity. It does not appear that they charged him with ignorance. If it be asked how the admission that he was rude in speech consists with the fact that he was endowed by the Holy Spirit with the power of speaking languages, we may observe, that Paul had undoubtedly learned to speak Greek in his native place, (Tarsus in Cilicia,) and that the Greek which he had learned there was probably a corrupt kind, such as was spoken in that place. It was this Greek which he probably continued to speak; for there is no more reason to suppose that the Holy Spirit would aid him in speaking a language which he had thus early learned, than he would in speaking Hebrew. The endowments of the Holy Spirit were conferred to enable the apostles to speak languages which they had never learned, not in perfecting them in languages with which they were before acquainted. It may have been true, therefore, that Paul may have spoken some languages which he never learned with more fluency and perfection than he did those which he had learned to speak when he was young. See the remarks of the Archbishop of Cambray, as quoted by Doddridge in loc. It may be remarked, also, that some estimate of the manner of Paul on this point may be formed from his writings. Critics profoundly acquainted with the Greek language remark, that while there is great energy of thought and of diction in the writings of Paul, while he chooses or coins most expressive words, yet that there is everywhere a want of Attic elegance of manner, and of the smoothness and beauty which were so grateful to a Grecian ear.

But we have been throughly made manifest, etc. You have known all about me. I have concealed nothing from you, and you have had ample opportunity to become thoroughly acquainted with me. The meaning is, "I need not dwell on this. I need speak no more of my manner of speech or knowledge. With all that you are well acquainted."

(b) "I be rude" 1Cor 1:17, 2:1,13 (c) "in knowledge" Eph 3:4 (d) "among you" 2Cor 12:12

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 6 But though I be rude in speech - Ιδιωτης τῳ λογῳ Though I speak like a common unlettered man, in plain unadorned phrase, studying none of the graces of eloquence; yet I am not unskilled in the most profound knowledge of God, of spiritual and eternal things, of the nature of the human soul, and the sound truths of the Gospel system: ye yourselves are witnesses of this, as in all these things I have been thoroughly manifested among you. Inspired men received all their doctrines immediately from God, and often the very words in which those doctrines should be delivered to the world; but in general the Holy Spirit appears to have left them to their own language, preventing them from using any expression that might be equivocal, or convey a contrary sense to that which God intended. That St. Paul wrote a strong, nervous, and sufficiently pure language, his own writings sufficiently testify; but the graces of the Greek tongue he appears not to have studied, or at least he did not think it proper to use them; for perhaps there is no tongue in the world that is so apt to seduce the understanding by its sounds and harmony, as the Greek. It is not an unusual thing for Greek scholars to the present day to be in raptures with the harmony of a Greek verse, the sense of which is but little regarded, and perhaps is little worth! I should suppose that God would prevent the inspired writers from either speaking or writing thus, that sound might not carry the hearer away from sense; and that the persuasive force of truth might alone prevail, and the excellence of the power appear to be of God and not of man. Taking up the subject in this point of view, I see no reason to have recourse to the supposition, or fable rather, that the apostle had an impediment in his speech, and that he alludes to this infirmity in the above passage.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Corinthians 11:5-15

It is far better to be plain in speech, yet walking openly and consistently with the gospel, than to be admired by thousands, and be lifted up in pride, so as to disgrace the gospel by evil tempers and unholy lives. The apostle would not give room for any to accuse him of worldly designs in preaching the gospel, that others who opposed him at Corinth, might not in this respect gain advantage against him. Hypocrisy…

Read the full comment on 2 Corinthians 11:5-15 →

2 Corinthians 11:6 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

εἰeiIfG1487

δὲdehoweverG1161

καὶkaievenG2532

ἰδιώτηςidiōtēsunpolishedG2399

τῷtō<the>G3588

λόγῳ,logōin speech [I am],G3056

ἀλλ᾽all᾽yetG235

οὐounotG3756

τῇtēa<the>G3588

γνώσει,gnōseiin knowledge,G1108

ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235

ἐνeninG1722

παντὶpantievery [way]G3956

φανερώσαντεςphanerōsanteswere manifestedG5319

ἐνeninG1722

πᾶσινpasinall thingsG3956

εἰςeistoG1519

ὑμᾶς.humasyou.G4771

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Corinthians 11:6

1 Corinthians 1:17
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
Ephesians 3:4
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
2 Corinthians 4:2
But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
1 Corinthians 1:21
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
2 Peter 3:15-16
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
1 Corinthians 2:13
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1 Corinthians 2:1-3
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
2 Corinthians 10:10
For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
2 Corinthians 5:11
Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
2 Corinthians 12:12
Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
2 Corinthians 7:2
Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

rude.
10:10; 1Co 1:17,21; 2:1-3,13
not.
Eph 3:4; 2Pe 3:15,16
but we.
4:2; 5:11; 7:2; 12:12

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

2 Corinthians 11:5
For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.
2 Corinthians 11:6
But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.
2 Corinthians 11:7
Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?

Read all of 2 Corinthians 11

2 Corinthians 11:6 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Porque aunque soy basto en la palabra, empero no en la ciencia: mas en todo somos ya del todo manifiestos á vosotros.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et si même je suis un homme simple quant au langage, je ne le suis pourtant pas quant à la connaissance; mais nous avons été manifestés de toute manière, en toutes choses, envers vous.
German Elberfelder 1871	Wenn ich aber auch ein Unkundiger in der Rede bin, so doch nicht in der Erkenntnis; sondern in jeder Weise sind wir in allen Stücken gegen euch offenbar geworden.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Nam etsi imperitus sermone, sed non scientia, in omnibus autem manifestati sumus vobis.