Parallel Verses
International Standard Version
Have you been thinking all along that we are trying to defend ourselves before you? We are speaking before God in the authority of the Messiah, and everything, dear friends, is meant to build you up.
New American Standard Bible
All this time
King James Version
Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
Holman Bible
You have thought all along that we were defending ourselves to you.
A Conservative Version
Again, do ye think that we are making defense to you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edification.
American Standard Version
Ye think all this time that we are excusing ourselves unto you. In the sight of God speak we in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying.
Amplified
All this time you have been thinking that we are [merely] defending ourselves to you. It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking [as one] in Christ; and everything, dearly beloved, is to strengthen you [spiritually].
An Understandable Version
You have been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves [have you not]? We are [simply] speaking [the truth] before God in [fellowship with] Christ. But everything [we are doing], dear friends, is to build you up [spiritually].
Anderson New Testament
Do you think again that we offer you a defense of ourselves? We speak all these things before God in Christ, beloved, for your edification.
Bible in Basic English
It may seem to you that all this time we have been attempting to put ourselves in the right; but we are saying these things before God in Christ. For all things, dear brothers, are for your profit.
Common New Testament
Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves before you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved.
Daniel Mace New Testament
do you think I have been making excuses for not coming? as I am a christian, in the presence of God, I have, my beloved, in every thing consulted your advantage.
Darby Translation
Ye have long been supposing that we excuse ourselves to you: we speak before God in Christ; and all things, beloved, for your building up.
Godbey New Testament
For a long time you were thinking that I am apologizing to you. We speak before God in Christ; but all things, beloved, are for your edification.
Goodspeed New Testament
Have you been supposing all along that it is before you I have been defending myself? It is in the sight of God and as a follower of Christ that I have been speaking. But it is all to do you good, dear friends,
John Wesley New Testament
Think ye that we again excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all things, beloved, for your edification.
Julia Smith Translation
Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves to you? before God in Christ we speak: and all things, beloved, for your building up.
King James 2000
Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
Lexham Expanded Bible
Have you been thinking all this time that we are defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and all [these things], dear friends, [are] for your edification.
Modern King James verseion
Again, do you think we are defending ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ, but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your building up.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves? We speak in Christ in the sight of God. But we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
Moffatt New Testament
You think all this time I am defending myself to you? No, I am speaking in Christ before the presence of God, and speaking every word, beloved, in order to build you up.
Montgomery New Testament
Do you think that all this time I am defending myself to you? It is before the presence of God that I am speaking in Christ; and all, beloved, for your upbuilding.
NET Bible
Have you been thinking all this time that we have been defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and everything we do, dear friends, is to build you up.
New Heart English Bible
Have you been thinking all this time that we have been defending ourselves before you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ; and all things, beloved, are for your edifying.
Noyes New Testament
Have ye been thinking this long time that we are defending ourselves to you? It is before God in Christ that we are speaking; but all things, beloved, for your edification.
Sawyer New Testament
Do you again think that we are defending ourselves? We speak in Christ before God; all these things, beloved, are for your edification.
The Emphasized Bible
All this time, think ye, that, unto you, we are making a defence? Before God in Christ, we speak; - but all these things, beloved, for your upbuilding.
Thomas Haweis New Testament
Think ye that we are again making an apology to you? In the sight of God speak we in Christ: but all things, beloved, for your edification.
Twentieth Century New Testament
Have you all this time been fancying that it is to you that we are making our defense? No, it is in the sight of God, and in union with Christ, that we are speaking. And all this, dear friends, is to build up your characters;
Webster
Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves to you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edification.
Weymouth New Testament
You are imagining, all this time, that we are making our defense at your bar. In reality it is as in God's presence and in communion with Christ that we speak; but, dear friends, it is all with a view to your progress in goodness.
Williams New Testament
Are you thinking all this time that I am defending myself to you? It is in the very presence of God and as one who is in union with Christ that I am speaking. And it is all for building you up, beloved, for I am apprehensive that, somehow or other, when I come I shall find you not as I want to find you, and that you may find me not as you want to find me.
World English Bible
Again, do you think that we are excusing ourselves to you? In the sight of God we speak in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying.
Worrell New Testament
Think ye all this time that we are excusing ourselves to you? Before God in Christ we are speaking; and all, beloved, for your edification.
Worsley New Testament
Do ye then think that we are making apologies to you? No, we speak before God in Christ: and all, my beloved, for your edification.
Youngs Literal Translation
Again, think ye that to you we are making defence? before God in Christ do we speak; and the all things, beloved, are for your up-building,
Topics
Interlinear
Apologeomai
De
Pas
References
Fausets
Hastings
Word Count of 37 Translations in 2 Corinthians 12:19
Verse Info
Context Readings
Paul's Concern For The Christians At Corinth
18 I encouraged Titus to visit you, and I sent along with him the brother you know so well. Titus didn't take advantage of you, did he? We conducted ourselves with the same spirit, didn't we? We took the very same steps, didn't we? 19 Have you been thinking all along that we are trying to defend ourselves before you? We are speaking before God in the authority of the Messiah, and everything, dear friends, is meant to build you up. 20 I am afraid that I may come and somehow find you not as I want to find you, and that you may find me not as you want to find me. Perhaps there will be quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly conduct.
Cross References
Romans 9:1
I am telling the truth because I belong to the Messiah I am not lying, and my conscience confirms it by means of the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 10:8
So if I boast a little too much about our authority, which the Lord gave us to build you up and not to tear you down, I will not be ashamed of it.
1 Corinthians 14:26
What, then, does this mean, brothers? When you gather, everyone has a psalm, teaching, revelation, foreign language, or interpretation. Everything must be done for upbuilding.
Romans 12:19
Do not take revenge, dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath. For it is written, "Vengeance belongs to me. I will pay them back, declares the Lord."
1 Corinthians 9:12-23
If others enjoy this right over you, don't we have a stronger claim? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we tolerate everything in order not to put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of the Messiah.
1 Corinthians 10:14
And so, my dear friends, keep on running away from idolatry.
1 Corinthians 10:33
just as I myself try to please everybody in every way. I don't look out for my own benefit, but rather for the benefit of many people, so that they might be saved.
2 Corinthians 3:1
Are we beginning to recommend ourselves again? Unlike some people, we do not need letters of recommendation to you or from you, do we?
2 Corinthians 5:12-13
We are not recommending ourselves to you again but are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so that you can answer those who are proud of outward things rather than inward character.
2 Corinthians 7:1
Since we have these promises, dear friends, let's cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit by becoming mature in our holy fear of God.
2 Corinthians 11:10
As surely as the truth of the Messiah is in me, my boasting will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia.
2 Corinthians 11:31
The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.
2 Corinthians 12:15
I will be very glad to spend my money and myself for you. Do you love me less because I love you so much?
2 Corinthians 13:10
For this reason I am writing this while I am away from you: When I come I do not want to be severe in using the authority the Lord gave me to build you up and not to tear you down.
Philippians 4:1
Therefore, my dear brothers whom I long for, my joy and my victor's crown, this is how you must stand firm in the Lord, dear friends.