2 Corinthians 11:3

tn Grk “I fear lest somehow.”

tn Or “the snake.”

tn Or “craftiness.”

tn Or “corrupted,” “seduced.”

tc Although most mss (א2 H Ψ 0121 0243 1739 1881 𝔐) lack “and pure” (καὶ τῆς ἁγνότητος, kai tēs hagnotētos; Grk “and purity”) several important and early witnesses (𝔓46 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 (haplotētos, “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.”