Well, there you have it. I am reading the New Catholic Bible. It doesn't mention anything about Paul actually being devious or deceitful.
But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty[pangouros], I caught you with guile[dolo].
2 Corinthians 12:16, KJV
And so be it. I have not burdened you, but instead, being astute, I obtained you by guile.
Catholic Public Domain Version
Cognate: 3835 panoúrgos – properly, a person
doing anything to get their way ("anything it takes").
3935 /paríēmi ("crafty-fellow") is used only in 2 Cor 12:16 where it describes a scoundrel (an unscrupulous person) who will do any evil to "succeed."
See 3834 (
panourgia).
1388 dólos – properly, bait; (figuratively) deceit (trickery) using
bait to
alure ("hook") people, especially those
already festering in
excessive,
emotional pain (brought on by themselves).
Also it's implied by the difference between what he said happened on the road to Damascus and what was reported in Acts 9.
And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: [it is] hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord [said] unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
Acts 9:5-6
And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
Delivering thee from the people, and [from] the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
To open their eyes, [and] to turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from] the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Acts 26:15-18