The phrase But with me brings out the suggestion of a contrast more clearly than Good News Bible‘s “I,” which is emphatic in the Greek. If we understand verse 2 correctly, verse 3 implies “Whatever happens here in earthly law courts, I am subject, not to this kind of judgment, but to the higher judgment of Christ.” Paul states this explicitly later in the sentence, which in Greek runs to the end of verse 4. Verse 3 would then not be about Paul’s feelings or his inward state of mind, as Good News Bible‘s “concerned” might suggest. The verse is about Paul’s real status as someone who is responsible to Christ, who appointed him as an apostle. It is possible, then, to translate this sentence as “As for me, whether you or any human court judge me, it is of no importance.”
Verses 3-4 use a verb for “judge” (anakrinō) which comes from the root verb for “judge” (krinō) used in verse 5 (compare 2.14-15; 2 Cor 5.10). Among the possible meanings of anakrinō are (1) “cross-question” (Moffatt), (2) “pass judgment on” (New English Bible, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible), or more generally (3) “interrogate,” “examine” (Translator’s New Testament “call to account”). The immediate context (especially human court) suggests the latter general meaning of examining a witness or an accused person. In certain languages the expression for judge will be an idiom; for example “cut the words” (Yapese).
By any human court is literally “by a human day.” “Day” was used in 3.13 to refer to the Judgment Day. This sentence may be restructured in a way similar to Good News Bible as “that other people may judge me according to their standards.” One could also combine this sentence with the one which precedes it; for example, “It is not important whether you or anyone else judges me.”
The last few words of the verse move to a fresh aspect of Paul’s theme. Many translations agree with Good News Bible and Revised Standard Version in using the word even, but the text does not necessarily mean that Paul considers his own conscience higher than that of any human court, though this idea was common Stoic teaching in Paul’s time. Since verse 4b expresses the main point that Christ’s judgment is final, it is probably best to leave out even in this verse. Bible en français courant has “nor do I judge myself.” The word “myself” (Good News Bible) is not emphatic as in “I did it myself,” but is rather reflexive as in “I washed myself.”
Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, 2nd edition. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1985/1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .