Therefore indicates the conclusion of this part of Paul’s argument; the conclusion is not a statement but a command (as in 3.21).

Good News Bible is correct in supplying the word “anyone” in the first sentence. Revised Standard Version‘s rendering is too vague. Although Paul is thinking mainly of himself and Apollos (verse 6), his thought has a wider range, as all things showed in 3.21-22, as well as his reference to wrong judgments in 3.18. Here, in contrast to verses 3-4, the verb for pronounce judgment is the simple form krinō, referring not to an examination by a judge, but to the verdict at the end of the trial (as in Matt 7.1). Since Paul uses both anakrinō and krinō in verses 1-5, he probably intended a different meaning for each.

Before the time does not give the full sense of the Greek. Good News Bible‘s “before the right time” is a better translation (similarly New Jerusalem Bible “the due time”). The word for time in this verse refers to the right time, opportunity, or “psychological moment” for something to happen. In this context “the right time” is when the Lord comes.

The Lord, as in verse 4 and generally in Paul’s writings, is Christ.

The things now hidden in darkness: Revised Standard Version‘s now is not in the Greek, but the word Then in the final sentence shows that now is intended. Then, of course, refers to the future judgment. The clause who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness may also be rendered as “he will bring the hidden things out of the darkness into light” or “he will bring the dark secrets out into the light.”

Heart: in Hebrew thought, the heart was the seat of the intellect and will, much more than of the emotions. In this verse the stress is on a person’s power of thought. So translators should use the part of the body in their languages where the thinking process is presumed to occur.

Every man is literally “each one” (see 1.12; 3.5, 8, 10, 13). This term could be taken as referring only to Paul and Apollos, but Paul more likely is thinking ahead to the wider application in verses 6-8. Good News Bible‘s “all” weakens the meaning; as in 3.8 Paul expects different rewards for different achievements.

The difference between commendation here and “reward” in 3.14 is not as great as might at first appear. The nonmaterial “reward” is an expression of God’s approval at the final judgment, and commendation in this context has the meaning “gives a favorable verdict.”

From God is emphatic in the Greek, implying “not from men,” as in Rom 2.29. Translators in many languages will need to use active rather than passive verbs in this verse; for example, “Then God will give to every person the praise which he deserves” or “Then God will praise each person as that person deserves.”

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 .