For links verse 27, not directly to verse 26, but to the earlier argument, especially verse 24. It may therefore be better to omit For in translation, especially since it is not part of the quotation.
Good News Bible‘s “the scripture says” is implied and may be added to make the meaning of the text clear. The words that follow come from Psa 8.6. Paul’s readers would have known that these words were an Old Testament quotation. See comments on 1.19.
Comparison of Revised Standard Version with Good News Bible shows that in four places Good News Bible makes the meaning clearer by replacing pronouns (it, he, him) with nouns (“the scripture,” “God,” “Christ”). This is the most probable understanding of the verse, and Good News Bible‘s example is recommended to translators.
As in verse 25, God is implied but should be added by translators to show clearly who is doing the action put … under his feet. In Psa 8.6 God is speaking to “the son of man,” meaning “man” in the sense of “humanity.” The fact that Jesus often spoke of himself as “the Son of man” may have made New Testament writers understand that in this psalm, as in Psa 110.1, God is speaking to Christ (see also Heb 2.6-9).
The word translated put is stronger than “put” (“set,” “placed”) in verse 25, but the same as put at the end of this verse. The word explicitly expresses the idea of being subordinate or subject to another power. Paul understands the second quotation in the light of the first.
Good News Bible prints “all” in italics for emphasis, contrary to the usual Good News Bible style. There is, of course, nothing corresponding to italics in the Greek manuscripts. However, translators may use italics here to help the reader see in advance that this is the keyword of the quotation, and to suggest that it be given vocal emphasis or stress when read aloud.
His feet: Paul is applying the word his in the quotation to Christ. However, a translator may not expand his feet to “Christ’s feet.” The reference in Psa 8.6 is to “the son of man.”
But when it says … it is plain: many languages cannot talk about written texts saying or speaking. Also, in some languages it will be appropriate to place the phrase it is plain in front of “but where it says.” Good News Bible‘s translation, “It is clear, of course, that the words…,” will be a good model for many languages.
Revised Standard Version translates verse 27b quite literally, whereas Good News Bible abbreviates the text for stylistic purposes by avoiding some of the repetition. In many languages Good News Bible‘s abbreviated version will be adequate.
In repeating the verb put in subjection under, Paul changes the tense to make it refer to a continuous process covering both past and present. He is conscious that the process is not yet complete. However, Paul’s comment here has another purpose, namely, to show that God is not included in the all things that will be subjected to Christ. The clause who puts all things under him may be rendered as “who causes Christ to rule over all things.”
He is excepted is quite difficult English. Good News Bible‘s “do not include God himself” gives the meaning clearly.
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 .