Commentators differ on whether Paul is being ironical or not in the first part of this verse. The word translated sensible here is the same as the word translated “wise” in 4.10. In 4.10 Paul is obviously ironical, even bitter. However, if the present passage is read by itself, there seems little or no indication of irony here. If this is so, verse 15a should be translated “by the way I speak, I am treating you as people who are in fact sensible” or “I am speaking to you because I know that you are sensible people.” In both Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible the present tense I speak is used. However, Paul is thinking of what he is about to say, and in some languages it may be necessary to make this clear by using a future tense. The Greek for sensible is an adjective used as a noun; men or “people” is implied, and women are not excluded.

In verse 15b for is implied, and yourselves is emphatic. The meaning is “don’t take my word for it, but come to your own conclusions.”

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 .