In this verse Paul is putting an end to the discussion that he opened by his statements in verses 4-5. So in English the use of “But” (Good News Bible) before If helps to conclude a section of Paul’s argument. In certain other languages as well, it will be helpful to begin this verse with “But.”
If any one is disposed to be contentious may be translated as “But if anyone disagrees with me” or “… thinks that what I am saying is wrong.”
It will be useful in many languages to add the words “about it,” as Good News Bible has done, to refer back to the question about “women’s head coverings.” One can also say “about this matter” or “about this problem.”
It is necessary to add words such as “all I have to say is that” (Good News Bible), to make the link with the second part of the verse clear. Bijbel in Gewone Taal says “I answer that”; New English Bible (not Revised English Bible) has “let me tell you.” Or one can say “I will say just this one thing.”
It is not clear to whom the word we refers in this verse. The pronoun is limited by contrast with the churches of God. Some commentators think that Paul is speaking of himself alone; others, that he is including the Christian community in the place in which he is writing, or more narrowly, Sosthenes (see 1.1). If Paul is including a Christian community in the meaning of we, the end of the verse must be translated “the other churches of God.” Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente has followed this interpretation, “the other communities,” but this is not in the Greek text. Revised English Bible gives a similar meaning without adding the word “other”: “… or in any of the congregations of God’s people.” Phillips has “we and the churches of God generally…,” meaning “most churches.” This last is the most likely solution, since Paul speaks of himself, using the first person singular, in verse 17 of this chapter, and there is no suggestion anywhere else in the letter that Sosthenes played any significant part in its writing. In any case, “we” is exclusive, since Paul does not include the people in Corinth. A good sample translation is: “neither I nor the churches of God generally….”
The plural churches in this verse indicates local Christian communities rather than a wider group of churches as in the church of God in 1.2; 10.32.
Concerning the addition of the words “in worship” in Good News Bible and some other translations, see the introduction to 11.2-16.
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 .