But suggests a contrast with the immediately preceding clause. The Greek is literally “but being judged by the Lord we are disciplined….” Most translations understand the participle “being judged” to refer to judgments that fall on both Paul and his readers, though the rest of the verse shows that they are not yet the final judgment of the world. If so, Revised Standard Version‘s when we are judged is correct. However, the participle may also be understood as making a concession: “(even) if we are judged…,” as in Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente and Thai Common Language Version. The translation “if” would bring verse 32a closer in meaning to verse 31a: “But if we judged ourselves….”

The word translated chastened may also mean “educated” or “disciplined.” Paul’s thought moves for a moment from the law courts to the family or the school. For the meaning, compare Heb 12.5-11. Translator’s New Testament has “we are being disciplined,” implying the activity of Christ. Revised English Bible‘s “he is disciplining us” seems to give the meaning of this verb. “Correction” is also a possibility. Both the acts of “judging” and “disciplining” are seen as being done by the Lord. So Good News Bible‘s restructuring is probably better than Revised Standard Version‘s rather literal translation.

So that we may not be condemned indicates the purpose of the discipline: “in order that Christians may not, in the end, fall under God’s general condemnation of the world.” The passive be condemned suggests the activity of God or Christ, probably God, if the last judgment is intended. Here, as elsewhere, the world means society, including nonhuman powers, organized in rebellion against God (compare 1.20-21; 2.12).

In languages that do not normally use the passive voice, the following is a possible model: “But the Lord judges and disciplines us so that in the end God will not have to condemn us along with the world.”

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 .