Verses 1-3 all have a similar structure. Verse 1 begins with a condition, and verses 2 and 3 with two conditions each. In each case the conditional clauses are followed by the words but have not love and then by the main clause in the Greek. Problems in translation arise in deciding whether the conditions are likely to be fulfilled. For example, does Paul actually have prophetic powers, the ability to preach God’s message (verse 2)? In 14.18 Paul certainly claims the gift of speaking with tongues, and in 14.6 he claims the gift of prophecy in the Christian sense (see comments on 12.10). However, it is quite uncertain whether he gave away everything he had (verse 3a), and he clearly had not given up his body to be burned (verse 3b). The whole section is so conditional in tone that Paul may be understood as taking his own situation, in very general terms, as an example (compare 4.6), rather than speaking directly of his personal experience. Good News Bible‘s repeated “I may…” expresses this very well in English. Revised English Bible has a similar translation. Other ways of showing this possibly contrary to fact or hypothetical situation are: “If it should happen that I am able to speak … but I don’t have love” or “Suppose that I should be able to speak….” In some languages it may be necessary to use the word “one” instead of “I” and say “If it should happen that one….”
Men means human beings, both male and female. Tongues of men can be translated “human languages.”
And of angels may be expressed as “even those of angels” or “even those that angels speak.”
The Greek word translated love was not common in pre-Christian times. In the New Testament it is used primarily in speaking of God’s or Christ’s love for human beings. However, it is also used of the love of Christians, usually for one another, as in this chapter. In 1 the word “care” has a similar meaning. King James Version‘s “charity” has in modern English the narrower meaning of generosity to the poor, and this meaning should be avoided in the translation of this chapter.
But have not love may also be rendered as “But if I do not love.”
Gong: according to the context the Greek word means either a metal such as copper or bronze, or something made out of metal, such as coins, or it may refer to armor. The mention of a cymbal or “bell” (Good News Bible) immediately after this word suggests that here a musical instrument such as a gong is intended. The cymbal in ancient times was a metal basin used like modern cymbals, in pairs, to produce a musical sound. Good News Bible replaces cymbal by “bell” as being more widely understood. Other translators will have to decide what musical instruments in their cultures carry the same meaning, if there are no gongs or cymbals.
The term translated noisy (Good News Bible‘s “clanging”) is used in Mark 5.38 of the loud noise made by mourners. Some languages may use only one word to describe the sound of a gong and cymbal. One could say, for example, “a gong or cymbal that is sending out clanging noises.”
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 .