As Good News Bible makes clear, the two halves of this verse balance one another; the Christian message neither began nor ended in Corinth. The implication is that the Corinthians have no right to decide independently of other Christian communities how Christians should believe (see verse 33b).

The two rhetorical questions expect the answer “No.” Paul is speaking ironically in contrast to his serious statements in 1.17; 11.23; and 15.3 about the source of his message.

What! is a rather idiomatic English expression. Most languages may leave this word out. In languages that do not use rhetorical questions, these two sentences can be rendered as positive statements: “The word of God did not originate with you. You are not the only ones….”

The difficult English expression “Or could it be” in Good News Bible can be rendered “Is it possible?”

The word of God generally has the meaning “a message from God,” and only secondarily “a message about God.” In the present context the expression refers to the Christian message. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “the Good News.”

Originate is literally “went out.” Good News Bible adopts the point of view of the readers of the letter and uses the verb “came.” Each translator must decide whether “go” or “come” is more natural in such a context.

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 .