Grace means “God’s gift” (see comments on 1.3).

I am what I am is Paul’s tactful way of saying “I have become an apostle.” One may say “But what I am today, I am by God’s grace” or “But God’s grace has made me what I am today, that is, an apostle.”

His grace toward me is rather literal. Good News Bible‘s “the grace that he gave me” brings out more clearly the meaning of grace as God’s gift here, specifically, the gift of being an apostle.

Was not in vain: literally “did not become in vain.” It means “was not wasted,” “was not worthless,” or the positive statement “was effective.” The whole clause can be rendered as “God’s gifts to me were not wasted” or “… were effective.”

Most translations smooth away an awkward double contrast or change of direction in Greek; literally “… his grace toward me did not prove to be without effect, but I worked more than they all, (but) not I but the grace of God which was with me.” On the level of style, the awkwardness arises from the repetition of the word but (the “but” in parentheses translates a different and weaker word). On the level of meaning the problem is that, as in other places, Paul is trying to express two contrasts at the same time: (1) “God’s grace did not prove to be without effect; on the contrary, I worked harder than everyone else,” and (2) “God’s grace, not I, did the work.” In the immediate context (the middle of verse 10) contrast (2) is an afterthought, but in the wider context (verses 9-10) God’s grace is the main theme. In translation the simplest solution is probably to translate the two buts differently, as Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible do with On the contrary and though. Within (2), languages vary as to whether it is more effective to put the negative or the positive half of the contrast first. The Greek emphasizes the clause the grace of God which is with me by putting it at the end of the sentence.

Any of them means “the other apostles” (Good News Bible). This should be made clear in translation.

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 .