Translation commentary on 1 Corinthians 15:36

You foolish man! is unusually blunt for Paul, but the same language is used in Luke 11.40; 12.20; similar language in Eph 5.17; and an equally strong expression in Matt 15.14. It should be remembered that Paul is addressing, not a real individual, but a typical objector, who grammatically may be male or female, so Revised Standard Version‘s man is unnecessary. Some translations use softer expressions: Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch “how can you ask such a question?”; New Jerusalem Bible has “how foolish!”;Revised English Bible “What stupid questions.”

Man means “person.”

The second you is singular and emphatic, meaning not “someone” but “you who are asking the question.”

Sow in Greek simply refers to scattering seed on the surface, as in Mark 4.3 and the following verses. However, “plant a seed” (Good News Bible) will in many languages be a better picture, especially in the light of a bare kernel (Good News Bible‘s “bare seed”) in verse 37.

Does not come to life unless it dies may be expanded as “unless it first dies, it will not come to life again as a plant.” Dies is what the text says, and therefore what must be translated. Paul does not write as a modern botanist; he means that the seed must cease to exist as a seed before it can become a plant. A similar thought is expressed in John 12.24.

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 .

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