This verse is full of minor difficulties, though the general sense is fairly clear.

The first two Greek words, which Revised Standard Version translates Moreover, are not found together anywhere else in the New Testament. Both are used separately as transitionals, and many commentators and translations understand them in this way. The UBS Concise Greek-English Dictionary gives the meaning “moreover, in this connection” for this verse. However, the first word by itself may mean either “here in this place” or “thus, as it is….” If the more common meaning “here” is taken, Paul may already be implying the contrast between human and divine judgment which he makes explicit later on. This seems to make better sense; otherwise “thus” or similar expressions such as “therefore” add nothing to the sentence and are equivalent to the first word in verse 1. If the word means “here” in this verse, one may rephrase this passage as “Here (in this world, or in this matter [New Jerusalem Bible]) the one thing required of such….” Most translations appear to choose the meaning “thus.”

The second Greek word means Moreover, “as for the rest,” or “in addition to.” It marks a shift to another aspect of Paul’s argument.

The text which is translated required is uncertain. Greek manuscripts vary between it is required and “you require,” which may also be an imperative “require!” Most translations take the meaning as it is required. On the whole, the context suggests that at this point Paul is stating a basic principle rather than appealing to his readers. So it is required is a preferable rendering. Some translators will prefer to use an active verb here as Barclay does: “the first quality that anyone looks for….” If an active verb is used, its subject may be either singular (“anyone”) or plural (“people”), with no difference in meaning; for example, “the first quality that people look for in a….” There is no suggestion of God requiring anything.

Luther’s (Luther 1984) translation has “no more is required than that they be found faithful.” This is rather misleading; “no more … than” is neither expressed nor implied in the text.

Of stewards translates a plural noun in Greek but refers to servants as a class, not to any particular servant. Good News Bible‘s “servant” is thus a better rendering in modern English (see comment on verse 1).

In biblical Greek the verb be found sometimes refers to the result of an official inquiry. It thus can mean “be shown to be” or “prove to be,” as for example in Rom 7.10; 1 Cor 15.15; 2 Cor 5.3. This may be the meaning here too.

Good News Bible‘s “to their master” is not in the Greek but is added to show what kind of faithfulness is intended here. However, in some New Testament texts such as Heb 3.2, 5, the word for trustworthy or “faithful” (Good News Bible) suggests not only general “reliability” (Barclay) but also effectiveness in a particular office. This would fit the present context well, the office being in this case that of an apostle or evangelist. One could then render this phrase as “that they be effective workers” or “that they do their job in a trustworthy way.”

An alternative translation model for this verse is:
• Therefore, the first quality that people look for in servants is that they do their job in a trustworthy way.

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 .