And marks the climax of the argument of verses 9-10. In some languages this word may be effectively kept in translation. Compare Mark 1.28, where the word And at the beginning of the sentence marks the climax or conclusion of a narrative. Another way of rendering this expression and the following clause is “At one time some of you were like this.”

The three following phrases are given emphasis in the Greek by the repetition of “but” (see King James Version). However, to repeat this word three times is not often natural in other languages. Revised Standard Version repeats you were and Good News Bible “you have been” to achieve a similar effect as that of the Greek text. These three clauses refer to different aspects, rather than successive stages, of what God has done for believers. A translation such as “you were purified, then dedicated, then put right with God” would be wrong.

You were washed is grammatically “you washed (yourself)” (similarly Moffatt), but the most likely meaning in this context is “you were washed” or “you have been washed.”

Good News Bible‘s translation “from sin” is implicit in the Greek, and the washed probably refers to baptism (compare Acts 22.16). New English Bible makes the reference to baptism clearer: “you have been through the purifying waters.” Revised English Bible is less clear, with “washed clean.”

You were sanctified (literally “made holy”) means “made to belong to” God or Christ; in other words, “God has claimed you for his own.” It could also be translated as “you have become God’s own people.”

You were justified: this is the only place in 1-2 Corinthians where Paul uses this verb with its full theological meaning (see comments on 1 Cor 4.4), though he uses it often in Romans and Galatians. The meaning is that of being acquitted or declared innocent by God, and so placed in a right relationship with him. Barclay has “you have entered into a new relationship with God.” Paul’s language, like that of this whole section, is legal, but the meaning of “justify” in nonfigurative language is close to that of “forgive.” Good News Bible‘s “put right with God” is a good translation in English.

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ should not be understood as “on behalf of Jesus Christ.” It is rather “by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ” and fits in well with the following phrase, in the Spirit of our God.

In some languages, to speak of our God implies that one owns God. To avoid this problem a translator may say “the God whom we serve.”

An alternative translation model for the whole verse is:
• Some of you were like that. But the Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of our God have cleansed you from sin, dedicated you to God, and put you right with God.

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 .