For is not in the Greek text, even though generally Greek marks the connections between sentences more clearly than modern English does. But here, although it is clear that this verse gives the reason for Paul’s instructions in verse 18, For is not expressed in the Greek. Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible have done well to make the meaning clearer in modern English.

Modern translations restructure the Greek sentence to some extent. In the original, the repetition is effective style: “circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing.” In other languages, though, it may be more effective style to combine the two clauses. This will make the meaning of counts for anything (Good News Bible‘s “means nothing”) clearer. An American Translation, for example, has “being circumcised or being uncircumcised does not make any difference.” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch goes even further: “it is all the same to God whether anyone is circumcised or uncircumcised.” One could also say “It is not important whether a man receives circumcision or not.” Most versions agree with Good News Bible in expanding the but into “what matters is…” or some equivalent phrase.

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 .