This verse seems to refer to the narrative in Num 16.41-50.

The form of this verse is rather different from that of verses 8 and 9. A different word for as is used. Also, according to the most probable Greek text, Paul changes from the first person plural, “we must not,” to the second person plural imperative, “do not.” Many Greek manuscripts level out this difference and use “we” throughout, as does Good News Bible. Revised Standard Version uses neither, perhaps avoiding a decision. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch uses “you” throughout verses 8 and 9, but there is no manuscript basis for this. Most translations keep the change of person and are probably correct.

As in other places, no attempt should be made to harmonize this verse with Num 16.41, which says that not only some of the people, but “the whole community,” complained.

Grumble usually refers to a repeated voicing of one’s extreme displeasure. In this context a more general term is needed that will cover any kind of grumbling. The modern English word “complain” does not seem to carry this component of repetitiveness. Some languages have special words that almost sound like the act of grumbling and can be used effectively here.

And: see the discussion in verses 8 and 9.

The Destroyer: in the Old Testament the Israelites are frequently said to have grumbled against Moses and thereby against God. But here the word the Destroyer is not found elsewhere in the Greek Bible. This suggests that Paul is thinking of a summary of Num 16 in Wisdom 18.20-25, where in verse 25 a related word is used. Less probable is a reference to Exo 12.23 (compare Heb 11.28), since in that passage the Destroyer attacks only the Egyptians. Most common language translations, also New International Version, Translator’s New Testament, Moffatt, An American Translation, Phillips, and Barclay, think that Paul is referring in this verse to a distinct “Angel of Death.” In Exo 12.23 the Destroyer is distinguished from “the Lord” (that is, God), but this is probably not so in 1 Corinthians, in Wisdom 18.20-25, and certainly not in Num 16.35, 45. In some languages it may be necessary to turn the passive verb into an active form: “The Angel of Death destroyed them.” In other languages where angel is normally expressed as “God’s messenger” or “heavenly messenger,” this final clause will be translated as “and the heavenly messenger whom God had sent destroyed (or, killed) them.”

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 .

Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible transfer the phrase in the Lord from the end of the Greek sentence to the beginning in English, since Paul’s use of the word Nevertheless (Good News Bible‘s “however”) implies that there is a contrast between the category of creation (Gen 1-2), about which Paul has been speaking until now, and the new order established by Christ, to which Paul now turns. Revised English Bible makes this contrast clearer by translating in the Lord as “in the Lord’s fellowship” (New English Bible “in Christ’s fellowship”). One could also translate this as “as we live our lives in fellowship with the Lord.”

Nevertheless represents a strong and rather unusual Greek expression in Paul’s writings. He uses it elsewhere to indicate that he is returning to the main point of his argument after a digression (see Eph 5.33 “however”; Phil 3.16 “Only”; 4.14 “Yet”). He does the same thing here. For most of this section Paul has been speaking about the distinct obligations of men and especially those of women. However, he had begun in verse 3 by placing this discussion in the setting of relations between men, women, Christ, and God. This wider perspective reappears in verses 11-12, following the reference to angels, and the more positive status recognized for women in verse 10. So in English some expression such as Nevertheless or “However that may be” may be appropriate. In terms of context, verses 11 and 12 may therefore be understood as the climax of the argument, though Paul returns to the lower level of man-woman relationships in verses 13-15.

This same interpretation is conveyed in various ways by modern translations; for example, Revised English Bible has “Yet in the Lord’s fellowship woman is as essential to man as man to woman”; Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente renders it as “However, before the Lord, woman does not exist without man or man without woman.” If verse 11 stood alone it would be possible to translate “wife” and “husband,” but the context, especially verse 12, speaks more generally of women and men, so this is probably the meaning of verse 11 also.

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 .

The language of verse 12 does not indicate any sharp break with what precedes it, but the conjunction For is rather weak in Greek, so it would be better omitted in translation, as Good News Bible has done.

In this verse Paul’s thought is quite condensed and he “takes two steps in one” (Barrett) (1) Christians in the church are like various parts of the body, and (2) the church is the body of Christ. For this reason Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch goes to the other extreme from Good News Bible by, so to speak, forcing Paul to take one step at a time: “One can compare the church of Christ with a body that has many members.” Other English translations, including New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Translator’s New Testament, and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, agree essentially with Revised Standard Version‘s middle path: so it is with Christ. This solution is probably the better one.

The use of the words body and members in this section is fairly consistent. In most occurrences body has its literal meaning of a living physical body, including the head (verse 21). The context shows that the word translated members (Good News Bible‘s “parts”) is quite general, including not only arms and legs, but also other parts of the body. It is important for translators to choose terms that are live metaphors, that is, terms that are still capable of having a literal meaning. In that sense members is unsuitable in modern English, since it has almost lost its literal meaning of “limbs.” Good News Bible‘s translation “parts” is more suitable.

Many members: Paul’s point here is not the large numbers of parts in the body, but their diversity. So “different parts” (Good News Bible) is a better translation.

The position of Christ in the verse is different in Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible. In Greek its position at the end of the verse is emphatic, whereas it is more emphatic at the beginning of the sentence in English. common language translations and also Revised English Bible generally agree with Good News Bible‘s restructuring, which also makes the logic clearer.

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 .

Bugle is the word also chosen by An American Translation, Phillips, New American Bible, New Revised Standard Version, and Barclay. It fits in well with the military reference of this verse, but implies a modern setting, as bugles were not in use in New Testament times. For this reason all other translations consulted have “trumpet.” This is the word chosen by Good News Bible in all other places where this Greek word is used (for example, 15.51-52).

Indistinct here refers to something not clearly heard. One may say “If the bugle gives a sound that is not clearly heard…” or “… does not play a distinct sound….”

Get ready may have a general meaning, as in Good News Bible‘s “prepare,” or the more specific idea of a soldier getting his equipment together. Barrett even suggests the translation “who will arm himself for battle?”

One may render for battle as “to fight a battle.”

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 .

Decently: Paul uses a word closely related to those translated by Good News Bible as “right” in 7.35 and “beautiful” in 12.24. “Proper” (Good News Bible) is probably better than Revised Standard Version‘s decently.

One may translate this verse as follows:
• “You must do everything in a proper and orderly 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 .

Do not be deceived: in this verse the bad influence of other people is suggested. Perhaps one may translate “Do not let people deceive you.”

The words Bad company ruins good morals are found in a play by Menander (4th–3rd century B. C.) but may well have become a common saying by Paul’s time.

The word translated company sometimes means “conversation” but has also the wider meaning of company. Good News Bible makes this word more concrete with the translation “Bad companions.”

Some languages will have proverbs that have a meaning equivalent to the saying in this verse. For example, Thai Common Language Version has a proverb in the form of a poetic couplet that says literally “Associate bad people—mischievously lead to badness.”

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 .

When: the Greek clearly conveys uncertainty about whether Timothy will visit Corinth. Good News Bible‘s “If Timothy comes” expresses this correctly. There is no basis for Revised Standard Version‘s When.

Comes: Good News Bible‘s “your way” is implied. One can also say “If Timothy arrives in Corinth.” Paul speaks in very similar language in 2.3 of his own arrival in Corinth. Several translations therefore have “arrives.”

Put him at ease among you: this rendering seems to weaken the meaning (so also Good News Bible). New Jerusalem Bible has “make sure that he has nothing to fear from you,” and Translator’s New Testament “see that he has nothing to fear while he is with you.” These latter translations are closer to the meaning of the Greek.

The phrase as I am may be expanded to “as I work for the Lord.”

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 .