Paul moves now from illustrations to literal statements. Here and in verse 12, you is emphatic. The order of words in the Greek is a little strange, and the meaning is not entirely clear, either in Greek or in Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible. The difficulty, as often in Paul’s writings, arises because he is trying to say two things at once: (1) If you are speaking in a tongue, how will anyone be able to tell what you are saying? (2) How can anyone tell what you are saying if you do not give a clear message? The translator must avoid giving the impression that a message spoken in a “tongue” could of itself be distinct and intelligible. The implication, which Paul has expressed in verse 5, is that someone is needed to interpret whenever someone is speaking ecstatically.

Revised Standard Version‘s literal translation of the last part of the verse may seem to give the impression that all speaking is really speaking into the air. Good News Bible‘s expansion “your words will vanish in the air” gives the meaning more clearly. Many languages have similar idioms; for example, “speak the wind” (Thai Common Language Version).

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 .

Paul is now listing various ways in which readers are related to the gospel: (1) they had it preached to them, (2) they received it, (3) they stand firm in it, and (4) they are or will be saved by it (verse 2). Only in verse 3 does Paul state that he himself, like his readers, received the gospel from someone else.

Now is a legitimate addition in English to prepare the reader for the introduction of a completely new theme. One may also express this as “At this point….”

Brethren makes it clear that a new section is beginning. As in other places in this letter, brethren means “fellow Christians.”

In what terms makes the English sentence hard to understand. Good News Bible‘s “I want to remind you … of the Good News which I preached to you,” reflects the meaning quite accurately.

Preached: translators should remember that the content of this first Christian preaching by Paul was the story of Christ’s death and resurrection. Words that imply only moral exhortation should be avoided.

Gospel: see comments on 4.15.

Received is the same word, used in the same sense, as in 11.23. The word itself is quite common and general in meaning, but the context shows that Paul means something more active than merely hearing him preach. One may say “took to your hearts.”

Stand: see comments on 10.12.

The clause in which you stand may be restructured: “as a foundation on which your faith can stand firm.” Good News Bible adds “faith” to make it clear that the “standing firm” is figurative. Compare also 7.37 and Rom 11.20.

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 .

Come to your right mind suggests a return to a more balanced way of life; literally “Come to your senses rightly.” The adverb translated right commonly means “righteously” but has apparently no theological meaning here. Barrett uses a slightly different metaphor here: “wake up properly”; Revised English Bible “wake up.” Possibly one may translate “Get control of yourself.”

Come (Good News Bible‘s “Come back”) is an order to perform a single action. Sin no more, on the other hand, suggests action over a period of time: “continue to avoid sins.” The context suggests that the period of not sinning includes present and future rather than past and present time. So “stop your sinful ways” (Good News Bible) is probably more appropriate than sin no more.

Some, as Good News Bible shows, is better rendered as “some of you.”

Knowledge in the Bible frequently refers to an intimate personal relationship with someone. No knowledge in this context presumably refers to a sinful condition that prevents a right relationship with God. Another way to render the clause is “For some among you do not have a right relationship with God” or “… have not been put right with God.”

I say this to your shame is virtually a separate sentence in Greek and is emphasized because of its position at the end of the verse. This clause may be rendered “You ought to be ashamed because of this” or “This lack of knowledge should make you lose face.” Some languages, as in English, may need to put this clause at the beginning of the verse and stress it in a way similar to Good News Bible; for example, “Some of you should feel very ashamed that you do not know 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 .

Let no one despise him may be rendered as “Don’t let any person among you look down on him.” They may have been inclined to do so because Timothy was young (see 1 Tim 4.12). Despise is more literally “treat as nothing.”

Speed him on his way: see 1 Cor. 16.6. Speed here does not mean “fast”; it rather refers to “help” (Good News Bible): “you must help him to continue his trip.” Good News Bible‘s “you must” translates a Greek imperative “send him on,” literally “send him forward in peace” (see 7.15).

Expecting him can be rendered as “expecting him to return.”

Brethren probably refers to male fellow workers in this verse. This is the view of New Revised Standard Version (also in verse 12), which elsewhere uses inclusive language as consistently as possible.

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 .

Any man may refer to either men or women.

Revised Standard Version‘s foundation is not expressed in Greek but is present in the underlying meaning. Good News Bible fills out the meaning at various points even more than Revised Standard Version. For comments on the translation of foundation, see verse 10.

Survives is in the future tense in Greek, referring to the Day of Judgment. The meaning is that only work with good building materials will remain standing after the fire. This initial clause may be rephrased as “If someone builds on that foundation with material that doesn’t burn…,” or the whole verse can be restructured as follows: “God will reward the person who builds on this foundation with material that doesn’t burn.”

Reward: see the comments on 1 Cor. 3.8.

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 .

It is uncertain whether one should understand the three parts of this verse as rhetorical questions, exclamations, or statements. The following examples show the variety of possible translations of this verse. Translator’s New Testament says “And you remain arrogant. Why have you not rather mourned, so that he who did this thing would be expelled from your midst?” Revised English Bible has “And you are proud of yourselves! You ought to have gone into mourning; anyone who behaves like that should be turned out of your community.”

The And with which the Greek sentence begins marks a contrast between the immorality of verse 1 and the boasting of verse 2a. Moffatt translates it as “And yet,” while New English Bible has “And … still.” Good News Bible‘s use of the word “then” fulfills the same function.

The first you in the verse is emphatic.

Arrogant is literally “puffed up,” as we have already noted in 4.18. The Greek suggests that Paul’s readers have been in this proud state of mind for a long time.

Ought you not rather to mourn can be translated as “You should rather mourn” or “Really, you should mourn.” Such a translation indicates what the reader’s reaction should have been when they found out about this man’s immorality. According to Jewish tradition, to go into mourning was not only an expression of sadness, nor was it limited to the time immediately after a death, but mourning also expressed horror and condemnation. The immoral person must be punished.

The last part of the verse, from Let him who has done this …, may be understood (a) as the result of the mourning; (b) as the purpose of the mourning; (c) as explaining “the nature of the mourning” (Orr and Walther); or (d) as an imperative. Many translations choose (d) and express it either as a command or with the word “should” or some similar expression. One may say, for example, “expel the man … from your group” or “you should not associate anymore with the man who….”

From among you is literally “out of your midst.” Good News Bible‘s “be expelled from your fellowship” is good modern-day English. In languages that do not naturally use the passive, one may express this final sentence as “and you should expel (or, dismiss) from your group the man who has done this sin.”

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 .

This verse states the principle on which verse 3 is based. The wife and the husband are emphasized by being placed at the beginning of each half of the sentence in Greek. In the same way the husband (Good News Bible‘s “her husband”) and the wife (Good News Bible‘s “his wife”) are emphasized by appearing at the end of the verse.

Does not rule over translates the same verb as that in 6.12 (see the comments); the idea is that of using authority. Revised English Bible has “The wife cannot claim her body as her own; it is her husband’s. Equally, the husband cannot claim his body as his own; it is his wife’s.” Translators can also say “does not have the authority over” or “does not have the right over.”

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 .