On the word brethren see the discussion in the introduction to this section. Paul does not specify here, as he did in 3.10-17, whether he is speaking to all the Corinthian Christians or only some of them. None of you may suggest the first.

Although all this clearly refers to something mentioned previously, commentators are not sure to what all this refers. Many translations and commentators think it refers to the figurative language about planting and building in 3.5-17. If so, Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible are right to translate applied (so Fee), though the Greek does not have this meaning elsewhere in the New Testament. In Philippians 3.21, the only other place in the New Testament where the active voice of the verb metaschēmatizō is used, it means “change (the form of)”; in 2 Corinthians 11.13-15 the middle voice is used with the meaning “disguise.” Barrett translates: “I have … made these things seem to apply to Apollos and myself…,” the thought being “In all that I have said up to now, it may seem that I have been talking only about Apollos and myself; but what I have said can be applied more widely, namely to you readers.” This would make good sense of the phrase for your benefit, which is emphatic in Greek because it comes at the end of a clause. Another suggested translation which is closer in meaning to Good News Bible is “I have applied these figures of speech (referring to those used in chapter 3) to myself and Apollos…” (so generally Fee). Good News Bible produces this same effect by putting the phrase at the beginning of the verse.

Good News Bible‘s rendering “using the two of us as an example” brings out the full meaning of a phrase which literally means “in (or, by) us.” The translation of “the two of us” does not add anything to the meaning, since the preceding words show that at this point Paul is speaking of Paul and Apollos alone.

Good News Bible‘s construction “… me, using” will be difficult to translate in many languages. In such cases one may begin a new sentence after “me”; for example, “… me. I have used….”

The next few words are so difficult to understand that some scholars have thought that they were not part of the original text. However, there is no manuscript evidence to back up their claim. These words are also not Paul’s normal style, but it seems likely that he is quoting a current saying, as Good News Bible indicates. The article in the Greek before the phrase “Not above (or, beyond) the things that are written” suggests that this phrase is such a quotation.

What is written renders a Greek phrase which may be translated literally as “the things that are written” (see 1.19). Paul may be thinking especially about parts of scripture he has already quoted in this letter. On the other hand he may be speaking generally, as Good News Bible‘s “the proper rules” suggests. Other possible translations are “I wanted you to learn from our example what the proverb, ‘Remain within the limits fixed by what is written,’ means” (Bible en français courant); “… what the principle, ‘Not beyond the measure which God has set,’ means” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch); “the true meaning of ‘Nothing beyond what stands written’ ” (Revised English Bible); “the meaning of the saying, ‘Nothing beyond what is written’ ” (New Revised Standard Version; similarly New International Version, Fee). Others leave out any reference to what is written and say “Learn not to go beyond certain limits” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente); “learn to ‘keep within the rules,’ as they say” (New English Bible); or more specifically, “Keep close to Scripture” (Translator’s New Testament).

The last part of the sentence none of you may be puffed up … may be linked either with the beginning of the verse (“I have applied this … so that no one may be puffed up”) or with the middle (“so that you may learn … [and] so that no one may be puffed up”). The middle section of this verse seems to be a general statement which the last part of the verse develops and applies to the readers. Revised Standard Version follows this ordering. Good News Bible, though, puts the phrase none of you may be puffed up into a separate sentence.

The Greek verb translated puffed up refers basically to pride. It may also be rendered as “proud,” “have a high heart (or, liver),” or “consider oneself to be important.” This verb is also used in verses 18-19; 5.2; 8.1; 13.5, but appears nowhere else in the New Testament except in Col 2.18. It seems to have been a special temptation of the Corinthians, rather like the “boasting” of 1.29, 31; 3.21; 4.7; 13.4. But in this verse it has the added element of self-deception (compare 3.18). Paul seems to be thinking at this point about two things: (1) the inflated idea which the Corinthian Christians, or some of them, had of themselves, and (2) their attachment to one leader over against another (so Barrett, Fee). The two matters were probably connected: people were proud of a party leader, and at the same time were proud of themselves. The language, though, is not clear at this point. In translation it is probably best to concentrate on (2), which fits the immediate context more closely. Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente has “Do not become enthusiastic about one person by undervaluing another”; Bible en français courant “None of you must become proud by taking sides for one man against another.” There have been attempts to combine (1) and (2) in translation, but these have been usually clumsy; for example, “puffed up with rivalry” (Moffatt). The meaning in this verse is not simply that the Corinthian Christians value one leader more than another, but that they praise one leader in order to attack another.

The Greek for none of you and another is literally “the one” and “the other,” but this does not mean that only two people are involved. It is referring to all those in the Corinthian church who were guilty of pride.

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 .