OET interlinear 1COR 3:1

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

κἀγώ

and_I

The word translated And I is the same word that appears at the beginning of 2:1. Just as there, Paul uses And I here to introduce how his own experience visiting the Corinthians fits into the general pattern he has outlined at the end of chapter 2. Here, however, his experience with the Corinthians is the opposite of what he would have liked. Therefore, the words And I introduce a contrast with what he said in 2:16 about having the mind of Christ. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind the meaning of And Iby using a word or phrase that introduces a specific example or a word or phrase that introduces a contrast. Alternate translation: “But I” or “As for me, I”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

ἀδελφοί

brothers

Although brothers is masculine, Paul is using it to refer to any believer, whether man or woman. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express brothers with a non gendered word or refer to both genders. Alternate translation: “brothers and sisters”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

οὐκ ἠδυνήθην λαλῆσαι ὑμῖν ὡς πνευματικοῖς, ἀλλ’ ὡς σαρκίνοις, ὡς νηπίοις ἐν Χριστῷ.

not /was/_able /to/_speak ˱to˲_you_all as ˱to˲_spiritual_‹men› but as ˱to˲_fleshy_‹men› as ˱to˲_infants in Christ

If your language would not naturally state the negative before the positive, you could reverse the order of the not statement and the but statements. Alternate translation: “had to speak to you as to fleshly, as to infants in Christ, not as to spiritual”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

πνευματικοῖς & σαρκίνοις

˱to˲_spiritual_‹men› & ˱to˲_fleshy_‹men›

Paul is using the adjectives spiritual and fleshly as nouns in order to describe groups of people. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate these with noun phrases. Alternate translation: “to spiritual people … to fleshly people”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

ἀλλ’ ὡς σαρκίνοις, ὡς νηπίοις

but as ˱to˲_fleshy_‹men› as ˱to˲_infants

Here Paul leaves out some words that might be required in your language to make a complete thought. If it would be helpful in your language, you could supply the needed words from earlier in the sentence. Alternate translation: “but I spoke to you as to fleshly; I spoke to you as to infants”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

νηπίοις ἐν Χριστῷ

˱to˲_infants in Christ

Here Paul speaks as if the Corinthians were infants. He wants the Corinthians to think about how infants are immature, lack knowledge, and are unable to understand most things. By calling the Corinthians infants in Christ, he means that in their relationship with Jesus, they are immature, have little knowledge, and are unable to understand very much. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express why Paul calls the Corinthians infants with a comparable metaphor or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: “to beginners in Christ” or “to those who could understand very little about their faith in Christ”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐν Χριστῷ

in Christ

Paul uses the spatial metaphor in Christ to describe the union of believers with Christ. In this case, being in Christ, or united to Christ, explains in what area of their lives they were like infants. They acted like infants in their relationship with Christ. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind in Christby referring to their “faith” in Christ or their “relationship” with Christ. Alternate translation: “in their faith in Christ” or “in their relationship with Christ”