OET interlinear 1COR 11:18

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: translate-ordinal

πρῶτον

first

If your language does not use ordinal numbers, you can use a cardinal number here. Alternate translation: “one”

πρῶτον

first

Here Paul uses first, but he never moves on to “second.” Most likely, Paul had in mind other things he wanted to say, but he either never mentions them or he tells the Corinthians in 11:34 that he will “give directions” about these “remaining things” when he visits them. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate first to make it clearer that Paul addresses the other items in 11:34.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / extrainfo

ἀκούω

˱I˲_/am/_hearing

Here Paul does not state from whom he “heard” this information. He does this to avoid causing unnecessary conflict among the Corinthians based on who told things to Paul. If you must specify who spoke to Paul, you could use a vague or indefinite statement. Alternate translation: “I hear from somebody that”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / pastforfuture

ἀκούω

˱I˲_/am/_hearing

Here Paul is speaking as if he currently “is hearing” about the divisions. By speaking in the present tense, he emphasizes that this is information he received while or immediately before he wrote this letter. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the use of present tense with a tense that most naturally refers to when Paul was writing this letter. Alternate translation: “I have heard that”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ

in assembly

Here, in the church is a spatial metaphor that speaks of the church as if it were a place in which the Corinthians could come together. Paul speaks in this way to indicate the situation in which the Corinthians come together: a gathering of believers that meet to worship God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express in the church by clarifying that the Corinthians are the church or are meeting to worship God. Alternate translation: “as the church” or “in a Christian meeting”

Note 5 topic: translate-unknown

σχίσματα

divisions

Here, divisions refers to when one group splits into multiple different groups because they have different leaders, beliefs, or opinions. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind this word with a comparable noun or a short phrase that makes this clear. Alternate translation: “opposing parties”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

μέρος τι πιστεύω

part /a/_certain ˱I˲_/am/_believing

Here, in part qualifies how much Paul “believes.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could express in part with a word or phrase that identifies “part of” something. Alternate translation: “I believe part of it” or “I believe some of it”