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OET (OET-LV) For/Because not houses not you_all_are_having in which to_be_eating and to_be_drinking?
Or of_the assembly of_ the _god you_all_are_despising, and you_all_are_disgracing the ones not having?
What I_may_say to_you_all?
I_may_praise you_all in this?
Not I_am_praising.
OET (OET-RV) For eating and drinking, don’t you all have your own houses to do that in? Why are you showing contempt for God’s assembly and humiliating those left with nothing? What should I say about that? Should I praise you for that? No, I can’t!
In this section Paul discussed some problems with how the believers in Corinth ate the Lord’s Supper. Some people started eating and did not wait for others to arrive. Some people ate too much while others had little or nothing.
Christians should eat the Lord’s Supper in order to remember the Lord Jesus. They should repent from sin before eating and drinking, and they should wait for everyone to arrive before beginning the Supper. If anyone is hungry, they should eat at home so that they do not come under judgment.
The celebration of the Lord’s Supper is also described in Matthew 26:26–28, Mark 14:22–24 and Luke 22:17–20.
Here are some other possible section headings:
How to observe/celebrate the Lord’s Supper
Instructions about the Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper should be honored
In this paragraph Paul scolded the Corinthians for divisions in the church, and for their greed while eating the Lord’s Supper.
Don’t you have your own homes in which to eat and drink?
What? Don’t you have your own homes in which to eat food?
Surely you(plur) have homes in which to eat and drink.
Don’t you have your own homes in which to eat and drink?: This is a rhetorical question. Paul knew that the believers had their own homes. He made an emphatic statement to show that he was unhappy and indignant.
Here are some ways to translate this emphatic statement:
Use a rhetorical question. For example:
What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? (RSV)
Use an exclamation. For example:
You can eat and drink in your own homes! (NCV)
You should eat and drink in your own homes
Translate this with an expression in your language to show that Paul is unhappy and indignant.
This is a long rhetorical question with two parts. In some languages it may be more natural to translate it as two questions:
Do you(plur) despise the church of God? Do you want to humiliate those who have nothing?
Some English versions make clear the close connection between the two parts by translating them as one question. For example:
Or have you such disregard for God’s assembly that you can put to shame those who have nothing? (NJB)
Or are you trying to show contempt for the church of God by shaming those who have nothing? (NET)
Or do you despise the church of God
Why do you(plur) scorn God’s church
You behave as though you despise God’s people
Or: The conjunction Or introduces a second accusation phrased as a rhetorical question. It does not introduce an alternative problem. In some languages it may be more natural to translate this word as “and” or to leave it implicit.
do you despise the church of God…?: The phrase despise the church of God means to look down on the church and consider it to be of little importance. Some people thought that eating and drinking for their own pleasure was more important than celebrating the Lord’s Supper with other believers.
The question do you despise the church of God? is a rhetorical question. Paul used it as a rebuke. He rebuked the Corinthians for their attitude toward the church.
Here are some ways to translate this rebuke:
Use a rhetorical question. For example:
Do you hate God’s church? (CEV)
Why do you despise God’s church?
Use a statement. For example:
You seem to think God’s church is not important. (NCV)
You disrespect/insult your fellow believers.
Translate this in the way that is most natural for rebuking someone.
the church of God: The phrase the church of God means “the church that belongs to God.” It refers to the people of God who gather together to worship, not to a building.
and humiliate those who have nothing?
and put poor people to shame?
and you embarrass those who don’t have enough to eat!
and humiliate those who have nothing?: The phrase humiliate those who have nothing means to cause poor people to be ashamed or embarrassed. This is a rhetorical question. Paul used it as a rebuke.
Here are some ways to translate this rebuke:
Use a rhetorical question. For example:
Do you…embarrass people who do not have anything to eat? (GW)
Use a statement. For example:
you make those who are poor be ashamed
Translate this in a way that is natural in your language for rebuking someone.
What can I say to you?
What can I say to you(plur) about this?
I am at a loss for words to tell you how wrong this is.
What can I say to you?: This is a rhetorical question. Paul expressed his disappointment and frustration.Thiselton, p. 543 calls this a deliberative subjunctive. Actually, Paul was not uncertain about what he should say. If a question conveys this wrong meaning, you may need to remove the question form. Translate with a phrase that is a natural way to introduce criticism. For example:
Now listen to what I say.
There may be an idiom that you could use to express strong emotion. For example, in English one could say:
Words fail me at this point.
I am at a loss for words.
Shall I praise you for this? No, I will not!
Can I commend you(plur) for this? Not at all!
I certainly can give you no praise for this.
Shall I praise you for this? No, I will not!: This is a rhetorical question to which Paul supplies his own answer. If such a question and response are not natural in your language, it may be necessary to translate this as one emphatic statement:
I shall certainly not praise you(plur) for this.
This is something I cannot praise you for!
praise: The Greek word for praise is the same as in 11:2a and 11:17a. Another way to translate it is “commend.”
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion
μὴ & οἰκίας οὐκ ἔχετε εἰς τὸ ἐσθίειν καὶ πίνειν?
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: μή Γάρ οἰκίας οὐκ ἔχετε εἰς τό ἐσθίειν καί πίνειν Ἤ τῆς ἐκκλησίας τοῦ Θεοῦ καταφρονεῖτε καί καταισχύνετε τούς μή ἔχοντας Τί εἴπω ὑμῖν Ἐπαινέσω ὑμᾶς ἐν τούτῳ Οὐκ ἐπαινῶ)
Paul does not ask this question because he is looking for information. Rather, he asks it to involve the Corinthians in what he is arguing. The question assumes that the answer is “yes, we do have houses.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind this question with a strong statement. Alternate translation: [you definitely have houses in which to eat and to drink.]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
μὴ & οἰκίας οὐκ ἔχετε εἰς τὸ ἐσθίειν καὶ πίνειν?
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: μή Γάρ οἰκίας οὐκ ἔχετε εἰς τό ἐσθίειν καί πίνειν Ἤ τῆς ἐκκλησίας τοῦ Θεοῦ καταφρονεῖτε καί καταισχύνετε τούς μή ἔχοντας Τί εἴπω ὑμῖν Ἐπαινέσω ὑμᾶς ἐν τούτῳ Οὐκ ἐπαινῶ)
With this question, Paul implies that the eating behaviors he criticized in the last verse could be appropriate in one’s own “house.” Paul’s point here, then, is that if they want to “take their own suppers first” ([11:21](../11/21.md)), they should be eating at their own houses. Behavior at the Lord’s Supper needs to be different. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express why Paul asks this question more explicitly as it connects back to how the Corinthians are eating at the Lord’s Supper. Alternate translation: [do you certainly not have houses in which you could eat and drink in any way you like]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / doublenegatives
μὴ & οὐκ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: μή Γάρ οἰκίας οὐκ ἔχετε εἰς τό ἐσθίειν καί πίνειν Ἤ τῆς ἐκκλησίας τοῦ Θεοῦ καταφρονεῖτε καί καταισχύνετε τούς μή ἔχοντας Τί εἴπω ὑμῖν Ἐπαινέσω ὑμᾶς ἐν τούτῳ Οὐκ ἐπαινῶ)
The words translated certainly not are two negative words. In Paul’s culture, two negative words made the question even more negative, which in this case expects a strong positive answer. English speakers would misunderstand two negatives, so the ULT expresses the idea with one strong negative. If your language can use two negatives as Paul’s culture did, you could use a double negative here. If your language does not use two negatives in this way, you can translate with one strong negative, as the ULT does. Alternate translation: [surely not]
Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases
ἢ & καταφρονεῖτε
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: μή Γάρ οἰκίας οὐκ ἔχετε εἰς τό ἐσθίειν καί πίνειν Ἤ τῆς ἐκκλησίας τοῦ Θεοῦ καταφρονεῖτε καί καταισχύνετε τούς μή ἔχοντας Τί εἴπω ὑμῖν Ἐπαινέσω ὑμᾶς ἐν τούτῳ Οὐκ ἐπαινῶ)
The word Or introduces an alternate to what Paul asked in the first question. In that question, he reminded them that they do have houses in which to eat and to drink. With Or, then, Paul introduces the incorrect alternative: they could despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing. He introduces this incorrect alternate to show that the implication of his first question is true: they should be “eating” and “drinking” at home. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express Or with a word that signifies a contrast or gives an alternative. Alternate translation: [Rather, do you despise]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion
ἢ τῆς ἐκκλησίας τοῦ Θεοῦ καταφρονεῖτε, καὶ καταισχύνετε τοὺς μὴ ἔχοντας?
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: μή Γάρ οἰκίας οὐκ ἔχετε εἰς τό ἐσθίειν καί πίνειν Ἤ τῆς ἐκκλησίας τοῦ Θεοῦ καταφρονεῖτε καί καταισχύνετε τούς μή ἔχοντας Τί εἴπω ὑμῖν Ἐπαινέσω ὑμᾶς ἐν τούτῳ Οὐκ ἐπαινῶ)
Paul does not ask this question because he is looking for information. Rather, he asks it to involve the Corinthians in what he is arguing. The question assumes that the answer is “we do not want to do these things.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind this question with a strong statement. Alternate translation: [However, you are the ones who despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing.]
Note 6 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases
καὶ καταισχύνετε
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: μή Γάρ οἰκίας οὐκ ἔχετε εἰς τό ἐσθίειν καί πίνειν Ἤ τῆς ἐκκλησίας τοῦ Θεοῦ καταφρονεῖτε καί καταισχύνετε τούς μή ἔχοντας Τί εἴπω ὑμῖν Ἐπαινέσω ὑμᾶς ἐν τούτῳ Οὐκ ἐπαινῶ)
Here, and introduces the specific way in which some of the Corinthians despise the church of God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the function of and here with a word that more clearly indicates a specific example or a means. Alternate translation: [by humiliating]
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole
τοὺς μὴ ἔχοντας
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: μή Γάρ οἰκίας οὐκ ἔχετε εἰς τό ἐσθίειν καί πίνειν Ἤ τῆς ἐκκλησίας τοῦ Θεοῦ καταφρονεῖτε καί καταισχύνετε τούς μή ἔχοντας Τί εἴπω ὑμῖν Ἐπαινέσω ὑμᾶς ἐν τούτῳ Οὐκ ἐπαινῶ)
Here, the ones having nothing is an exaggeration that the Corinthians would have understood to mean that these people do not have very much. Paul speaks in this way to emphasize the contrast between those who have houses and those having nothing. If it would be helpful in your language, you could qualify Paul’s claim and express the emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: [those who have very little]
Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion
τί εἴπω ὑμῖν?
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: μή Γάρ οἰκίας οὐκ ἔχετε εἰς τό ἐσθίειν καί πίνειν Ἤ τῆς ἐκκλησίας τοῦ Θεοῦ καταφρονεῖτε καί καταισχύνετε τούς μή ἔχοντας Τί εἴπω ὑμῖν Ἐπαινέσω ὑμᾶς ἐν τούτῳ Οὐκ ἐπαινῶ)
Paul does not ask this question because he is looking for information. Rather, he asks it to involve the Corinthians in what he is arguing. The question assumes that the answer is “we know that you are going to rebuke us.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind this question with a strong statement about what Paul is going to say. Alternate translation: [You know what I am going to say to you.]
Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion
ἐπαινέσω ὑμᾶς ἐν τούτῳ?
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: μή Γάρ οἰκίας οὐκ ἔχετε εἰς τό ἐσθίειν καί πίνειν Ἤ τῆς ἐκκλησίας τοῦ Θεοῦ καταφρονεῖτε καί καταισχύνετε τούς μή ἔχοντας Τί εἴπω ὑμῖν Ἐπαινέσω ὑμᾶς ἐν τούτῳ Οὐκ ἐπαινῶ)
Paul does not ask this question because he is looking for information. Rather, he asks it to involve the Corinthians in what he is arguing. The question assumes that the answer is “no, you should not.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind this question with a strong negation. Alternate translation: [I will definitely not praise you for this.]
Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet
ἐπαινέσω ὑμᾶς ἐν τούτῳ? οὐκ ἐπαινῶ!
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: μή Γάρ οἰκίας οὐκ ἔχετε εἰς τό ἐσθίειν καί πίνειν Ἤ τῆς ἐκκλησίας τοῦ Θεοῦ καταφρονεῖτε καί καταισχύνετε τούς μή ἔχοντας Τί εἴπω ὑμῖν Ἐπαινέσω ὑμᾶς ἐν τούτῳ Οὐκ ἐπαινῶ)
Here Paul indicates that he will not praise the Corinthians by using both a rhetorical question and a negative statement. He uses both sentences in order to strongly emphasize how displeased he is. If your language does not use repetition for emphasis, and if your readers would not understand why Paul repeats the same idea, you could combine these two sentences into one strong negative statement. Alternate translation: [I will never praise you for this!]
11:17-34 Paul addresses problems in the way the Corinthians were relating to each other and to the Lord while taking the Lord’s Supper.
OET (OET-LV) For/Because not houses not you_all_are_having in which to_be_eating and to_be_drinking?
Or of_the assembly of_ the _god you_all_are_despising, and you_all_are_disgracing the ones not having?
What I_may_say to_you_all?
I_may_praise you_all in this?
Not I_am_praising.
OET (OET-RV) For eating and drinking, don’t you all have your own houses to do that in? Why are you showing contempt for God’s assembly and humiliating those left with nothing? What should I say about that? Should I praise you for that? No, I can’t!
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.