OET interlinear 1COR 15:46

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

ἀλλ’

but

Here, But introduces a clarification of the point that Paul made in the previous verse. It does not introduce a strong contrast. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express But with a word or phrase that introduces a clarification or further explanation. Alternate translation: [As a matter of fact,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

ἀλλ’ οὐ πρῶτον τὸ πνευματικὸν, ἀλλὰ τὸ ψυχικόν, ἔπειτα τὸ πνευματικόν

but not first the spiritual but the natural then the spiritual

Here Paul first negates the idea that the spiritual is first and then states that it comes after the natural. Paul states this idea in both negative and positive ways to emphasize the correct sequence. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express why Paul states both negative and positive versions of the same claim by stating just one of the versions. Alternate translation: [But the natural is first, then the spiritual] or [But the spiritual is not first; rather the natural is first]

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-time-sequential

οὐ πρῶτον τὸ πνευματικὸν, ἀλλὰ τὸ ψυχικόν, ἔπειτα τὸ πνευματικόν

not first the spiritual but the natural then the spiritual

Here, first and then indicate sequence in time. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express that Paul has sequence in time in mind with words that more clearly refer to time. Alternate translation: [the spiritual is not before the natural; rather, the natural is before the spiritual]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

τὸ πνευματικὸν & τὸ ψυχικόν & τὸ πνευματικόν

the spiritual & the natural & the spiritual

Paul is using the adjectives spiritual and natural as nouns in order to refer to bodies that are spiritual or natural. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this with a noun phrase. Alternate translation: [the spiritual body … the natural body … the spiritual body]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / extrainfo

τὸ πνευματικὸν & τὸ ψυχικόν & τὸ πνευματικόν

the spiritual & the natural & the spiritual

Here Paul does not specify whose bodies the spiritual and the natural refer to. He does this to allow for at least two interpretations. If possible, translate this verse in such a way that your readers could infer either or both of the following. The words spiritual and natural could refer to: (1) the bodies of Jesus (spiritual) and Adam (natural). Alternate translation: [the spiritual body that belongs to Jesus … the natural body that belonged to Adam … the spiritual body that belongs to Jesus] (2) the bodies that every believer has while alive (natural) and after resurrecting (spiritual). Alternate translation: [any believer’s spiritual body … his or her natural body … his or her spiritual body]

Note 6 topic: translate-unknown

τὸ πνευματικὸν & τὸ πνευματικόν

the spiritual & the the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀλλʼ οὐ πρῶτον τὸ πνευματικὸν ἀλλὰ τὸ ψυχικόν ἔπειτα τὸ πνευματικόν)

Here, just as in 15:44,spiritual refers to human bodies after they are raised. It could specifically refer to: (1) how the body is controlled by God’s Spirit and thus fits with how people will live when God renews everything he has created. Alternate translation: [the one fit for the new creation … the one fit for the new creation] or [that controlled by God’s Spirit … that controlled by God’s Spirit] (2) how the body is made out of “spirit” as opposed to “soul” or “flesh.” Alternate translation: [that made out of spirit … that made out of spirit]

Note 7 topic: translate-unknown

ψυχικόν

natural

Here, just as in 15:44, natural refers to human bodies before they are raised. These bodies are those that function in the ways that we can observe right now and that fit with life on earth right now. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express natural with a word or phrase that refers to human bodies as they currently exist on earth before God transforms them. Alternate translation: [the this-worldly] or [regular]