uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

ἀδελφοί

brothers

Connecting Statement:

Although brothers is in masculine form, 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 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἀδελφοί μου ἀγαπητοί

brothers ˱of˲_me beloved

Connecting Statement:

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you must state who does the action, Paul implies that he himself loves them. Alternate translation: “my brothers whom I love”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

ἑδραῖοι & ἀμετακίνητοι

firm & immovable

Here, both steadfast and immovable refer to people who hold their positions steadily. The word steadfast emphasizes that someone is reliable or faithful, while immovable emphasizes that someone is stable and cannot be moved. Paul uses two similar words to emphasize the need to maintain one position. If your language does not have two words to represent these ideas, or if your readers would find the repetition confusing instead of emphatic, you can express the idea with a single word or phrase. Alternate translation: “reliable” or “strong in your faith”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἑδραῖοι γίνεσθε, ἀμετακίνητοι

firm /be/_becoming immovable

Here Paul speaks as if he wanted the Corinthians to be an object or thing that stays in one place. He speaks in this way because he wants them to continue to believe the gospel as firmly as if it was a location that they could remain in. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this figure of speech with a comparable metaphor or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: “become those with a tight grip” or “dependable, stable”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τῷ ἔργῳ τοῦ Κυρίου

the work ˱of˲_the Lord

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind work, you can express the idea by using a verb such as “work.” Alternate translation: “how you work for the Lord”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

ἐν τῷ ἔργῳ τοῦ Κυρίου

in the work ˱of˲_the Lord

Here Paul uses the possessive form to describe work that is done for the Lord. If your language does not use that form for this meaning, you can express the idea with a phrase such as “that is for.” Alternate translation: “in your work for the Lord”

Note 7 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

εἰδότες

/having/_known

Here, knowing introduces the reason why the Corinthians should do what Paul is commanding them to do. If your readers would not recognize that knowing introduces a reason or basis, you could express that idea explicitly. Alternate translation: “for you know” or “since you know”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ὁ κόπος ὑμῶν

the labor ˱of˲_you_all

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind labor, you can express the idea by using a verb such as “labor.” Alternate translation: “how you labor”

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

κενὸς

vain

Here, in vain identifies a cause that does not have its intended effect. In this case, the Corinthians’ labor is not in vain because it is in the Lord and will thus lead to its intended effect. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express in vain with a word or phrase that identifies a cause that does not have its intended effect. Alternate translation: “for nothing” or “to no purpose”

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐν Κυρίῳ

in in /the/_Lord

Here Paul uses the spatial metaphor in the Lord to describe the union of believers with the Lord. In this case, being in the Lord or united to the Lord identifies why the Corinthians can “know” that their labor is not in vain. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind this figure of speech by using a comparable metaphor or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: “in union with the Lord” or “because you are united to the Lord”