OET interlinear 1COR 3:12

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

δέ

and

Here, Now introduces the next step in Paul’s argument. If it would be helpful in your language, you could leave Now untranslated or use a word or phrase that introduces the next step in an argument. Alternate translation: [Indeed,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / exmetaphor

εἰ & τις ἐποικοδομεῖ ἐπὶ τὸν θεμέλιον χρυσόν, ἄργυρον, λίθους τιμίους, ξύλα, χόρτον, καλάμην

if & anyone /is/_building_on on the foundation (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ δέ τις ἐποικοδομεῖ ἐπὶ τὸν θεμέλιον χρυσίον ἀργύριον λίθους τιμίους ξύλα χόρτον καλάμην)

Here Paul continues the metaphor about building a house. He compares those who teach about the gospel with builders who construct a house on its foundation. These builders can use a variety of different materials to construct the house, and Paul lists six. The first three, gold, silver, precious stones, are more durable, while the last three, wood, hay, or straw, are less durable. It is clear that Paul is interested in durability, because of the next verse, where he states that all of these materials will be tested with fire (3:13). By speaking this way, he indicates that those who proclaim more about the gospel can teach things that are more or less true and acceptable to God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this metaphor with a comparable metaphor or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [if anyone teaches you more about the gospel with words that are acceptable to God or words that are not acceptable to God]

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-condition-fact

εἰ & τις ἐποικοδομεῖ ἐπὶ τὸν θεμέλιον

if & anyone /is/_building_on on the foundation

Here Paul uses a conditional if, but he does not think that this is a hypothetical situation or something that is likely not true. Instead, Paul thinks that people are “building” on the foundation, and he wants to talk about how they are doing so. Additionally, the “then” part of the if statement does not begin until the next verse. If it would be helpful in your language, you could rephrase this form and structure by stating the condition as a circumstance or an assumption. Alternate translation: [whenever people build on the foundation, using] or [when anyone builds on the foundation]

Note 4 topic: translate-unknown

χρυσόν, ἄργυρον, λίθους τιμίους, ξύλα, χόρτον, καλάμην,

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ δέ τις ἐποικοδομεῖ ἐπὶ τὸν θεμέλιον χρυσίον ἀργύριον λίθους τιμίους ξύλα χόρτον καλάμην)

These six things are all materials that could be used in constructing buildings. The first three will survive if the building catches on fire, but the last three will not (for the fire, see 3:13–15). In your culture, you may not use all of these materials for constructing buildings. In that case, you could include just some of these materials or include materials that you do use for constructing buildings in your culture, making sure to include some materials will not burn up and others that will burn up. Alternate translation: [steel, concrete, lumber, or cloth]