1 COR 3:3 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. ἔτι
2. eti
3. still
4. -
5. 20890
6. D·······
7. still
8. still
9. -
10. Y59
11. 113909
1. γάρ
2. gar
3. for/because
4. -
5. 10630
6. C·······
7. for/because
8. for
9. -
10. Y59
11. 113910
1. σαρκικοί
2. sarkikos
3. fleshly
4. -
5. 45590
6. S····NMP
7. fleshly
8. fleshly
9. -
10. Y59
11. 113911
1. ἐστέ
2. eimi
3. you all are
4. -
5. 15100
6. VIPA2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ are
8. ˱you_all˲ are
9. -
10. Y59
11. 113912
1. οὒ
2. ou
3. -
4. -
5. 37560
6. D·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. -
11. 113913
1. ποῦ
2. pou
3. -
4. -
5. 42260
6. C·······
7. wherever
8. wherever
9. -
10. -
11. 113914
1. ὅπου
2. hopou
3. where
4. -
5. 36990
6. C·······
7. where
8. where
9. -
10. Y59
11. 113915
1. Γάρ
2. gar
3. For/Because
4. -
5. 10630
6. C·······
7. for/because
8. for
9. S
10. Y59
11. 113916
1. ἐν
2. en
3. among
4. among
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. among
8. among
9. -
10. Y59
11. 113917
1. ὑμῖν
2. su
3. you all is
4. -
5. 47710
6. R···2D·P
7. you_all ‹is›
8. you_all ‹is›
9. -
10. Y59; R113876
11. 113918
1. ζῆλος
2. zēlos
3. jealousy
4. jealousy
5. 22050
6. N····NMS
7. jealousy
8. jealousy
9. -
10. Y59
11. 113919
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y59
11. 113920
1. ἔρις
2. eris
3. strife
4. -
5. 20540
6. N····NFS
7. strife
8. strife
9. -
10. Y59
11. 113921
1. ἔρεις
2. eris
3. -
4. -
5. 20540
6. N····NFP
7. strifes
8. strifes
9. -
10. -
11. 113922
1. καί
2. kai
3. -
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. -
11. 113923
1. διχοστασίαι
2. diχostasia
3. -
4. -
5. 13700
6. N····NFP
7. dissensions
8. dissensions
9. -
10. -
11. 113924
1. οὐχί
2. ouχi
3. not
4. -
5. 37800
6. T·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y59
11. 113925
1. σάρκινοι
2. sarkinos
3. -
4. -
5. 45600
6. S····NMP
7. fleshly
8. fleshly
9. -
10. -
11. 113926
1. σαρκικοί
2. sarkikos
3. fleshly
4. -
5. 45590
6. S····NMP
7. fleshly
8. fleshly
9. -
10. Y59
11. 113927
1. ἐστέ
2. eimi
3. you all are
4. -
5. 15100
6. VIPA2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ are
8. ˱you_all˲ are
9. -
10. Y59
11. 113928
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y59
11. 113929
1. κατά
2. kata
3. according to
4. -
5. 25960
6. P·······
7. according_to
8. according_to
9. -
10. Y59
11. 113930
1. ἄνθρωπον
2. anthrōpos
3. human origin
4. human
5. 4440
6. N····AMS
7. human_origin
8. human_origin
9. -
10. Y59
11. 113931
1. περιπατεῖτε
2. peripateō
3. you all are walking
4. -
5. 40430
6. VIPA2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ walking
8. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ walking
9. -
10. Y59; R113876
11. 113932

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:1–23: Christian workers serve the Lord by building his church together

In this section Paul told the believers in Corinth that they had not become spiritually mature. That was why they were dividing into separate groups and arguing with one another about teachers. They needed to learn about God’s plan for Christian workers and leaders. Christian workers and leaders all belong to God and are all building God’s church together.

Other possible section headings include:

Paul and all the other apostles were the Lord’s servants

All believers belong to the Lord and should remain united

Paragraph 3:1–4

Paul introduced the problem by pointing out to the Corinthians that they were not acting like people controlled by God’s Holy Spirit. They were quarreling among themselves and being jealous of one another. They were behaving just like unbelievers.

3:3a

for you are still worldly.

You still live as the people of this world live.
You are still influenced by your human/evil nature.
I say that because you are still controlled by your fleshly/natural desires.

for: The word that the BSB translates as for introduces the grounds for Paul’s statement in 3:2d that the Corinthians were still not ready for solid food. Some English versions do not translate this word. You should translate the connection in a way that is natural in your language. You may wish to follow the CSB and say:

because (CSB)

you are still worldly: The Greek word that the BSB translates as worldly is almost the same as the word used in 3:1b. It literally means “fleshly”; that is, characterized by flesh. Here it probably refers to people who want to live as they please, obeying their own desires instead of obeying the Holy Spirit. The Corinthians were still willing to be controlled by their natural human impulses. Other ways to translate this verse part include:

you are still of the flesh (RSV)

you are still influenced by the flesh (NET)

you’re still influenced by your corrupt nature (GW)

you still live as the people of this world live (GNT)

3:3b

For since there is jealousy and dissension among you,

You are envious/jealous of one another, and you argue with each other.
I know that this is true about you for you are jealous and quarrelsome.

For: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as For introduces a further step in Paul’s argument. It introduces the grounds for saying they are worldly. Some English versions such as the GNT do not explicitly translate this conjunction here. You may leave it implicit if that is natural in your language.

since there is jealousy and dissension among you: There are several ways of understanding the Greek word that the BSB translates as since:

It means since and introduces a logical reason: the Corinthians’ jealousy and quarreling proved that they were still worldly. For example:
since there is jealousy and dissension among you (NET) (NIV, KJV, NASB, NET, NLT, CEV, NCV)
It means while or when and refers to a time span. For example:
As long as there are jealousy and rivalry among you (NJB) (NJB, RSV, GNT, ESV, REB, GW)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This verse part indicates how Paul knew that the Corinthian believers were still worldly. Some of them were acting jealously, and some of them argued among themselves.

there is jealousy and dissension among you: In some languages it may be natural to translate the abstract nouns jealousy and dissension as adjectives or verbs.There is a textual problem here. (1) Some Greek manuscripts say “jealousy and quarreling.” These manuscripts are followed by the BSB, CEV, RSV, NIV, GNT, NJB, ESV, GW, NLT, and NCV. (2) Some other manuscripts say “jealousy and quarreling and strife.” The KJV follows these manuscripts. It is recommended that you follow option 1. This is supported by the UBS Greek NT, which gives it a B rating, indicating that the text is almost certain. For example:

you are jealous/envious and contentious

you envy one another and you quarrel with one another

you are jealous of one other and quarrel with each other (NLT)

3:3c

are you not worldly?

Does this not mean/show that you are living/just like the people of this world?
Does this not prove that you are influenced/controlled by your human/evil nature?
This/That shows that you are still obeying/following your own fleshly/natural desires.

are you not worldly?: This is a rhetorical question. Paul was rebuking the Corinthians. He was stating strongly that the Corinthians were worldly. They were not behaving as believers should. The Greek word translated worldly here is the same as in 3:3a. See the note there.

There are several ways to translate this rhetorical question:

as a question with the answer implied. For example:
doesn’t this prove that you belong to this world…? (GNT)
as a statement. For example:
This shows that you are still not spiritual. (NCV)
as an exclamation. For example:
How worldly/fleshly you are!

You should translate this in a way that is natural in your language for showing a strong rebuke.

General Comment on 3:3b-c

In some languages it may be natural to indicate the logical connection between the verse parts at the beginning of 3:3c, as the NLT does:

^3bYou are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. ^3cDoesn’t that prove that you are controlled by your sinful nature? (NLT)

3:3d

Are you not walking in the way of man?

Are you not behaving like people who do not know God?
You are acting no differently from the people of this world.

Are you not walking in the way of man?: This is a second rhetorical question. It emphasizes Paul’s rebuke. He was making a strong statement that the Corinthians were not acting like spiritual people. They were acting just like all human beings do in their natural state without the Holy Spirit. They were acting selfishly rather than for God’s glory. So there are at least three ways to translate this verse part:

as a rhetorical question. For example:
are you not…behaving like ordinary men? (RSV)
as a statement. For example:
you are acting like people of this world (CEV)
as an exclamation. For example:
You are acting just like ordinary people!
You should translate this in a way that is natural in your language for making a strong statement about what someone is doing wrong.

walking: The Greek word that the BSB translates as walking is an idiom that refers to the way one lives and behaves in normal everyday life. The same word is used in Romans 6:4, 8:4, Galatians 5:16, and Ephesians 4:1. Refer to the notes on these passages. You may be able to use the same word or phrase here.

in the way of man: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as in the way of man is literally “according to man/human.” It does not refer only to males. Paul was saying that the Corinthians were behaving like unbelieving people. Here is another way to translate this:

like people of this world (CEV)

General Comment on 3:3c-d

In the Greek these two questions form one sentence connected by a preposition meaning “and.” The RSV follows the Greek and says:

are you not of the flesh and behaving like ordinary men? (RSV)

You may translate these questions as one sentence or as two sentences, whichever is more natural in your language.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

(Occurrence -1) σαρκικοί

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἔτι γάρ σαρκικοί ἐστέ ὅπου Γάρ ἐν ὑμῖν ζῆλος καί ἔρις οὐχί σαρκικοί ἐστέ καί κατά ἄνθρωπον περιπατεῖτε)

Paul is using the adjective fleshly as a noun in order to describe a group of people. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this adjective with a noun phrase. Alternate translation: [fleshly people … fleshly people]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ὅπου & ἐν ὑμῖν ζῆλος καὶ ἔρις

where & among you_all_‹is› jealousy (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἔτι γάρ σαρκικοί ἐστέ ὅπου Γάρ ἐν ὑμῖν ζῆλος καί ἔρις οὐχί σαρκικοί ἐστέ καί κατά ἄνθρωπον περιπατεῖτε)

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas behind jealousy and strife, you can express the ideas by using verbs such as “being jealous” and “fighting.” Alternate translation: [where you are jealous and fight with one another]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ὅπου

where

The word where often refers to space. However, here Paul uses it to indicate that something exists without focusing on exactly where in space that thing is. Instead of identifying a specific location, it identifies existence. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind whereby using a word that refers to whether something exists or not. Alternate translation: [if there is]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

οὐχὶ σαρκικοί ἐστε καὶ κατὰ ἄνθρωπον περιπατεῖτε?

Paul does not ask this question because he is looking for information or for agreement or disagreement. Rather, he asks it to involve the Corinthians in what he is arguing. The question assumes that the answer is “yes.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind this question with a statement that draws a conclusion from the jealousy and the strife. Alternate translation: [you are fleshly and walking according to men]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / hendiadys

(Occurrence 2) καὶ

Here Paul uses and to introduce a definition of what fleshly means. It means walking according to men. If you cannot use and to introduce a definition or explanation, you could use another word or phrase that does introduce a definition or explanation. If you use one of the following alternate translations, you may need to add a comma before it. Alternate translation: [that is, are you not] or [which means]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

κατὰ ἄνθρωπον περιπατεῖτε

Paul speaks of behavior in life as if it were walking. If walking would not be understood as a description of a person’s way of life in your language, you could express the idea with a comparable metaphor or plainly. Alternate translation: [behaving as men do]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

κατὰ ἄνθρωπον

Here Paul speaks of behavior that is according to men. He uses this phrase to refer to behaviors done by people who think and act in only human ways. These people do not have God’s Spirit, so they “walk” according to the values and goals of this world. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind according to menby using a word or phrase that refers to things and behaviors valued by people who do not believe. Alternate translation: [according to what mere humans value] or [according to this world]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

ἄνθρωπον

human_origin

Although men is masculine, Paul is using it to refer to anyone, whether man or woman. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express men with a non gendered word or refer to both genders. Alternate translation: [humans]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

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.

OET interlinear 1 COR 3:3

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

Section 3:1–23: Christian workers serve the Lord by building his church together

Paragraph 3:1–4

3:3a

3:3b

3:3c

General Comment on 3:3b-c

3:3d

General Comment on 3:3c-d

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

OET interlinear 1 COR 3:3

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

Section 3:1–23: Christian workers serve the Lord by building his church together

Paragraph 3:1–4

3:3a

3:3b

3:3c

General Comment on 3:3b-c

3:3d

General Comment on 3:3c-d

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

OET interlinear 1 COR 3:3