OET interlinear 1COR 3:5

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

οὖν

therefore

Here, then introduces a further stage in Paul’s argument. He has argued in 3:4 that Paul and Apollos should not be treated as leaders of groups. In this verse, he goes on to explain how he thinks that Paul and Apollos should be treated, which is as servants of Christ. Thus, the word translated then introduces who Paul and Apollos really are. If it would be helpful in your language, you could leave then untranslated or use a word that introduces the next step in an argument. If you use the following alternate translation, you may need to add a comma before it. Alternate translation: “therefore,”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

τί οὖν ἐστιν Ἀπολλῶς? τί δέ ἐστιν Παῦλος? διάκονοι

what therefore is Apollos what and is Paul servants

Here Paul uses these questions to do two things. First, the questions imply that Apollos and Paul are not very important. Therefore, an implied answer to these questions would be that Apollos and Paul are “not very much.” Second, Paul uses the questions to introduce his own answer to these questions. After using the questions to imply that he and Apollos are not much, he then states that they are servants. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind these questions as a statement about the status of Apollos and Paul as servants, and you could use a word such as “only” or “merely” to express the idea that they are not very important. Alternate translation: “Apollos and Paul are merely servants”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / 123person

ἐστιν Παῦλος?

is is Paul

In this verse, Paul speaks of himself in the third person. This could sound like he is speaking about a different Paul than himself. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this use of Paul by clarifying that Paul is naming himself. Alternate translation: “am I, Paul”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

διάκονοι δι’ ὧν ἐπιστεύσατε

servants through whom ˱you_all˲_believed

Here Paul omits several words that may be required in your language to make a complete thought. If your language needs these words, you could include words such as “we are” or “they are.” Alternate translation: “We are servants through whom you believed” or “They are servants through whom you believed”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

διάκονοι δι’ ὧν ἐπιστεύσατε

servants through whom ˱you_all˲_believed

When Paul says that he and Apollos are those through whom the Corinthians believed, he is implying that the Corinthians believed in someone other than Paul and Apollos. That is, they believed in Christ. If your readers would not make this inference about whom the Corinthians believed in, you could make it explicit by including what the Corinthians believed in, which is “Christ” and not Apollos or Paul. Alternate translation: “Servants through whom you believed in Christ” or “Servants through whom you believed in Christ, not in us”

Note 6 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

καὶ & ὡς

also & as

Here, the words translated even as introduce the way in which Apollos and Paul act as servants. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this connection with a word or phrase that would introduce the ways in which Apollos and Paul are servants. Alternate translation: “who do what” or “serving just as”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

καὶ ἑκάστῳ ὡς ὁ Κύριος ἔδωκεν

also ˱to˲_each as the Lord gave

Here Paul omits what the Lord gave because it would be clear that he means that the Lord gave a specific job or task to each one of them. If it would be helpful in your language, you could add a word or phrase to the Lord gave to each one to indicates that the Lord gave a specific job or task. Alternate translation: “even as the Lord gave a task to teach one”

Note 8 topic: writing-pronouns

ἑκάστῳ

˱to˲_each

Here, to each one directly refers back to Apollos and Paul. However, it also probably refers to everyone who serves the Lord. If you can refer to multiple individuals considered separately in your language, you could use that form here. Alternate translation: “to each and every one who serves him”