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InterlinearVerse GENEXOLEVNUMDEUJOBJOSJDGRUTH1 SAM2 SAMPSAAMOSHOS1 KI2 KI1 CHR2 CHRPROVECCSNGJOELMICISAZEPHABJERLAMYNA (JNA)NAHOBADANEZEEZRAESTNEHHAGZECMALLAOGESLESESGDNG2 PSTOBJDTWISSIRBARLJEPAZSUSBELMAN1 MAC2 MAC3 MAC4 MACYHN (JHN)MARKMATLUKEACTsYAC (JAM)GAL1 TH2 TH1 COR2 CORROMCOLPHMEPHPHP1 TIMTIT1 PET2 PET2 TIMHEBYUD (JUD)1 YHN (1 JHN)2 YHN (2 JHN)3 YHN (3 JHN)REV

1 Cor C1C2C3C4C5C6C7C8C9C10C11C12C13C14C15C16

1 Cor 3 V1V2V3V4V6V7V8V9V10V11V12V13V14V15V16V17V18V19V20V21V22V23

OET interlinear 1 COR 3:5

 1 COR 3:5 ©

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

    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. τίς
    2. tis
    3. -
    4. -
    5. 51010
    6. R····NMS
    7. who
    8. who
    9. -
    10. -
    11. 113951
    1. τί
    2. tis
    3. what
    4. -
    5. 51010
    6. R····NNS
    7. what
    8. what
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113952
    1. Οὖν
    2. oun
    3. Therefore
    4. -
    5. 37670
    6. C·······
    7. therefore
    8. therefore
    9. PS
    10. Y59
    11. 113953
    1. ἐστίν
    2. eimi
    3. is
    4. -
    5. 15100
    6. VIPA3··S
    7. is
    8. is
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113954
    1. Ἀπολλῶς
    2. apollōs
    3. Apollōs
    4. Apollos
    5. 6250
    6. N····NMS
    7. Apollōs
    8. Apollos
    9. U
    10. Person=Apollos; Y59
    11. 113955
    1. Παῦλος
    2. paulos
    3. -
    4. -
    5. 39720
    6. N····NMS
    7. Paulos
    8. Paul
    9. U
    10. Person=Paul; F113986; F113998
    11. 113956
    1. τίς
    2. tis
    3. -
    4. -
    5. 51010
    6. R····NMS
    7. who
    8. who
    9. -
    10. -
    11. 113957
    1. τί
    2. tis
    3. what
    4. -
    5. 51010
    6. R····NNS
    7. what
    8. what
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113958
    1. Δέ
    2. de
    3. And
    4. -
    5. 11610
    6. C·······
    7. and
    8. and
    9. S
    10. Y59
    11. 113959
    1. ἐστίν
    2. eimi
    3. is
    4. -
    5. 15100
    6. VIPA3··S
    7. is
    8. is
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113960
    1. Παῦλος
    2. paulos
    3. Paulos
    4. Paul
    5. 39720
    6. N····NMS
    7. Paulos
    8. Paul
    9. U
    10. Person=Paul; Y59
    11. 113961
    1. Ἀπολλῶς
    2. apollōs
    3. -
    4. -
    5. 6250
    6. N····NMS
    7. Apollōs
    8. Apollos
    9. U
    10. Person=Apollos
    11. 113962
    1. ἀλλʼ
    2. alla
    3. -
    4. -
    5. 2350
    6. C·······
    7. but
    8. but
    9. -
    10. -
    11. 113963
    1. ē
    2. -
    3. -
    4. 22280
    5. D·······
    6. rather
    7. rather
    8. -
    9. -
    10. 113964
    1. Διάκονοι
    2. diakonos
    3. Servants
    4. -
    5. 12490
    6. N····NMP
    7. servants
    8. servants
    9. S
    10. Y59
    11. 113965
    1. διʼ
    2. dia
    3. through
    4. -
    5. 12230
    6. P·······
    7. through
    8. through
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113966
    1. ὧν
    2. hos
    3. whom
    4. -
    5. 37390
    6. R····GMP
    7. whom
    8. whom
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113967
    1. ἐπιστεύσατε
    2. pisteuō
    3. you all believed
    4. believed
    5. 41000
    6. VIAA2··P
    7. ˱you_all˲ believed
    8. ˱you_all˲ believed
    9. -
    10. Y59; R113876
    11. 113968
    1. καί
    2. kai
    3. also
    4. -
    5. 25320
    6. D·······
    7. also
    8. also
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113969
    1. ἑκάστῳ
    2. hekastos
    3. to each
    4. -
    5. 15380
    6. S····DMS
    7. ˱to˲ each
    8. ˱to˲ each
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113970
    1. ὡς
    2. hōs
    3. as
    4. -
    5. 56130
    6. C·······
    7. as
    8. as
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113971
    1. ho
    2. the
    3. -
    4. 35880
    5. E····NMS
    6. the
    7. the
    8. -
    9. Y59
    10. 113972
    1. Κύριος
    2. kurios
    3. master
    4. master
    5. 29620
    6. N····NMS
    7. master
    8. Lord
    9. GN
    10. Y59
    11. 113973
    1. ἔδωκεν
    2. didōmi
    3. gave
    4. -
    5. 13250
    6. VIAA3··S
    7. gave
    8. gave
    9. -
    10. Y59
    11. 113974

OET (OET-LV)Therefore what is Apollōs?
And what is Paulos?
Servants through whom you_all_believed, also to_each as the master gave.

OET (OET-RV)Indeed, who’s Apollos? Who’s Paul? We’re just servants who brought you all the message when you believed, each one as the master led them.[fn]


3:5 (NEEDS MORE RESEARCH BUT) It seems unclear here who the final part of the verse is referring to: a/ those who brought the message, or b/ those who received it. (We’ve chosen b/ in the OET-RV rendering.)

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 3:5–9

Paul told why the Corinthians should not divide into groups and following their favorite Christian workers. It was because all Christian workers are working for God. He and Apollos were not important in themselves. They were just servants of God whom God sent to help the Corinthians to believe.

3:5a

What then is Apollos? And what is Paul?

What…is Apollos? And what is Paul?: These are rhetorical questions. Paul used them to introduce a new topic that he wanted his readers to think about. He wanted them to think about the status of Apollos and Paul (that is, himself). He was not asking for information. So there are several ways to translate these questions:

What: There is a textual problem here.

  1. Some Greek texts say what. For example:

    What is Apollos, really? Or what is Paul? (NET) (BSB, NIV, REB, RSV, NJB, NET, ESV, NASB)

  2. Some Greek texts say who. For example:

    After all, who is Apollos? And who is Paul? (GNT) (KJV, NLT, GNT, GW)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), as does the UBS Greek text. Some of the English versions that say “who” are almost certainly doing so for reasons of English style and naturalness.

The Greek word that the BSB translates as What is a neuter form, usually used for speaking of things, objects, rather than people. It is a low-status word, indicating that Paul and Barnabas were instruments, not important for their own sake or in their own selves. In some languages it will not be possible to refer to men by a neuter pronoun. In that case, you should consider using an expression that makes it clear that the questions deal with how important the people are. For example, the NCV translated this as:

Is Apollos important? (NCV)

Or you could use a word or expression in your language that implies a low status person such as a servant.

then: The Greek word that the BSB translates as then is usually translated as “therefore” or “so then.” In this context it introduces a further step in Paul’s argument concerning Christian workers. Here he began to talk about Apollos and himself and how the Corinthians should think about them and their other teachers.

3:5b

They are servants

They are servants: The pronoun They refers to Apollos and Paul. In many languages it may be more natural to use the first-person plural pronoun and say:

we(excl) are only servants

servants: Paul was indicating that he and Apollos were servants of God. As servants they were not important because of who they were themselves but only because they served God.

General Comment on 3:5a-b

In some languages it may be natural to combine the rhetorical question in 3:5a and the answer in 3:5b into one statement. For example:

5aApollos and I are 5bmerely servants. (CEV)

3:5c

through whom you believed,

through whom you believed: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as through whom you believed means that both Paul and Apollos helped the Corinthians to believe in Christ. They preached the gospel in Corinth and taught the people there about Jesus Christ.

3:5d

as the Lord has assigned to each his role.

as the Lord has assigned to each his role: The Greek clause that the BSB translates as as the Lord has assigned to each his role indicates that the Lord had given both Paul and Apollos a task to do. He had given them both a role in helping the Corinthians to trust Christ. Different ways to translate this include:

Each of us performed the task which the Lord assigned to him. (REB)

Each did what the Lord gave him to do. (GW)

Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. (NLT)

each: Paul was speaking primarily of himself and Apollos, so in some languages it will be natural to use a word meaning “both.”

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

οὖν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Οὖν ἐστίν Ἀπολλῶς τί Δέ ἐστίν Παῦλος Διάκονοι διʼ ὧν ἐπιστεύσατε καί ἑκάστῳ ὡς ὁ Κύριος ἔδωκεν)

Here, then introduces a further stage in Paul’s argument. He has argued in [3:4](../03/04.md) 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 what (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Οὖν ἐστίν Ἀπολλῶς τί Δέ ἐστίν Παῦλος Διάκονοι διʼ ὧν ἐπιστεύσατε καί ἑκάστῳ ὡς ὁ Κύριος ἔδωκεν)

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?

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Οὖν ἐστίν Ἀπολλῶς τί Δέ ἐστίν Παῦλος Διάκονοι διʼ ὧν ἐπιστεύσατε καί ἑκάστῳ ὡς ὁ Κύριος ἔδωκεν)

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

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Οὖν ἐστίν Ἀπολλῶς τί Δέ ἐστίν Παῦλος Διάκονοι διʼ ὧν ἐπιστεύσατε καί ἑκάστῳ ὡς ὁ Κύριος ἔδωκεν)

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

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Οὖν ἐστίν Ἀπολλῶς τί Δέ ἐστίν Παῦλος Διάκονοι διʼ ὧν ἐπιστεύσατε καί ἑκάστῳ ὡς ὁ Κύριος ἔδωκεν)

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

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Οὖν ἐστίν Ἀπολλῶς τί Δέ ἐστίν Παῦλος Διάκονοι διʼ ὧν ἐπιστεύσατε καί ἑκάστῳ ὡς ὁ Κύριος ἔδωκεν)

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

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τί Οὖν ἐστίν Ἀπολλῶς τί Δέ ἐστίν Παῦλος Διάκονοι διʼ ὧν ἐπιστεύσατε καί ἑκάστῳ ὡς ὁ Κύριος ἔδωκεν)

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]

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

    1. OET-LV words
    2. OET-RV words
    3. Strongs
    4. Greek word
    5. Greek lemma
    6. Role/Morphology
    7. OET Gloss
    8. VLT Gloss
    9. CAPS codes
    10. Confidence
    11. OET tags
    12. OET word #
    1. Therefore
    2. -
    3. 37670
    4. PS
    5. oun
    6. C-·······
    7. therefore
    8. therefore
    9. PS
    10. Y59
    11. 113953
    1. what
    2. -
    3. 51010
    4. tis
    5. R-····NNS
    6. what
    7. what
    8. -
    9. Y59
    10. 113952
    1. is
    2. -
    3. 15100
    4. eimi
    5. V-IPA3··S
    6. is
    7. is
    8. -
    9. Y59
    10. 113954
    1. Apollōs
    2. Apollos
    3. 6250
    4. U
    5. apollōs
    6. N-····NMS
    7. Apollōs
    8. Apollos
    9. U
    10. Person=Apollos; Y59
    11. 113955
    1. And
    2. -
    3. 11610
    4. S
    5. de
    6. C-·······
    7. and
    8. and
    9. S
    10. Y59
    11. 113959
    1. what
    2. -
    3. 51010
    4. tis
    5. R-····NNS
    6. what
    7. what
    8. -
    9. Y59
    10. 113958
    1. is
    2. -
    3. 15100
    4. eimi
    5. V-IPA3··S
    6. is
    7. is
    8. -
    9. Y59
    10. 113960
    1. Paulos
    2. Paul
    3. 39720
    4. U
    5. paulos
    6. N-····NMS
    7. Paulos
    8. Paul
    9. U
    10. Person=Paul; Y59
    11. 113961
    1. Servants
    2. -
    3. 12490
    4. S
    5. diakonos
    6. N-····NMP
    7. servants
    8. servants
    9. S
    10. Y59
    11. 113965
    1. through
    2. -
    3. 12230
    4. dia
    5. P-·······
    6. through
    7. through
    8. -
    9. Y59
    10. 113966
    1. whom
    2. -
    3. 37390
    4. hos
    5. R-····GMP
    6. whom
    7. whom
    8. -
    9. Y59
    10. 113967
    1. you all believed
    2. believed
    3. 41000
    4. pisteuō
    5. V-IAA2··P
    6. ˱you_all˲ believed
    7. ˱you_all˲ believed
    8. -
    9. Y59; R113876
    10. 113968
    1. also
    2. -
    3. 25320
    4. kai
    5. D-·······
    6. also
    7. also
    8. -
    9. Y59
    10. 113969
    1. to each
    2. -
    3. 15380
    4. hekastos
    5. S-····DMS
    6. ˱to˲ each
    7. ˱to˲ each
    8. -
    9. Y59
    10. 113970
    1. as
    2. -
    3. 56130
    4. hōs
    5. C-·······
    6. as
    7. as
    8. -
    9. Y59
    10. 113971
    1. the
    2. -
    3. 35880
    4. ho
    5. E-····NMS
    6. the
    7. the
    8. -
    9. Y59
    10. 113972
    1. master
    2. master
    3. 29620
    4. GN
    5. kurios
    6. N-····NMS
    7. master
    8. Lord
    9. GN
    10. Y59
    11. 113973
    1. gave
    2. -
    3. 13250
    4. didōmi
    5. V-IAA3··S
    6. gave
    7. gave
    8. -
    9. Y59
    10. 113974

OET (OET-LV)Therefore what is Apollōs?
And what is Paulos?
Servants through whom you_all_believed, also to_each as the master gave.

OET (OET-RV)Indeed, who’s Apollos? Who’s Paul? We’re just servants who brought you all the message when you believed, each one as the master led them.[fn]


3:5 (NEEDS MORE RESEARCH BUT) It seems unclear here who the final part of the verse is referring to: a/ those who brought the message, or b/ those who received it. (We’ve chosen b/ in the OET-RV rendering.)

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.

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 1 COR 3:5 ©