1 COR 4:10 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. Ἡμεῖς
2. egō
3. We are
4. -
5. 14730
6. R···1N·P
7. we ‹are›
8. we ‹are›
9. S
10. Y59
11. 114430
1. μωροί
2. mōros
3. foolish
4. -
5. 34740
6. S····NMP
7. foolish
8. foolish
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114431
1. διά
2. dia
3. because of
4. -
5. 12230
6. P·······
7. because_of
8. because_of
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114432
1. Χριστόν
2. χristos
3. chosen one messiah
4. -
5. 55470
6. N····AMS
7. chosen_one/messiah
8. Christ
9. WN
10. Y59; Person=Jesus
11. 114433
1. ὑμεῖς
2. su
3. you all
4. -
5. 47710
6. R···2N·P
7. you_all
8. you_all
9. -
10. Y59; R114343
11. 114434
1. δέ
2. de
3. but
4. -
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. but
8. but
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114435
1. φρόνιμοι
2. fronimos
3. prudent
4. -
5. 54290
6. S····NMP
7. prudent
8. prudent
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114436
1. ἐν
2. en
3. in
4. -
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114437
1. Χριστῷ
2. χristos
3. chosen one messiah
4. -
5. 55470
6. N····DMS
7. chosen_one/messiah
8. Christ
9. WN
10. Y59; Person=Jesus
11. 114438
1. ἡμεῖς
2. egō
3. we are
4. -
5. 14730
6. R···1N·P
7. we ‹are›
8. we ‹are›
9. -
10. Y59; R114416; R114416
11. 114439
1. ἀσθενεῖς
2. asthenēs
3. weak
4. -
5. 7720
6. S····NMP
7. weak
8. weak
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114440
1. ὑμεῖς
2. su
3. you all are
4. -
5. 47710
6. R···2N·P
7. you_all ‹are›
8. you_all ‹are›
9. -
10. Y59; R114343
11. 114441
1. δέ
2. de
3. but
4. -
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. but
8. but
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114442
1. ἰσχυροί
2. isχuros
3. strong
4. strong
5. 24780
6. S····NMP
7. strong
8. strong
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114443
1. ὑμεῖς
2. su
3. you all are
4. -
5. 47710
6. R···2N·P
7. you_all ‹are›
8. you_all ‹are›
9. -
10. Y59; R114343
11. 114444
1. ἔνδοξοι
2. endoxos
3. glorious
4. -
5. 17410
6. S····NMP
7. glorious
8. glorious
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114445
1. ἡμεῖς
2. egō
3. we
4. -
5. 14730
6. R···1N·P
7. we
8. we
9. -
10. Y59; R114416
11. 114446
1. δέ
2. de
3. but
4. -
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. but
8. but
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114447
1. ἀτιμοῖ
2. atimos
3. dishonourable
4. dishonoured
5. 8200
6. S····NMP
7. dishonourable
8. dishonorable
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114448

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:1–21: The Corinthians should respect Paul as a servant of Christ

Paul continued to talk about how the Corinthian believers should think about their Christian leaders, especially himself. He said that Christian leaders are servants of Christ and should be judged only by Christ. Some Corinthian believers were saying that they did not have to listen to Paul’s teaching. Paul encouraged the Corinthians to respect and obey him as their spiritual father.

Other possible section headings include:

Paul encouraged the Corinthians to respect him and Apollos

Paul and Apollos deserved respect as Christ’s servants

Paragraph 4:6–13

In this paragraph Paul rebuked the Corinthians for talking proudly about their abilities. Since all their abilities came from God, they had no reason to talk proudly about them. Paul talked about Apollos and himself to contrast the suffering that true workers of Christ were enduring with the proud, boastful attitudes of the Corinthians.

4:10

In this verse Paul used three statements that each showed contrast between the pride of some of the Corinthians and the humility of the apostles. In each of these statements Paul used a type of expression called irony. This is a kind of statement that states the opposite of what it really means. It is often used to rebuke people. Some translations indicate that the statements are a form of irony by putting exclamation marks (!) at the end of each sentence. In your translation, make sure that it is clear that Paul was rebuking the Corinthians. He was not praising them.

4:10a

We are fools for Christ,

We^(excl) are/appear foolish because we work for Christ!
You think we^(excl) are acting foolishly for the sake of Christ!
You seem to think that we^(excl) are fools as we^(excl) live for Christ,

We are fools for Christ: Paul continued to use irony. He did not mean that he and the other apostles were really fools. Rather, some of the Corinthians thought that they were fools because of the way they followed Christ and lived as Christians. There are two ways this could be translated:

use irony as Paul did. For example:
How foolish we^(excl) are for Christ!
use a literal statement. For example:
Many of you people say/think we^(excl) are being foolish. We are this way because of Christ!
Because of Christ we are thought of as fools. (CEV)
Because of the way we live as followers of Christ, we are thought of as fools.

Translate this in your language in a way that makes it clear that Paul was rebuking the Corinthians.

for Christ: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as for Christ means “for the sake of Christ.” It can also be translated as:

because we follow Christ

because we are devoted/dedicated to Christ

because we believe in Christ

4:10b

but you are wise in Christ.

But as for you, you think that you are very wise because you belong to Christ.
How wise you think yourselves now that you have become one/united with Christ!
but that you are such very wise Christians!

you are wise in Christ: This is also sarcasm. Paul did not mean that the Corinthians were really wise. He meant that some of them thought they are wise. So there are two ways to translate this:

using an ironic statement. For example:
How wise you are in Christ!
using a literal statement. For example:
You think that you are wise/clever Christians, but you are not.

wise in Christ: The phrase wise in Christ means “wise as Christians.” You may be able to translate this as:

wise Christians

wise believers in Christ

wise because you follow Christ

4:10c

We are weak,

We^(excl) are/appear powerless,
You consider us^(excl) to have no authority/power.

We are weak: The word weak here does not mean physically weak. It means to have no authority to be God’s representative and no power to influence people. This is still irony. Paul did not mean that he and the other apostles really had no power. Rather, the world’s people mistakenly thought that he was weak. So there are two ways to translate this:

as an ironic statement. For example:
We are so weak/powerless!
as a literal statement. For example:
Many people, including some of you, consider us^(excl) to have no power.

4:10d

but you are strong.

while you are spiritually strong/influential!
But as for you, you think that you have much spiritual authority/power.

you are strong: The word strong here does not mean physically strong, but spiritually strong. Paul was continuing to speak ironically. He meant “You think you are so strong spiritually!” It is likely that some of the Corinthians were talking proudly about their spiritual abilities. See the notes on 1:5. Paul wanted them to know that God did not like their proud talk. So there are two ways to translate this:

as an ironic statement. For example:
How strong you are!
as a literal statement. For example:
You talk proudly that you have God’s power to do many things.

4:10e

You are honored,

People honor/praise you,
You receive honor/deference/respect
You think it right for others to respect you

4:10f

but we are dishonored.

but they humiliate/despise us^(excl).
but not us!^(excl)
while they treat us^(excl) with scorn.

4:10e-f

You are honored, but we are dishonored: 4:10e-f is another example of irony. Because some of the Corinthians thought like this world’s people do about cleverness, they were happy to have people praise them. They also joined with this world’s people in criticizing Paul and perhaps other apostles also.

There are two ways to translate these verse parts:

as an ironic statement. For example:
How others honor you! How they scorn us!
You are honored; we are in disgrace! (REB)
as a literal statement. For example:
You receive honor, but we are shamed. (NCV)
You think that it is good when people praise you, but you think it is all right when people think of us^(excl) as unimportant.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

ἡμεῖς μωροὶ διὰ Χριστόν, ὑμεῖς δὲ φρόνιμοι ἐν Χριστῷ; ἡμεῖς ἀσθενεῖς, ὑμεῖς δὲ ἰσχυροί; ὑμεῖς ἔνδοξοι, ἡμεῖς δὲ ἄτιμοι

we_‹are› we (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἡμεῖς μωροί διά Χριστόν ὑμεῖς δέ φρόνιμοι ἐν Χριστῷ ἡμεῖς ἀσθενεῖς ὑμεῖς δέ ἰσχυροί ὑμεῖς ἔνδοξοι ἡμεῖς δέ ἀτιμοῖ)

In Paul’s language, he did not need to include are. However, many languages, including English, must add are, which is why the ULT includes it in brackets. If your language would not use are here, you could leave it unexpressed.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

(Occurrence -1) ἡμεῖς

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἡμεῖς μωροί διά Χριστόν ὑμεῖς δέ φρόνιμοι ἐν Χριστῷ ἡμεῖς ἀσθενεῖς ὑμεῖς δέ ἰσχυροί ὑμεῖς ἔνδοξοι ἡμεῖς δέ ἀτιμοῖ)

Here, we refers to Paul and the other “apostles.” It does not include the Corinthians.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / irony

ἡμεῖς μωροὶ & ἡμεῖς ἀσθενεῖς & ἡμεῖς & ἄτιμοι

With these statements, Paul identifies what he and the other apostles are like from the perspective of this world. They are fools, weak, and dishonored. Paul does know that from God’s perspective they are actually “wise,” “strong,” and “honored.” However, he speaks from the perspective of this world to help the Corinthians change their thinking. Instead of wanting to be wise, strong, and honored, the Corinthians need to realize that following God will instead make them appear to this world as fools, weak, and dishonored. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning of these statements with a word or phrase that clarifies that they are spoken from a different perspective. Alternate translation: [We seem to be fools … We seem to be weak … we seem to be dishonored] or [According to the world, we are fools … According to the word, we are weak … according to the world, we are dishonored]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / irony

ὑμεῖς δὲ φρόνιμοι & ὑμεῖς δὲ ἰσχυροί & ὑμεῖς ἔνδοξοι

you_all you_all_‹are› you_all_‹are› (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἡμεῖς μωροί διά Χριστόν ὑμεῖς δέ φρόνιμοι ἐν Χριστῷ ἡμεῖς ἀσθενεῖς ὑμεῖς δέ ἰσχυροί ὑμεῖς ἔνδοξοι ἡμεῖς δέ ἀτιμοῖ)

With these statements, Paul identifies what the Corinthians think about themselves. They think they are wise, strong, and honored from the perspective of this world. Paul contrasts what the Corinthians think about themselves and how he and other apostles look from the world’s perspective in order to make the Corinthians reconsider what they think about themselves. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express these statements with a word or phrase that identifies that they are spoken from the perspective of the Corinthians. Alternate translation: [but you consider yourselves wise … but you consider yourselves strong … You consider yourselves honored]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐν Χριστῷ

in Christ

Paul uses the spatial metaphor in Christ to describe the union of believers with Christ. In this case, being in Christ, or united to Christ, explains: (1) the means by which God has made the Corinthians wise. Alternate translation: [by means of your union with Christ] (2) the reason why God has made the Corinthians wise. Alternate translation: [because of your union with Christ Jesus]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

ὑμεῖς ἔνδοξοι, ἡμεῖς δὲ ἄτιμοι.

you_all you_all_‹are› you_all_‹are› glorious we (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἡμεῖς μωροί διά Χριστόν ὑμεῖς δέ φρόνιμοι ἐν Χριστῷ ἡμεῖς ἀσθενεῖς ὑμεῖς δέ ἰσχυροί ὑμεῖς ἔνδοξοι ἡμεῖς δέ ἀτιμοῖ)

Paul changes the order of the last item in the list, putting You in front of we. In his culture, this is one way to identify the last item in a list. If it would be helpful in your language, you could match the order that Paul uses for the first two items. Alternate translation: [We are dishonored, but you are honored]

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 4:10

SR Greek word order

Section 4:1–21: The Corinthians should respect Paul as a servant of Christ

Paragraph 4:6–13

4:10

4:10a

4:10b

4:10c

4:10d

4:10e

4:10f

4:10e-f

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

OET interlinear 1 COR 4:10

SR Greek word order

Section 4:1–21: The Corinthians should respect Paul as a servant of Christ

Paragraph 4:6–13

4:10

4:10a

4:10b

4:10c

4:10d

4:10e

4:10f

4:10e-f

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

OET interlinear 1 COR 4:10