OET interlinear 1COR 4:13

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

παρακαλοῦμεν & ἐγενήθημεν

˱we˲_/are/_imploring & ˱we˲_/were/_become

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

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-time-simultaneous

δυσφημούμενοι

/being/_defamed

The phrase being slandered identifies the situation in which Paul and other apostles comfort. If it would be helpful in your language, you could: (1) include a word such as “when” to indicate that these actions happen at the same time. Alternate translation: [Any time we are slandered] (2) include a word such as “although” to indicate that these actions are in contrast with each other. Alternate translation: [Although we are slandered]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

δυσφημούμενοι

/being/_defamed

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Paul uses the passive form here to focus on those who are slandered rather than the people doing the “slandering.” If you must state who does the action, you can use a vague or indefinite subject. Alternate translation: [others slandering us]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

ὡς περικαθάρματα τοῦ κόσμου ἐγενήθημεν, πάντων περίψημα

as /the/_scum ˱of˲_the world ˱we˲_/were/_become ˱of˲_all_‹things› refuse

Here Paul says that he and other apostles are like scum and refuse, both of which are words that describe garbage. Paul speaks in this way to show that the world considers him and other apostles to be worthless, just like garbage is worthless and should be thrown away. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind this simile with a comparable image or plainly. Alternate translation: [We have no value according to the world’s perspective] or [We have become like a heap of garbage]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

περικαθάρματα τοῦ κόσμου & πάντων περίψημα

/the/_scum ˱of˲_the world & ˱of˲_all_‹things› refuse

Here Paul uses two different words for garbage. The word scum refers to what people throw away after they clean something. The word refuse refers to dirt or filth that people wipe or scrub off an object. Paul uses two very similar words in order to emphasize that the world thinks that he and other apostles are like garbage. If your language does not use repetition in this way, you can combine these phrases. Alternate translation: [the filthy scum of all the world]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

περικαθάρματα τοῦ κόσμου

/the/_scum ˱of˲_the world

Here Paul uses the possessive form to describe what the world identifies as scum. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this form with a short phrase to clarify that scum is what the world thinks he and other apostles are. Alternate translation: [what the world considers scum]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

τοῦ κόσμου

˱of˲_the world

When Paul uses the world in this context, he is not referring primarily to everything that God has made. Rather, he uses the world to refer to human beings who do not believe in Jesus. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the world with an expression that refers to human beings in general. Alternate translation: [of human beings]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

πάντων περίψημα

˱of˲_all_‹things› refuse

Here Paul uses the possessive form to describe refuse that: (1) comes from all things. Alternate translation: [the refuse from all things] (2) all people consider to be garbage. Alternate translation: [what all people consider to be refuse]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ἕως ἄρτι

until now

Here Paul ends this sentence in a similar way to how he began his sentence in 4:11. In Paul’s culture, the phrase even until now means that what Paul speaks about has been happening and continues to happen up to the time when he writes this letter. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this phrase with a comparable idiom or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [to this very day] “all the time we serve Christ”