OET interlinear 1COR 4:17

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns

διὰ τοῦτο

because_of this

Here, this refers back to what Paul said in the previous verse about imitating him. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express what this refers to by clarifying that it refers back to the previous verse. Alternate translation: “For that reason”

ἔπεμψα

˱I˲_sent

Sometimes, Paul uses the past tense sent with reference to the person who carries the letter to its destination. However, Paul later speaks of Timothy visiting them as only a possibility (See: 16:10). Therefore, the visit to which Paul refers here could: (1) have already happened by the time Paul is writing this letter. Timothy would be visiting the Corinthians while Paul is writing this letter, since Paul uses the future tense to refer to how Timothy will remind them of Paul’s ways. Alternate translation: “I have sent” (2) be when Timothy brings the letter to them, at which time he will remind them of his ways. Alternate translation: “I am sending”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ὅς ἐστίν μου τέκνον, ἀγαπητὸν καὶ πιστὸν

who is ˱of˲_me /the/_child beloved and faithful

Here Paul speaks of Timothy as if he were his own child. This continues the metaphor about Paul as a spiritual father from 4:15. Paul is Timothy’s spiritual father, and Paul loves Timothy in the way a father loves his child. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind this figure of speech with a comparable metaphor or plainly. Alternate translation: “who is my beloved and faithful spiritual child” or “whom I love and who is faithful”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐν Κυρίῳ

in /the/_Lord

Here Paul uses the spatial metaphor in the Lord to describe the union of believers with Christ. In this case, being in the Lord, or united to the Lord, identifies Timothy as someone who faithfully does what he is called to do in his union with the Lord. Alternate translation: “in his union with the Lord”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τὰς ὁδούς μου τὰς ἐν

˱of˲_the ways ˱of˲_me ¬which in

Here Paul speaks of how he lives and what he does as my ways, which refers to the paths that Paul walks on. This way of speaking is related to how Paul has already spoken of behavior as “walking” (See: 3:3). The phrase my ways could identify: (1) how Paul thinks and lives. Alternate translation: “the way that I live in” (2) the principles that Paul follows concerning how to think and live. Alternate translation: “the principles that I follow in”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ

in in Christ Jesus

Here Paul uses the spatial metaphor in Christ Jesus to describe the union of believers with Christ. In this case, being in Christ Jesus, or united to Christ Jesus, describes Paul’s ways as ways that are appropriate for those united to Christ Jesus. Alternate translation: “appropriate in union with Christ Jesus”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

καθὼς & διδάσκω

as & ˱I˲_/am/_teaching

Here Paul does not explicitly state what it is that he is teaching. From the previous words, however, it is clear that he teaches his ways, the same ways that Timothy will remind them about. If you need to clarify what Paul teaches, you could refer to the ways explicitly. Alternate translation: “the same ways that I teach”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

πανταχοῦ ἐν πάσῃ ἐκκλησίᾳ

everywhere in every assembly

Here Paul speaks as if Paul has been everywhere and visited every church. The Corinthians would have understood this to refer to everywhere and every church that Paul has visited. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express everywhere and every church by clarifying that Paul refers to every place and church he has visited. Alternate translation: “everywhere I go and in every church that I visit”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

πανταχοῦ ἐν πάσῃ ἐκκλησίᾳ

everywhere in every assembly

Here, the words everywhere and in every church have very similar meanings. Paul repeats the idea to emphasize that he teaches the ways in every church, not just among the Corinthians. If your language does not use repetition in this way, you can combine the two phrases into one. Alternate translation: “in every church”