OET interlinear 1 COR 4:20

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

οὐ & ἐν λόγῳ ἡ Βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἀλλ’ ἐν δυνάμει

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὒ Γάρ ἐν λόγῳ ἡ Βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀλλʼ ἐν δυνάμει)

Here Paul speaks as if the kingdom of God exists in, not word, but power. By this, he means that the kingdom of God does not consist in what people say but in what they do. To say it another way, word, or what people say, by itself does not make people part of God’s kingdom. Rather, it takes God’s power working for and through people to make them part of God’s kingdom. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this figure of speech with a comparable metaphor or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [the kingdom of God consists not in word but in power] or [the kingdom of God is not about word but about power]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐν λόγῳ & ἀλλ’ ἐν δυνάμει

in word & but in power

The contrast between word and power was well-known in Paul’s culture. The contrast states that people can say many things, but they cannot always do what they say they can do. If your language has a way to express this contrast between “talk” and “action,” you could use it here. Alternate translation: [not in talk but in deeds]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

λόγῳ

word

Here, word represents what someone says in words. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express word with an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [what people say]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

δυνάμει

power

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind power, you can express the idea another way. Alternate translation: [powerful deeds] or [what people powerfully do]