1 COR 4:21 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. Τί
2. tis
3. What
4. -
5. 51010
6. R····ANS
7. what
8. what
9. S
10. Y59
11. 114596
1. θέλετε
2. thelō
3. you all are wanting
4. -
5. 23090
6. VIPA2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ wanting
8. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ wanting
9. -
10. Y59; R114343
11. 114597
1. Ἐν
2. en
3. With
4. -
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. with
8. with
9. S
10. Y59
11. 114598
1. ῥάβδῳ
2. rhabdos
3. +a rod
4. -
5. 44640
6. N····DFS
7. ˓a˒ rod
8. ˓a˒ rod
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114599
1. ἔλθω
2. erχomai
3. I may come
4. -
5. 20640
6. VSAA1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓may˒ come
8. ˱I˲ ˓may˒ come
9. -
10. Y59; R114224; Person=Paul
11. 114600
1. πρός
2. pros
3. to
4. -
5. 43140
6. P·······
7. to
8. to
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114601
1. ὑμᾶς
2. su
3. you all
4. -
5. 47710
6. R···2A·P
7. you_all
8. you_all
9. -
10. Y59; R114343
11. 114602
1. ἤ
2. ē
3. or
4. -
5. 22280
6. C·······
7. or
8. or
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114603
1. ἐν
2. en
3. in
4. -
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114604
1. ἀγάπῃ
2. agapē
3. love
4. -
5. 260
6. N····DFS
7. love
8. love
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114605
1. πνεύματι
2. pneuma
3. +a spirit
4. spirit
5. 41510
6. N····DNS
7. ˓a˒ spirit
8. ˓a˒ spirit
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114606
1. πνεύματος
2. pneuma
3. -
4. -
5. 41510
6. N····GNS
7. ˱of˲ ˓a˒ spirit
8. ˱of˲ ˓a˒ spirit
9. -
10. -
11. 114607
1. τέ
2. te
3. and
4. -
5. 50370
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114608
1. πραΰτητος
2. prautēs
3. of gentleness
4. gentle
5. 42400
6. N····GFS
7. ˱of˲ gentleness
8. ˱of˲ gentleness
9. -
10. Y59
11. 114609

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 4:14–21

Paul wanted the Corinthians to change the way they were thinking about him and accept his authority again. So he used another metaphor—that of a father with his children—to help them understand how they should respect and obey him.

4:21a

Which do you prefer?

Now which way do you want me to act toward you when I arrive?
When I arrive there, I can treat you in one of two ways.

Which do you prefer?: This is a rhetorical question. It is literally “What do you want?” Paul was about to ask the Corinthians to choose between two alternatives. This question introduces the two alternatives. There are several ways to translate it:

as a rhetorical question. For example:
Which do you want…? (NCV)
Which do you choose? (NLT)
as a command. For example:
Choose which of these you want/prefer.
Think about what you want/prefer.
as a statement. For example:
Now it’s up to you to choose! (JBP)
Translate this introduction in a way that is natural in your language.

4:21b

Shall I come to you with a rod,

Do you want me to punish you?
If you have still not stopped your bad ways, I will rebuke/discipline you severely.

4:21b-c

Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit?: These verse parts give two alternatives. Paul could either come to deal with them harshly or he could deal with them in a meek and gentle way. This is a rhetorical question. It is obvious which way was preferable. There are two ways to translate these verse parts:

as one or more rhetorical questions. For example:
Should I come with punishment, or with love and gentleness?
as a statement or statements. For example:
I’m sure you do not want me to come to you with a whip. You want me to come with a gentle spirit.

Translate these verse parts in the way that is most natural in your language for offering choices when one choice is clearly preferable.

rod: The Greek word that the BSB translates as rod can refer to any stick or rod made out of wood. Here the word refers to a stick that a father would use to correct a disobedient child. Paul used this as a figure of speech. He did not mean that he would come with a real rod. He meant that he would behave firmly and even harshly to the Corinthians. He wanted them to listen to him and obey his authority as Christ’s representative, like disobedient children change and become obedient to a loving father. If a literal translation would suggest that Paul would physically punish the Corinthians, you may need to say something like:

Should I come with a rod to punish you… (NLT)

Would you prefer that I be very harsh with you?

Do you want me to be hard on you…? (CEV)

General Comment on 4:21a-b

In some languages it may be natural to mention Paul’s arrival in Corinth in 4:21a rather than 4:21b. Several English versions follow this model. For example:

When I come to visit you, would you prefer that I punish you…? (GW)

What do you want me to do when I arrive? Do you want me to be hard on you…? (CEV)

4:21c

or in love and with a gentle spirit?

Or do you want me to talk to you lovingly and gently?
But if you have repented, I will be kind to you and show you that I love you.

in love: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as in love here refers to a kind or affectionate manner of acting and speaking.

with a gentle spirit: The Greek words that the BSB translates as with a gentle spirit means “with a gentle attitude” or just “with gentleness.” It refers to a kind manner of acting and talking.

General Comment on 4:21a-c

In some languages it may be natural to combine these verse parts into one sentence. For example:

^21aDo you want me ^21bto come to you with a whip ^21cor with love and gentleness?

^21aNow it is up to you to choose ^21bwhether my visit will be for discipline ^21cor for sharing love and kind words.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

τί θέλετε?

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Τί θέλετε Ἐν ῥάβδῳ ἔλθω πρός ὑμᾶς ἤ ἐν ἀγάπῃ πνεύματι τέ πραΰτητος)

Paul asks the Corinthians What they want because he wants them to realize that their behavior will show him how to respond to them. He does not want the Corinthians to tell him all their desires. Rather, he presents two options in the rest of the verse, and the question What do you want? shows the Corinthians that they can choose between those two options by listening to Paul or choosing not to listen to him. If your language does not use a question to express this idea, you can translate the question in statement form. Alternate translation: [Depending on what you do, I will behave towards you in one of two ways.] or [How you respond to me will tell me how to respond to you.]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

ἐν ῥάβδῳ ἔλθω πρὸς ὑμᾶς, ἢ ἐν ἀγάπῃ, πνεύματί τε πραΰτητος?

in (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Τί θέλετε Ἐν ῥάβδῳ ἔλθω πρός ὑμᾶς ἤ ἐν ἀγάπῃ πνεύματι τέ πραΰτητος)

Here Paul uses a question to present the two options for how he could act toward the Corinthians when he “comes” to them. He asks a question for the same reason he asked the first question in this verse. He wants them to realize that how they choose to respond to him will dictate how he will act when he visits. If they do not listen to him, he will come with a rod. If they do listen, he will come with love and a spirit of gentleness. If your language does not use a question to express this idea, you can translate the question in statement form. Alternate translation: [I will either come to you with a rod or with love and a spirit of gentleness.] or [If you do not listen, I will come to you with a rod. If you do listen, I will come to you with love and a spirit of gentleness.]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / go

ἔλθω πρὸς ὑμᾶς

˱I˲_˓may˒_come (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Τί θέλετε Ἐν ῥάβδῳ ἔλθω πρός ὑμᾶς ἤ ἐν ἀγάπῃ πνεύματι τέ πραΰτητος)

Here Paul is speaking about his plan to visit the Corinthians at some point. Use a form in your language that indicates future travel plans to visit someone. Alternate translation: [Shall I arrive where you live]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐν ῥάβδῳ

in (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Τί θέλετε Ἐν ῥάβδῳ ἔλθω πρός ὑμᾶς ἤ ἐν ἀγάπῃ πνεύματι τέ πραΰτητος)

Paul speaks of coming with a rod as if he is going to physically beat the Corinthians to teach them to listen to him. This metaphor may continue the way in which he speaks of himself as a “father” in [4:14–15](../04/14.md), since fathers could punish their children physically with a rod if they did not obey. By speaking in this way, Paul thus refers to discipline or punishment, but the discipline he threatens will not be physical. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this figure of speech with a word or phrase that would describe discipline or punishment, or you could express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [to punish you] or [with a harsh rebuke]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐν ἀγάπῃ & τε

in love & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Τί θέλετε Ἐν ῥάβδῳ ἔλθω πρός ὑμᾶς ἤ ἐν ἀγάπῃ πνεύματι τέ πραΰτητος)

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind love, you can express the idea by using an adverb such as “lovingly” or a verb such as “love.” Alternate translation: [shall I love you with]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

πνεύματί & πραΰτητος

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Τί θέλετε Ἐν ῥάβδῳ ἔλθω πρός ὑμᾶς ἤ ἐν ἀγάπῃ πνεύματι τέ πραΰτητος)

Here Paul uses the possessive form to describe a spirit that is characterized by gentleness. If your language would not use the possessive form to express that idea, you could express the idea by translating gentleness as an adjective, such as “gentle.” Alternate translation: [a gentle spirit]

Note 7 topic: translate-unknown

πνεύματί

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Τί θέλετε Ἐν ῥάβδῳ ἔλθω πρός ὑμᾶς ἤ ἐν ἀγάπῃ πνεύματι τέ πραΰτητος)

Here, spirit does not refer to God’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit. Rather, it refers to Paul’s spirit. In Paul’s culture, as spirit of something is a way to describe a person’s attitude that is characterized by that thing. Here, then, Paul speaks about an attitude that is gentle. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express spirit with a word such as “attitude” to express the idea. Alternate translation: [an attitude]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

πραΰτητος

˱of˲_gentleness

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind gentleness, you can express the idea by using an adjective such as “gentle.” Alternate translation: [that is gentle]

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 4:21

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

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

Paragraph 4:14–21

4:21a

4:21b

4:21b-c

General Comment on 4:21a-b

4:21c

General Comment on 4:21a-c

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

OET interlinear 1 COR 4:21

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

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

Paragraph 4:14–21

4:21a

4:21b

4:21b-c

General Comment on 4:21a-b

4:21c

General Comment on 4:21a-c

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

OET interlinear 1 COR 4:21