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OET (OET-LV) So_that not before the_time anything be_judging, until wishfully may_come the master, who both will_be_illuminating the hidden things of_the darkness, and will_be_revealing the counsels of_the hearts, and then the praise will_be_becoming to_each from the god.
OET (OET-RV) So don’t make judgements ahead of time, but wait until the master comes—the one who’ll bring to light what’s hidden in the darkness, and who will expose people’s true motives. At that time, God will praise each person who’s acted faithfully.
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
Paul explained that he was a worker whom Christ had sent to teach and work for him. Christ alone was the one to decide whether or not Paul had done his work well.
Therefore judge nothing
So then, you should not pass/render any such judgment
So you should not decide, “This worker works well, and that worker does not,”
Therefore I command/urge you not to judge/declare whether or not someone has been faithful to the Lord.
Therefore: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as Therefore here introduces a command that states what Paul wants the Corinthians to stop doing as a result of what he has just told them. Here is another way to translate this:
So (GNT)
judge nothing: The Greek word that the BSB translates as judge here refers to declaring a verdict at the end of a trial. it is a slightly different word from that used in 4:4c. Other ways to translate it include:
pass judgment (GNT)
pronounce judgment (RSV)
before the appointed time;
until the appropriate time.
because this/now is not the right time.
It is not yet the proper time to judge/decide such things.
before the appointed time: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as before the appointed time refers to the right or opportune/appropriate time for something. This time is the Lord’s judging day when he returns to earth. See the note on 3:13b. Here is another way to translate this:
before the right time (GNT)
wait until the Lord comes.
That time will be/come when the Lord comes/returns.
When the Lord Jesus comes back, he will judge.
wait until the Lord comes: The BSB has supplied the word wait. Paul was not implying that people should pass judgment on others at the time when the Lord comes.
In your translation, make sure that it is clear that until the Lord comes is explaining the meaning of the phrase “the appointed time” in the previous verse part.
He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness
He will shine light on the things that are hidden/concealed in/by darkness
He will reveal whatever is now in the dark.
He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as what is hidden in darkness is literally “the hidden things of darkness.” This is a metaphor. It refers to things that a person has thought or done secretly, things that other people do not know about. Other ways to translate this part of the verse include:
He will bring our deepest secrets to light (NLT)
he will bring into the light of day all that at present is hidden in darkness (JBP)
He will show what is hidden in the dark (CEV)
what is hidden in darkness: This is a passive phrase. It literally refers to things that cannot be seen because of darkness and figuratively refers to what is not known by other people. There are several ways to translate it:
using a passive verb. For example:
what is concealed by/in the dark
using an active verb. For example:
what darkness hides (REB)
remove the metaphor of darkness. For example:
secrets/mysteries of men
all the things people have done that other people do not know about
Translate this in the way that is most natural in your language in this context.
and will expose the motives of men’s hearts.
and reveal the thoughts/purposes in people’s hearts/minds.
He will make clear to everyone what everyone thinks/plans.
will expose the motives of men’s hearts: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as will expose the motives of men’s hearts indicates that God will reveal people’s intentions, the reasons why they do things. He will make plain everyone’s inward thoughts and purposes. In your translation, you should refer to the part of the body where people think and plan (for example, the mind). Other ways to translate this include:
He will show…what is in everyone’s hearts. (CEV)
reveal people’s motives (GW)
Paul did not say to whom the Lord would expose or reveal these things, whether to the people themselves or to others. He was probably thinking of people in general, rather than just the people themselves. So if you must make this explicit, you may be able to say:
will make clear to all people what is in everyone’s heart
Paul said that the Lord will do two things that are closely related (he will “bring to light what is hidden in darkness” and he will “expose the motives of each man’s heart.”) The action in the first clause is described in a figurative and general way. The clause refers to exposing anything that is now hidden. The second clause is more specific. The Lord will expose people’s motives. There are several possible ways of translating these verse parts:
use a conjunction that is broad or general in meaning, like the English “and.” For example:
He will bring to light things that are now hidden in darkness, and will make known the secret purposes of people’s hearts. (NCV)
start a new sentence, leaving the relationship between the two sentences implied. For example:
He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness. He will reveal the motives of each one’s heart.
indicate that the two clauses are closely related by using only one main (independent) verb. For example:
He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness, disclosing everyone’s internal/inward motives.
He will show what is hidden in the darkness and what is in everyone’s heart. (CEV)
At that time each will receive his praise from God.
And at that time God himself will praise each person as he deserves.
Then God will tell each person how well they have done the work that he gave them to do.
At that time each will receive his praise from God: This verse part emphasizes that it is God who will praise his workers at the proper time. The proper time is when the Lord comes. Other ways to translate this include:
then will be the time for each to receive commendation from God (REB)
In some languages it may be natural to translate this verse part with God as the subject:
At that time God will praise each one.
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicitinfo
πρὸ καιροῦ & ἕως ἂν ἔλθῃ ὁ Κύριος
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὥστε μή πρό καιροῦ τὶ κρίνετε ἕως ἄν ἔλθῃ ὁ Κύριος ὅς καί φωτίσει τά κρυπτά τοῦ σκότους καί φανερώσει τάς βουλάς τῶν καρδιῶν καί τότε ὁ ἔπαινος γενήσεται ἑκάστῳ ἀπό τοῦ Θεοῦ)
If the form before the time, until the Lord comes contains redundant information that would be unnatural to state in your language, you could express the idea without the redundant words. Alternate translation: [before the Lord comes] or [until the Lord comes]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / go
ἔλθῃ
˓may˒_come
Here Paul is speaking about how the Lord will “come” back to earth at some point in the future. Use a form in your language that could refer to Jesus’ return to earth. Alternate translation: [returns to the earth]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
ὃς καὶ φωτίσει τὰ κρυπτὰ τοῦ σκότους
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὥστε μή πρό καιροῦ τὶ κρίνετε ἕως ἄν ἔλθῃ ὁ Κύριος ὅς καί φωτίσει τά κρυπτά τοῦ σκότους καί φανερώσει τάς βουλάς τῶν καρδιῶν καί τότε ὁ ἔπαινος γενήσεται ἑκάστῳ ἀπό τοῦ Θεοῦ)
Here Paul speaks as if the Lord will bring a flashlight or torch when he comes, and he will use that torch or flashlight to shine light on things that are currently hidden in the darkness. By speaking in this way, Paul means that the Lord will reveal what no person knows right now. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning of this phrase with a comparable metaphor or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [who will both disclose what people do not know about]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / possession
τὰ κρυπτὰ τοῦ σκότους
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὥστε μή πρό καιροῦ τὶ κρίνετε ἕως ἄν ἔλθῃ ὁ Κύριος ὅς καί φωτίσει τά κρυπτά τοῦ σκότους καί φανερώσει τάς βουλάς τῶν καρδιῶν καί τότε ὁ ἔπαινος γενήσεται ἑκάστῳ ἀπό τοῦ Θεοῦ)
Here Paul uses the possessive form to describe things that are hidden in darkness. If the hidden things would not be understood to be in darkness in your language, you could express the idea by using a word such “in” or “within.” Alternate translation: [the things hidden in darkness]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
τὰ κρυπτὰ τοῦ σκότους
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὥστε μή πρό καιροῦ τὶ κρίνετε ἕως ἄν ἔλθῃ ὁ Κύριος ὅς καί φωτίσει τά κρυπτά τοῦ σκότους καί φανερώσει τάς βουλάς τῶν καρδιῶν καί τότε ὁ ἔπαινος γενήσεται ἑκάστῳ ἀπό τοῦ Θεοῦ)
If your language does not use the abstract noun darkness, you can express the idea by using a word or phrase that describes something that cannot be seen because there is no light, such as “in shadow.” Alternate translation: [the hidden things in shadow] or [the things hidden where no light shines]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / possession
τὰς βουλὰς τῶν καρδιῶν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὥστε μή πρό καιροῦ τὶ κρίνετε ἕως ἄν ἔλθῃ ὁ Κύριος ὅς καί φωτίσει τά κρυπτά τοῦ σκότους καί φανερώσει τάς βουλάς τῶν καρδιῶν καί τότε ὁ ἔπαινος γενήσεται ἑκάστῳ ἀπό τοῦ Θεοῦ)
Here Paul uses the possessive form to describe purposes that come from or are created in the hearts. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind that the purposes are located in the heartsby using a word such as “from” or “in.” Alternate translation: [the purposes in the hearts] or [the purposes from the hearts]
Note 7 topic: translate-unknown
τὰς βουλὰς
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὥστε μή πρό καιροῦ τὶ κρίνετε ἕως ἄν ἔλθῃ ὁ Κύριος ὅς καί φωτίσει τά κρυπτά τοῦ σκότους καί φανερώσει τάς βουλάς τῶν καρδιῶν καί τότε ὁ ἔπαινος γενήσεται ἑκάστῳ ἀπό τοῦ Θεοῦ)
Here, purposes refers to how humans have specific goals in mind and plan ways of attaining those goals. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express purposes with a word such as “plans” or “intentions.” Alternate translation: [the plans] or [the intentions]
Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy
τῶν καρδιῶν
˱of˲_the hearts
In Paul’s culture, hearts are the places where humans think and plan. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state clearly the place where humans think in your culture or express the idea of hearts. Alternate translation: [of the minds] or [that humans plan]
Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom
ὁ ἔπαινος γενήσεται ἑκάστῳ ἀπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ
the the praise ˓will_be˒_becoming ˱to˲_each (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὥστε μή πρό καιροῦ τὶ κρίνετε ἕως ἄν ἔλθῃ ὁ Κύριος ὅς καί φωτίσει τά κρυπτά τοῦ σκότους καί φανερώσει τάς βουλάς τῶν καρδιῶν καί τότε ὁ ἔπαινος γενήσεται ἑκάστῳ ἀπό τοῦ Θεοῦ)
Here Paul speaks as if praise were something that could come or travel from God to humans. Paul means that God is the source of the praise that each one will receive. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning of this sentence by translating it so that God is the one who gives the praise. Alternate translation: [God will give praise to each one]
Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
ὁ ἔπαινος γενήσεται ἑκάστῳ ἀπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ
the the praise ˓will_be˒_becoming ˱to˲_each (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὥστε μή πρό καιροῦ τὶ κρίνετε ἕως ἄν ἔλθῃ ὁ Κύριος ὅς καί φωτίσει τά κρυπτά τοῦ σκότους καί φανερώσει τάς βουλάς τῶν καρδιῶν καί τότε ὁ ἔπαινος γενήσεται ἑκάστῳ ἀπό τοῦ Θεοῦ)
Here Paul might seem to be saying that every person will receive some praise from God. However, Paul does not mean that. Instead, he only gives the example of the person who has been faithful to God, not the example of the person who has not been faithful to God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express why Paul uses only one example by clarifying that this example is only about those who are faithful, or you could include the opposite example about those who have been unfaithful. Alternate translation: [the praise from God will come to each faithful one] or [the praise and blame from God will come to each one]
4:5 don’t make judgments about anyone: Only the Lord can fully know a person’s heart, and when he returns, he will judge. Paul took God’s judgment of his ministry very seriously (see 2 Cor 5:9-10; Phil 2:16; 1 Thes 2:19-20; cp. 2 Cor 1:14).
OET (OET-LV) So_that not before the_time anything be_judging, until wishfully may_come the master, who both will_be_illuminating the hidden things of_the darkness, and will_be_revealing the counsels of_the hearts, and then the praise will_be_becoming to_each from the god.
OET (OET-RV) So don’t make judgements ahead of time, but wait until the master comes—the one who’ll bring to light what’s hidden in the darkness, and who will expose people’s true motives. At that time, God will praise each person who’s acted faithfully.
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.