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OET (OET-LV) But I not have_resorted to_nothing of_these things.
Not and I_wrote these things, in_order_that thus it_may_become with me, because/for good it_is for_me rather to_die_off, than the boast of_me no_one will_be_emptying.
OET (OET-RV) But I haven’t taken advantage of any of those rights, and even now, I’m not writing this to ask for material support for myself—I’d rather die than have someone deprive me of this reason for boasting.
In this section Paul responded to a claim by some of the Corinthians that he was not an apostle. First, he defended his calling and work as an apostle. Then he used himself as an example of someone who did not use his rights.
In chapter 8 and chapter 10 Paul talked about food offered to idols. In this chapter Paul said that he was an example of somebody who had the right to do anything. He was thinking about the right to eat any kind of food. Out of love for others he refrained from doing things that he had a right to do. Instead, he tried to act in a way that would lead others to Christ.
Other possible section headings include:
Paul’s rights as an apostle
Paul's example of not using his rights
This paragraph begins and ends with a reference to Paul’s right to be paid for preaching the gospel. In this paragraph he further explained his choice not to make use of this right. He stated this choice in emphatic terms in v. 15. He described this choice as “my boast.” He then explained that he does not boast about the fact that he preaches the Gospel. The Lord Jesus commanded him to preach. He had no choice, he must do it. His reward for his work is the satisfaction he gets from giving up his right.
But I have not used any of these rights.
¶ But I have never used/claimed my right to support.
¶ But I have never asked anything from you.
But I have not used any of these rights: The Greek text says literally, “But I have not used any of these things.” The BSB has supplied the word rights. This repeats what he said in 9:12c: “But we did not exercise this right.” Paul said that he had not insisted that the people he preached to must support him. Another way to say this is:
But I have not asked for anything from you.
And I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me.
And I am not writing this letter to ask you to support me.
Nor am I writing these things to you(plur) because I want you to start giving me pay for my work.
And: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as And introduces a second negative statement. The RSV therefore translates it as “Nor”:
Nor am I writing this… (RSV)
Consider how it is natural to introduce consecutive negative statements in your language.
I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me: In this clause Paul indicated that he did not want the Corinthians to start supporting him now. This was not his purpose in writing about his rights. Other ways to translate this include:
nor am I writing this now in order to claim such rights for myself (GNT)
I am not writing this letter to ask you to support me.
Indeed, I would rather die than let anyone nullify my boast.
It would be better to die! I will not let anyone make my boast empty!
I would rather die of hunger than let anyone take away my boast that when I preached the gospel to you, I did not ask you for food and drink.
It would be better for me to die than…I won’t let that source of my pride disappear.
Indeed, I would rather die than let anyone nullify my boast: In the Greek this is two sentences, but the first sentence is unfinished. Here are some ways to translate this.
Translate it literally, with an unfinished sentence, as the NET has done:
it would be better for me to die than—no one will deprive me of my reason for boasting! (NET)
Connect the two sentences. The BSB and many other English versions do this. For example:
I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge. (NLT)
Translate it as two complete sentences, as the GNT has done:
I would rather die first! Nobody is going to turn my rightful boast into empty words! (GNT)
I would rather die than: In an emotional way Paul began to explain his reason for not taking pay for his work. But he did not finish the sentence. Some other ways to translate this are:
I would rather die.
It would be better if I die of hunger
let anyone nullify my boast: After breaking off his previous sentence, Paul started again. In this sentence he said that he would not let anyone make his boast untrue, that is, he did not want anyone to give him financial support. Other ways to translate this include:
lose my right to boast about preaching without charge (NLT)
have anyone say I taught you because I wanted you to support me
In some languages it may be natural to start a new sentence here. For example:
I refuse to let anyone nullify my boast!
nullify my boast: The Greek text more literally says “empty my boast.” Here is another way to translate this:
have anyone make this boast of mine an empty one (JBP)
boast: Avoid translating boast with a word that refers to something negative or sinful. Paul rejoiced that he was able to preach without receiving pay. He did not sin by doing this.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
this thing that I am proud of
this good thing that I do
my right
Note 1 topic: translate-unknown
οὐ κέχρημαι
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐγώ Δέ οὒ κέχρημαι οὐδενί τούτων Οὐκ ἔγραψα δέ ταῦτα ἵνα οὕτως γένηται ἐν ἐμοί καλόν γάρ μοί μᾶλλον ἀποθανεῖν ἤ τό καύχημα μού οὐδείς κενώσει)
Here, taken advantage of refers to “making use of” a resource or “requiring” a specific behavior. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express taken advantage of with a comparable phrase. Alternate translation: [have not made use of] or [have not required you to provide]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / doublenegatives
οὐ κέχρημαι οὐδενὶ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐγώ Δέ οὒ κέχρημαι οὐδενί τούτων Οὐκ ἔγραψα δέ ταῦτα ἵνα οὕτως γένηται ἐν ἐμοί καλόν γάρ μοί μᾶλλον ἀποθανεῖν ἤ τό καύχημα μού οὐδείς κενώσει)
Here Paul uses two negative words in the Greek: “have not taken advantage of none.” In Paul’s culture, two negative words made the statement even more negative. English speakers would misunderstand these two negatives, so the ULT expresses the idea with one strong negative. If your language can use two negatives as Paul’s culture did, you could use a double negative here. If your language does not use two negatives in this way, you can translate with one strong negative, as the ULT does. Alternate translation: [have by no means taken advantage]
Note 3 topic: writing-pronouns
τούτων
˱of˲_these_‹things›
Here, these things could refer to: (1) the “right” or “rights” that Paul has to financial support from the Corinthians. Alternate translation: [of these rights] (2) all the reasons he has given in [9:6–14](../09/06.md) for why those who proclaim the gospel should receive financial support. Alternate translation: [of these reasons] or [of these arguments]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / pastforfuture
οὐκ ἔγραψα
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐγώ Δέ οὒ κέχρημαι οὐδενί τούτων Οὐκ ἔγραψα δέ ταῦτα ἵνα οὕτως γένηται ἐν ἐμοί καλόν γάρ μοί μᾶλλον ἀποθανεῖν ἤ τό καύχημα μού οὐδείς κενώσει)
Here Paul refers to 1 Corinthians itself, the letter he is currently writing. Use whatever tense in your language would be appropriate to refer to the letter itself. Alternate translation: [I have not written]
Note 5 topic: writing-pronouns
ταῦτα
these_‹things›
Here Paul refers to what he has already written, especially to [9:6–14](../09/06.md). Use a form in your language that refers back to things that have just been said. Alternate translation: [those things] or [what I have just written]
Note 6 topic: writing-pronouns
οὕτως γένηται
thus ˱it˲_˓may˒_become
Here, thus refers to receiving financial support from the Corinthians. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express thus with a word or phrase that more clearly refers to receiving financial support. Alternate translation: [these things might be done] or [support might be given]
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
γένηται ἐν ἐμοί
˱it˲_˓may˒_become with me
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 what is done rather than the person doing it. If you must state who does the action, Paul implies that “you,” the Corinthians, would do it. Alternate translation: [you might do for me]
Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
τὸ καύχημά μου & κενώσει
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐγώ Δέ οὒ κέχρημαι οὐδενί τούτων Οὐκ ἔγραψα δέ ταῦτα ἵνα οὕτως γένηται ἐν ἐμοί καλόν γάρ μοί μᾶλλον ἀποθανεῖν ἤ τό καύχημα μού οὐδείς κενώσει)
Here Paul speaks as if a boast was a container that someone could make empty. By speaking in this way, Paul means that someone could take away what he boasts about. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express make my boast empty with a comparable metaphor or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [will remove my reason for boasting] or [will deflate my boast]
Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
τὸ καύχημά μου
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐγώ Δέ οὒ κέχρημαι οὐδενί τούτων Οὐκ ἔγραψα δέ ταῦτα ἵνα οὕτως γένηται ἐν ἐμοί καλόν γάρ μοί μᾶλλον ἀποθανεῖν ἤ τό καύχημα μού οὐδείς κενώσει)
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind boast, you can express the idea by using a verb such as “boast.” Alternate translation: [what I boast about]
OET (OET-LV) But I not have_resorted to_nothing of_these things.
Not and I_wrote these things, in_order_that thus it_may_become with me, because/for good it_is for_me rather to_die_off, than the boast of_me no_one will_be_emptying.
OET (OET-RV) But I haven’t taken advantage of any of those rights, and even now, I’m not writing this to ask for material support for myself—I’d rather die than have someone deprive me of this reason for boasting.
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.