OET interlinear 1COR 9:3

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἡ ἐμὴ ἀπολογία τοῖς ἐμὲ ἀνακρίνουσίν

¬The my defense ˱to˲_the_‹ones› me examining

Here Paul uses language that would normally be used in the legal courts. The defense is what the persons accused would say to prove their innocence. The ones examining are the ones who are in charge of the court and make the decisions about who is guilty and who is innocent. Paul uses this metaphor to explain that he is defending himself against people who have accused him of acting wrongly. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind the legal metaphor plainly or with a comparable metaphor. Alternate translation: “My answer to those who accuse me”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἡ ἐμὴ ἀπολογία τοῖς

¬The my defense ˱to˲_the_‹ones›

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind defense, you can express the idea by using a verb such as “defend.” Alternate translation: “What I say to defend myself against those”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τοῖς ἐμὲ ἀνακρίνουσίν

˱to˲_the_‹ones› me examining

Here Paul does not state how the ones examining him think he has acted wrongly. The previous verse suggests that it relates to his “apostleship” (6:21). Paul intentionally does not state the “charge” against him, so leave it unstated if possible. If you must state what the “charge” against Paul is, you could clarify that it relates to whether he is truly an apostle or not. Alternate translation: “to those who examine me about my apostleship”

Note 4 topic: writing-pronouns

αὕτη

this

Here, this refers to what Paul is about to say, most likely including everything in the rest of this chapter. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this with a normal form in your language to speak about what you are about to say. Alternate translation: “what I am about to say”