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OET (OET-LV) The the For/Because of_god son, Yaʸsous chosen_one/messiah, who among you_all by us having_been_proclaimed, by me, and Silouanos, and Timotheos, not became Yes and No, but Yes in him has_become.
OET (OET-RV) His son Yeshua Messiah who I’ve preached about to you all, as well as hearing it from Silas and Timothy, didn’t become ‘yes’ and ‘no’, but in him it’s become ‘yes’.
In this section Paul explained that he had earlier planned to visit the Corinthians two times, once on his way to the province of Macedonia and again on his way back from there (1:15–16). But he probably came earlier than planned and had a painful visit (2:1). After he returned to Ephesus, he wrote a painful letter (7:8–9). He then went to Macedonia via Troas (2:12–13) instead of via Corinth. The false teachers probably accused him of not being trustworthy because he had changed his plans. So Paul explained in these verses why he had changed his plans.
Other examples of headings for this section are:
Paul’s Integrity (NASB)
Why Paul changed his plans (NJB)
Paul explained his change of plans
For the Son of God, Jesus Christ,
For God’s Son, Jesus Christ,
I say this because the Son of God, Jesus Christ,
For: Here the word For indicates that 1:19 explains 1:18b.
the Son of God, Jesus Christ: The Greek phrase is literally “of-God son, Jesus Christ.” It emphasizes the phrase the Son of God. It probably emphasizes of God as well. For example:
It is God whose Son this is, namely Jesus Christ
If possible, emphasize one or both parts. In some languages it is more natural to have the name Jesus Christ first. For example:
Jesus Christ, the Son of God
the Son of God: This phrase is a title for Jesus. This title was often used to refer to a savior who would be a descendant of King David. God would send this savior to rescue his people. This person was often referred to as the “Messiah” or “Christ.”
The title the Son of God also indicates that Jesus has the same nature and character as God. The relationship between God the Father and Jesus, his Son, is similar in some way to the relationship between human fathers and sons. God the Father does not have a physical body. He did not have a sexual relationship with Mary that resulted in her becoming pregnant and giving birth to Jesus. The Son of God existed eternally as the Son with his Father.
In areas where people do not understand the title the Son of God in this way, you may want to include a footnote that explains the correct meaning. Here is a suggested footnote:
This title refers to Jesus. It indicates that Jesus has the same nature and character as God. It does not mean that God the Father had a sexual relationship with Mary that resulted in her becoming pregnant and giving birth to Jesus. Mary became pregnant with Jesus in a miraculous way by the Holy Spirit of God.
In some languages, it is natural to speak of a son as a “child,” without specifying male or female. If that is true in your language, you may use a more general term, such as:
the Child of GodA translation of the title “the Son of God” must include a familial term such as “son” or “child.” Translations such as “the man who is God,” “the divine man,” or “the God man” are not acceptable, since they do not retain familial language. Examples of acceptable translation options include “the Son who comes from God,” and “the divine/unique/eternal Son of God.”
Other verses will usually make clear that Jesus was a male child. If you use a phrase such as “the male child of God,” be sure that it does not imply that God had another child who was female.
Christ: The word Christ is a title for Jesus. The word Christ literally means “the anointed one.” Translate the word Christ here as you did in 1:1.
who was proclaimed among you by me and Silvanus and Timothy,
whom I, Silas, and Timothy proclaimed to/among you(plur),
who was proclaimed among you by me and Silvanus and Timothy: This clause is passive. Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy preached, but the focus is on the pronoun who, which refers to Jesus. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:
whom I, Silas, and Timothy preached among you
This clause interrupts the main discussion in 1:19. See the General Comment at the end of the notes on 1:19 about possibly moving this clause in the verse.
proclaimed: This word means “announce” or “proclaim.” Paul and the others announced that Jesus was the Christ to people in Corinth and some of them believed. For example:
preached (NIV)
among you: The word among indicates that Paul and the others preached at various times to various gatherings of the people of Corinth. For example:
to you (NJB)
me and Silvanus and Timothy: Silvanus and Timothy came to Corinth and joined Paul during his first visit to Corinth (Acts 18:5). All three preached about Jesus while they were in Corinth.
Silvanus: The Greek spelling of this name here is “Silouanos.” The Latin (Roman) spelling is Silvanus, and some translations follow that spelling. The Aramaic spelling is “Silas.” In other places in the New Testament, this name is spelled Silvanus, so the BSB consistently spells this name Silvanus. You may want to:
Follow the Greek or Latin spelling here. You may then want a footnote to explain the other spelling. For example:
Elsewhere in the New Testament, this name is spelled “Silas.” “Silvanus” is the Latin version of this name.
Spell the name consistently, as the BSB does. You may then want a footnote to explain the spelling in the Greek. For example:
Literally “Silvanus.” “Silvanus” is the Latin version of the name “Silas.”
was not “Yes” and “No,”
was not “Yes” and “No” at the same time,
did not say “Yes” when he really meant “No.”
was surely not saying “yes” and thinking “no.”
not “Yes” and “No”: This phrase indicates that Jesus is not hypocritical, deceitful, unstable, or fickle. See the note at 1:17 or how you translated this phrase in 1:18.
but in Him it has always been “Yes.”
but/and in him our words are always “Yes.”
Through him our message is always “Yes.”
The gospel, which we proclaim, always fulfills what it says/promises because of him.
but: The Greek language considers 1:19d to contrast to 1:19c. But some languages would not consider the connection to have contrast. For example:
andWestern Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation on TW.
in Him it has always been “Yes.”: The Greek clause is literally “(it/he) has become (and still is) yes in him.” The subject of this clause is not explicit in the Greek. There are two ways to interpret what the subject should be:
The subject is it, and it refers to “our message” in 1:18b, meaning the gospel and the promises in it (1:20). For example:
In Christ it has always been yes (NCV) (BSB, NIV, RSV, ESV, NET, NCV, REB, GW)
The subject is he, and it refers to Jesus (1:19a). For example:
he is God’s “Yes” (GNT) (NJB, GNT, CEV, NASB, NABRE, KJV, NLT)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).Bruce says, “all the promises of God find their Yes—a fulfillment which his people acknowledged in their worship with the confirmatory Amen, uttered through Christ” (p. 181). Some scholars support a third option: “Yes” is the subject. But then the sentence would be “in him yes has become.” To this author, that sentence feels incomplete.
The Greek clause indicates that it became “yes” in the past and continues to be “yes.” Other ways to translate this clause are:
Because of him our message was always true (GW)
by means of his deeds and words, our message is always “Yes”
The words in 1:19b explain something about Jesus (1:19a), but they interrupt what Paul said about Jesus in 1:19a and 1:19c–d. It may be more natural to have these words before or after 1:19a and 1:19c–d. For example:
19aFor the Son of God, Jesus Christ, 19cwas not “Yes” and “No,” 19dbut in him it has always been “Yes.” 19bIt was he who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy.
For 19bI and Silas and Timothy preached 19athe Son of God, Jesus Christ among you, and he 19cwas not “Yes” and “No,” 19dbut in him it has always been “Yes.”
Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases
γὰρ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ τοῦ Θεοῦ Γάρ Υἱός Ἰησοῦς Χριστός ὁ ἐν ὑμῖν διʼ ἡμῶν κηρυχθείς διʼ ἐμοῦ καί Σιλουανοῦ καί Τιμοθέου οὐκ ἐγένετο Ναί καί Οὒ ἀλλά Ναί ἐν αὐτῷ γέγονεν)
Here, the word translated For connects this verse to the one before it as an explanation. If the connection between this statement and the previous one is not clear, you may want to use a similar connecting word here. Alternate translation: [You see,]
Note 2 topic: guidelines-sonofgodprinciples
ὁ τοῦ Θεοῦ & Υἱὸς
who (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ τοῦ Θεοῦ Γάρ Υἱός Ἰησοῦς Χριστός ὁ ἐν ὑμῖν διʼ ἡμῶν κηρυχθείς διʼ ἐμοῦ καί Σιλουανοῦ καί Τιμοθέου οὐκ ἐγένετο Ναί καί Οὒ ἀλλά Ναί ἐν αὐτῷ γέγονεν)
Son of God is an important title for Jesus that describes his relationship to God.
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
ὁ ἐν ὑμῖν δι’ ἡμῶν κηρυχθείς, δι’ ἐμοῦ, καὶ Σιλουανοῦ, καὶ Τιμοθέου
who among you_all by us ˓having_been˒_proclaimed by me (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ τοῦ Θεοῦ Γάρ Υἱός Ἰησοῦς Χριστός ὁ ἐν ὑμῖν διʼ ἡμῶν κηρυχθείς διʼ ἐμοῦ καί Σιλουανοῦ καί Τιμοθέου οὐκ ἐγένετο Ναί καί Οὒ ἀλλά Ναί ἐν αὐτῷ γέγονεν)
If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you use this alternate translation, you should delete the dash that follows it. Alternate translation: [the one whom I and Silvanus and Timothy proclaimed among you,]
Note 4 topic: translate-names
Σιλουανοῦ
Silvanus
The word Silvanus is the name of the man who is called “Silas” in the book of Acts and who was a leader in the early church. You may want to use one spelling here and put the other spelling in a footnote.
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom
ναὶ καὶ οὒ, ἀλλὰ ναὶ ἐν αὐτῷ γέγονεν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ τοῦ Θεοῦ Γάρ Υἱός Ἰησοῦς Χριστός ὁ ἐν ὑμῖν διʼ ἡμῶν κηρυχθείς διʼ ἐμοῦ καί Σιλουανοῦ καί Τιμοθέου οὐκ ἐγένετο Ναί καί Οὒ ἀλλά Ναί ἐν αὐτῷ γέγονεν)
The phrase combining “Yes” and “No” represents a person who is unreliable. If this phrase does not have that meaning in your language, use an idiom from your language that does have this meaning or state the meaning plainly. See how you translated this in verse 18. Alternate translation: [wishy-washy, but, as we said, a rock] or [unreliable, but we consistently showed you that he is trustworthy]
Note 6 topic: writing-pronouns
ἀλλὰ ναὶ ἐν αὐτῷ γέγονεν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ τοῦ Θεοῦ Γάρ Υἱός Ἰησοῦς Χριστός ὁ ἐν ὑμῖν διʼ ἡμῶν κηρυχθείς διʼ ἐμοῦ καί Σιλουανοῦ καί Τιμοθέου οὐκ ἐγένετο Ναί καί Οὒ ἀλλά Ναί ἐν αὐτῷ γέγονεν)
The subject of the verb has been, represented by it, could refer to: (1) the proclamation of Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy. Alternate translation: [but our proclamation has been “Yes” in him] (2) Jesus. In this case, in him would be translated as “in it,” referring to the proclamation. Alternate translation: [but he has been “Yes” in it] or [but Jesus has been “Yes” in our proclamation] (3) reality in general. Alternate translation: [but it has always been the case that there has been “Yes” in him]
OET (OET-LV) The the For/Because of_god son, Yaʸsous chosen_one/messiah, who among you_all by us having_been_proclaimed, by me, and Silouanos, and Timotheos, not became Yes and No, but Yes in him has_become.
OET (OET-RV) His son Yeshua Messiah who I’ve preached about to you all, as well as hearing it from Silas and Timothy, didn’t become ‘yes’ and ‘no’, but in him it’s become ‘yes’.
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.
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