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parallelVerse INT GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1SA 2SA PSA AMOS HOS 1KI 2KI 1CH 2CH PRO ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL YHN MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC GAL 1TH 2TH 1COR 2COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1TIM TIT 1PET 2PET 2TIM HEB YUD 1YHN 2YHN 3YHN REV
1Cor Intro C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16
1Cor 13 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V13
Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed for doing comparisons of different translations. Click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.
Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance=normal (All still tentative.)
OET (OET-RV) In this present age, we see like fuzzy reflections in a mirror, but in the future, we’ll see God face to face. In this age, I have partial knowledge, but then it’ll be complete, just like we’ll be known completely.
OET-LV For/Because we_are_seeing now through a_mirror in an_enigma, but then face to face, now I_am_knowing by part, but then I_will_be_knowing_fully, as also I_was_known_fully.
SR-GNT Βλέπομεν γὰρ ἄρτι διʼ ἐσόπτρου ἐν αἰνίγματι, τότε δὲ πρόσωπον πρὸς πρόσωπον· ἄρτι γινώσκω ἐκ μέρους, τότε δὲ ἐπιγνώσομαι, καθὼς καὶ ἐπεγνώσθην. ‡
(Blepomen gar arti diʼ esoptrou en ainigmati, tote de prosōpon pros prosōpon; arti ginōskō ek merous, tote de epignōsomai, kathōs kai epegnōsthaʸn.)
Key: khaki:verbs, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).
ULT For now we see unclearly in a mirror, but then, face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known.
UST Right now, we see God indirectly, as if we saw a reflection in a mirror. When Jesus comes back, however, we will see God in person. Right now, we know God incompletely. When Jesus comes back, however, we will know God just as much as he knows us.
BSB Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
BLB For presently we see through a glass in obscurity; but then, face to face. Presently, I know in part; but then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.
AICNT For now we see through a mirror, in a riddle, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known.
OEB As yet we see, in a mirror, dimly, but then – face to face! As yet my knowledge is incomplete, but then I will know in full, as I have been fully known.
WEBBE For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known.
WMBB (Same as above)
NET For now we see in a mirror indirectly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known.
LSV for we now see obscurely through a mirror, and then face to face; now I know in part, and then I will fully know, as I was also known;
FBV At the moment we peer into a mirror's dim reflection, but then we shall see face to face. For now I only have partial knowledge, but then I shall know completely, just as I am completely known.
TCNT For now we see in a mirror by means of an obscure image, but then we will see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known.
T4T In this life we do not understand everything fully. It is like [MET] looking at something indirectly by seeing it in a mirror. But when we get to heaven [MTY], we will understand everything clearly. It will be like talking to someone face-to-face. Now we know only part of everything that God wants us to know. Then we will know everything completely, just like God knows us completely.
LEB For now we see through a mirror indirectly[fn], but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know completely, just as I have also been completely known.
13:12 Literally “in an indirect image”
BBE For now we see things in a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now my knowledge is in part; then it will be complete, even as God's knowledge of me.
Moff No Moff 1COR book available
Wymth For the present we see things as if in a mirror, and are puzzled; but then we shall see them face to face. For the present the knowledge I gain is imperfect; but then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
ASV For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known.
DRA We see now through a glass in a dark manner; but then face to face. Now I know I part; but then I shall know even as I am known.
YLT for we see now through a mirror obscurely, and then face to face; now I know in part, and then I shall fully know, as also I was known;
Drby For we see now through a dim window obscurely, but then face to face; now I know partially, but then I shall know according as I also have been known.
RV For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I have been known.
Wbstr For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
KJB-1769 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
KJB-1611 [fn]For now we see through a glasse, darkely: but then face to face: now I know in part, but then shall I know euen as also I am knowen.
(For now we see through a glasse, darkely: but then face to face: now I know in part, but then shall I know even as also I am known.)
13:12 Gr. in a riddle.
Bshps Nowe we see in a glasse, euen in a darke speakyng: but then shall we see face to face. Nowe I knowe vnperfectly: but then shall I knowe euen as I am knowen.
(Now we see in a glasse, even in a dark speaking: but then shall we see face to face. Now I know unperfectly: but then shall I know even as I am known.)
Gnva For nowe we see through a glasse darkely: but then shall wee see face to face. Nowe I know in part: but then shall I know euen as I am knowen.
(For now we see through a glasse darkely: but then shall we see face to face. Now I know in part: but then shall I know even as I am known. )
Cvdl Now we se thorow a glasse in a darke speakynge, but the shal we se face to face. Now I knowe vnperfectly: but the shal I knowe eue as I am knowne.
(Now we see through a glasse in a dark speaking, but the shall we see face to face. Now I know unperfectly: but the shall I know eue as I am known.)
TNT Now we se in a glasse even in a darke speakynge: but then shall we se face to face. Now I knowe vnparfectly: but then shall I knowe even as I am knowen.
(Now we see in a glasse even in a dark speaking: but then shall we see face to face. Now I know unparfectly: but then shall I know even as I am known. )
Wycl And we seen now bi a myrour in derknesse, but thanne face to face; now Y knowe of parti, but thanne Y schal knowe, as Y am knowun.
(And we seen now by a myrour in darkness, but then face to face; now I know of parti, but then I shall knowe, as I am known.)
Luth Wir sehen jetzt durch einen Spiegel in einem dunklen Wort, dann aber von Angesicht zu Angesichte. Jetzt erkenne ich‘s stückweise; dann aber werde ich erkennen, gleichwie ich erkannt bin.
(We see jetzt through a Spiegel in one dunklen Wort, dann but from face to facee. Yetzt erkenne ich‘s stückweise; dann but become I erkennen, gleichwie I erkannt bin.)
ClVg Videmus nunc per speculum in ænigmate: tunc autem facie ad faciem. Nunc cognosco ex parte: tunc autem cognoscam sicut et cognitus sum.[fn]
(Videmus now through speculum in ænigmate: tunc however face to faciem. Nunc cognosco from parte: tunc however cognoscam like and cognitus sum. )
13.12 Nunc. Imagines veritatis per fidem videntur. Tunc autem facie ad faciem. Id est res ipsæ manifeste videbuntur. Tunc cognoscam. Id est videbo promissa, sicut ipse est, hoc est præsentem ad Deum esse, ubi Christus est. Vel sicut præscitus sum cognoscere quod modo est secretum, Speculum. Est anima: speculum vi cujus aliquo modo Deum noscimus, sed obscure. Ænigma. Est autem ænigma non omnis, sed obscura allegoria. Unde sicut per speculum significavit imaginem, ita nomine ænigmatis similitudinem quamvis, sed obscuram et ad percipiendum difficilem intelligit.
13.12 Nunc. Imagines veritatis through faith videntur. Tunc however face to faciem. That it_is res ipsæ manifeste videbuntur. Tunc cognoscam. That it_is videbo promissa, sicut exactly_that/himself it_is, this it_is præsentem to God esse, where Christus it_is. Vel like præscitus I_am cognoscere that modo it_is secretum, Speculum. Est anima: speculum vi cuyus aliquo modo God noscimus, but obscure. Ænigma. Est however ænigma not/no omnis, but obscura allegoria. Unde like through speculum significavit imaginem, ita nomine ænigmatis similitudinem quamvis, but obscuram and to percipiendum difficilem intelligit.
UGNT βλέπομεν γὰρ ἄρτι δι’ ἐσόπτρου ἐν αἰνίγματι, τότε δὲ πρόσωπον πρὸς πρόσωπον; ἄρτι γινώσκω ἐκ μέρους; τότε δὲ ἐπιγνώσομαι, καθὼς καὶ ἐπεγνώσθην.
(blepomen gar arti di’ esoptrou en ainigmati, tote de prosōpon pros prosōpon; arti ginōskō ek merous; tote de epignōsomai, kathōs kai epegnōsthaʸn.)
SBL-GNT βλέπομεν γὰρ ἄρτι διʼ ἐσόπτρου ἐν αἰνίγματι, τότε δὲ πρόσωπον πρὸς πρόσωπον· ἄρτι γινώσκω ἐκ μέρους, τότε δὲ ἐπιγνώσομαι καθὼς καὶ ἐπεγνώσθην.
(blepomen gar arti diʼ esoptrou en ainigmati, tote de prosōpon pros prosōpon; arti ginōskō ek merous, tote de epignōsomai kathōs kai epegnōsthaʸn.)
TC-GNT Βλέπομεν γὰρ ἄρτι δι᾽ ἐσόπτρου ἐν αἰνίγματι, τότε δὲ πρόσωπον πρὸς πρόσωπον· ἄρτι [fn]γινώσκω ἐκ μέρους, τότε δὲ ἐπιγνώσομαι καθὼς καὶ ἐπεγνώσθην.
(Blepomen gar arti di esoptrou en ainigmati, tote de prosōpon pros prosōpon; arti ginōskō ek merous, tote de epignōsomai kathōs kai epegnōsthaʸn. )
13:12 γινωσκω ¦ γεινωσκω TH
Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, orange:accents differ (from our SR-GNT base).
13:12 The contrast between now and then is between this age and the coming age.
• Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror: In Paul’s day, mirrors were usually made of polished bronze, so the view was imperfect. Our perception in this life is limited and our understanding is partial and incomplete.
• then: When the end comes and Christ establishes his eternal kingdom, we will see everything with perfect clarity. Then the spiritual gifts that give knowledge will be unnecessary.
Loving Others
Jesus spoke of loving one’s neighbor as the second most important of the Old Testament commandments (Mark 12:31). In fact, love summarizes the entire Old Testament law (22:40; cp. Matt 7:12; 9:9-13; 12:1-13; see Rom 13:8-10). Jesus criticized the Pharisees for their failure to show love (Matt 9:13; 12:7; 23:4, 13-14, 23). Love is the mark of a true follower of Jesus (John 13:34-35) and of an authentic experience of God (1 Jn 2:9-11; 3:11-18; 4:7-21).
For Paul, love is more important than any of the spiritual gifts and the most important virtue. Love “binds us all together in perfect harmony” (Col 3:14). Without love, ministry has limited value (1 Cor 13:1-3). Paul summed up the whole of Christian ethics as “faith expressing itself in love” (Gal 5:6). Love is the natural outworking of Christian faith, the primary fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22), and the most important motivation for ministry. As believers grow in Christ, they will seek more and more to love others as he did.
Passages for Further Study
Lev 19:18; Hos 6:6; Matt 7:12; 9:9-13; 12:1-13; 22:37-40; 23:2-4, 13, 23; John 13:34-35; Rom 13:8-10; 1 Cor 13:1-13; Gal 5:6, 22-23; Col 3:12-14; 1 Jn 2:7-11; 3:11-18; 4:7-21
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
βλέπομεν
˱we˲_/are/_seeing
Here Paul does not state what it is that we see. The Corinthians would have inferred that he meant that we see God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind this implication explicitly. Alternate translation: [we see God]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
δι’ ἐσόπτρου ἐν αἰνίγματι
through /a/_mirror in /an/_enigma
Here Paul speaks as if we were looking at a mirror and could see a reflection unclearly. With this metaphor, Paul could be expressing the idea: (1) that now we can see God only indirectly, like a reflection in a mirror is an indirect image. Alternate translation: [an indirect reflection of God, as if we were looking in a mirror] (2) that now we can only see some things about God, like a mirror only imperfectly reflects an image. Alternate translation: [imperfectly, as if we were looking at a vague reflection in a mirror]
Note 3 topic: translate-unknown
δι’ ἐσόπτρου
through /a/_mirror
In Paul’s culture, a mirror was often made of polished metal. Often, these mirrors were relatively high quality and could reflect images well. Use a word in your language that describes something that reflects an image. Alternate translation: [in a looking glass]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis
τότε δὲ πρόσωπον
then but face
Here Paul omits some words that your language may require to make a complete thought. Paul omits these words because he stated them explicitly in the previous clause (we see). If your language does need these words, you could supply them from that clause, but in the future tense. Alternate translation: [but then, we will see face]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom
τότε δὲ πρόσωπον πρὸς πρόσωπον
then but face to face
Here, face to face identifies an action or situation as something that takes place in person. In other words, a person can actually see the other person’s face. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express face to face with a comparable idiom or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [but then, eye to eye] or [but then, in God’s direct presence]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
(Occurrence -1) τότε
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: βλέπομεν γὰρ ἄρτι διʼ ἐσόπτρου ἐν αἰνίγματι τότε δὲ πρόσωπον πρὸς πρόσωπον ἄρτι γινώσκω ἐκ μέρους τότε δὲ ἐπιγνώσομαι καθὼς καὶ ἐπεγνώσθην)
Here, then refers to the time when Jesus comes back and what happens after that. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind what then refers to explicitly. Alternate translation: [then, when Jesus returns, … then, when Jesus returns,]
Note 7 topic: writing-pronouns
ἄρτι γινώσκω ἐκ μέρους; τότε δὲ ἐπιγνώσομαι, καθὼς καὶ ἐπεγνώσθην
now now ˱I˲_/am/_knowing by part then but ˱I˲_/will_be/_knowing_fully as also ˱I˲_/was/_known_fully
Here Paul switches from first-person plural to first-person singular. Since he is using himself as an example for every believer, there is no special meaning behind the switch. Rather, Paul changes from plural to singular because it was good style in his culture. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this verse in first-person plural as well, or you could include words that clarify that Paul is using himself as an example. Alternate translation: [Now I, for example, know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known]
Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
γινώσκω & ἐπιγνώσομαι
˱I˲_/am/_knowing & ˱I˲_/will_be/_knowing_fully
Again, Paul does not state what it is that I know. The Corinthians would have inferred that he meant that I know God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind this implication explicitly. Alternate translation: [I know God … I will know God fully]
Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom
ἐκ μέρους
by part
Here, just as in 13:9, in part refers to how something is only a part of a larger whole. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express in part with a comparable expression that indicates that something is only part of a larger whole. Alternate translation: [partially] or [imperfectly]
Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
καὶ ἐπεγνώσθην
also ˱I˲_/was/_known_fully
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 here to focus on the person who is known rather than focusing on the one doing the “knowing.” If you must state who does the action, Paul implies that “God” does it. Alternate translation: [God has also fully known me]