1 COR 16:15 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). 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 to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, magenta:vocative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Now I urge you, brothers (you know the household of Stephanas, that they are the firstfruits of Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to service of the saints),

UST You know that those who live in the house of Stephanas were the first people to believe the good news in the region of Achaia. Further, they have chosen to serve God’s people. I ask you, my fellow believers,

BLB Now I exhort you, brothers--you know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruit of Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to service to the saints--

AICNT I urge you, brothers and sisters; you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints;

OEB I have another request to make of you, friends. You remember Stephanas and his household, and that they were the first-fruits gathered in from Greece, and set themselves to serve Christ’s people.

WEBBE Now I beg you, brothers—you know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have set themselves to serve the saints—

WMBB Now I beg you, brothers—you know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have set themselves to serve the holy ones—

NET Now, brothers and sisters, you know about the household of Stephanus, that as the first converts of Achaia, they devoted themselves to ministry for the saints. I urge you

LSV And I beg you, brothers, you have known the household of Stephanas, that it is the first-fruit of Achaia, and they set themselves to the ministry to the holy ones—

FBV You know that Stephanas and his family were among the first converts in Achaia, and they dedicated themselves to helping God's people. I'm pleading with you, my brothers and sisters,

TCNT Brothers, you know that the household of Stephanas is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to serving the saints. I urge you

T4T You know that Stephanas and his family were the first ones there in Achaia province to believe in Christ [IDM]. They have devoted themselves to helping God’s people.

LEB Now I urge you, brothers—you know about the household of Stephanas, that they are the first fruits of Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the ministry for the saints—

BBE Now I make my request to you, my brothers, for you have knowledge that the house of Stephanas is the first-fruits of Achaia, and that they have made themselves the servants of the saints,

Moff I ask this favour of you, my brothers. The household of Stephanas, you know, was the first to be reaped in Achaia, and they have laid themselves out to serve the saints.

Wymth And I beseech you, brethren—you know the household of Stephanas, how they were the earliest Greek converts to Christ, and have devoted themselves to the service of God's people—

ASV Now I beseech you, brethren (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have set themselves to minister unto the saints),

DRA And I beseech you, brethren, you know the house of Stephanas, and of Fortunatus, and of Achaicus, that they are the firstfruits of Achaia, and have dedicated themselves to the ministry of the saints:

YLT And I entreat you, brethren, ye have known the household of Stephanas, that it is the first-fruit of Achaia, and to the ministration to the saints they did set themselves —

Drby But I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first-fruits of Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the saints for service,)

RV Now I beseech you, brethren (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have set themselves to minister unto the saints),
(Now I beseech/implore you, brethren/brothers (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first-fruits of Achaia, and that they have set themselves to minister unto the saints), )

SLT And I beseech you brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first fruits of Achaia, and they arranged themselves for service to the holy ones,)

Wbstr I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)

KJB-1769 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
(I beseech/implore you, brethren/brothers, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first-fruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) )

KJB-1611 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first fruits of Achaia, and that they haue addicted themselues to the ministery of the Saints,)
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation)

Bshps I beseche you brethren (ye knowe the house of Stephanas, that it is ye first fruites of Achaia, and that they haue appoynted them selues to minister vnto the saintes)
(I beseech/implore you brethren/brothers (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is ye/you_all first-fruits of Achaia, and that they have appointed themselves to minister unto the saints))

Gnva Nowe brethren, I beseeche you (ye knowe the house of Stephanas, that it is the first fruites of Achaia, and that they haue giuen themselues to minister vnto the Saintes)
(Now brethren/brothers, I beseech/implore you (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first-fruits of Achaia, and that they have given themselves to minister unto the Saints) )

Cvdl But brethren (ye knowe the house off Stephana, that they are the first frutes in Achaia, and that they haue appoynted the selues to mynister vnto the sayntes)
(But brethren/brothers (ye know the house off Stephana, that they are the first-fruits in Achaia, and that they have appointed the selves to minister unto the saints))

TNT Brethren (ye knowe the housse of Stephana how that they are the fyrst frutes of Achaia and that they have appoynted them selves to minister vnto the saynctes)
(Brethren (ye know the house of Stephana how that they are the first fruits of Achaia and that they have appointed themselves to minister unto the saynctes) )

Wycl And, britheren, Y biseche you, ye knowen the hous of Stephan, and of Fortunati, and Acaicy, for thei ben the firste fruytis of Acaie, and in to mynystrie of seyntis thei han ordeyned hem silf;
(And, brethren/brothers, I beseech/implore you, ye/you_all known the house of Stephan, and of Fortunati, and Acaicy, for they been the first-fruits of Acaie, and in to mynystrie of saints they have ordained himself;)

Luth Ich ermahne euch aber, liebe Brüder, ihr kennet das Haus Stephanas, daß sie sind die Erstlinge in Achaja und haben sich selbst verordnet zum Dienst den Heiligen,
(I admonish/rebuke you but, love(v) brothers, you(pl)/their/her knows the house Stephanas, that they/she/them are the first-fruits in Achaya and have itself/yourself/themselves himself/itself prescribed for_the service(n) the saints/holy_ones,)

ClVg Obsecro autem vos fratres, nostis domum Stephanæ, et Fortunati, et Achaici: quoniam sunt primitiæ Achaiæ, et in ministerium sanctorum ordinaverunt seipsos:[fn]
(Please however you(pl) brothers, you_knows house/home Stephanæ, and Fortunati, and Achaici: since/because are first_fruits Achaiæ, and in/into/on ministry holy_place ordinaverunt themselves: )

16.15 Obsecro autem vos, fratres, nostis domum Stephanæ et Fortunati, etc. Ordo hujus litteræ respicit et pendet usque illuc, ut et vos subditi sitis.

16.15 Please however you(pl), brothers, you_knows house/home Stephanæ and Fortunati, etc. Order(n) of_this letters looks_back and hangs until there/to_that_place, as and you(pl) I_submiti thirsts.

UGNT παρακαλῶ δὲ ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί, οἴδατε τὴν οἰκίαν Στεφανᾶ, ὅτι ἐστὶν ἀπαρχὴ τῆς Ἀχαΐας, καὶ εἰς διακονίαν τοῖς ἁγίοις ἔταξαν ἑαυτούς;
(parakalō de humas, adelfoi, oidate taʸn oikian Stefana, hoti estin aparⱪaʸ taʸs Aⱪaias, kai eis diakonian tois hagiois etaxan heautous;)

SBL-GNT Παρακαλῶ δὲ ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί· οἴδατε τὴν οἰκίαν Στεφανᾶ, ὅτι ἐστὶν ἀπαρχὴ τῆς Ἀχαΐας καὶ εἰς διακονίαν τοῖς ἁγίοις ἔταξαν ἑαυτούς·
(Parakalō de humas, adelfoi; oidate taʸn oikian Stefana, hoti estin aparⱪaʸ taʸs Aⱪaias kai eis diakonian tois hagiois etaxan heautous;)

RP-GNT Παρακαλῶ δὲ ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί - οἴδατε τὴν οἰκίαν Στεφανᾶ, ὅτι ἐστὶν ἀπαρχὴ τῆς Ἀχαΐας, καὶ εἰς διακονίαν τοῖς ἁγίοις ἔταξαν ἑαυτούς -
(Parakalō de humas, adelfoi - oidate taʸn oikian Stefana, hoti estin aparⱪaʸ taʸs Aⱪaias, kai eis diakonian tois hagiois etaxan heautous -)

TC-GNT Παρακαλῶ δὲ ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί—οἴδατε τὴν οἰκίαν Στεφανᾶ, ὅτι ἐστὶν ἀπαρχὴ τῆς Ἀχαΐας, καὶ εἰς διακονίαν τοῖς ἁγίοις ἔταξαν ἑαυτούς—
(Parakalō de humas, adelfoi—oidate taʸn oikian Stefana, hoti estin aparⱪaʸ taʸs Aⱪaias, kai eis diakonian tois hagiois etaxan heautous— )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 16:1–24: Paul gave some final instructions

In this final section of the book, Paul wrote briefly about several topics. He wrote about collecting money for poor Christians in Jerusalem, and he wrote about the travel plans of him and his companions. Then he concluded his letter with some short exhortations, warnings, blessings, and greetings.

Here are some other possible section headings:

The conclusion of the letter

Final topics

Paragraph 16:15–18

In this paragraph Paul wrote about how Stephanas and his family had served the Corinthians, and he urged the Corinthians to appreciate what they had done. He also expressed appreciation for Stephanas and two other men who had come to visit him.

16:15a

You know that Stephanas and his household were the first converts in Achaia,

¶ You^(plur) know that Stephanas and those who live in his house were the first people in Achaia to believe.
¶ You know Stephanas and his family. They were the first family among you in Achaia Province to trust in Christ.

In Greek, this clause connects to the previous clause with a conjunction that the BSB does not translate. This conjunction functions to introduce a new topic. Some English versions translate it as “now.” You should introduce this new topic in a way that is natural for your language.

You know that: The phrase You know that introduces a new topic by reminding the Corinthians of something that they already knew. Stephanas and his family lived in Corinth and the believers there knew them.

Stephanas and his household: This family is also mentioned in 1:16. See the notes there. The word household refers to those who lived with Stephanas in his house. It may include slaves and servants as well as family members.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

Stephanas and his family (GNT)

were the first converts: The Greek word that the BSB translates as the first converts is literally “firstfruits.” It is the same word that occurs in 15:20b. Here it refers to the first entire family to believe in the Lord Jesus. Other individuals had been converted earlier. Another way to translate this is:

the first people to believe in Christ

the first family to believe in Christ

in Achaia: Corinth was in the Roman province of Achaia. The area is now southern Greece. See also Acts 18:12.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

there in Achaia Province

Paul was the person who baptized Stephanas and his family.

Here is another way to translate this clause:

when I first preached the gospel there in Achaia Province, Stephanas and his family were the first people to believe

16:15b

and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints.

They diligently work to serve the believers.
They keep on working hard as they help to teach God’s people.

and they have devoted themselves: The phrase they have devoted themselves indicates that Stephanas and his family decided to help other believers. They chose to do this and they were doing it faithfully.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

they…have given themselves (GNT)

they are working diligently

to the service of the saints: The phrase the service of the saints refers to serving God’s people. Stephanas and his family did all they could to help other Christians.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

they serve God’s people

they help God’s people

We do not know for sure how Stephanas and his family served people. If it is necessary to expand on the word “serve” you can translate this as:

they serve by helping God’s people

they help to teach God’s people

saints: The Greek word that the BSB translates as saints is the same word as was used in 16:1a. You should use the same word here as you used in 16:1a.

16:15c

Now I urge you, brothers,

My brothers and sisters, I encourage you^(plur)
I ask you, friends,

Now I urge you, brothers: The phrase Now I urge you, brothers functions to strengthen and emphasize the command that follows.

brothers: Paul spoke to all the believers in Corinth, both men and women.

Here are is another other way to translate this phrase:

Now I urge you, brothers and sisters

General Comment on 16:15–16

In the Greek text, verse 15 begins with the words “I urge you.” Paul started his appeal, and then he interrupted the appeal to give some information about the household of Stephanas. Then in verse 16 he returned to his appeal. The BSB changed the order in verse 15 so that the information about Stephanas is given first and then the parts of the appeal come together.

Some English versions place the words “I urge you” at the beginning of verse 16. For example:

¹⁵Now, brethren, you know the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints; ¹⁶I urge you to… (RSV)

Translate this so that Paul’s appeal to them to submit to Stephanas is clear.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

δὲ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: παρακαλῶ Δέ ὑμᾶς ἀδελφοί οἴδατε τήν οἰκίαν Στεφανᾶ ὅτι ἐστίν ἀπαρχή τῆς Ἀχαΐας καί εἰς διακονίαν τοῖς ἁγίοις ἔταξαν ἑαυτούς)

Here, Now introduces a new topic. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express Now with a comparable word or leave it untranslated. Alternate translation: [Next,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

παρακαλῶ & ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί, οἴδατε τὴν οἰκίαν Στεφανᾶ, ὅτι ἐστὶν ἀπαρχὴ τῆς Ἀχαΐας, καὶ εἰς διακονίαν τοῖς ἁγίοις ἔταξαν ἑαυτούς;

˱I˲_˓am˒_exhorting & you_all brothers ˱you_all˲_˓have˒_known (Some words not found in SR-GNT: παρακαλῶ Δέ ὑμᾶς ἀδελφοί οἴδατε τήν οἰκίαν Στεφανᾶ ὅτι ἐστίν ἀπαρχή τῆς Ἀχαΐας καί εἰς διακονίαν τοῖς ἁγίοις ἔταξαν ἑαυτούς)

Here Paul begins a sentence with I urge you, brothers. He continues this sentence in the next verse with “that you also would be subject” (See: [16:16](../16/16.md)). The rest of this verse interrupts that sentence with information about the people that Paul is going to speak about. The ULT indicates this interruption by using parentheses. If your readers would find this interruption confusing, you could use markers that indicate such an interruption in your language, or you could rearrange the verse so that I urge you, brothers goes more directly with the next verse. Alternate translation: [you know the household of Stephanas, that they are the firstfruits of Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. I urge you, brothers,]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

ἀδελφοί

brothers

Although brothers is in masculine form, Paul is using it to refer to any believer, whether man or woman. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express brothers with a non gendered word or refer to both genders. Alternate translation: [brothers and sisters]

Note 4 topic: translate-names

τὴν οἰκίαν Στεφανᾶ

Stephanas is the name of a man. Paul already mentioned his household in [1:16](../01/16.md). See how you translated this phrase there.

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἀπαρχὴ

Here, firstfruits refers to what farmers first gathered from their fields. Often, these firstfruits were offered to God to thank him for providing food. What Paul emphasizes here is that firstfruits are the first products from a field, although the word also implies that there will be more products. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express that Paul uses firstfruits to emphasize that the household of Stephanas were the “first” to believe in Jesus with an analogy or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [like the firstfruits since they were the first to believe] or [the first believers]

Note 6 topic: translate-names

Ἀχαΐας

˱of˲_Achaia

Achaia is the name of a province in the southern part of what we call Greece. The city of Corinth is in this province.

Note 7 topic: translate-unknown

εἰς & ἔταξαν ἑαυτούς

to & ˱they˲_determined themselves

Here, they have devoted themselves refers to how these people decided to spend most of their time doing something specific. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express devoted themselves with a word or phrase that refers to how people choose to spend their time doing one thing. Alternate translation: [they have focused on] or [they have dedicated themselves to]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

διακονίαν τοῖς ἁγίοις

˓the˒_service ˱to˲_the holy_‹ones›

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind service, you can express the idea by using a verb such as “help” or “serve.” Alternate translation: [help the saints]