1 COR 16:3 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, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor.
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 when I arrive, whomever you might approve, I will send them with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem.

UST Choose some trustworthy people from your group. When I visit you, I will have them take the money that you have collected to the city of Jerusalem. Also, I will give them letters that say that I have authorized them.

BSB Then, on my arrival, I will send letters with those you recommend to carry your gift to Jerusalem.

BLB And when I shall have arrived, whomever you might approve, with letters I will send these to carry your bounty to Jerusalem.

AICNT And when I arrive, I will send those whom you approve with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem.

OEB On my arrival, I will send any persons, whom you may authorise by letter, to carry your gift to Jerusalem;

WEBBE When I arrive, I will send whoever you approve with letters to carry your gracious gift to Jerusalem.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Then, when I arrive, I will send those whom you approve with letters of explanation to carry your gift to Jerusalem.

LSV and whenever I may come, whomsoever you may approve, through letters, these I will send to carry your favor to Jerusalem;

FBV When I get there I will write recommendation letters for whoever you choose, and they will take your donation to Jerusalem.

TCNT When I arrive, I will send those whom you approve by letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem.

T4T Then, when I arrive, I will write letters stating that you have authorized these men to take the funds there.

LEB And whenever I arrive, whomever you approve by letters, I will send these to take your gift to Jerusalem.

BBE And when I come, I will send the men of your selection with letters to take the money you have got together to Jerusalem.

Moff On my arrival I will furnish credentials for those whom you select, and send them to convey your bounty to Jerusalem;

Wymth And when I am with you, whatever brethren you accredit by letter I will send to carry your kind gift to Jerusalem.

ASV And when I arrive, whomsoever ye shall approve, them will I send with letters to carry your bounty unto Jerusalem:

DRA And when I shall be with you, whomsoever you shall approve by letters, them will I send to carry your grace to Jerusalem.

YLT and whenever I may come, whomsoever ye may approve, through letters, these I will send to carry your favour to Jerusalem;

Drby And when I am arrived, whomsoever ye shall approve, these I will send with letters to carry your bounty to Jerusalem:

RV And when I arrive, whomsoever ye shall approve by letters, them will I send to carry your bounty unto Jerusalem:
(And when I arrive, whomsoever ye/you_all shall approve by letters, them will I send to carry your bounty unto Yerusalem: )

SLT And when I be present, whom ye approve by letters, these will I send to carry your grace to Jerusalem.

Wbstr And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality to Jerusalem.

KJB-1769 And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.
(And when I come, whomsoever ye/you_all shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Yerusalem. )

KJB-1611 And when I come, whomsoeuer you shall approue by your letters, them wil I send to bring your [fn]liberality vnto Ierusalem.
(And when I come, whomsoever you shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Yerusalem.)

16:3 Gr. gift.

Bshps When I am come, whomsoeuer ye shall alowe by your letters, them wyll I sende, to bryng your liberalitie vnto Hierusalem.
(When I am come, whomsoever ye/you_all shall allowe by your letters, them will I send, to bring your liberalitie unto Yerusalem.)

Gnva And when I am come, whomsoeuer ye shall alowe by letters, them will I send to bring your liberalitie vnto Hierusalem.
(And when I am come, whomsoever ye/you_all shall allowe by letters, them will I send to bring your liberalitie unto Yerusalem. )

Cvdl Whan I am come, whom so euer ye shal alowe by youre letters, the wyll I sende to brynge youre liberalite vnto Ierusalem.
(When I am come, whom so ever ye/you_all shall allowe by your(pl) letters, the will I send to bring your(pl) liberalite unto Yerusalem.)

TNT When I am come whosoever ye shall alowe by youre letters them will I sende to bringe youre liberalite vnto Ierusalem.
(When I am come whosoever ye/you_all shall allowe by your(pl) letters them will I send to bring your(pl) liberalite unto Yerusalem. )

Wycl And whanne Y schal be present, whiche men ye preuen, Y schal sende hem bi epistlis to bere youre grace in to Jerusalem.
(And when I shall be present, which men ye/you_all preuen, I shall send hem by epistles/letters to bear your(pl) grace in to Yerusalem.)

Luth Wenn ich aber darkommen bin, welche ihr durch Briefe dafür ansehet, die will ich senden, daß sie hinbringen eure Wohltat gen Jerusalem.
(When I but darkommen am, which you(pl)/their/her through letters for_that look, the will I send, that they/she/them hinbringen your(pl) beneficence to/toward Yerusalem.)

ClVg Cum autem præsens fuero, quos probaveritis per epistolas, hos mittam perferre gratiam vestram in Jerusalem.
(Since however present I_will_be, which probaveritis through letterolas, these I_will_send perferre grace your in/into/on Yerusalem. )

UGNT ὅταν δὲ παραγένωμαι, οὓς ἐὰν δοκιμάσητε, δι’ ἐπιστολῶν τούτους πέμψω, ἀπενεγκεῖν τὴν χάριν ὑμῶν εἰς Ἰερουσαλήμ.
(hotan de paragenōmai, hous ean dokimasaʸte, di’ epistolōn toutous pempsō, apenegkein taʸn ⱪarin humōn eis Ierousalaʸm.)

SBL-GNT ὅταν δὲ παραγένωμαι, οὓς ⸀ἐὰν δοκιμάσητε διʼ ἐπιστολῶν, τούτους πέμψω ἀπενεγκεῖν τὴν χάριν ὑμῶν εἰς Ἰερουσαλήμ·
(hotan de paragenōmai, hous ⸀ean dokimasaʸte diʼ epistolōn, toutous pempsō apenegkein taʸn ⱪarin humōn eis Ierousalaʸm;)

RP-GNT Ὅταν δὲ παραγένωμαι, οὓς ἐὰν δοκιμάσητε δι' ἐπιστολῶν, τούτους πέμψω ἀπενεγκεῖν τὴν χάριν ὑμῶν εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ·
(Hotan de paragenōmai, hous ean dokimasaʸte di' epistolōn, toutous pempsō apenegkein taʸn ⱪarin humōn eis Hierousalaʸm;)

TC-GNT Ὅταν δὲ παραγένωμαι, οὓς ἐὰν δοκιμάσητε δι᾽ ἐπιστολῶν, τούτους πέμψω ἀπενεγκεῖν τὴν χάριν ὑμῶν εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ·
(Hotan de paragenōmai, hous ean dokimasaʸte di epistolōn, toutous pempsō apenegkein taʸn ⱪarin humōn eis Hierousalaʸm; )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, orange:accents differ, 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

16:3a

Then, on my arrival,

When I reach Corinth,
When I get there

Then, on my arrival: This refers to the same time as “when I come” in verse 16:2c.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

At that time

When I arrive in Corinth

16:3b

I will send letters with those you recommend

I will write letters of introduction for the people you^(plur) choose,
you should choose some people. I will write letters to the believers in Jerusalem about them.

16:3c

to carry your gift to Jerusalem.

and I will send those people to carry your^(plur) gift to Jerusalem.
Then they will take your money to Jerusalem.

16:3b-c

I will send letters with those you recommend to carry your gift to Jerusalem: The Greek clauses are in a different order from the way the BSB has translated it. A more literal translation is: “whom you shall approve through letters I shall send them to bring your gift to Jerusalem.”

There are two ways to interpret the words “through letters”:

Paul will write the letters. The phrase “through letters” goes with the verb “I shall send.” For example:
I will write letters of recommendation for the messengers you choose to deliver your gift to Jerusalem (NLT) (BSB, NLT, NIV, NRSV, NJB, NABRE, NASB, REB, GW, NCV, GNT)
The Corinthians will write the letters. The phrase “through letters” goes with the verb “you shall approve.” For example:
I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem (RSV) (RSV, ESV, CEV, KJV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This is followed by the majority of English versions, and by several commentaries.See, for example, Fee, p. 814–815, and Thiselton, p. 1324.

letters: The Christians in Jerusalem knew Paul. Paul would write letters to them telling them about the money and about the people who carried it.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

witness letters

I will write letters to introduce them to the believers in Jerusalem

I will write a letter to the believers in Jerusalem saying that you want to help them

those you recommend: The believers in Corinth chose these people from among themselves. The Greek pronoun that the BSB translates as those is more literally “whom.” These people were probably men, but we do not know for sure.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

the people you choose

to carry your gift: Paul would send this group of people from Corinth, and they would carry the money to Jerusalem. Paul did not know if he would travel with them.

The journey from Corinth to Jerusalem was 1300 kilometers. It would have taken them several weeks to travel by sea and by land.

General Comment on 16:3

In some languages it may be natural to follow a model that combines the parts of verse 16:3 in a different way. For example:

When I arrive, I will send whomever you approve to take your gift to Jerusalem. I will send them with letters of introduction. (NCV)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: translate-unknown

οὓς ἐὰν δοκιμάσητε

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅταν Δέ παραγένωμαι οὕς ἐάν δοκιμάσητε διʼ ἐπιστολῶν τούτους πέμψω ἀπενεγκεῖν τήν χάριν ὑμῶν εἰς Ἰερουσαλήμ)

Here, those whom the Corinthians approve are those whom they consider to be trustworthy and able to accomplish the task of taking the money to Jerusalem. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express whomever you might approve with a word or phrase that refers to choosing people to accomplish a specific task. Alternate translation: [whomever you might choose] or [whomever you might commission]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

οὓς ἐὰν δοκιμάσητε & τούτους πέμψω

Here Paul identifies whom he is talking about first (whomever you might approve) and then refers back to that phrase by using them in the next clause. If your readers would find this structure confusing, you could restructure the sentence and indicate what Paul is talking about in another way. Alternate translation: [I will send whomever you might approve]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

δι’ ἐπιστολῶν

by letters

In Paul’s culture, messengers and travelers often carried a letter or letters that were meant to introduce them to the person they were going to visit. These kinds of letters usually stated that the messenger or traveler was trustworthy and should be welcomed. You can find the sorts of things that would be written in these types of letters in [2 Corinthians 8:16–24](../2co/08/16.md). Here, the letters could be from: (1) Paul. Alternate translation: [with letters of introduction from me] (2) the Corinthians. Alternate translation: [with your letters of introduction]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τὴν χάριν ὑμῶν

Here, your gift refers to the money that the Corinthians have “collected.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could express your gift by clarifying that it is the gift of the money that they have “put aside.” Alternate translation: [your money] or [your contribution]