1 COR 4:10 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=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) We appear as fools for Messiah’s sake, but you all are wise in Messiah. We are weak, but you all are strong. You all are honoured, but we are dishonoured.

Key: light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, cyan:dative/indirect object.
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 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored.

UST We seem to be foolish people because we serve the Messiah, but you think that you are wise people because God unites you to the Messiah. We seem to be people who do not have power or influence, but you think that you do have these things. You think that people praise you, but those people shame us.

BLB We are fools on account of Christ, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; You are honored, but we are without honor.

AICNT We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are honored, but we are dishonored.

OEB We, for Christ’s sake, are fools, but you, by your union with Christ, are people of discernment. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honoured, but we are despised.

WEBBE We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You have honour, but we have dishonour.

WMBB We are fools for Messiah’s sake, but you are wise in Messiah. We are weak, but you are strong. You have honour, but we have dishonour.

NET We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, we are dishonored!

LSV we [are] fools because of Christ, and you wise in Christ; we [are] ailing, and you strong; you glorious, and we dishonored;

FBV We're Christ's fools, but you are so wise in Christ! We're the weak ones, but you are so strong! You have the glory, but we are despised![fn]

4:10 From the context Paul appears to be speaking rather ironically.

TCNT We are fools for the sake of Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are esteemed, but we are dishonored.

T4T Many people consider us to be [IRO] fools because we preach about Christ, but you proudly think [IRO] that you are wise because ◄of your close relationship with/you belong to► Christ. Many people consider us [IRO] to be unimpressive, but you proudly think that you impress others. People respect you, but they do not respect us.

LEB We are fools for the sake of Christ, but you are prudent in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, but we are dishonored!

BBE We are made to seem foolish for Christ, but you are wise in Christ; we are feeble, but you are strong; you have glory, but we have shame.

Moff We, for Christ's sake, are "fools"; you in Christ are sensible. We are weak, you are strong; you are honoured, we are in disrepute.

Wymth We, for Christ's sake, are labeled as "foolish"; you, as Christians, are men of shrewd intelligence. We are mere weaklings: you are strong. You are in high repute: we are outcasts.

ASV We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye have glory, but we have dishonor.

DRA We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are honourable, but we without honour.

YLT we [are] fools because of Christ, and ye wise in Christ; we [are] ailing, and ye strong; ye glorious, and we dishonoured;

Drby We [are] fools for Christ's sake, but ye prudent in Christ: we weak, but ye strong: ye glorious, but we in dishonour.

RV We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye have glory, but we have dishonour.
(We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye/you_all are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye/you_all are strong; ye/you_all have glory, but we have dishonour. )

SLT We foolish for Christ, and ye wise in Christ; we weak, and ye strong; ye honourable, and we dishonoured.

Wbstr We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honorable, but we are despised.

KJB-1769 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
(We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye/you_all are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye/you_all are strong; ye/you_all are honourable, but we are despised. )

KJB-1611 We are fooles for Christs sake, but ye are wise in Christ. We are weake, but ye are strong: yee are honourable, but we are despised.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps We are fooles for Christes sake, but ye are wyse in Christe. We are weake, but ye are stronge. Ye are honorable, but we are despised.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from marking of added words (and possibly capitalisation and punctuation))

Gnva We are fooles for Christes sake, and ye are wise in Christ: we are weake, and ye are strong: ye are honourable, and we are despised.
(We are fools for Christ’s sake, and ye/you_all are wise in Christ: we are weak, and ye/you_all are strong: ye/you_all are honourable, and we are despised. )

Cvdl We are fooles for Christes sake, but ye are wyse in Christ: We weake, but ye stroge: Ye honorable, but we despysed.
(We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye/you_all are wise in Christ: We weak, but ye/you_all stroge: Ye/You_all honourable, but we despised.)

TNT We are foles for Christes sake and ye are wyse thorow Christ. We are weake and ye are stroge. Ye are honorable and we are despised.
(We are foles for Christ’s sake and ye/you_all are wise through Christ. We are weak and ye/you_all are stroge. Ye/You_all are honourable and we are despised. )

Wycl We foolis for Crist, but ye prudent in Crist; we sike, but ye stronge; ye noble, but we vnnoble.
(We fools for Christ, but ye/you_all prudent in Christ; we sike, but ye/you_all stronge; ye/you_all noble, but we unnoble.)

Luth Wir sind Narren um Christi willen, ihr aber seid klug in Christo; wir schwach, ihr aber stark; ihr herrlich, wir aber verachtet.
(We are fool(n) around/by/for Christi will, you(pl)/their/her but are wise/clever in Christo; we/us weak, you(pl)/their/her but stark; you(pl)/their/her splendid, we/us but despised.)

ClVg Nos stulti propter Christum, vos autem prudentes in Christo: nos infirmi, vos autem fortes: vos nobiles, nos autem ignobiles.[fn]
(We fools because Christ/Messiah, you(pl) however prudentes in/into/on to_Christ/Messiah: us sick, you(pl) however strong: you(pl) nobles, us however ignobiles. )

4.10 Propter Christum. Cujus crucem prædicamus, quod vos tacentes, videmini in Christo prudentes.

4.10 Because Christ/Messiah. Cuyus cross/frame beforedicamus, that you(pl) be_silentntes, seemini in/into/on to_Christ/Messiah prudentes.

UGNT ἡμεῖς μωροὶ διὰ Χριστόν, ὑμεῖς δὲ φρόνιμοι ἐν Χριστῷ; ἡμεῖς ἀσθενεῖς, ὑμεῖς δὲ ἰσχυροί; ὑμεῖς ἔνδοξοι, ἡμεῖς δὲ ἄτιμοι.
(haʸmeis mōroi dia Ⱪriston, humeis de fronimoi en Ⱪristōi; haʸmeis astheneis, humeis de isⱪuroi; humeis endoxoi, haʸmeis de atimoi.)

SBL-GNT ἡμεῖς μωροὶ διὰ Χριστόν, ὑμεῖς δὲ φρόνιμοι ἐν Χριστῷ· ἡμεῖς ἀσθενεῖς, ὑμεῖς δὲ ἰσχυροί· ὑμεῖς ἔνδοξοι, ἡμεῖς δὲ ἄτιμοι.
(haʸmeis mōroi dia Ⱪriston, humeis de fronimoi en Ⱪristōi; haʸmeis astheneis, humeis de isⱪuroi; humeis endoxoi, haʸmeis de atimoi.)

RP-GNT Ἡμεῖς μωροὶ διὰ χριστόν, ὑμεῖς δὲ φρόνιμοι ἐν χριστῷ· ἡμεῖς ἀσθενεῖς, ὑμεῖς δὲ ἰσχυροί· ὑμεῖς ἔνδοξοι, ἡμεῖς δὲ ἄτιμοι.
(Haʸmeis mōroi dia ⱪriston, humeis de fronimoi en ⱪristōi; haʸmeis astheneis, humeis de isⱪuroi; humeis endoxoi, haʸmeis de atimoi.)

TC-GNT Ἡμεῖς μωροὶ διὰ Χριστόν, ὑμεῖς δὲ φρόνιμοι ἐν Χριστῷ· ἡμεῖς ἀσθενεῖς, ὑμεῖς δὲ ἰσχυροί· ὑμεῖς ἔνδοξοι, ἡμεῖς δὲ ἄτιμοι.
(Haʸmeis mōroi dia Ⱪriston, humeis de fronimoi en Ⱪristōi; haʸmeis astheneis, humeis de isⱪuroi; humeis endoxoi, haʸmeis de atimoi. )

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:1–21: The Corinthians should respect Paul as a servant of Christ

Paul continued to talk about how the Corinthian believers should think about their Christian leaders, especially himself. He said that Christian leaders are servants of Christ and should be judged only by Christ. Some Corinthian believers were saying that they did not have to listen to Paul’s teaching. Paul encouraged the Corinthians to respect and obey him as their spiritual father.

Other possible section headings include:

Paul encouraged the Corinthians to respect him and Apollos

Paul and Apollos deserved respect as Christ’s servants

Paragraph 4:6–13

In this paragraph Paul rebuked the Corinthians for talking proudly about their abilities. Since all their abilities came from God, they had no reason to talk proudly about them. Paul talked about Apollos and himself to contrast the suffering that true workers of Christ were enduring with the proud, boastful attitudes of the Corinthians.

4:10

In this verse Paul used three statements that each showed contrast between the pride of some of the Corinthians and the humility of the apostles. In each of these statements Paul used a type of expression called irony. This is a kind of statement that states the opposite of what it really means. It is often used to rebuke people. Some translations indicate that the statements are a form of irony by putting exclamation marks (!) at the end of each sentence. In your translation, make sure that it is clear that Paul was rebuking the Corinthians. He was not praising them.

4:10a

We are fools for Christ,

We^(excl) are/appear foolish because we work for Christ!
You think we^(excl) are acting foolishly for the sake of Christ!
You seem to think that we^(excl) are fools as we^(excl) live for Christ,

We are fools for Christ: Paul continued to use irony. He did not mean that he and the other apostles were really fools. Rather, some of the Corinthians thought that they were fools because of the way they followed Christ and lived as Christians. There are two ways this could be translated:

use irony as Paul did. For example:
How foolish we^(excl) are for Christ!
use a literal statement. For example:
Many of you people say/think we^(excl) are being foolish. We are this way because of Christ!
Because of Christ we are thought of as fools. (CEV)
Because of the way we live as followers of Christ, we are thought of as fools.

Translate this in your language in a way that makes it clear that Paul was rebuking the Corinthians.

for Christ: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as for Christ means “for the sake of Christ.” It can also be translated as:

because we follow Christ

because we are devoted/dedicated to Christ

because we believe in Christ

4:10b

but you are wise in Christ.

But as for you, you think that you are very wise because you belong to Christ.
How wise you think yourselves now that you have become one/united with Christ!
but that you are such very wise Christians!

you are wise in Christ: This is also sarcasm. Paul did not mean that the Corinthians were really wise. He meant that some of them thought they are wise. So there are two ways to translate this:

using an ironic statement. For example:
How wise you are in Christ!
using a literal statement. For example:
You think that you are wise/clever Christians, but you are not.

wise in Christ: The phrase wise in Christ means “wise as Christians.” You may be able to translate this as:

wise Christians

wise believers in Christ

wise because you follow Christ

4:10c

We are weak,

We^(excl) are/appear powerless,
You consider us^(excl) to have no authority/power.

We are weak: The word weak here does not mean physically weak. It means to have no authority to be God’s representative and no power to influence people. This is still irony. Paul did not mean that he and the other apostles really had no power. Rather, the world’s people mistakenly thought that he was weak. So there are two ways to translate this:

as an ironic statement. For example:
We are so weak/powerless!
as a literal statement. For example:
Many people, including some of you, consider us^(excl) to have no power.

4:10d

but you are strong.

while you are spiritually strong/influential!
But as for you, you think that you have much spiritual authority/power.

you are strong: The word strong here does not mean physically strong, but spiritually strong. Paul was continuing to speak ironically. He meant “You think you are so strong spiritually!” It is likely that some of the Corinthians were talking proudly about their spiritual abilities. See the notes on 1:5. Paul wanted them to know that God did not like their proud talk. So there are two ways to translate this:

as an ironic statement. For example:
How strong you are!
as a literal statement. For example:
You talk proudly that you have God’s power to do many things.

4:10e

You are honored,

People honor/praise you,
You receive honor/deference/respect
You think it right for others to respect you

4:10f

but we are dishonored.

but they humiliate/despise us^(excl).
but not us!^(excl)
while they treat us^(excl) with scorn.

4:10e-f

You are honored, but we are dishonored: 4:10e-f is another example of irony. Because some of the Corinthians thought like this world’s people do about cleverness, they were happy to have people praise them. They also joined with this world’s people in criticizing Paul and perhaps other apostles also.

There are two ways to translate these verse parts:

as an ironic statement. For example:
How others honor you! How they scorn us!
You are honored; we are in disgrace! (REB)
as a literal statement. For example:
You receive honor, but we are shamed. (NCV)
You think that it is good when people praise you, but you think it is all right when people think of us^(excl) as unimportant.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

ἡμεῖς μωροὶ διὰ Χριστόν, ὑμεῖς δὲ φρόνιμοι ἐν Χριστῷ; ἡμεῖς ἀσθενεῖς, ὑμεῖς δὲ ἰσχυροί; ὑμεῖς ἔνδοξοι, ἡμεῖς δὲ ἄτιμοι

we_‹are› we (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἡμεῖς μωροί διά Χριστόν ὑμεῖς δέ φρόνιμοι ἐν Χριστῷ ἡμεῖς ἀσθενεῖς ὑμεῖς δέ ἰσχυροί ὑμεῖς ἔνδοξοι ἡμεῖς δέ ἀτιμοῖ)

In Paul’s language, he did not need to include are. However, many languages, including English, must add are, which is why the ULT includes it in brackets. If your language would not use are here, you could leave it unexpressed.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

(Occurrence -1) ἡμεῖς

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἡμεῖς μωροί διά Χριστόν ὑμεῖς δέ φρόνιμοι ἐν Χριστῷ ἡμεῖς ἀσθενεῖς ὑμεῖς δέ ἰσχυροί ὑμεῖς ἔνδοξοι ἡμεῖς δέ ἀτιμοῖ)

Here, we refers to Paul and the other “apostles.” It does not include the Corinthians.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / irony

ἡμεῖς μωροὶ & ἡμεῖς ἀσθενεῖς & ἡμεῖς & ἄτιμοι

With these statements, Paul identifies what he and the other apostles are like from the perspective of this world. They are fools, weak, and dishonored. Paul does know that from God’s perspective they are actually “wise,” “strong,” and “honored.” However, he speaks from the perspective of this world to help the Corinthians change their thinking. Instead of wanting to be wise, strong, and honored, the Corinthians need to realize that following God will instead make them appear to this world as fools, weak, and dishonored. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning of these statements with a word or phrase that clarifies that they are spoken from a different perspective. Alternate translation: [We seem to be fools … We seem to be weak … we seem to be dishonored] or [According to the world, we are fools … According to the word, we are weak … according to the world, we are dishonored]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / irony

ὑμεῖς δὲ φρόνιμοι & ὑμεῖς δὲ ἰσχυροί & ὑμεῖς ἔνδοξοι

you_all you_all_‹are› you_all_‹are› (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἡμεῖς μωροί διά Χριστόν ὑμεῖς δέ φρόνιμοι ἐν Χριστῷ ἡμεῖς ἀσθενεῖς ὑμεῖς δέ ἰσχυροί ὑμεῖς ἔνδοξοι ἡμεῖς δέ ἀτιμοῖ)

With these statements, Paul identifies what the Corinthians think about themselves. They think they are wise, strong, and honored from the perspective of this world. Paul contrasts what the Corinthians think about themselves and how he and other apostles look from the world’s perspective in order to make the Corinthians reconsider what they think about themselves. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express these statements with a word or phrase that identifies that they are spoken from the perspective of the Corinthians. Alternate translation: [but you consider yourselves wise … but you consider yourselves strong … You consider yourselves honored]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐν Χριστῷ

in Christ

Paul uses the spatial metaphor in Christ to describe the union of believers with Christ. In this case, being in Christ, or united to Christ, explains: (1) the means by which God has made the Corinthians wise. Alternate translation: [by means of your union with Christ] (2) the reason why God has made the Corinthians wise. Alternate translation: [because of your union with Christ Jesus]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

ὑμεῖς ἔνδοξοι, ἡμεῖς δὲ ἄτιμοι.

you_all you_all_‹are› you_all_‹are› glorious we (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἡμεῖς μωροί διά Χριστόν ὑμεῖς δέ φρόνιμοι ἐν Χριστῷ ἡμεῖς ἀσθενεῖς ὑμεῖς δέ ἰσχυροί ὑμεῖς ἔνδοξοι ἡμεῖς δέ ἀτιμοῖ)

Paul changes the order of the last item in the list, putting You in front of we. In his culture, this is one way to identify the last item in a list. If it would be helpful in your language, you could match the order that Paul uses for the first two items. Alternate translation: [We are dishonored, but you are honored]

Parallel 1 COR 4:10