1 COR 7:31 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.)

OET (OET-RV) and those who are using this world, as if they’re not using it, because the present form of this world will soon pass away.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, 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 and the ones using the world, as not using it; for the present form of this world is passing away.

UST Each person who utilizes worldly things should live like a person who does not utilize these things. You should act in these ways because God will soon abolish the worldly way of doing things.

BSB and those who use the things of [this] world, as if not dependent on them. For this world [in its] present form is passing away.

MSB and those who use the things of this world, as if not dependent on them. For this world [in its] present form is passing away.

BLB and those using the world, as not using it as their own. For the present form of this world is passing away.

AICNT and those who use {the}[fn] world as though they did not make full use of it; for the form of this world is passing away.

7:31, the: Later manuscripts read “this.” BYZ TR

OEB and those who use the good things of the world as using them sparingly; for this world as we see it is passing away.

WEBBE and those who use the world, as not using it to the fullest. For the mode of this world passes away.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET those who use the world as though they were not using it to the full. For the present shape of this world is passing away.

LSV and those using this world, as not using [it] up; for the [present] form of this world is passing away.

FBV and those who are engaged with the world as if it is not fulfilling—for the present world order is passing away.[fn]

7:31 In this long sentence Paul indicates that even marriage must be related to contemporary events (“time is short”). Living under persecution, expecting the end of all things, means that even marriage is viewed differently, along with everything else.

TCNT and those who use [fn]this world as though they were not making full use of it. For the form of this world is passing away.

7:31 this ¦ the CT

T4T Those who are buying things should devote themselves to serving the Lord as much as they would if they did not possess those things. Because this world as it exists now will soon be gone, those who are actively involved in the affairs of this life should not devote all their time to be involved in those things.

LEB and those who make use of the world as if they do not make full use of it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

BBE And for those who make use of the world, not to be using it fully; for this world's way of life will quickly come to an end.

Moff let those who mix in the world live as if they were not engrossed in it,
⇔ for the present phase of things is passing away.

Wymth and those who use the world as not using it to the full. For the world as it now exists is passing away.

ASV and those that use the world, as not using it to the full: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

DRA And they that use this world, as if they used it not: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

YLT and those using this world, as not using [it] up; for passing away is the fashion of this world.

Drby and they that use the world, as not disposing of it as their own; for the fashion of this world passes.

RV and those that use the world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
(and those that use the world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth/passes away. )

SLT And they using this world, as not using; for the form of this world passes away.

Wbstr And they that use this world, as not abusing it . For the fashion of this world passeth away.

KJB-1769 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
(And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth/passes away. )

KJB-1611 And they that vse this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps And they that vse this worlde, as though they vsed it not: For the fashion of this worlde goeth away.
(And they that use this world, as though they used it not: For the fashion of this world goeth/goes away.)

Gnva And they that vse this worlde, as though they vsed it not: for the fashion of this worlde goeth away.
(And they that use this world, as though they used it not: for the fashion of this world goeth/goes away. )

Cvdl & they that vse this worlde, be as though they vsed it not. For the fasshion off this worlde passeth awaye.
(and they that use this world, be as though they used it not. For the fasshion off this world passeth/passes away.)

TNT and they that vse this worlde be as though they vsed it not. For the fassion of this worlde goeth awaye.
(and they that use this world be as though they used it not. For the fassion of this world goeth/goes away. )

Wycl and thei that vsen this world, as thei that vsen not. For whi the figure of this world passith.
(and they that usen this world, as they that usen not. For why the figure of this world passeth/passes.)

Luth und die diese Welt gebrauchen, daß sie dieselbige nicht mißbrauchen; denn das Wesen dieser Welt vergehet.
(and the this/these world gebrauchen, that they/she/them the_same not mißbrauchen; because/than the beings this world passes_away.)

ClVg et qui utuntur hoc mundo, tamquam non utantur: præterit enim figura hujus mundi.
(and who/which they_use this to_the_world, as_if not/no utantur: passed because figure/form of_this world. )

UGNT καὶ οἱ χρώμενοι τὸν κόσμον, ὡς μὴ καταχρώμενοι; παράγει γὰρ τὸ σχῆμα τοῦ κόσμου τούτου.
(kai hoi ⱪrōmenoi ton kosmon, hōs maʸ kataⱪrōmenoi; paragei gar to sⱪaʸma tou kosmou toutou.)

SBL-GNT καὶ οἱ χρώμενοι ⸂τὸν κόσμον⸃ ὡς μὴ καταχρώμενοι· παράγει γὰρ τὸ σχῆμα τοῦ κόσμου τούτου.
(kai hoi ⱪrōmenoi ⸂ton kosmon⸃ hōs maʸ kataⱪrōmenoi; paragei gar to sⱪaʸma tou kosmou toutou.)

RP-GNT καὶ οἱ χρώμενοι τῷ κόσμῳ τούτῳ, ὡς μὴ καταχρώμενοι· παράγει γὰρ τὸ σχῆμα τοῦ κόσμου τούτου.
(kai hoi ⱪrōmenoi tōi kosmōi toutōi, hōs maʸ kataⱪrōmenoi; paragei gar to sⱪaʸma tou kosmou toutou.)

TC-GNT καὶ οἱ χρώμενοι [fn]τῷ κόσμῳ τούτῳ, ὡς μὴ καταχρώμενοι· παράγει γὰρ τὸ σχῆμα τοῦ κόσμου τούτου.
(kai hoi ⱪrōmenoi tōi kosmōi toutōi, hōs maʸ kataⱪrōmenoi; paragei gar to sⱪaʸma tou kosmou toutou. )

7:31 τω κοσμω τουτω ¦ τον κοσμον CT

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 7:1–40: Paul answered questions about marriage

In an earlier letter to Paul, the Corinthians had mentioned some problems and asked him some questions. There are no longer any copies of this letter, so we can only guess what they wrote by reading Paul’s answers. Apparently some of the questions the Corinthians had asked were about marriage and sex. In this section Paul discussed these topics. He wrote about sexual intercourse, divorce, marrying again after a person’s husband or wife dies, and never marrying.

From the way Paul talked, it appears that the Corinthians were thinking that if believers want to be holy, they should abstain from sexual relations. The Corinthians were wondering if married people should sleep together, if Christians who were married to non-Christians should divorce them, and if Christians should get married. Paul gave them some wise teaching on each of these topics. In 7:1–16 he addressed Christians who were married. In 7:17–24 he wrote about his general rule for Christians: Remain as you are. In 7:25–38 he taught Christians who were not married. In 7:39–40 he addressed women whose husbands had died.

Other possible section headings include:

Paul gave/wrote instructions about Christian marriage

Paul’s teaching on marriage

Paragraph 7:29–31

Paul addressed the whole group of believers. He told them that the present way of life in this world would not last much longer. He instructed them as to how they should think and live when all will soon change.

7:31a

and those who use the things of this world, as if not dependent on them.

Believers who are busy making a living here in this world should not be concerned only with the things in this world,
In other words, whenever you do any of these things which people do as part of our life here on earth, do not spend all your time thinking about them,
When you have anything to do with the things of this world, do not allow these things to be all that you think about.

and those who use the things of this world, as if not dependent on them: The root of the Greek verb is the same in both clauses of this verse part. In the first clause the BSB translates the word as use. In the second clause the Greek has a stronger form of the same verb, which the BSB translates as dependent.

To use the things of this world means to be involved with anything that has to do with life on this earth, such as buying, selling, eating, getting married, burying the dead, and working to make a living. All these things are what people here on earth do. Believers do these things also. But believers are not to be dependent on them; that is, they are not to be so absorbed in them that they spend all their time thinking about only those things. They are not to allow those things to control them. Believers can still make use of these things, but their primary focus should stay on God. Other ways to translate this include:

those who are involved with the world as though they were people not engrossed in it (NJB)

Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them (NLT)

General Comment on 7:29b-31a

In some languages it may be helpful to break up this long sentence into several shorter sentences. For example:

^29bFrom now on, if a man has a wife, he must not think of her alone. ^30aIf a person is distressed in his heart, he must not think only about that. ^30bIf a person is happy and rejoicing, he must not only think about that. ^30cIf a person is buying and selling things, he must know that he will not have these things forever. ^31aAnd if he is involved in worldly things/affairs, he must not be absorbed/engrossed in them.

7:31b

For this world in its present form is passing away.

because the way we^(incl) live in this world now and all these things that are part of our^(incl) life here will soon come to an end.
because the world we^(incl) are living in now will soon cease.
I say that for this reason: the way things are here on earth now will not last much longer.

For: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as For here introduces the basis for Paul’s commands in 7:29–31. People should realize that this world is not permanent, and so should not focus all their energy and attention upon it.

this world in its present form is passing away: The Greek word for form refers to a way of doing things. Paul was saying that the present way of doing things in our lives and in business is coming to an end. Jesus Christ will make those things new and different when he returns. Other ways to translate this include:

this world as we know it is passing away (NJB)

this world, as it is now, will not last much longer (GNT)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

οἱ χρώμενοι τὸν κόσμον, ὡς μὴ καταχρώμενοι

the_‹ones› using (Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί οἱ χρώμενοι τόν κόσμον ὡς μή καταχρώμενοι παράγει γάρ τό σχῆμα τοῦ κόσμου τούτου)

Here Paul omits some words that may be needed in your language to complete the thought. Paul omits these words because he stated them in [7:29](../07/29.md), and the Corinthians would have understood them from that verse. If your language does need these words, you could supply “should be as those” from [7:29](../07/29.md). Alternate translation: [those using the world should be as not using it]

Note 2 topic: translate-unknown

οἱ χρώμενοι τὸν κόσμον, ὡς μὴ καταχρώμενοι

Here, using refers to taking something and doing work with it. Paul here refers to taking things that belong to the world and doing work with them. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express using with a word or phrase that refers to performing a task with something that one possesses. Alternate translation: [those doing things with the world, as not doing things with it]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

τὸν κόσμον

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί οἱ χρώμενοι τόν κόσμον ὡς μή καταχρώμενοι παράγει γάρ τό σχῆμα τοῦ κόσμου τούτου)

Here, the world specifically focuses on people and things that belong to the world. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the world by clarifying that Paul is focusing on things that belong to the world. Alternate translation: [something worldly]

Note 4 topic: translate-unknown

τὸ σχῆμα τοῦ κόσμου τούτου

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί οἱ χρώμενοι τόν κόσμον ὡς μή καταχρώμενοι παράγει γάρ τό σχῆμα τοῦ κόσμου τούτου)

Here, present form of this world refers to how this world is currently structured and how things work in this world. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express present form with a word or phrase that refers to how the world is right now. Alternate translation: [the current setup of this world] or [the way the world presently works]

παράγει

˓is˒_passing_away

Alternate translation: [will soon end]

Parallel 1 COR 7:31

Section 7:1–40: Paul answered questions about marriage

Paragraph 7:29–31

7:31a

General Comment on 7:29b-31a

7:31b

Parallel 1 COR 7:31