1 COR 9:26 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) That’s why I don’t run aimlessly and don’t box like someone punching the air,

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, red:negative.
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 Therefore, I run thus, not as without purpose; I fight thus, not as boxing the air.

UST Because of this, I am like a runner who runs straight toward the finish line. I am like a boxer who strikes an opponent without missing.

BLB Therefore I run thus, not as uncertainly; I fight thus, not as beating the air.

AICNT So I run in this way, not aimlessly; I box in this way, not beating the air;

OEB I, therefore, do not run aimlessly. I do not box like a man hitting the air.

WEBBE I therefore run like that, not aimlessly. I fight like that, not beating the air,

WMBB (Same as above)

NET So I do not run uncertainly or box like one who hits only air.

LSV I, therefore, thus run, not as uncertainly, thus I fight, as not beating air;

FBV That's why I run straight in the right direction. I fight accurately, not punching the air.

TCNT Therefore I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air;

T4T For that reason, I try hard to please God [MET], like a runner who runs toward the goal [LIT]. I try hard to accomplish what God wants me to accomplish, like a boxer tries hard to hit his opponent, not to miss hitting him.

LEB Therefore I run in this way, not as running aimlessly; I box in this way, not as beating the air.

BBE So then I am running, not uncertainly; so I am fighting, not as one who gives blows in the air:

Moff Well, I run without swerving; I do not plant my blows upon the empty air —

Wymth That is how I run, not being in any doubt as to my goal. I am a boxer who does not inflict blows on the air,

ASV I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air:

DRA I therefore so run, not as at an uncertainty: I so fight, not as one beating the air:

YLT I, therefore, thus run, not as uncertainly, thus I fight, as not beating air;

Drby I therefore thus run, as not uncertainly; so I combat, as not beating the air.

RV I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air:

SLT I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so practise I pugilism, as not laying stripes upon air:

Wbstr I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so I fight, not as one that beateth the air:

KJB-1769 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

KJB-1611 I therefore so runne, not as vncertainely: so fight I, not as one that beateth the ayre:
(I therefore so run, not as uncertainely: so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:)

Bshps I therfore so run, not as at an vncertayne thing: So fight I, not as one that beateth the ayre.
(I therefore so run, not as at an uncertayne thing: So fight I, not as one that beateth the ayre.)

Gnva I therefore so runne, not as vncertainely: so fight I, not as one that beateth the ayre.
(I therefore so run, not as uncertainely: so fight I, not as one that beateth the ayre. )

Cvdl I therfore so runne, not as at an vncertayne thinge: So fighte I, not as one yt beateth ye ayre:
(I therefore so run, not as at an uncertayne thing: So fight I, not as one it beateth ye/you_all air:)

TNT I therfore so runne not as at an vncertayne thinge. So fyght I not as one that beateth the ayer:
(I therefore so run not as at an uncertayne thing. So fight I not as one that beateth the ayer: )

Wycl Therfor Y renne so, not as `in to vncerteyn thing; thus Y fiyte, not as betynge the eir;
(Therefore I run so, not as in to uncertain thing; thus I fiyte, not as beting the air;)

Luth Ich laufe aber also, nicht als aufs Ungewisse; ich fechte also, nicht als, der in die Luft streichet,
(I run(v) but also, not as onto Ungewisse; I fechte also, not as, the/of_the in the air streichet,)

ClVg Ego igitur sic curro, non quasi in incertum: sic pugno, non quasi aërem verberans:[fn]
(I therefore so curro, not/no as_if in/into/on uncertain: so pugno, not/no as_if aërem verberans: )

9.26 Non quasi. In incertum currit qui talia facit, ut ex quibusdam sperare, ex aliis desperare possit.

9.26 Not/No quasi. In uncertain currit who/which such_(things) he_does, as from to_some to_hope, from to_others desperare can.

UGNT ἐγὼ τοίνυν οὕτως τρέχω, ὡς οὐκ ἀδήλως; οὕτως πυκτεύω, ὡς οὐκ ἀέρα δέρων;
(egō toinun houtōs treⱪō, hōs ouk adaʸlōs; houtōs pukteuō, hōs ouk aera derōn;)

SBL-GNT ἐγὼ τοίνυν οὕτως τρέχω ὡς οὐκ ἀδήλως, οὕτως πυκτεύω ὡς οὐκ ἀέρα δέρων·
(egō toinun houtōs treⱪō hōs ouk adaʸlōs, houtōs pukteuō hōs ouk aera derōn;)

RP-GNT Ἐγὼ τοίνυν οὕτως τρέχω ὡς οὐκ ἀδήλως· οὕτως πυκτεύω, ὡς οὐκ ἀέρα δέρων·
(Egō toinun houtōs treⱪō hōs ouk adaʸlōs; houtōs pukteuō, hōs ouk aera derōn;)

TC-GNT Ἐγὼ τοίνυν οὕτω τρέχω ὡς οὐκ ἀδήλως· οὕτω πυκτεύω, ὡς οὐκ ἀέρα [fn]δέρων·
(Egō toinun houtō treⱪō hōs ouk adaʸlōs; houtō pukteuō, hōs ouk aera derōn; )

9:26 δερων ¦ δαιρων PCK

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 9:1–27: Paul did not use his rights as an apostle

In this section Paul responded to a claim by some of the Corinthians that he was not an apostle. First, he defended his calling and work as an apostle. Then he used himself as an example of someone who did not use his rights.

In chapter 8 and chapter 10 Paul talked about food offered to idols. In this chapter Paul said that he was an example of somebody who had the right to do anything. He was thinking about the right to eat any kind of food. Out of love for others he refrained from doing things that he had a right to do. Instead, he tried to act in a way that would lead others to Christ.

Other possible section headings include:

Paul’s rights as an apostle

Paul's example of not using his rights

Paragraph 9:24–27

In this paragraph Paul wrote about how he disciplined himself for the sake of the gospel. Corinth was the site of the Isthmian Games which happened every two years. Athletes and spectators from all over Greece came to this athletic contest. Paul used an extended metaphor that compared living the Christian life to competing in the Games. He compared the Christian life to running and to boxing.

9:26a

Therefore I do not run aimlessly;

So, then I do not run like someone who does not know where he is going.
For that reason, I live my life with a clear purpose like a runner who runs for the finish line.

Therefore: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Therefore introduces the conclusion Paul drew from what he had just said. Here is another way to translate this:

That is why (GNT)

I do not run aimlessly: The metaphor of running continues in this phrase. Paul said he was not running without a goal. Other ways to translate this are:

I run straight for the finish line (GNT)

I run straight to arrive quickly

I run in order to win

The meaning of this metaphor is that Paul lived life with a clear goal. He aimed to serve Christ all his life. He did not allow himself to be distracted by other things. There are two ways to translate this:

keep the metaphor of running. For example:
I don’t run without a goal (CEV)
keep the metaphor and make it clear that Paul compared this to the Christian life:
I live with a goal to serve Christ well, like a runner running for the finish line

9:26b

I do not fight like I am beating the air.

And I do not fight as though I were a boxer hitting only air.
I do not live aimlessly like a fighter who just punches the air.

I do not fight like I am beating the air: This metaphor means the same as that in the previous clause. Paul said that his activity was purposeful. This time he referred to the sport of boxing. He was aiming for his opponent’s body, not just hitting the air. There are again two ways to translate this metaphor:

keep the metaphor. For example:
I do not…box like one who hits only the air (NET)
I am like a boxer whose blows always hit the opponent
keep the metaphor and make it clear that Paul compared this to the Christian life:
I do not waste my life/efforts, like a boxer who hits only air

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / exmetaphor

ἐγὼ & οὕτως τρέχω, ὡς οὐκ ἀδήλως; οὕτως πυκτεύω, ὡς οὐκ ἀέρα δέρων

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐγώ τοίνυν οὕτως τρέχω ὡς οὐκ ἀδήλως οὕτως πυκτεύω ὡς οὐκ ἀέρα δέρων)

Here Paul uses two different athletic metaphors, the first from footraces and the second from boxing. Both metaphors emphasize how Paul remains focused on his goal. As a runner, he has a purpose, which is to reach the finish line as quickly as possible. As a boxer, he does not box the air but rather focuses on striking his opponent. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express these figures of speech by stating the ideas plainly or by using analogies. Alternate translation: [I focus on the goal, much like a runner focuses on the finish line and a boxer focuses on striking the opponent]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

οὕτως & ὡς οὐκ ἀδήλως; οὕτως & ὡς οὐκ ἀέρα δέρων

thus & as not uncertainly thus & as not ˓the˒_air beating

In both halves of this verse, Paul introduces how he “runs” or “fights” with the word thus, and then he explains more clearly how he “runs” or “fights.” If your readers would find this confusing, you could introduce how Paul “runs” or “fights” more naturally. Alternate translation: [not as without purpose … not as boxing the air] or [as one who is not without purpose … as one who is not boxing the air]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / litotes

ὡς οὐκ ἀδήλως

as not uncertainly

Here Paul uses a figure of speech that expresses a strong positive meaning by using a negative word together with a word that means the opposite of the intended meaning. If this is confusing in your language, you can express the meaning positively. Alternate translation: [as with purpose]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ὡς οὐκ ἀέρα δέρων

as not as not ˓the˒_air beating

Here Paul refers to a boxer who hits the air instead of the opponent. This kind of boxer does not succeed. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express boxing the air with a phrase that refers to a boxer who often misses his punches. Alternate translation: [not as missing my punches]

Parallel 1 COR 9:26

Section 9:1–27: Paul did not use his rights as an apostle

Paragraph 9:24–27

9:26a

9:26b

Parallel 1 COR 9:26