Lectionary Year A
January 27, 2002
1 Corinthians 1:10-18

Initial Acquaintance/Rough Translation

A. Comparing Translations

(JFC) The New Living Translation and the Revised Standard Version differ as noted:

10 to end your divisions, - NET
that there be no dissensions among you, - RSV

the same mind and purpose. - NET
the same mind and the same judgment. - RSV

12 "I am with Paul,", etc. - NET
"I belong to Paul,", etc. - RSV

16 I do not remember whether - NET
I do not know whether - RSV

17 not with clever speech, so that the cross of Christ would not become useless.- NET
not with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. - RSV

B. Textual Criticism

(JFC) 10 Some editors, including Papyrus 46 and a few uncials, replace sci,smata with sci,sma. A verb to replace a noun? Perhaps, since Paul is getting into some real advice, etc. The parallelism in this part of the verse, also, allows for the alteration to have been originally what Paul would have meant to convey in this time and place.

11 Papyrus 46 and a few other witnesses omit the word mou. The inclusion of this pronoun makes it seem more personal, as might be expected in such correspondence of such import and considering the relationship of the sender and the recipients.

13 Papyrus 46 vid and a few others add at the beginning of the verse, the word mh. Such a negative particle might weaken the argument, as dynamic as it seems to want to be. Metzger (TCGNT) says the change would solve the problem of this verse's being a (rhetorical) question or in statements. Then, Papyrus 46 would replace the mh, in the next phrase, with an h. A negative particle with an article? Would such an emendation weaken the argument even more? If so, reject the changes suggested. Finally for this verse, Papyrus 46 and at least two important uncials, replace u`pe.r with peri. No, of these two prepositions, the one in the received text seems to connect more than the altered suggestion does the one crucified and the ones for whom he might have been crucified.

14 The weight of the witnesses leads to omitting the words, tw/| qew/, as seems prudent, even though, as Metzger (TCGNT) notes, to include them might be from such other Pauline expressions as in Romans 1:8 and 7:25, I Corinthians 1:4 and 14:18, etc.

15 Again, the weightiest group of redactors would retain the Textus Receptus instead of changing the last word, evbapti,sqhte, a second person plural, aorist, passive, indicative, to a first person, singular, aorist, active indicative or a third person singular, aorist, passive, as do some editors.

17 A few witnesses would change euvaggeli,zesqai, a present, middle, infinitive, with euvaggeli,sasqai, an aorist, middle, infinitive. To keep the parallelism with the other infinitive here (bapti,zein), it is suggested we retain the text as printed.

C. Rough Translation

(JFC) 10 But I urge you, brothers, through the authority of the Lord of ours Jesus Christ, so that you would/might (present, active, subjunctive) maintain everything and not be in you divisions, but you be restored/mended/repaired in the same mind and in the same purpose/intent. 11 For it has been shown/indicated/made clear to me concerning you, brothers of mine, by this Cloe that quarrels among you do exist. 12 But I say this, that each of you says, "I on the one hand am of Paul, but I am of Apollos, but I am of Cephas, but I am of Christ." 13 Has been divided (perfect, passive, indicative) the Christ? Was Paul crucified for you or in the name of Paul were you baptized? 14 I thank the God that no one of you did I baptize except Crispus and Gaius, 15 in order that no one could say that in my name you were baptized. 16 But I did baptize also the Stepahanos household, otherwise not have I known whether anyone additional did I baptize. 17 For not did send me Christ to baptize but to preach, not in wisdom of things said, so that not would make meaning the cross of the Christ.
18 For the word/message of the cross to those who are perishing foolishness is, but to those being saved of us power of God it is.

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