Lectionary Year A
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
February 3, 2002
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Initial Acquaintance/Rough Translation
A. Comparing Translations
(JFC) The New American Bible and the Revised Standard Version differ according to these variations:
19 and the learning of the learned I will set aside." - NAB
and the cleverness of the clever I will thwart." - RSV
21 foolishness of the proclamation to save those who have faith. - NAB
folly of what we preach to save those who believe. - RSV
25 wiser than human wisdom, - NAB
wiser than men, - RSV
28 those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, - NAB
even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, - RSV
30 It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus, - NAB
He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, - RSV
B. Textual Criticism
(JFC) 18 Papyrus 46 and a few other such witnesses omit the second article, o, with good reason. It is unnecessary even if it were added by scribes/copyists, etc., for emphasis. Similarly the me.n, and the h`mi/n, as the verse progresses. Yet, the pronoun does seem to warrant inclusion for the sake of clarity of whom Paul means to depict as the ones who are being saved.
20 At the end of the verse, Papyrus 11 and several others add toutou. However, Papyrus 46 an equal number of other witnesses retain the text as printed. Metzger, in TCGNT, observes that the earlier, in this verse, tou/ aivw/noj tou,tou, makes "the addition of the demonstrative almost a foregone conclusion."
23 For e;qnesin, a few "later manuscripts," according to Metzger, read, {Ellhji, to "make Paul's terminology consistent in verses 22, 23 and 24." However, how consistent is Paul originally? Not very, usually, so, no need to alter the received text.
24 Papyrus 46 changes the accusatives to nominatives in Cristo.n qeou/ du,namin kai. qeou/ sofi,an. No, they are objects of the verb khru,ssomen, in the preceding verse.
26 Early in the verse, some of the Western Witnesses, the Greek-Latin bilinguals D, F and G, add a post-positive oun. It seems unnecessary, though.
28 Metzger is of the opinion that the "The presence of kai before ta. mh. o;nta seems to be an interpolation prompted by the preceding series of objects each joined to the text by kai. In adding the word however, the scribes overlooked the force of the expression ta. mh. o;nta, which is not another item in the series, but is a comprehensive and climactic characteristic of all the preceding items. The shorter reading is strongly supported by (several witnesses)."
29 At the end of this verse, a few witnesses have autou for tou/ qeou/. A pronoun makes the point too weak. Paul would certainly emphasize the point by the proper name as printed, surely.
C. Rough Translation
(JFC) 18 For the word/message of the cross on the one hand to those perishing (present, middle or passive, participle)
foolishness is, but to those being saved of us power of God it is. 19 For it is written,
I will destroy the wisdom of the wise
And the intelligence of the intelligent I will reject.
20 Where (are the) wise? Where (the) scholar/scribe? Where (the) debater of the present life/age this one? Has not made
foolish the God the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of the God not did know the world through the wisdom the God, was pleased the God through the foolishness of the proclamation to save/deliver the believing ones; 22 since also Jews signs request and Greeks wisdom require/demand/ask for, 23 but we preach Christ crucified (perfect, passive, participle), to the Jews on he one hand an object/causing stumbling, but to the unbelievers/non-Jews/Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to us who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ of God power and of God wisdom; 25 because the foolishness of the God wiser than that of men is and the weakness of the God stronger than that of men.
26 For perceive/discover/consider the call of yours, brothers, that not many (are) wise from the human point of view, not many powerful, not many of high/noble birth; 27 but the foolishness of the world chose the God so that it would disgrace the wise, and the weak of the world did choose the God, so that would put to shame/disgrace the strong, 28 and the inferior/insignificant of the world and the despised chose the God, so that not existing, in order that the existing were nullified/rendered ineffective/destroyed, 29 so that not should boast any flesh in the presence of the God. 30 But from Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom to you from God, righteousness also and holiness and deliverance. 31 That just as it is written, "The boasting in Lord boast (present, middle or passive, imperative)."
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