What
is written renders a Greek phrase which may be translated literally
as “the things that are written” (see 1:19). Paul may be thinking especially
about parts of scripture he has already quoted in this letter. On the other
hand he may be speaking generally, as TEV’s
“the proper rules” suggests. Other possible translations are “I wanted you to
learn from our example what the proverb, ‘Remain within the limits fixed by
what is written,’ means” (FrCL); “… what the principle, ‘Not beyond the measure
which God has set,’ means” (GeCL); “the true meaning of ‘Nothing beyond what
stands written’ ” (REB); “the meaning of the saying, ‘Nothing beyond what
is written’ ” (NRSV); similarly NIV,
Fee. Others leave out any reference to what
is written and say “Learn not to go beyond certain limits” (ItCL); “learn
to ‘keep within the rules,’ as they say” (NEB);
or more specifically, “Keep close to Scripture” (TNT).
The last part of the sentence none of you may be puffed up … may be linked either with the
beginning of the verse (“I have applied this … so that no one may be puffed
up”) or with the middle (“so that you may learn … [and] so that no one may be
puffed up”). The middle section of this verse seems to be a general statement
which the last part of the verse develops and applies to the readers. RSV follows this ordering. TEV, though, puts the phrase none of you may be puffed up into a
separate sentence.(Paul Ellingworth and Howard Hatton, A Handbook on Paul’s
First Letter to the Corinthians [UBS Handbook Series; New York: United
Bible Societies, 1995], 93-94)
To Support this Blog:
Email for Amazon Gift card: ScripturalMormonism@gmail.com
