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). (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)
