translation_id: net-engnet

label: NET translator note

text: Grk “and I, when I came.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, κἀγώ ( kagw ) has not been translated here.


text: Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:10 .


text: B D F G Ψ 33 1739 1881 Ï and some versions), though not quite as impressive. μαρτύριον may have been changed by scribes in anticipation of Paul’s words in 2:7 , or conversely, μυστήριον may have been changed to conform to 1:6 . Transcriptionally, since “the mystery of God/Christ” is a well-worn expression in the corpus Paulinum ( 1 Cor 2:7; 4:1 ; Eph 3:4 ; Col 2:2; 4:3 ), while “testimony of Christ” occurs in Paul only once ( 1 Cor 1:6 , though “testimony of the Lord” appears in 2 Tim 1:8 ), and “testimony of God” never, it is likely that scribes changed the text to the more usual expression. A decision is difficult in this instance, but a slight preference should be given to μαρτύριον .


text: Grk “to know nothing.”


text: In extrabiblical literature this word was applied to an initiate of a mystery religion (BDAG 995 s.v. τέλειος 3, gives numerous examples and states this was a technical term of the mystery religions). It could here refer to those who believed Paul’s message, the mystery of God (v. 1 ), and so be translated as “those who believe God’s message.”


text: Grk “entered the heart,” an OT expression, in which the heart functions like the mind.


text: Or “combining spiritual things with spiritual words” (i.e., words the Spirit gives, as just described).


text: Grk “natural person.” Cf. BDAG 1100 s.v. ψυχικός a, “an unspiritual pers., one who merely functions bodily, without being touched by the Spirit of God.”


text: Or “evaluates.”


text: Or “is evaluated” (i.e., “is subject to evaluation”); Grk “he himself is discerned,” that is, the person without the Spirit does not understand the person with the Spirit, particularly in relation to the life of faith.