translation_id: net-engnet

label: NET translator note

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


text: Grk “fleshly [people]”; the Greek term here is σαρκινός (BDAG 914 s.v. 1 ).


text: Or “are still merely human”; Grk “fleshly.” Cf. BDAG 914 s.v. σαρκικός 2, “pert. to being human at a disappointing level of behavior or characteristics, (merely) human.” The same phrase occurs again later in this verse.


text: Grk “and walking in accordance with man,” i.e., living like (fallen) humanity without the Spirit’s influence; hence, “unregenerate people.”


text: Grk “are you not men,” i.e., (fallen) humanity without the Spirit’s influence. Here Paul does not say “walking in accordance with” as in the previous verse; he actually states the Corinthians are this. However, this is almost certainly rhetorical hyperbole.


text: Grk “and to each as the Lord gave.”


text: Grk “is anything.”


text: Grk “are one.” The purpose of this phrase is to portray unified action on the part of ministers underneath God’s sovereign control. Although they are in fact individuals, they are used by God with a single purpose to accomplish his will in facilitating growth. This emphasis is brought out in the translation “work as one.”


text: Although 1 Cor 3:9 is frequently understood to mean, “we are coworkers with God,” such a view assumes that the genitive θεοῦ ( qeou ) is associative because of its relationship to συνεργοί ( sunergoi ). However, not only is a genitive of association not required by the syntax (cf. ExSyn 130), but the context is decidedly against it: Paul and Apollos are insignificant compared to the God whom they serve (vv. 5-8 ).


text: Grk “each one’s.” Here “builder’s” is employed in the translation for clarity.


text: In an attempt to clarify the referent, some translations add “of Christ” after “Day” (so TEV); others specify this as “judgment day” (NLT) or “the day of judgment” (CEV). sn The Day refers to the Day of the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. 1:8; 5:5 ) when each Christian worker will appear before Christ for evaluation of his ministry. Paul’s constant motivation was to be pleasing to the Lord in that day ( 2 Cor 5:9-10 ) and receive his commendation ( 1 Cor 4:5 ).


text: The translation “[will] be punished ” is given here by BDAG 428 s.v. ζημιόω 2. But the next clause says “he will be delivered” and so “suffering loss” is more likely to refer to the destruction of the “work” by fire or the loss of the reward that could have been gained.


text: Grk “let no one deceive himself.”


text: Grk “so then, let no one boast in men.”