April 15, 2008
I ran short of time last night when working on my post for this passage. I’ve spent the last hour trying to find the idioms I was looking for yesterday in order to create a better translation. I think I’ve finally done it and so will post the reigning TNIV translation followed by my revised one:
- 26 I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
- 26 Neither do I box by flailing at the air, 27 instead I beat my body down, forcing it into submission; otherwise I might become unqualified in what I have proclaimed to others.
TC’s original post and Doug’s response.
April 15, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Nathan, I like your newer translation. I think it can give the TNIV’s rendering a run for the money.
I wonder what the other guys think!
April 15, 2008 at 3:15 pm
I think TNIV has beat down your freshest translation (i.e., your first one), Nathan.
Some of us rather like your hyperbolic passion in “rather I black my eyes, bringing my body into subjection.” You don’t have to follow Aristotle’s advice (but do look at his two black eyes, in my comment at Doug’s blog.)
April 15, 2008 at 4:10 pm
I think the running and boxing metaphors are easily understood and can be translated nicely in more than one way. The part I have most trouble with is the last half of verse 27 as it culminates with the whole point of his examples.
Why did Paul write this? Is it to receive a prize, or to safeguard his witness, legitimize his message, all of the above? I think this is the part of this passage that is the most vital and that I could use the most help in understanding (either in Greek or English).
April 15, 2008 at 5:49 pm
check BDAG (3rd ed) 1043. Let me know which definition of “hupopiadzo” you think fits best. BDAG likes #3. Seems that others like #1.
April 15, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Thanks for rubbing it in. I only have the 2nd edition.
Feel free to enlighten me though, or buy me a copy.
April 16, 2008 at 7:42 am
Wow… all the fun stuff happens when I’m gone - 1 Corinthians!! Nathan - I think your question above about why Paul wrote this is exactly the right question to ask. One thing that comes to mind is this: The issue of bodily subjection in relation to possible disqualification is highly important in 1 Corinthians: Throughout this letter, Paul urges the Corinthians to pursue his own imitation of the cross, so that their faith will not be in vain.
and for the sake of their own authentic salvation (ch 10).
Chapter 9 again draws attention to his own cruciform commitment, illustrating his call in chapters 8-10 for the strong to exercise self-restraint - for the sake of others (ch
April 16, 2008 at 10:56 am
This blog has made it very hard to continue my current bible reading schedule. I’m about half way through the old testament, but I’m really starting to get into the Greek. Once I finish this read through I think I’ll be mostly studying the new testament with only an occasional break for the Hebrew. I’ll probably read the Psalms regularly but I’m looking forward to studying in more depth now that I’m starting to get an inkling of the original.
April 16, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Nathan, BDAG list definitions for “hupopiadzo” as:
1) to blacken and eye, give a black eye, strike in the face. Here they think Luke 18:5 is a good example of this usage (Judge worried about getting a black eye from a desperate woman).
2) to bring someone to submission by constant annoyance, wear down. Here they reference Lk 18:5 again but feel the denouement lacks punch as the Judge has already been worn down and doesn’t want it to get worse. In this case it’s probably more like browbeating.
3) to put under strict discipline, punish, treat roughly, torment. Here Bauer references the verse you are working on, 1 Cor 9:27 noting Paul’s self-imposed discipline and sees that the expression is taken from the language of prize fighting in v. 26.
So, I suppose, a possible rendering (very loosely) (following BDAG) would be I do not flail aimlessly but rather I discipline my body, forcing it into submission, so I won’t become disqualified by the same thing I tell others not to do.
April 16, 2008 at 6:26 pm
I’m beginning to think maybe I had that translated best the first time with “black my eyes” Incidentally I stole it from a popular song… You can hear it at the 1:00 mark:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC_YIjlH5oc
I am still convinced there is modern idiom in the boxing/training world that we are simply over looking for these phrases.