I have been trying to come up with some better sport related idioms than my two previous efforts at translating 1 Cor. 9:26-27. I find myself being heavily influenced by ElShaddai’s post when making some changes. At some point I’d like to translate starting from verse 24 as he did, but I lack the time right now. However I did start from the beginning of verse 26 this time in order to clean up my translation. Lately I have had a preference for verse and so have changed the layout as well as my word choices. Feel free to comment on my new offering:
26So I run like that:
- not aimlessly.
Just as I box like this:
- not flailing at the air,
27but with bruises and black eyes
bring the body into subjection;
otherwise I might become unqualified
by what I have proclaimed to others.
April 17, 2008 at 4:40 am
a K.O., sport!
April 17, 2008 at 4:58 am
Fascinating.
April 17, 2008 at 5:52 am
Great! But I’m still worried about it being taken literally. I don’t think the original could have been taken literally, but this could because it suggests that Paul does literal boxing.
April 17, 2008 at 8:03 am
I agree, Peter. Verse 25 seems to be the key to me, where Paul draws the comparison between the goal of the physical athlete and the goal of spiritual discipline. Verses 26-27 can be read with the goal of the latter in mind, but using the language of the former to describe Paul’s efforts at kerusso, a physical act of spiritual significance.
April 17, 2008 at 8:50 am
I really like your exploration of the image of hupopiazein. I wonder though if it might be worth changing the phrase “by what I have proclaimed” – the proclamation, as an aorist participle, functions not as the means of disqualification, but as the ironic fore-runner of disqualification.
Personally, I wouldn’t worry about veering too close to “being taken literally” – Paul seems at pains in 1 Corinthians to demonstrate that Christianity involves bodily labour, just as for its founder it involved crucifixion.
April 17, 2008 at 12:36 pm
The last two lines still reflect that I’m not sure of the best way to reflect the underlying Greek because I don’t understand the grammar.
At some point I’ll probably add verses 24 and 25, as their inclusion may make it easier to avoid what Peter and ElShaddai have mentioned. It is probable that it can be worded in such a way that someone won’t easily get the impression that, “Hey I should injure myself…”
April 17, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Nice effort, Nathan, but I must agree with Peter. We shouldn’t take this metaphor literal, or at least our handling of Paul’s metaphor shouldn’t give that impression.
btw, thanks for the link to Grudem’s article on 1 Cor 11 on my blog.
April 17, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Doug, Are you wearing a veil? It seems like you’ve read my recent post.
April 17, 2008 at 2:00 pm
You’re welcome. The other phrasing I was strongly considering was “running/boxing not as one who…” However it was unwieldly and didn’t sound right when spoken out loud. That is something I like about this one in that it sounds nice verbally. I won’t post another version until I have time to get all of 24-27 done, and try to tweak the implications. Some assistance with the Greek grammar at the very end would help too.
April 18, 2008 at 12:37 pm
I really like your choice of “flailing” in verse 26 – that really captures the arm movements of someone not trained to box efficiently. I’ve been looking at this verse a little more and came across the NLT’s translation:
So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.
“Shadowboxing” is also wonderfully descriptive and the NLT keeps the negative grammar intact, at least in that clause.
April 18, 2008 at 3:17 pm
I looked up shadowboxing. The Greek implies one who swings and misses during a fight, while shadowboxing is a form of practice. Both involve punching air, though one is intentional and the other isn’t. At least that is the way I understood it. So I’d much prefer the choice of “beating the air” over “shadowboxing” because the latter seems to be a clever inaccuracy.
April 18, 2008 at 6:17 pm
I looked up Thiselton in the NEW International Greek Testament Commentary:
“It is difficult to know whether αερα δερων means shadowing boxing or flinging punches in a genuine fight which find no target…. To lay primary stress on the first with a nuance suggesting the second is perhaps best achieved by one who shadowboxes into empty air.
Well, that should satisfy Elshaddai and you, Nathan…lol
April 18, 2008 at 9:31 pm
I think there are probably a lot of people who have no idea what shadowboxing is. Not that they couldn’t find out I suppose.
I saw Thiselton’s commentary last week and it is quite massive. Shame it wasn’t cheaper or I’d have been tempted to get it right then. Too many books calling to me right now hehe.
April 19, 2008 at 12:51 am
Well, I had my copy since seminary; Thiselton and Fee are among the top ones. They are hard to beat.
Maybe you can get it online somewhere cheap.
April 19, 2008 at 9:32 am
This is interesting. Putting the clauses in this structure definitely gives it a more poetic feel which ind of heightens the metaphors.
April 19, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Yes. The Five Books of Moses by Fox does this, as does Barnstone’s The New Covenant, and I believe The Inclusive Bible which I just ordered half an hour ago based on this review by Iyov. Also see any number of posts and comments on Kurk’s blog where there are numerous examples of verse.
I’ve found this use of verse really helps clarify things for me, and is more visually appealing, and easier to read out loud. Additionally, Mounce’s ideas about phrasing really helps me, and this format helps in the same way I think. Glad you like it.
May 3, 2008 at 3:05 pm
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