There is no difficulty with the meaning of I say this to your shame. However, no translation that we have consulted makes it clear whether this refers to what Paul has just said, or to what he is about to say. Both are possible, since the general subject is the same. It is more likely, however, that this phrase should be linked with what follows. This linking is done in Jerusalem Bible and Bible de Jérusalem through punctuation (but not in New Jerusalem Bible). Paul is counterbalancing the emphatic verse 5b by a preliminary statement concerning the reason why he is about to express himself so strongly. One could paraphrase this sentence as follows: “Let me ask you a question that should make you ashamed. Has it really come to this, that there is not a single person among you who is ‘wise’ enough to settle a dispute between Christians?” If, as seems likely, Christians in Corinth were always talking about “wisdom,” Paul’s question in this verse would indeed shame the readers by showing a contrast between their boasting and their real capabilities.
The clause that is translated decide between members of the brotherhood is ungrammatical in Greek. However, this clause is almost certainly a condensation of an idiom that means “settle a dispute between one brother and another.” The context requires this meaning here.
The punctuation problem in verses 5-6 is less important for the meaning than that in verse 4 (see the footnote on punctuation in the UBS Greek text). The main choice is between exclamations and negative rhetorical questions that have the same effect. Revised Standard Version uses a rhetorical question in 5 and a strong statement in 6. Good News Bible punctuates verse 5b as a statement and verse 6 as an exclamation, but both verses have the effect of strong statements. Again, translators need to decide what is most natural and effective in their language.
Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, 2nd edition. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1985/1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .