inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (1Cor. 15:30)

Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)

The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).

For this verse, translators typically select the exclusive form, only referring to Paul.

In Huautla Mazatec, however, the translators selected the inclusive we, referring to Paul and the readers of the letter.

Source: Velma Pickett and Florence Cowan in Notes on Translation January 1962, p. 1ff.

complete verse (1 Corinthians 15:30)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 15:30:

  • Uma: “And we (excl.) also, there almost isn’t any cessation of our being threatened by our (excl.) enemies because of our (excl.) carrying the Good News. Yet if the dead really aren’t caused to live again, what’s the use of all of that which we (excl.) suffer?” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “And we (excl.), if we (excl.) don’t believe that the dead will really be made alive again, we (excl.) would not always endure like this in danger.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “As for us (excl.) also, what value is it for us if we (incl.) are not raised from the dead in the future? For why do we (excl.) still endure that which is very dangerous?” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “And as for us (excl.) moreover, would we (excl.) in fact risk our (excl.) lives continually if there were truly no living again of the dead?” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “And as for us (excl.), why would we risk our lives hourly if we didn’t have assurance that we would be made to live again in the future?” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “And how come I put myself in danger all the days if the dead do not resurrect?” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Corinthians 15:30

At this point Paul moves rather suddenly from the experience of the Corinthians to his own experience. The effect is to intensify his appeal to the readers. Paul’s entire work, he implies, is based on the hope of resurrection and would make no sense without it. Good News Bible indicates the transition by the words “And as for us.” New English Bible marks this sudden change of theme by beginning a new paragraph. However, verse 30 logically, though not grammatically, depends on the condition “If the dead are not raised,” expressed in verse 29. It may be good to begin this verse “If there is no resurrection, why then would we…?”

Some commentators and translators take “we” (Good News Bible) to refer to Paul alone. However, in verse 32 he uses singular words in speaking of his personal experience. He could have done this in the present verse if other evangelists were not included. Good News Bible‘s “we” is probably a better translation.

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 .