| 1. Linguistic Exegesis The clause begins with opheilomen {ὀφείλομεν | opheílomen} ‘we are obligated’, which fronts the sense of communal duty for emphasis. The explicit subject hemeis hoi dynatoi {ἡμεῖς οἱ δυνατοί | hēmêis hoí dynatoí} ‘we the strong’ singles out a subgroup within the community, underscoring their particular responsibility. The object phrase ta asthenemata ton adynaton {τὰ ἀσθενήματα τῶν ἀδυνάτων | tà asthenḗmata tôn adynátōn} ‘the weaknesses of the weak’ combines a neuter plural noun with a genitive plural adjective, indicating the limitations that belong to, or characterize, the weak. The infinitive bastazein {βαστάζειν | bastázein} functions as a complementary infinitive to opheilomen, specifying what the obligation entails. The coordinated infinitive clause kai me heautois areskein {καὶ μὴ ἑαυτοῖς ἀρέσκειν | kaí mḕ heautoîs aréskein} ‘and not to please ourselves’ balances the first infinitive, creating a positive–negative pair: the strong must take up the burdens of others and simultaneously refuse self-pleasing behavior. Both infinitives share the same finite verb, so the translation preserves this parallelism with matched verbal forms (“to bear … and not to please”), maintaining the contrast between outward-oriented service and inward-directed gratification. |