knowledge

The Greek that is translated as “knowledge” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) as “theology” in these verses. The translators explain: “We have often translated the Greek word gnosis with ‘theology’ because it doesn’t refer to knowledge [Erkenntnis, also meaning ‘realization’] but to theological knowledge.”

See also wisdom.

speaking with tongues

Click here to view graphically

The Greek that is often translated as “speaking with tongues” in English is translated these ways:

  • Uma: “speak with languages from the Holy Spirit” (source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “speak languages that are not understood by the people” (source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “speak in languages which [the speakers] do not know” (source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “speak different languages that [the speakers] haven’t studied” (source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Teutila Cuicatec: “speaking other different languages”
  • Lalana Chinantec: “speaking in other people’s Chinantec”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “speaking strange languages” (source for his and two above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
  • Indonesian Alkitab Terjemahan Lama version (publ. 1958): “speak the language of the spirit” (bahasa roh) — “which leaves a strong impression that this is a mystical experience.” (Source: Ekaputra Tupamahu in: Journal for the Study of the New Testament 2018, 41/2, p. 223ff.)

In most Protestant Mandarin Chinese translations, the term fāngyán (方言) or “dialect / regional language” is used. The widely-used Catholic Sigao translation uses yǔyán 语言 (語言) or “language” instead. (See also W. Chong in Religions 2024, 15, p. 288ff. )

In the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) it is translated as in den Sprachen der Engel reden or “speaking in the language of angels.” The translators explain (p. 104): “According to Jewish understanding, angels primarily spoke Hebrew. The ‘languages’ of angels are specific texts (such as songs). This is not related to a formal knowledge of language.” Note that in the latter part of 1 Corinthians 14 (from verse 26 on) and in Acts 2:4, Berger / Nord use “foreign language” instead.

complete verse (1 Corinthians 13:8)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 13:8:

  • Uma: “Love never finishes/stops [lit., there is not its finishing]. But if we have the ability to speak God’s words, the time will come our ability will be no more. If we have the ability to speak with languages from the Holy Spirit, the time will come our ability will cease. If we have received knowledge from God, the time will come our knowledge won’t be needed.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Love does not end. The expertise to speak God’s word and the expertise to speak in languages not understood by the people will go by. Likewise also if we (dual) are given deep wisdom it will also just go by.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “As for that skill to explain what God has caused to understand, the time will come when it will be removed. And as for that skill of talking in other languages, that will be removed also. In the same way also, the understanding of deep teaching will also be removed. However, the love for other people which God gives, that cannot be removed because it is forever.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “As for the abilities that the Spirit of God gives such as the ability of God’s spokesmen, the ability to speak various languages that have not been learned and the ability to know concerning God, they will all come-to-an-end, but as for love however, it has no ending.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Really there is no removing of this valuing. Not like these abilities which the Espiritu Santo freely-gives. For the day will come when the ability to-have-put-into-one’s-mind that which God is making known to everyone will be removed. Like that too is the ability to speak different languages that (one) hasn’t studied. Even that ability which is knowledge/skill which God gives concerning his determined-plans at this time, the day will come when it is no longer needed.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “And now, concerning that we love our fellow men, there is no end to the necessity of our loving. But these works God gives us will have an end to them. Because there will come the day when no longer the Holy Spirit will have to put in the minds of people what words they are to speak. There will come the day when the Holy Spirit no longer will cause the people to speak different words. There will come the day when no longer there will be the people of whom it is said that the Holy Spirit has taught them the hard words so that they know them.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Chichewa (interconfessional translation, 1999): “Love is unending. | But prophecy [lit.: “the practice of making utterance”] will come to an end, speaking unknown languages will cease, | and human wisdom will end.” (Source: Wendland 1998, p. 161)

Translation commentary on 1 Corinthians 13:8

Love never ends: the meaning is essentially the same as “love … endures all things” in verse 7. Here the statement serves to introduce a series of contrasts between love and other spiritual gifts.

The rest of the verse is divided into three parts. The verb translated will pass away here and in verse 10 is the same Greek word. Good News Bible uses several synonyms for stylistic reasons: “are temporary,” “it will pass,” and in verse 10, “will disappear.” Will cease translates an unrelated word with similar meaning. These two words seem to mean that the three gifts are temporary. In the following verse Paul states that they are “limited” or “incomplete,” or even “imperfect” in relation to love, which is “perfect.”

As in 12.28, prophecies are “messages that come from God” and refer to normal human speech. Tongues, on the other hand, as in 12.28, 30, refer to “strange sounds” or “ecstatic speech” (Good News Bible‘s “strange tongues”). Good News Bible is correct to add the words “gifts of speaking” before “strange tongues.”

In many languages it may be necessary to show the contrast between love that endures or never stops, and the three gifts that are limited and temporary.

Alternative translation models for this verse are:
• Love never ends. However, the gifts of proclaiming God’s message, speaking in strange sounds, and knowledge are only temporary or imperfect.

Or:
• Love lasts forever. There are messages from God, but they are temporary; there are gifts of speaking in strange sounds, but they will cease; there is knowledge, but it will pass away.

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 .