inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (1Thess. 3:1)

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 (excluding the addressee).

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

In Fijian, the paucal exclusive forms neitou and keitou (“of me and a few [two or slight more]”) are used instead. This choice is understandable in view of the introduction found in both letters to the Thessalonians, where the writer Paul indicates clearly that the letters were co-authored by two other colleagues, Silas and Timothy, hence the use of a pronoun referring to three people (“Paul, Silas and Timothy”).

Source: Joseph Hong in The Bible Translator 1994, p. 419ff.

complete verse (1 Thessalonians 3:1)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Thessalonians 3:1:

  • Uma: “Finally, we could not bear our longing. That is why we said, it is better for me to wait in the town of Atena, and our (incl.) relative Timotius we order to go to you relatives in Tesalonika. This Timotius is our companion in God’s work, for he helps us in carrying the Good News. So we did order Timotius to go [to you], we said to him: "You (sing.) go pay a visit to our (incl.) relatives in Tesalonika, you strengthen and draw-tight their faith."” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Na, because we (excl.) were not able to endure the worry any longer, therefore we (excl.) decided that the two of us (excl.) should stay-behind here in Aten.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “When we could no longer endure our loneliness for you, as for us three, we decided it would be good if two of us stayed behind in the town of Athens.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Therefore when we (excl.) just could-not -restrain/bear our (excl.) extreme homesickness for you, we (excl.) decided it would be good/best if Silas and I were left here in Athens” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well since I could stand it no longer, for for a long time there had been no news concerning you, I decided that I’d just endure staying-behind alone here in Atenas,” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “But we could not stand it any longer that another day should go by without sending someone to go to where you are. We decided that we would stay here in the city of Athens.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Thessalonians 3:1

We could not bear it any longer must refer to the intense emotion which Paul and his colleagues felt in missing the Thessalonians. It may be necessary to make this reference more specific, for example, “we could not endure any longer not seeing you,” or, stated idiomatically, “our being away from you was crushing us.”

The word so is important because it introduces clearly the reason for the decision. In some languages this reason may need to be made explicit, for example, “because of how we felt.” Or the preceding sentence may be combined with this statement about the decision, for example, “At last, because we could not endure any longer being away from you, we decided….”

We decided is the same verb which in 2.8 is translated we were ready, but here the tense shows that Paul is not thinking of a state of being ready and willing, but of a specific decision. This is not brought out by Revised Standard Version (“we were willing”), Le Nouveau Testament. Version Synodale (“we preferred”), or Traduction œcuménique de la Bible (“we thought it best,” cf. Zürcher Bibel). Decided is rightly chosen, not only by common language translations, but by Knox Barclay Translator’s New Testament (cf. Luther 1984 Jerusalem Bible). Moffatt has the equivalent “made up my mind” (cf. La Sainte Bible: Nouvelle version Segond révisée Bible de Jérusalem).

In translating we in verses 1 and 2, it is important to make the proper transitions and to indicate clearly who is involved. This will mean that in many languages the first “we” in verse 1 will be the exclusive first person plural to include Paul, Silas, and Timothy. The second “we” will be the same (“we decided”), but the implied third “we” must refer merely to Paul and Silas, for the two of them were the ones who stayed on alone in Athens. Therefore it may be necessary to translate “so we three decided that we two would stay on alone in Athens.” The we of we sent would then refer to Paul and Silas, but our in the phrase our brother would be inclusive first person plural (for languages having the inclusive-exclusive distinction), since Timothy would be a fellow believer, not only of Paul and Silas, but of the Thessalonians as well. Us in the phrase who works with us would again refer simply to Paul and Silas. Only a careful sorting out of precise references in the use of we, our, and us can prevent serious misunderstanding.

To stay on is passive in form, literally “to be left behind” (Revised Standard Version), but the context shows that Paul is writing from his own point of view, not that of Timothy. Good News Translation and most other translations make this clear by the use of “remain” or the more common equivalents “stay on” or “stay behind” (Translator’s New Testament).

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1976. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .