The Greek terms that are translated into English as “preach” or “proclaim” are regularly rendered into Aari as “speaking the word of salvation.” (Source: Loren Bliese)
Other languages (back-) translate it in the following manner:
Tzeltal: “he explains, they hear” (“the goal of all preachers”)
Copainalá Zoque: “a preacher is ‘one who speaks-scatters'” (a figure based on the scattering of seed in the process of sowing) (source for this and above: Bratcher / Nida)
Shilluk: “declare the word of of God” (source: Nida 1964, p. 237)
In Luang it is translated with different shades of meaning:
For Acts 9:20, 10:42: nakotnohora: “talk about” (“The generic term for preaching.”)
For Acts 8:4, 8:5, 8:25: rodkiota-ralde’etnohora — “bring words, give news about.” (“This term is used when the preacher is moving from place to place to preach.”)
Source: Kathy Taber in Notes on Translation 1/1999, p. 9-16.
The Greek that is translated as “elder” in most English versions (“presbyter” in The Orthodox New Testament, 2000) is translated as “Old-Man Leader” in Eastern Highland Otomi (source: John Beekman in Notes on Translation November 1964, p. 1-22) and in Bacama as mi kpan-kpani vɨnə hiutə: “big/old person of house of prayer” (source: David Frank in this blog post ).
Other translations include:
“person who commands among the people of Jesus” in Lalana Chinantec
“supervisor of the creed” in Guhu-Samane (source for this and three above: Ellis Deibler in Notes on Translation July, 1967, p. 5ff.)
“older person” with an implication of that being a leader-like person in Matumbi (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext)
“person who has taken on responsibilities in the congregation” in German (das Buch translation by Roland Werner, publ. 2009-2022)
The German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) chooses for the occurrences in Revelation the translation of Würdenträger or “dignitary.” Elsewhere (for instance in 1 Peter 5:1) it has “elders, your congregational leadership.”
Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Timothy 5:17:
Uma: “Religion leaders whose leading is good, it is very appropriate that they be given salary twice as much as other people, especially the leaders who teach and announce the words of the Lord.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “About the elders made leaders in the prayer-house if their holding/governing of the ones trusting in Isa Almasi is good, they are worthy of being made-big/honored and being paid well especially the ones who industriously proclaim and teach/preach the message of God.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “The elders whose leading of the believers is good, you must consider them worthy of having their salary doubled. Especially those who have much work in preaching and teaching.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Concerning again the leaders whose leading of the believers is good/thorough, you should count them as worthy to be acknowledged and properly salaried, especially those who are industrious to preach and teach.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “As for those overseers of the believers whose overseeing is done well, what is really fitting for them is, honor them with a bigger salary, especially the teachers of the word of God.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “The men who lead the work there where the believers gather must be respected very much by the people. But the people must have the greatest respect for those who put their hearts to working at the teaching the word of God.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.
One way to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. When the referent is God, the “divine” honorific prefix mi- (御 or み) can be used, as in mi-kotoba (みことば) or “word (of God)” in the referenced verses.
The first problem tackled with regard to the elders is that of the support they get from the church. This is especially crucial for elders who rule well. The verb for rule is more properly rendered “to guide, to direct, to lead,” and it is the component of leadership that is focused on in many translations (in addition to Good News Translation compare New English Bible “who do well as leaders,” Jerusalem Bible “who do their work well while they are in charge,” Phillips “with a gift of leadership,” Contemporary English Version “who do their job well”).
Such elders should be worthy of double honor. Worthy describes something or someone as deserving of recognition because of merit, value, or worth. Double honor literally translates the Greek, and some translations retain this literal rendition (in addition to Revised Standard Version, see also New Revised Standard Version and New International Version); in the present context it probably refers to, or at least includes, monetary matters (compare the modern term “honorarium”). Many translations in fact make this information explicit; for example, Good News Translation “receiving double pay,” New English Bible “double stipend.” The problem related to this is to determine what “double pay” is related to. Does this mean that they should receive twice as much as they are receiving now, or twice as much as some other leaders are receiving (for example, the widows, or elders who are not engaged in the preaching or teaching ministry)? A third option is to interpret double honor as “twofold honor,” that is, these elders get the “first” honor and respect that go with their office and function, and at the same time get appropriate remuneration as the “second” form of honor (compare Phillips “worthy of respect, and of adequate salary”). This latter model is a good one. Similar ways of expressing double honor, then, are “worthy of receiving respect and adequate pay” or “the Christians should give high respect to them and pay them well.” Alternative translation models for this initial sentence are “Any leader of a group of Christians (or, believers) who does his work well should be considered worthy of receiving proper honor and adequate pay” or “A group of Christians (or, A church) which has a leader who guides them well should consider that leader worthy of receiving proper respect and adequate pay.”
This special consideration should be given especially to those elders who are engaged in the preaching and teaching ministry, which means that there were elders at that time who were involved in things other than preaching or teaching; for example, administration and pastoral care. In a young and developing church, preaching and teaching are of course primary. Labor can also be rendered as “work hard” (Good News Translation), “toil.” In this context it probably refers to the performance of specific functions and can be rendered “especially those whose task is…” or “especially those who are assigned to….” Preaching translates the Greek word logos (literally “word”), which has a variety of usage in the New Testament: “message,” “speech,” “the gospel.” In the present context logos does not have the article and most probably refers to the act of proclaiming the message, both to believers and more importantly to nonbelievers. This is contrasted to teaching or Christian nurture, which is directed at believers, making clear to them what Christians should believe and the implications of their faith for their lives. The teaching ministry is perhaps carried out in catechetical classes that are established especially for new believers. See 4.13 on preaching and teaching.
An alternative translation model for this verse is:
• A group of believers (or, A church) should consider the elder (or, church leader) who guides them well as worthy of receiving respect and adequate pay. This especially refers to those leaders who work hard at teaching and preaching.
Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to Timothy. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1995. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
Paul said that the believers should respect their leaders. They should give them money or other things to help them.
5:17a
Elders: This term refers to leaders of local groups of believers. The word “overseers” in 3:1b and 3:2a probably refers to the same people. See also the note on 3:8a.
who lead effectively: If you need to say who these elders are leading, you could say, “the church” to indicate the specific context in which these elders direct and lead.
are worthy of: That is, deserve.
double honor: The expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as double honor could mean either:
(1) that believers should honor the elders in two ways: by respecting them and by helping them materially.
(2) that believers should honor the elders by helping them materially twice as much as they help other leaders. For example, the Contemporary English Version says:
deserve to be paid twice as much
(Contemporary English Version, Good News Translation, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), Revised English Bible, probably the New Jerusalem Bible)
Most English versions translate this phrase literally and therefore are ambiguous. If you can translate this verse in a way that can allow both these interpretations, you should do so. However, if you must be explicit, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). (Fee, pages 128 and 129, says, “It is clear from verse 18 that honor (see on v. 3) here includes at least pay. But it is highly unlikely that double honor means “double pay” (as cash), implying either twice as much as others who do not teach or twice as much as the widows. Rather it means “twofold honor,” the honor and respect due those in such positions as well as remuneration.”) When Paul talked about double honor, he was talking about two different ways in which believers should honor the elders. He did not mean that believers should give the elders twice the material rewards they gave other people.
honor: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as honor is closely related to the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as “honor” in 5:3. In 5:3, Paul was talking primarily about honoring widows by ensuring that they had the material things that they needed. In 5:18, Paul also talked about material help. The Good News Translation shows this by translating honor as “pay.”
5:17b
especially: The Greek word malista that the Berean Standard Bible translates as especially means “particularly,” “above all.” It seems to suggest that there were different kinds of elders among the Ephesian elders. Some preached and taught, but others may have done other things, like visit sick people. Paul was saying that believers should especially honor the elders who preached and taught.
preaching: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as preaching refers to announcing an important message. In this context, it refers to encouraging and urging people to obey God.
teaching: In this context, teaching refers to teaching people about God.
General Comment on 5:17b
In some languages, it may be more logical to reverse the order of the verbs and translate this part of the verse:
especially those whose work is teaching people about God and telling them to obey him.
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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
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