inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (2Cor. 2:16)

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”).

The Copainalá Zoque translators chose an exclusive form, because “we take this to refer to Paul and his associates speaking of their ministry” (source: Roy and Margaret Harrison in Notes on Translation with Drills, p. 173ff.). SIL International Translation Department also mentions the possibility of using the inclusive form (including the Corinthians).

he who, whoever

The Greek that is typically translated with a generic expressions such as “he who,” “whoever,” or “if anyone” in English is translated with the plural form (“they”) in Daga. “A literal translation of these conveys the idea that one specific unnamed individual is being discussed. Thus, for instance, in John 5:24 ‘he who hears my word and believes in him who sent me has eternal life’ meant in Daga that there was one fortunate individual to whom it applied.”

See also love your neighbor as yourself.

complete verse (2 Corinthians 2:16)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Corinthians 2:16:

  • Uma: “In God’s sight, we (excl.) are like incense that is burned, that is smelled by all people. For we (excl.) are the ones he has sent to proclaim the News of Kristus to all people. To people who believe the Good News we (excl.) are like something fragrant, for we tell them the news that gives them good life forever. But to people who reject the Good News we (excl.) are like something stinking, for we tell them that God will punish them in hell. Who is able to do this work? With our own ability, no-one of course. [implied here and stated by Paul in 3:5]” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “To the ones who are not saved our (excl.) preaching is like a bad smell that causes them to die. But for those who are saved, our (excl.) preaching is like a fragrance that gives them life. This doing is hep really difficult. It almost cannot be done by humans.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And as for the people who will not let themselves be freed, we let them know that death without end is their punishment. And as for those people who are asking Christ to free them, we let them know that what is given to them is life without end. But it seems as if there’s nobody who’s worthy to spread this news.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “As for the people who are being saved, its smell is fragrant to them, because it leads to their life which has no end which Cristo gives. But as for those who are being-lost, it stinks to them like the stink of a dead-one, for their not believing, it leads to their punishment that is forever. This work of ours (excl.) is extremely important. Who indeed is capable of doing it?” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well now, to the people who are not paying-attention-to/taking-seriously this salvation, it’s like what they can smell repulses them, therefore that is what leads them to death which is punishment which has no end. But to those who will be saved, it’s fragrant, therefore life which has no ending is what they will arrive at. Well since it’s like that, who has ability to do well this work of teaching the Good News?” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Concerning the people who will be punished, this word they hear is as though poison accompanies it. But concerning the people whose souls are saved, this word they hear is beautiful and their hearts understand that this is the word by which they find the new life. Whoever could arise who knows of himself how to accomplish such work?” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Warlpiri: (verses 15 and 16) “We Apostles did Christ Jesus give to God like special meat which they burned and gave to God long ago in order to placate him. Many people whom God is keeping safe, and many others who are still going away from him, the whole lot of them we tell the Good News. People who are going the wrong way from God, they hear the Good News. After that, they say that it is bad like meat that has gone off and smells bad, like that. Other people whom God is keeping, they also hear that Good News. After that, they say this, ‘The Good News, it makes us alive. It is really good just like the way grass smells after the rain.’ That is true.” (Source: Carl Gross)

survive / escape / save

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “survive,” “escape,” “save,” or similar in English is translated in the Contemporary Chichewa translation (2002/2016) in these verses with pulumuka, describing someone whose life was in danger but who has freed himself or herself. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 2 Corinthians 2:16

To one … to the other forms a chiastic statement with the second half of verse 15. The chiasmus may be outlined as follows:

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellingworth, Paul. A Handbook on Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .