complete verse (2 Corinthians 2:8)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Corinthians 2:8:

  • Uma: “That’s why I request that you show him your love.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Therefore I entreat you, show him again your love.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “I beg you that you show him that your love for him is really true.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Therefore please-be-so-kind-as-to show again your love for him.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therefore I urge you to reaffirm to him that you do indeed value him.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Show anew that you love the man.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

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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 Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on 2 Corinthians 2:8

The word So links this verse with verse 7 by providing the reason why the Corinthians should let the offender know of their love for him. As in verse 7, Contemporary English Version incorrectly generalizes: “You should make them sure of your love for them.”

The pronouns you and your in verses 8-10 are plural again, referring to the Corinthian Christians.

I beg you: or perhaps better “I urge you” (New Jerusalem Bible, New Revised Standard Version, and Revised English Bible). Some languages may have special verb forms to indicate an exhortation such as this.

Reaffirm: the Greek word is a technical term used for the legal action of formally approving something. Perhaps Paul has in mind that the Christian church in Corinth should take official action as a body to reaffirm their love for this person. The context does not tell how the Christians are to express what they decide. But “ratify” focuses on the official decision in a church meeting to “let him know that you really do love him” without saying how they let him know. Some may say “I beg you to give him some definite proof of your love for him” or “you must make him know that you care for him.” Anchor Bible says “I urge you to ratify your love for him.” Moffatt says “I beg you to reinstate him in your love,” suggesting also a formal decision by the church.

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 .