The Greek that is translated as “gift” or similar in English is transliterated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) as Charisma (instead of the commonly-used Gabe or “gift”) to differentiate it from regular human gifts. The translators explain (p. 94): “According to Paul, ‘Charisma’ is an extraordinary gift, that is humanly not explainable. Basically every Christian has such a gift and is supposed to use it in mission-oriented efforts for the one who gives this gift.”
The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “world” in English is translated in Mandarin Chinese with shìjiè (世界). While shìjiè is now the commonly used term for “world” in Chinese, it was popularized as such by Chinese Bible translations. (Source: Mak 2017, p. 241ff.)
The term that is transliterated as “Titus” in English is translated in Swiss-German Sign Language with a sign for “encouragement,” referring to 2 Corinthians 7:6 and following.
Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Timothy 4:10:
Uma: “For almost no-one is with me any more here. Demas, he forsook me [emphatic], for he desired/longed-for his life in this world. He went to Tesalonika. As for Kreskes, he has gone to Galatia. Titus went to Dalmatia.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Demas, what is already valuable to him are the things in this world now. He is no longer here with me, he has already left to go to Tessalonika. Kereskes took off for Galatiya and Titus took off for Dalmatiya.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “for Demas has left me since what he has set his heart on is his life here on the earth. He has gone to Thessalonica. As for Crescens, he has gone to Galatia, and Titus also has gone to Dalmatia.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “because Demas, he up-and-left me and went to Tesalonika because his love is concentrated on the life on this earth. As for Cresente also, he went to Galacia, and Tito, he went to Dalmacia.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “For I’ve been left/deserted now by Demas, because he preferred what pleases his own body. He’s now in Tesalonica. As for Crescente, he’s now gone to Galacia. As for Tito, he’s in Dalmacia.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Because Demas liked the pleasure here in this world and left me, and went to the city of Thessalonica. Cresens went to Galatia. Titus went to Dalmatia.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
This verse mentions three people who for one reason or another have left Paul.
For: in some languages it will be helpful to follow Revised Standard Version‘s model and keep the For in For Demas, to show the connection with the previous verse. Paul needs Timothy because both Demas and Crescens have left him for various reasons, and only Luke remains with him (compare verse 11).
The name Demas also appears in Col 4.14 and in Philemon 24, where he is identified as Paul’s fellow worker. Whether the Demas in 2 Timothy is the same Demas mentioned in Colossians and Philemon is difficult to ascertain. It may be simply incidental that the names are the same. At any rate, if these references refer to the same people, then Demas may have deserted Paul at a later time.
The word for world is also the word that is sometimes translated “eternity.” Here the focus is on the world as transitory and under the influence of evil, and therefore opposed to God. The world is characterized as present as opposed to the coming world. This also contrasts Demas with Paul and all those who long eagerly for Christ’s appearing. See further comments on 1 Tim 6.17.
Deserted translates a verb that means “to leave behind,” in either a good or a bad sense; in the present context it is definitely the negative sense that is in focus. In certain languages this will be expressed figuratively; for example, “threw me away” or “discarded me.” It is not clear as to whether this desertion is simply physical (Demas left Rome) or spiritual as well (Demas left the Christian faith). Since Paul does not explicitly say that Demas has renounced the Christian faith, it is best to focus simply on the fact that Demas had left Rome and gone somewhere else. In certain languages it will be helpful to say “left me here in Rome and went….”
For gone to see “going to” in 1 Tim 1.3.
Thessalonica is the capital city of the Roman province of Macedonia, which is now northern Greece. In the book of Acts we are told that Paul established the church there (see Acts 17.1-9; see also the map, page 6|fig:Map_Paul-12.jpg).
Crescens appears only here in the whole New Testament. There is no other information about him.
Galatia most probably refers to the Roman province in southern Asia Minor by that name (presently part of Turkey). It is in that part where Paul went during his first missionary journey (see Acts 13.13–14.26; 15.36–16.5; note the route on the map, page 6|fig:Map_Paul-12.jpg).
Titus, a Gentile Christian, was one of Paul’s co-workers and is prominently mentioned in many of Paul’s letters. He accompanied Paul to Jerusalem (Gal 2.1) and played an important role in the correspondence between Paul and the church at Corinth (see 2 Cor 2.13; 7.6). In Titus 1.5 we are informed that Paul left Titus behind in the island of Crete. He was probably also known as Silas (see Acts 15.40; Gal 2.1).
Dalmatia occurs only here in the whole New Testament. It consists of the southern half of the province of Illyricum (present-day Albania) on the northeast coast of the Adriatic Sea. See Rom 15.19.
Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1995. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
because: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as because indicates that Paul was about to give Timothy some reasons why he wanted him to come and visit him. Another common English translation for this word is “for.”
Demas:Demas had been a fellow worker of Paul the first time that Paul had been in prison in Rome. (See Philemon 24 and Colossians 4:14.) Demas had been in Rome again during this second time Paul was in jail, but he had left without Paul’s approval.
in his love of this world: This means that Demas preferred to enjoy what he thought were the good things in this world. It also included the customs and practices that people did to please themselves at that time. Paul used the expression this world in 1 Timothy 6:17 with the same meaning.
Although Paul was disappointed that Demas abandoned him, he did not say that Demas was no longer a believer.
has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica:Thessalonica is the name of a town that was in the Roman province of Macedonia. Today that area is part of the country of Greece. Paul and Timothy had been there together in earlier times. (See Acts 16:3–17:15.)
4:10b
Crescens has gone to Galatia: The second reason that Paul wanted Timothy to come to him was because Crescens had gone to Galatia. Your translation should also show this connection to 4:9. One way to do this is to say, “Also, Crescens….”
Crescens: Crescens is the name of a man who had been with Paul in Rome. Paul did not imply that Crescens (and Titus, 4:10c) had disobeyed him or abandoned him by leaving. He probably had sent him to preach the good news about Jesus Christ. He was just pointing out another reason why he needed Timothy.
No other passage in the New Testament mentions Crescens.
Galatia:Galatia was a Roman province located in the center of the area that is now the country of Turkey.
4:10c
and Titus to Dalmatia: This statement is the third reason in Paul’s list.
The verb in this clause is missing in the Berean Standard Bible (and in the Greek) because the original readers would understand it to be the same verb as Paul used in 4:10a and 4:10b, that is, “has gone.”
Titus: Titus was a Greek man who believed in Christ. He was one of the men whom Paul trusted to help him to establish churches when Paul went on some of his missionary journeys.
Dalmatia:Dalmatia was the region that is now the country of Albania and included certain areas to the northwest of Albania. However, in your translation, it is sufficient to identify Dalmatia as a Roman province.
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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.
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