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.”
Orthodox Icons are not drawings or creations of imagination. They are in fact writings of things not of this world. Icons can represent our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. They can also represent the Holy Trinity, Angels, the Heavenly hosts, and even events. Orthodox icons, unlike Western pictures, change the perspective and form of the image so that it is not naturalistic. This is done so that we can look beyond appearances of the world, and instead look to the spiritual truth of the holy person or event. (Source )
Orthodox Icons are not drawings or creations of imagination. They are in fact writings of things not of this world. Icons can represent our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. They can also represent the Holy Trinity, Angels, the Heavenly hosts, and even events. Orthodox icons, unlike Western pictures, change the perspective and form of the image so that it is not naturalistic. This is done so that we can look beyond appearances of the world, and instead look to the spiritual truth of the holy person or event. (Source )
The term that is transliterated as “Paul” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that signifies the many letters he wrote. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Paul” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign depicting putting away a sword, referring to his conversion from a persecutor of Christians to a Christian leader. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
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.
Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 21:18:
Uma: “The next day we (excl.) went with Paulus to visit Yakobus. All the other leaders were also there gathered with Yakobus.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “The next day, we (excl.) went together with Paul to visit Yakub. The elders also gathered there.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And the next morning Paul and we visited apostle James, and there were there also all of the elders of the believers.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Upon its getting-light (i.e. next day), we (excl.) and Pablo went to go visit Santiago. All the leaders of the believers were also there.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “The following day, we (excl.) went with Pablo to Santiago. On our (excl.) arrival there, the overseers of the believers were assembled.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
James, the brother of the Lord, occupied a leading position in the early church (see 12.17; 15.13). From all indications, Peter and the other apostles were no longer in Jerusalem at this time. The expression see James must often be rendered as “to talk with James” or “to visit James.” It is not mere “seeing” which is involved.
The church elders are, of course, the leaders in the Jerusalem church.
Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
Paul…with us: This phrase probably refers to Paul, Luke (the writer of Acts), and the rest of their traveling companions.
went in…to see James: The Greek words are literally “went in to James.” The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as went in…to see often implies seeing someone in authority. James was the leading elder of the Jerusalem church. For example:
went before James -or-
went and met with James, ⌊the leader⌋
The Greek word also implies that the meeting was in a building. For example:
went in…to James (Revised Standard Version)
James: This name is spelled Iakōbos in the Greek. This was James, the half-brother of Jesus (Galatians 1:19). He was the leading elder of the Jerusalem church.
21:18b
all the elders were present: This clause indicates that all the elders were there with James.
the elders: The word elders refers to the leaders of the Jerusalem church. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
the church elders (Good News Translation) -or-
all the elders of the Jerusalem church (New Living Translation (2004)) -or-
the leaders of the believers -or-
the overseers of the believers
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