Japanese benefactives (oboeteite)

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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 benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

Here, oboeteite (覚えていて) or “stay remembering” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).” (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Colossians 4:18

Thus far Paul had dictated the letter, but he himself writes the final greeting (see also 1 Cor 16.21, Gal 6.11, 2 Thes 3.17). He calls upon them to remember that he is in prison (see 4.3). The closing salutation, as in all Pauline letters, prays that God’s grace (or, in most of them, the grace of Jesus Christ) be with them. For grace see 1.2.

The statement with my own hand I write this may be confusing since the pronoun this so frequently refers back to something which as been previously said. The relationship to what follows may be made quite clear by saying “I’m writing the following words with my own hand.” It may even be appropriate to introduce greetings from Paul as a type of indirect discourse, for example, “with my own hand I am writing these greetings to you.”

Do not forget my chains may be effectively expressed as “do not forget that I am in jail.”

May God’s grace be with you may be expressed as “may God be kind to you” or “may God show his goodness to you.” Such a request must, however, be expressed in a number of languages in the form of a prayer, for example, “I pray that God will be gracious to you.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Colossians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1977. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Colossians 4:18

Paragraph 4:18

Theme: Paul wrote this final greeting himself so that the Colossians would know that this letter was from him. He reminded them to pray for him there in prison.

4:18a

my own hand: Most commentators agree that Paul dictated most of his letter to someone else, and this person wrote his words down. But Paul wrote these last words himself so that the readers would know that the letter really did come from him.

4:18b

Remember my chains: The word chains is a figure of speech meaning that Paul was a prisoner. But Paul was not simply reminding the Colossians that he was a prisoner. He was also reminding them to pray for him while he was a prisoner, as he had asked them to do in 4:3–4.

4:18c

Grace be with you: Paul ended most of his letters with these words or similar words. You should translate these words in a similar way at the end of every letter where they occur. (See 1 Corinthians 16:23, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Galatians 5:18, Ephesians 6:24, Philippians 4:23, 1 Thessalonians 5:28, 2 Thessalonians 3:18, 1 Timothy 6:21, 2 Timothy 4:22, Titus 3:15, Philemon 25.) These words are a wish or a prayer. In some languages it may be necessary to include the words “I ask…” or “I pray…” For example:

I pray that God will be kind to you. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
I ask God to bless you.

Paul did not say explicitly to whose Grace he was referring. However, in your translation, it may be necessary for you to make this information explicit. Some English versions refer to “God’s grace” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004)). However, at the end of most of his other letters, Paul says “the grace of the Lord Jesus,” or “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,” so it is acceptable to use either “God” or “Jesus” in your translation.

Sung version of Colossians 4

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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