In choosing a word for the Greek that is typically translated as “gospel” in English, a number of languages construct a phrase meaning “good news,” “joyful report” or “happiness-bringing words.” In some instances such a phrase may be slightly expanded in order to convey the proper meaning, e.g. “new good word” (Tzotzil), or it may involve some special local usage:
the Germandas Buch translation by Roland Werner (publ. 2009-2022) translates as “all-transformative good news” (alles verändernde gute Botschaft), also “good news”
Vitaly Voinov tells this story about the translation into Rutul (click or tap here to see the rest of this insight):
“In Rutul, it was only during the most recent consultant checking session that I realized that the Rutul word for Gospel – Incir (from Arabic إنجيل — Injil) — sounds and looks exactly like the word that means ‘fig’ in Rutul. This is a case of homonymy, in which two completely non-related words from differing historical sources have come to sound exactly alike. Most Rutul speakers know that incir means ‘fig’ because they grow this fruit in their yard or buy it at the market every week. However, because the religious sphere of discourse was heavily disparaged during the Soviet era, most people simply never encountered Incir with the meaning of ‘Gospel.’ This meaning of the word, which Rutuls of the pre-Soviet era knew from the Koran, simply fell into disuse and never had much reason for returning into contemporary Rutul since there is no Christian church established among the people. So if the translator continues to use the term Incir as the rendering for ‘Gospel,’ he runs the risk that most readers will, at best, read the word with a smile because they know that it also means ‘fig,’ and, at worst, will completely misunderstand the word. The seemingly ‘easy’ solution in this case is for the translator to use a Rutul neologism meaning ‘Joyful Message’ or ‘Good News,’ [see above] instead of Incir; but in fact it is not all that easy to make this change if the translator himself insists on using the historical word because at least some Rutuls still understand it as meaning ‘Gospel.’ This is a situation in which the translation team has to gradually grow into the understanding that a fully intelligible translation of Scripture is preferable to one that maintains old words at the cost of alienating much of the readership.”
The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that is typically translated in English as “serve,” “minister,” “walk with,” or “service” is translated in Igede as myị ẹrụ or “agree with message (of the one you’re serving).” (source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)
In Quetzaltepec Mixe, “serve” is translated as “obey.” (Source: Robert Bascom)
Retrotraducciones en español (haga clic o pulse aquí)
Yo estoy aquí en la cárcel porque predicaba y anunciaba el evangelio y tú no puedes venir a ayudarme, entonces en tu lugar, mejor que Onésimo me ayude y apoye.
Yo quisiera que se quide aqui y sea útil, pero yo no puedo (decidirlo), porque tú no me has dado ningun permiso y por eso Onésimo regresa a tí para que estén juntos.
Yo no quiero insistir, sólo quiero que sea (tu decisión) voluntaria, porque Onésimo se fue y ahora, después de un tiempo, van a estar juntos otra vez para siempre.
No continues a tenerlo como esclavo, pero sean como hermanos cariñosos. Yo tengo mucho cariño para Onésimo, pero como ustedes han estado juntos mucho, tú tienes más cariño para él.
I am here in prison because I preached the gospel, and you cannot come to help me, so Onesimus can help and support me on your behalf.
I would like him to stay here and be useful, but I cannot (make that decision) because you haven’t given me any permission, and because of that Onesimus returns to be together with you.
I don’t want to insist, I want it to be a voluntary (decision), because Onesimus left you and now, after some time has passed, you are going to be together again forever.
He shouldn’t continue as your slave, you should be together as dear brothers. I love Onesimus, but as you have been together a lot, you have even more love for him.
Following are a number of back-translations of Philemon 1:13:
Uma: “If [I followed] my heart, I [would] keep him here with me, as your replacement, so that he could help me while I am in prison because of my work carrying the Good News.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “I would be happy if he were still here companioning me so that he could help me in your stead as long as I am here in prison because of my preaching/proclaiming the good news.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “I had thought that it would be good if he were my companion here so that he might become your assistance to me while I am still in prison because of my spreading the Good News.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “I would still want to restrain-him -from-leaving (often said of persuading a guest to stay) in order that he might help me in your (sing.) absence during this imprisonment-of-mine because of my preaching the good news.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “I would like to cause him to be longer here with me so that, as long as I am still in prison because of my teaching of the Good News, he would be like your gift to me of my helper here in the prison.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “I know that you want to help me in what I need. Therefore I should like to keep him here to help me while I am in prison where I am suffering because I speak the good news.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
The following is a translation for a performance of the book of Philemon in Papiamento and its English translation. The translation is interspersed with a provocative fictional response by the historical character of Tula, the Curaçaoan revolt leader of 1795, juxtaposing the subtle liberating message of Paul with a revolutionary approach. This is followed by a video showing the performance:
1 Esaki ta karta
1 This is [a] letter
di Pablo,
from Paul,
i di ruman Timoteo,
From sibling Timothy
Pablo prezu pa kousa di Kristu-Hesus;
Paul imprisoned for the cause of Christ-Jesus
ta pa Filemon, kompañer’i trabou,
it is for Philemon, fellow of work
2 ta pa Iglesia, reuní na su kas.
2 It is for the church, gathered at his house
Karta tambe pa Apfia, nos ruman muhé,
Letter also to Apphia, our sibling female
Karta tambe pa Argipo, kompañer’i lucha.
Letter also for Archippus fellow of fight
Click or tap here to see the rest of this translation as well as the video performance
3 Dios nos Tata, duna boso
3 God the Father give you
Señor Hesu-Kristu duna boso
Lord Jesus-Christ give you
grasia i pas.
grace and peace
Filemon, Filemon,
Philemon, Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
Have you not heard (then) Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Lesa mi ta lesa den karta sagrado
Read I do read in holy letter
Ta ku masha kachèt mester kumindá bo
(that) with lots of respect you have to be greeted
Pa kombensébo ku hende ta util
(so as to) convince you that (a) human being is useful
Hende ta mas k’util.
(A) Human being is more than useful
4 Mi Dios mi ta gradisí,
4 My God I do thank
Ora mi kòrdabo den mi orashon,
When I remember you in my prayer
5 pasobra hopi fe den Señor Hesus bo tin
because lots of faith in (the) Lord Jesus you have
Segun mi a tende,
From what I hear
Stimashon pa Dios su pueblo bo tin.
Love for God his people you have.
6 Mi ta resa, pa e fe
I pray for the faith
ku bo ta kompartí ku otro kreyente,
that you share with other believers,
hiba na komprondementu berdadero di tur kos bon
lead to understanding true of all good things
ku pa Kristu nos por hasi.
that for Christ we can do
7 Mi ruman, bo amor
7 My sibling, your love
a hasi mi mashá kontentu
has made me very happy
kurashá mi hopi,
encouraged me a lot
pasobra el a sirbi pa animá kurason di e rumannan.
Because he has to animate (the) heart of the siblings.
Filemon, Filemon,
Philemon, Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
Have you not heard (then) Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Ta trasta mester trasta ku bo
Flatter has to flatter you
Hunta stropi na bo boka
Put honey at your mouth
Pa por bisa bo ku bo ta mal robes
So as to say that you are badly wrong
Pa por bisa bo ku bo ta mal brua
So as to say that you are badly confused
8 P’esei derecho mi tin di bisa bo kiko hasi,
8 That is why with what right I have to tell you what to do,
Ora mi apelá na Kristu.
When I appeal to Christ.
9 Tòg a base di amor,
9 Though on (the) basis of love,
un petishon mi ta preferá hasi na bo.
A petition I prefer to do to you.
Ami, Pablo un hòmber bieu kaba,
I, Paul a man old already
asta prezu awor pa kousa di Kristu
even imprisoned now for (the) cause of Christ
10 Mi ke pidi bo pa mi yu Onésimo;
10 I want to ask you for my son Onesimus;
ta den prisón mi a bira su tata spiritual.
it is in prison that I have become his spiritual father.
11 Un tempu e no tabata sirbi bo pa nada,
11 A time he was not useful for anything
pero awor el a bira útil pa nos tur dos,
but now he has become useful to two of us,
manera su nòmber mes ta nifiká.
just as his name means.
Filemon, Filemon,
Philemon, Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
Have you not heard (then) Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Pachi7 Pablo pone preshon
Old man Paul put pressure
Pachi Pablo no papia ko’I kèns
Old man Paul do not speak foolishness
Ku trabou’i katibu n’ ta bal nada
(to say) that work of slave is not worth anything
Ku mi t’ei djis pa ta “util.”
That I am (exist) just to be “useful”
12 Mi ta mand’é bèk pa bo;
12 I am sending him back to you
ta manera mi kurason mes
as if my heart itself
mi ta ranka saka manda pa bo!
I rip out and send to you!
13 Gana di ten’é serka mi, mi tin
13 Desire to have him with me, I have
pa e por a yuda mi na bo lugá,
so that he can help me in your place
tanten mi ta prezu pa kousa di e bon notisia.
while I am imprisoned for the cause of the good news.
14 Sinembargo mi no ke hasi nada sin bo aprobashon,
14 Although I do not want to do anything without your approval
pa bo no haña bo ta hasi un bondat fòrsá,
so you will not find yourself doing a good, forced,
ma dje manera akí bo por hasié di bo mes boluntat.
but in this way you can do it from your own will.
Filemon, Filemon,
Philemon, Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
Have you not heard (then) Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Ai malai ai malai ei
(lamentation sound)
Ai malai ai malai ei
(lamentation sound)
Si bo tabata konosé doló di katibu
If you do not know (the) pain of slave(s)
Pablito lo bo no a saka bo shiri shiri,
(Dear) Paul (diminutive)
you would not have to take out your guts,
Bo yu sin doló, mand’é bèk.
your child-without-pain to send him back.
15 Por ta mashá bon:
15 Could be very well:
pa un tempu el a alehá for di bo,
For a time he has gone away from you,
djis pa bo hañ’é bèk pa semper.
Just so you can find him back for ever.
16 Pasobra awor e no ta djis un simpel katibu:
16 Because now he is not just a simple slave:
mas ku un katibu e ta un ruman stimá.
More than a slave he is a beloved sibling.
Anto spesialmente pa mi, e ta mashá stimá!
And especially for me, he is very well loved.
Pero pa abo: mas stimá ainda, komo katibu i komo ruman den Señor.
And for you more: more loved, as a slave/servant and as sibling in (the) Lord.
17 Ke men si bo tin mi pa kompañero,
17 That is to say if you have me for (a) collaborator,
risibí Onésimo manera lo bo a risibí mi mes.
receive Onesimus as you would have received me.
Filemon, Filemon,
Philemon, Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
Have you not heard (then) Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Di Adam ku Eva nos ta bini.
From Adam and Eva we come
Boso Buki mes ta bisa.
Your Book itself says it
Si nos tur ta bin di tera,
If we all can come from the earth
T’un lokura abusá di esun
It is a madness to abuse
ku ta puluwé den tera.
the one who plows the earth.
18 Si el a perhudiká bo den ki forma ku ta
18 If he has damaged you in whatever manner
òf si e ta debe bo algu,
or if he owes you something
laga esei pa mi kuenta.
leave that for to my account.
19 Awor mi mes man ta skibi esaki:
19 Now my own hand writes this:
‘Ami, Pablo, ta paga bo bèk!’
“I, Paul, will pay you back!”
Mi n’ tin nodi’ kòrda bo ku bo debe serka mi ta bo mes!
There is no need for me to remind me that your debt with me is yourself!
20 Sí, mi ruman, hasi mi e fabor akí pa Señor;
20 Yes, my sibling, do this favor for me for (the) Lord;
animá mi kurason komo ruman den Kristu!
animate my heart as sibling in Christ!
Filemon, Filemon,
Philemon, Philemon
Skucha bon Filemon
Listen good, Philemon
Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
Have you not heard (then) Philemon
Paul, with great diffidence, approaches the request he is about to make. I would like to keep him, or perhaps better in English, “I would have liked to keep him,” indicates his personal preference in the matter, which he is forgoing in view of the fact that by right the decision about Onesimus’ future belongs to Philemon, not to Paul. (For similar use of eboulomēn see Acts 25.22.)
I would like to keep him here with me suggests something that Paul would not do, and therefore it may be necessary to make this fact explicit, for example, “I would like to keep him here with me but I will not do so.” To keep him here with me may be rendered as a causative, for example, “I would like to cause him to remain with me.”
There is a rather awkward relationship between clauses in verse 13, for people could understand the purpose clause so that he could help me in your place as being related to while I am in prison for the gospel’s sake. Obviously, however, the clause so that he could help me in your place goes with I would like to keep him here with me. It may, therefore, be preferable to place the temporal clause at the beginning of verse 13, for example, “while I am in prison for the gospel’s sake, I would like to keep him here with me so that he can help me in your place.”
He could help (Good News Translation) or “he might serve” (Revised Standard Version) translates the subjunctive of the verb diakoneō. The general meaning “to help” is preferable, since Paul speaks of Onesimus’ doing this in Philemon’s place; “serve” might be understood to refer to rather menial or degrading work in prison.
In your place: Paul is saying that Onesimus would be doing what Philemon would have been glad to do (see especially Barclay). It is frequently necessary to make the relationships indicated in the phrase in your place somewhat more specific. For example, the last clause of verse 13 may be rendered as “so that he could help me by doing what you would do if you were here.”
In prison for the gospel’s sake: Paul does not specify the occasion of being arrested and jailed because of his activities as an apostle. The words may be translated as “in prison because of having announced the good news,” or “… because I preached the good news,” or “because of my faithfulness to the good news.”
Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to Philemon. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1977. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
I would have liked: “I would like” (Good News Translation). You could freely translate the first part of verse 13 as “If I did what I wanted, I would keep him here.” But Paul didn’t do what he wanted to do for himself. He let Philemon decide (verse 14).
keep him with me: Paul wanted Onesimus to stay near him in the town where Paul was in prison so that Onesimus could visit him and help him.
on your behalf he could minister to me: Paul knew that Philemon wanted to help Paul in any way he could. If he had lived near Paul, he would have come to the prison and helped him. Philemon’s slave Onesimus was there, and he could have helped Paul in Philemon’s place, or on his behalf.
on your behalf: This means “instead of you, in your name, for you.” Some other ways to translate it are: “what you would have done” (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English), “take your place” (New International Version), “as you would wish” (New English Bible).
in my chains: Another way to express the meaning of the phrase in my chains here, is “during the time I am in prison.” See notes on verse 10.
for the gospel: He was in prison because he preached the Good News about Jesus Christ (see verse 1).
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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