Paragraph 11:2–6
11:2a
Meanwhile: Verse 11:2 begins a new paragraph. The Berean Standard Bible indicates the start of this new paragraph with the word Meanwhile.
John was already in prison in 4:12. It was while he was in prison that he heard about the teachings (chapters 5–7) and miracles of Jesus (chapters 8–9).
Here are some other ways to indicate that this new paragraph is beginning:
At that time
-or-
While these things were happening
John: The John that Matthew referred to here is John the Baptist, not the disciple named John. In some languages, it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:
John the Baptist (Good News Translation)
heard in prison: The word prison refers to a building where the government puts people and locks them in so they cannot leave.
Here is another way to translate this word:
jail
People are usually in prison because they have broken the law. But John was in prison because King Herod was upset at his preaching. Your translation should not indicate that John had broken the law.
about the works of Christ: This clause refers to the teaching, preaching, and miracles that Jesus was doing in chapters 5–9.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
about the ⌊wonderful⌋ deeds that the Christ was doing
-or-
about the things that the Christ was doing ⌊and saying⌋
Christ: Here Matthew used the word Christ as a descriptive title for Jesus. Christ is not just a name for Jesus. It has meaning, and the meaning of the title is in focus in this context.
During the time when the New Testament was written, the Jews used the term “the Christ” or “the Messiah” to refer to the special person whom God had promised to appoint and send to them. They believed that when he came, he would save their nation from their enemies. He was to be their King, Redeemer, and Savior.
Note that Christ as a title means the same thing as “the Messiah.” Christ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word Messiah. So when Christ is used as a title, some English versions translate it as “the Messiah” to clearly show that it is a title for Jesus, not his name.
Here are some other ways to translate Christ:
• Transliterate Christ and indicate in some way that it is a title. For example:
the Kristi
• Transliterate Christ and include a phrase that explains the meaning. For example:
Karisiti, the appointed one
-or-
Cristo, the Savior whom God promised to send
• Use a title or a descriptive phrase in your language that has the same meaning as Christ. For example:
the Messiah
-or-
the Promised Deliverer
-or-
the Rescuer-King whom God sent
If you do not indicate the meaning of Christ in the text, you may want to include a footnote to explain the meaning of Christ. Or you may want to explain the meaning in a glossary. For example:
The word/title “Christ” refers to the King and Savior whom God had promised to send.
See also Christ in the Glossary.
11:2b
and he sent his disciples:
: This clause indicates that John sent some of his own disciples to Jesus with a message.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
sent his own disciples (Revised English Bible)
-or-
he sent some of his disciples (Good News Translation)
-or-
he sent some of his own disciples ⌊to Jesus with this message⌋
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