the wages of sin is death

The Greek in Romans 6:23 that is translated in English as “(for) the wages of sin is death” or similar had to be translated into Tzotzil much more explicitly as “Because the one who works for sin, he will be paid for his work. The payment of his work will be that he will be lost eternally.” (Source: Callow 1972, p. 84)

he found a Jew named Aquila

The Greek in Acts 18:2 that is translated as “he found a Jew named Aquila” in English is translated in Tzotzil as “he found one of his own people called Aquila” because a more literal translation would have implied that Paul is non-Jewish (source: Callow 1972, p. 35)

In the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) it says Aquila war ein Judenchrist or “Aquila was a Jewish Christian.”

See also the Jews plotted to kill him.

a man building a house

The Greek in Luke 6:48 that is translated as “a man building a house” in English is translated in Tampulma as “a man who built his house” since he was building the house for himself. (Source: Callow 1972, p. 35)

without him not one thing came into being

The Greek in John 1:3 that is translated as “without him not one thing came into being” or similar in English is translated in Huehuetla Tepehua as “if it hadn’t been for him there would not have been the world or anything” and in Tenango Otomi as “of all the things there are, there is not one that he did not make.” (Source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February, 1970, p. 1-125.)

In Lalana Chinantec, the double-negative is turned into a positive: “All things came into being because that person made all that exists.” (Source: Larson 1998, p. 159)

In Bakairí, Jesus (Logos) had to stay the “focal character” so it’s translated as “He was the maker of all things.” (Source: Callow 1972, 61)

struck the high priest's slave and cut off his right ear

The Greek in John 18:10 that is translated as “struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear” or similar in English is translated in Muong as “cut off the high priest’s slaves right ear.” In Muong it is not possible to refer to the same event with different verbs. (Source: Callow 1972, p. 45)

we must pay greater attention to

The Greek in Hebrews 2:1 that is translated as “we must pay greater attention to” or similar in English is translated in Miahuatlán Zapotec as “we need to show respect to and sit our ear to.” In Miahuatlán Zapotec, a generic verb is often followed by a more specific verb with the same meaning for greater emphasis. (Source: Callow 1972, p. 45)

complete verse (Acts 16:3)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 16:3:

  • Uma: “It was Paulus’s desire that Timotius go with him on his journey to carry the Good News. That is why he circumcised him first according to the Law of Musa. His intention in circumcising him was so that the Yahudi would receive him, because all the Yahudi people in that land knew that his father was Yunani.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Paul wanted to take Timoteo along as his travelling companion. But all the Yahudi in those places knew that Timoteo’s father was a Girik therefore Paul first circumcised Timoteo so that he would be respected by the Yahudi.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Paul wanted to take Timothy along with them, so he circumcized him. The reason he circumcized Timothy was so that the Jews there in the villages where they travelled would not be disgusted with Timothy, because all the Jews there, they knew that Timothy’s father was a Greek.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “and Pablo wanted to take-him -along. But because all the people there knew that his father was a Gentile, Pablo had-him -circumcised first so that the feelings (lit. thoughts) of their fellow Jews in the various-towns where-they -would-go would not be injured.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Pablo wanted to cause him to go along on that journey of theirs, therefore he asked him. But before they set out, he circumcized him so that the minds/thinking of the Jews there wouldn’t be agitated. For everyone knew that Timoteo’s father was a Griego, and as for the Griego, circumcizing wasn’t their custom.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Apinayé: “Paul arrived and saw him, and wanted to take him along with them. But Timothy was a mixed breed. His mother was an Israel but his father was a non-Israel. Thus Timothy was a mixed breed. Because the Israel ones knew it, Paul circumcised Timothy.” (Source: Callow 1972, p. 47f.)