Following are a number of back-translations of John 1:33:
- Yatzachi Zapotec: “I wouldn’t have realized who he was, but God, the person who sent me to baptize said to me, ‘You will see my Spirit come down where the person is who will cause my Spirit to be in your hearts to rule you.'”
- Huehuetla Tepehua: ” . . . ‘You will see the Holy Spirit who will come down from heaven. The Holy Spirit will come to rest on a man. He is the one who will send the Holy Spirit to people, as if to say, he will baptize with the Holy Spirit instead of water.'”
- Lalana Chinantec: “I didn’t know who he was at first, but the one who sent me said to me: ‘You are going to see the Great Spirit descend on a person. The Great Spirit will remain on him. He is the one who will cause my Great Spirit to enter into people’s hearts. That’s how he will baptize people.’ That’s what he told me.” (Source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
- Uma: “There is also this testimony of Yohanes. He said: ‘At first I did not know that Yesus was the Redeemer King. But God ordered me to baptize people with water, and he said to me like this: ‘If you (sing.) should see the Holy Spirit come-down and land on a person, He will be the one who will baptize people with the Holy Spirit.’ So, I did see the Holy Spirit come-down from heaven in-the-shape-of a dove, land and come-to-rest on Yesus. That is why these are my words: Yesus, He is the Child of God.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “I did not yet know him, but God who told me to bathe the people with water told me, he said, ‘When you see the Holy Spirit come down going to a certain person and remaining there with him, he is the one who will bathe mankind in a different way, he will send to them the Holy Spirit.’ ‘ Then Yahiya testified about Isa, he said, ‘I really saw the Holy Spirit come down from the sky like the shape of a dove alighting and remaining with Isa.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And at first,’ said John, ‘I did not yet know that he was the prophesied king, but God who is the one who sent me that I might baptize by means of water, he told me beforehand, he said, ‘If you see a person upon whom the Holy Spirit comes down and doesn’t leave him, this is the person who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “Previously, I-say, I didn’t know him. But then the one who sent me to go baptize-with water, he said, ‘The one whom you (sing.) see on-whom-my-Spirit -alights and remains, it is he who will baptize-with the Holy Spirit.’ And so it was that I saw the Holy Spirit like a pigeon/dove who came-down from heaven and stayed with/in him.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “I didn’t know that he was the one. But God who sent me to baptize in water, he’s the one who said to me, ‘You will see the Espiritu Santo who will descend on a person and enter-to-indwell him. Well, that one, that person is the one who will baptize, the Espiritu Santo being what he baptizes with.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “Until then I did not know who was the Christ. But when I was sent to baptize with water, God told me, ‘That man you see that the Holy Spirit arrives upon, he is that one who will cause that the people will be empowered by the Holy Spirit.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Following are a number of back-translations of John 14:11:
- Ojitlán Chinantec: “Believe my words. I and my Father are the same. Or if you still don’t believe just because I said so, believe because you have seen the works that I have done.”
- Huehuetla Tepehua: “Believe that I and my Father are one thing. Or if you can’t believe just by my words, believe by means of what I have done.”
- Lalana Chinantec: “You must believe that I walk with my Father. My Father walks with me also. But if you do not believe that, there is something which makes it evident. You have seen the miracles which I have done; therefore, on account of them you must believe.” (Source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
- Uma: “Believe me [emphatic], that I an in-harmony with my Father and my Father in-harmony with me. Even if you do not believe my words, believe because you have seen all that I do.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “Isa said, ‘You must believe what I said that my Father and I are one. If you do not believe because of these my words, just believe because of the deeds I have done.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Believe what I say to you that I am there to my Father and he is here to me. And if you can’t believe this because of what I tell you, believe it because of my works. Because as for my works, you will see from them that what I say to you is true.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “Therefore you should believe what I say to you that I am in my Father and my Father is also in me. And if you aren’t satisfied with what I say, you should still believe on-account-of the amazing-things I have been doing.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “It is necessary that you (pl.) believe that I and my Father, we (excl.) are one living-entity. If supposing you don’t believe these things I am telling, however because of the deeds/works which I am doing it’s necessary that you believe it.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “Believe that just like I am, my Father is also, and just like my Father is, also I am. If you don’t believe just the word, then believe because of what I do.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Following are a number of back-translations of 1 John 2:13:
- Uma: “Fathers, I write to you this letter, because you know the one who was from the first. Young-men, young-women, I write to you this letter, because you have defeated the evil-one(s) / evil-spirits.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “I write to you old people, because you know Almasi, in the beginning of time he was already beforehand. I write to you young men, because you are not carried-along/influenced by the temptations of the leader of demons.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “As for you older people, the reason I write to you is because you have been made the friends of Christ. He existed before anything was created. As for you young people, I write to you for you have defeated Satan. As for you children, I write to you for you are now the friends of our Father God.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “I have also written to you fathers/elders, because you know him who already-existed since the very-beginning. And you young-men also, I have written to you because you have defeated Satanas.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “I am writing to you elders/parents because you indeed know him who existed already from long ago when there wasn’t yet any world. I am writing to you young-folk because, through your trust in the Lord/Chief, you have now been able to have victory over Satanas who is the Epitome of Evil. I am writing to you who are like my children because you really know our Father who is God.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “Now the old people, I write this word to you here in the letter because you have come to know him who was living before all the things that exist were made. Now the young men, I write this word here in the letter to you because you have won over against the devil. Listen, my children, I write this word to you here in the letter because you have come to know God our Father.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
- Yatzachi Zapotec: “I am writing to you parents of children because you are acquainted with Jesus Christ who was already present when the world began. I am writing to you young people, because you have already won out over the deceiver. I am writing to you children, because you are acquainted with our father God.”
- Eastern Highland Otomi: “I’m writing to you, you men, and you know what I’m saying, because you know him who was living when unending time. I’m writing to you, boys, you also know him, because you have overcome the big-evil-one. I’m writing to you my dear children, because all of you know the Father.”
- Tzotzil: “I am talking to you, you who area already old (men), because you have already known Christ whose character is he is. I am talking to you also, you who are young men still because all the time you are conquering the devil. My children, because you have already known our (in) Father God therefore I have written to you this.” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)
- Candoshi-Shapra: “I am writing to you adults. For you know Him who always has first continuatively existed. I am writing to you young men. For you overcame the evil one (or thing). I am writing to you children. For you learned (come to know) the Father.”
- Yanesha’: “The ones (male) with children, now already you know how Christ is who is from the beginning, that’s why now I write to you Young men, you went and surpassed the devil, that’s why I write to you too. Children, already you know how Father is, that’s why I write to you.”
- Aguaruna: “Big ones (adults), I am also writing to you because you are those who know the one who always lives, ‘he is like that’ saying. Young-men, I am also writing to you all because you are those who are victorious over the devil. Children, I am also writing to you, because you are those who know Our Father God, ‘He is like that’, saying.”
- Murui Huitoto: “…Young men, I am writing to you because you have caused the bad one to be put under (defeated).” (Source for this and two above: Mildred Larson in Notes on Translation, July 1965, p. 1-15)
Following are a number of back-translations of 1 John 3:16:
- Uma: “This is a sign so that we know what is called love: Yesus gave his life so that we could have salvation/goodness. So, we also must give our lives to help our relatives.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “We (incl.) know what true love is like, for Almasi, because of his love for us (incl.) submitted/surrendered his life and he died taking away our (incl.) sins. Therefore we (incl.) also should submit/surrender even our (dual) lives for our (incl.) fellow-men.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “The reason we know that God loves us (incl.) very much is because Jesus allowed himself to be killed as our substitute. And as for us (incl.) also, it is necessary that we help our companions who are believers even if that help is the means of our death.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “The way-we -know the nature/likeness of true love, Jesu Cristo gave his life for us. Therefore we also, we should be prepared to give our lives for our siblings/cousins (from here on, brothers).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “Consider this, that as for Jesu-Cristo, he even gave his life/breath just because of us so that we would be saved/freed. Therein we can now comprehend what is meant by true valuing. Therefore as for us, it’s necessary for us also to help our siblings in believing, even though it could lead to our life/breath being severed.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “Christ has shown us what it means to love a fellowman in that he gave himself to die for us. Also we must do this, when it is necessary to die for our brethren, let it be done.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
- Yatzachi Zapotec: “We know that Christ loves us because he gave his life dying for us, and we know likewise we must love our fellows. If it is necessary we must forsake ourselves and die to help our fellows.”
- Eastern Highland Otomi: “Christ showed us what it is that is really love, in that he delivered up his own life in regard to us. And we will do the same, in that we will love our siblings, we won’t be afraid to help them, even though we die.”
- Tzotzil: “Thus we know that Jesus Christ loves us because he gave himself to be killed on our account. Thus we also, it needs that we give ourselves to be killed on account of the brethren.” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)
- Candoshi-Shapra: “Jesus did not withhold His own death, He died for us. By that fact we know (come to the knowledge of) love. Therefore He says to us, ‘Don’t withhold your death for your brothers (don’t be unwilling to die…).'”
- Yanesha’: “Here, therein we know love how it is how that his son Christ let go of himself thus will he die for us. We, too, now it is fitting that we let go of ourselves thus will we die for our countrymen.”
- Aguaruna: “Christ took-death (sacrificially die for someone, or take punishment for someone) for us, therefore we know love. Therefore we also are able to take-death (or punishment) for our brother.” (Source for this and two above: Mildred Larson in Notes on Translation, July 1965, p. 1-15)
Following are a number of back-translations of John 3:30:
- Huehuetla Tepehua: “It is necessary that it be known that he is the great one. But it is necessary that I be thought nothing of.”
- Aguaruna: “He will be more surpassing. I will not be great, I will be small.”
- Isthmus Mixe: “He must be honored by many people, but I will no longer be honored.”
- Chol: “Christ must be the more important one. I must be made less important.”
- Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac: “It is necessary that they follow Jesus more and more and that they follow me less and less.” (Source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
- Uma: “He is the one whose life must be made high, and my life must be made low.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “He has to become greater/more honored but I have to become lower/less,’ said Yahiya.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “For example, if there is a man being married, the bride belongs to him. As for the wedding arranger, his breath is very good when he hears that bridegroom talking with the one he has married. It’s like that also because it pleases me very much if many follow Jesus,’ said John. ‘It is necessary that mine should be removed.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “It is necessary that he be-made-greater (lit. high) while-simultaneously I become-lower.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “It’s necessary that he becomes praiseworthy/highly-praised, but as for me, I just become insignificant.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “That one, the people must know better that he surpasses, and I must be second more.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Following are a number of back-translations of 1 John 1:1:
- Uma: “The contents of this letter talk of the Word who gives life. The one who gives life, he already was from the first. We(excl.) heard him, we (excl.) saw him with our (excl.) own eyes. We(excl.) really did see him, we (excl.) touched/held him with our (excl.) hands.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “I write to you (pl.) about Isa Almasi, he is/who is the Word/Message that gives life. In the beginning of time yet really beforehand he was. We (excl.) heard him speak and we (excl.) saw him with these our (excl.) eyes. Yes, we (excl.) saw him and we (excl.) touched him with these our (excl.) hands.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “I am writing to you about Jesus Christ. He was titled the Word which can give life forever. He existed before the world was created. But in spite of that, we (excl.) have seen Him, and we (excl.) have heard what He said. We saw Him and we took hold of Him.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “In this letter, we (excl.) have something to tell you concerning the one who is called Word/Speech who is the source of life that has no end. He already-existed where God the Father was since the very-beginning, but he appeared as a person on this earth, so we (excl.) saw him clearly (lit. properly). We (excl.) also heard his words and we (excl.) touched him.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “I am writing to you concerning Jesu-Cristo, he who is called Word/Speech who gives life which is without ending. He already existed long ago, when there was no world yet. And as for us (excl.) who are his disciples, we (excl.) really heard his words, and we (excl.) really saw him. We(excl.) got-to-take-a-good-look (at him) and got to touch/feel with our hands.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “I write here on paper about who Jesus Christ is, he who gives new life. This is the one who lived always, even before the things that are in existence were made. And we heard what he said when he spoke, and we stood where we could see him. Well, it is true that we saw him and touched him with our hands.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
- Yatzachi Zapotec: “We proclaim to you (pl.) about Jesus Christ the person who is the Word, he who gives eternal life. He was already present when the world began. We heard his words, we saw him and we looked at him and we touched him.”
- Eastern Highland Otomi: “I will tell you about the Word that gives new life to our hearts. The Word was already living at the very beginning. He is one and the same Jesus Christ whom we saw living here, and we heard what he said. Also we watched him with our eyes, and we touched him with our hands.”
- Tzotzil: “The one whose character is he is, (was from the beginning) we heard his words. We saw him. Many times we looked at his face. We touched him. It is the one called word that is in charge of all life.”
- Garifuna: “I write to you (pl.) concerning the one named Word, the one who gives life…” (Source for this and three above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)
- Candoshi-Shapra: “All of you listen. Word, the life-kind always existed from the very beginning. That’s what I’m telling you (plural) about. For we ourselves heard him. We ourselves saw him with our eyes and looked (in contemplation) on him. We ourselves touched him with our hands.”
- Yanesha’: “What there is from the beginning, it also, what we used to hear, what we used to see from our eyes, what we looked at, with our hands, too, we touched, this, of a truth, is Word (words, message) therein we completely live.”
- Aguaruna: “The Word which gives life, before – also always it lived (existed). Also we are those who heard that word, we are those who also saw him, and ‘how does he work?’ (what is he like?)saying we are those who have seen well, we are those who have also touch him, concerning that same one I write to you (plural).” (Source for this and two above: Mildred Larson in Notes on Translation, July 1965, p. 1-15)
Following are a number of back-translations of 1 John 2:24:
- Uma: “So, as for you, relatives, the news that you have heard from the first you must take-to-heart always. If that news that you have heard from the first you take-to-heart always, you will remain in harmony with God the Child and God the Father.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “Therefore really store up in your livers the preaching about Isa Almasi that you have heard when you first trusted in him. If that what you heard remains in your liver, you are really one with God’s Son and also with his Father.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “The doctrine which was taught to you when you first believed must be held tightly by you. For if you hold it tight, it is not possible that you will not always be one with God our (incl.) Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “Make-firm then in your minds the true teaching that you have been hearing beginning-from when- you -believed. Because if you do that, you will always be in God and in Jesu Cristo his Child,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “Well, as for you, take good care that these words which you heard from the past remain with you. Because if you really take to heart (lit. put away in your heads) this which you heard from the past, therein you can be sure that your fellowship with God the Son and his Father won’t change/move.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “Therefore in your hearts dwell upon the words which you heard at first. If in your hearts you dwell upon the words which you first heard, then you will walk with the Son of God, and also you will walk with the Father.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
- Yatzachi Zapotec: “Think about what you have heard since you began to trust in Christ. If you will do that you will constantly be with our father God and with his son.”
- Eastern Highland Otomi: “And we, we must plant on our hearts what we heard at the beginning. Because if we plant in our hearts what we heard at the beginning, then habitually we live with the Father and his Son.”
- Tzotzil: “Therefore all that you heard when you began to believe God’s word, once and for all, put it in your hearts. If once and for all it has arrived in your hearts all that you heard when you began to believe God’s word, thus once and for all you have entered the presence of the Son of God and also the presence of His Father.” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)
- Candoshi-Shapra: “As for you (plural), keep that very word which you first heard. If you keep that which you first heard, you will keep living (abiding) with the Father, like that you will do. You will keep living (abiding) with the Son also.”
- Yanesha’: “The words from the beginning, already they have arrived on you in your heart. Let it stay thus. If the words you heard from the beginning, if you reserve them in your heart, then you will be one with his Son and the Father.”
- Aguaruna: “What you heard at the beginning, that be remembering. Doing so you will live in (at, direction toward) God, and in his Son.” (Source for this and two above: Mildred Larson in Notes on Translation, July 1965, p. 1-15)
Following are a number of back-translations of 1 John 4:3:
- Uma: “All people who don’t admit-confess that Yesus is that Redeemer King, they are not children of God. Those people are controlled by the influence/spirit that is from the Enemy of Kristus. You have heard the teaching that says that the Enemy of Kristus will arrive, and at this time he is already in the world.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “But whoever says that Almasi did not come in the body of a human/mankind, that person does not have God’s Spirit. But/instead it is seen in him that he follows the mind of the Opposing Almasi. You have been informed hep that this Opposing Almasi will come and now many people in the world follow the mind of the Opposing Almasi.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “However, if there is a spirit who says that Jesus, the one chosen of God, did not become a human, then that spirit does not come from God, but rather it comes from the enemy of Christ. You have already heard that there have appeared spirits which come from the enemy of Christ, and I tell you that they are now here in the world.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “But if they don’t acknowledge that Jesus is the Cristo who became a person, it is not the Spirit of God who is in them, but rather the thoughts that are the same as the One-who-Opposes Cristo. You have been hearing that he will come and already that which is opposing Cristo is now being taught.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “But as for the one who gives out that Jesus didn’t become a real human, it’s certain that it is not the Espiritu Santo of God who is putting in his mind what he will say. On the contrary, the truth is, it’s the inspiring by this opponent of Cristo, he whom you were told would come. And even now/today, there is opposition like this to Cristo here now in this world.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “But all who say that Jesus Christ did not become a human, then they do not walk with the Holy Spirit, rather it is the word of the enemy of Christ. And you have heard that it will come to be that the words of liars will spread through the earth. And now this word is spreading.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
- Yatzachi Zapotec: “The person who does not say that Jesus Christ is God and he was born a man on this earth, the Spirit of God is not in his head-heart. He thinks like the person who does contrary to Christ. You have already heard that the person is coming who does contrary to Christ, and now that person is already in this world.”
- Eastern Highland Otomi: “But whoever says that Jesus Christ is not God’s Chosen-One, and denies that he became a person, but then he doesn’t speak the Word of God. But he received the word of Christ’s enemy. And his word is a lie. We have heard that his word which is a lie was coming to the world, and now it has come.”
- Tzotzil: “If we say ‘Jesus Christ did not come and take his body here in the world,’ we have not received the Spirit of God for sure. We are of the same mind/heart with the enemy of Christ. You have heard that he is coming. He is already here in the world.” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)
- Candoshi-Shapra: “The one who says, ‘No,’ about (to) Jesus is surely not of God. He is a false Christ, one of the ones of whom you heard it said they were coming. Right now they are in the world.”
- Yanesha’: “Whichever does not admit that Jesus was born as a human, this following does not come from the Father. But this is his following, the one who is mad at Christ, the one which you already heard he is to come. Now already he has appeared on this earth.”
- Aguaruna: “However others, thoughts which are not like that, do not belong to God. Those angry at (opposed to, hating) Christ, other they think. You heard that those will come, those now they have arrived in this world here.” (Source for this and two above: Mildred Larson in Notes on Translation, July 1965, p. 1-15)
