complete verse (1 Timothy 3:15)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Timothy 3:15:

  • Uma: “so that if perchance I am a long time in coming, you will know what behavior is appropriate for every person whom God considers-his-child. For we, we worship the God who lives forever. We are the ones who hold the true teaching from God. Our faith in that teaching is strong, and we guard that teaching so that no-one changes it.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “so that if there is something that hinders me, you will know as-to how the behavior of us (incl.) ought to be, the people belonging to God, the living God. We (incl.) are the ones whom God entrusted the true teaching to. Therefore we (incl.) ought to teach/preach and defend/take-the-side-of this true teaching.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “The reason I am writing this is because I might be hindered, and if I am hindered, you will still know the proper thing to do which is fitting to us, the sons of God. We are the church, which is to say, those who believe in God who has no death. We are the posts and the floor beams on which the true teaching is placed.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “in case I am delayed, so that you will come-to-know the way-of-life that the family of the living God should follow. These (identification of family) are all God’s people to whom he has entrusted the true teaching in order that they will see-to-it that it is properly taught and isn’t changed.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “I want hopefully to be able to come there to you soon, but I may be delayed. That’s why I am writing these instructions to send to you, so that you will know how to do the work of the Lord which is overseeing the believers in him there. For all of these who are believers in God, he who lives till forever, an illustration of them is, they’re like posts and buttresses of a house, because they are the ones who uphold/stand-up-for the truth which comes from this God.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “But if I can’t go at once, then I am writing this letter to send there. Because I want that you know well the word about how the people who are in God’s hand should walk, the God who truly lives. Concerning these people of God, they have been entrusted with the care of his word, and they defend God’s word.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)