The two halves of this verse are clearly distinguished by the words translated at times … at other times. These are not strictly expressions of time, but express two different aspects of the new converts’ behavior. On the one hand, sufferings (being publicly insulted and mistreated) were imposed upon them; on the other hand, they willingly shared other peoples’ sufferings. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch distinguishes, not two times, but two “groups” among the readers: “Some were publicly insulted and mistreated, and the others joined with them.” This makes good sense, since the writer is speaking of a single “time,” when the readers first became Christians.

At times may be rendered as “on some occasions” or “there were occasions when.”

The metaphor of athletic competition is continued in this verse. The word for “publicly exposed” (Revised Standard Version) contains the Greek word for “theater,” suggesting a public entertainment, though not yet the idea of Christians being killed by lions in an arena (see 12.4).

The adverb publicly may often be rendered by a clause, “while people looked on” or “in the presence of many people who were there.”

Insulted translates a noun which Good News Bible translates scorn in 11.26, and shame in 13.13. It is closely linked with mistreated; the same events, or at least the same group of events, were both insults and ill-treatment. In place of the passive You were … insulted and mistreated, it is possible to use an active form, “people spoke bad words against you and caused you to suffer.”

At other times may be rendered as “on other occasions” or “on other days.”

As Revised Standard Version shows, ready to is not in the Greek. It is added to make it clear that the readers had shared one another’s sufferings willingly. It is important to avoid the suggestion that the readers were merely “ready” but did not actually “join.” Therefore you were ready to join those who were being treated in this way may be rendered as “you willingly joined those who were being insulted and mistreated” or “… whom people spoke against and caused to suffer.”

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Letter of the Hebrews. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .