complete verse (1 Corinthians 11:1)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 11:1:

  • Uma: “Follow my behavior, like I also follow the behavior of Kristus.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Therefore my brothers, copy/imitate me as I also imitate Isa Almasi.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Therefore brothers, imitate what I do just like I also imitate what Christ did long ago.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Follow-my -example therefore just like I follow-the-example-of Cristo.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Yes indeed, copy my nature/ways for, as for me, I am copying the nature/ways of Cristo.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Just like you see that I do, you should do. Because I do just like Christ did.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on 1 Corinthians 11:1

Be imitators of me overlaps in meaning with verse 33a, though the language is different. The rest of the verse carries the thought a step further, and to some extent prepares the reader for Paul’s analogy in 11.2-12. It is important in translation to avoid expressions that may suggest something which is not genuine but “only an imitation.” One can say, for example, “Follow my example” or “Use me as your model.” For the idea of imitation in Paul’s writings, see 1 Thes 1.6; 2 Thes 3.7, 9.

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, 2nd edition. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1985/1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Corinthians 11:1

11:1a You are to imitate me,

Make me your (plur.) pattern
-or-
Try to live/act as I do

11:1b just as I imitate Christ.

as I make Christ my pattern.
-or-
as I try to live/act as Christ did.

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