complete verse (1 Corinthians 12:7)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 12:7:

  • Uma: “Every one of us, we each receive abilities from the Holy Spirit so that we can do what is useful for others.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “We (incl.) the ones trusting in Isa Almasi, each one of us (incl.) was given an expertise, therefore it is known that we (incl.) are influenced by God’s Spirit. That expertise is given to us (dual) so that we (dual) can help our (incl.) fellow trusters in Isa Almasi.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And each one of us believers have been given a skill which is a sign that the Holy Spirit guides him. The reason that it is given to him is so that he might help his fellow believers.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “There is an ability that is given to each one of us which shows the presence of the Holy Spirit in order that we will help our companions who believe.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Each one who has been given ability, this is a sign that the Espiritu Santo is where it originated. And all of these abilities, we need to use them for the benefit of all our fellow believers.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Concerning each of us, God determined what work we must do, and it is the Holy Spirit who strengthens us to do the work of God. And concerning all the work given to us, the work was given to us in order to do good for our fellow believers.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Spirit (of God) (Japanese honorifics)

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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 to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. When the referent is God, the “divine” honorific prefix mi- (御 or み) can be used, as in mi-tama (御霊) or “Spirit (of God)” in the referenced verses.

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

See also Holy Spirit

Translation commentary on 1 Corinthians 12:7

This verse is a general introduction to what follows, not simply the first of a new series of statements.

To each, as Good News Bible shows, means “each person,” “everyone.”

Is given the manifestation of the Spirit refers to the activity of God in each believer’s life. In some languages it will be better to use active verbs: “God reveals his Spirit’s presence in some way to each person,” or “God gives each person some proof of the Spirit’s presence” or “… some proof that the Spirit is present.”

Spirit: see the comment under verses 4-6. The meaning of the phrase for the common good is made clear in the following verses. Good News Bible‘s translation, “for the good of all,” shows that the Spirit’s purpose is not to help the individual necessarily, but the whole Christian community. This clause can be translated as “to be used to help the whole church” or “to be used to help all the believers.” So a translation model for the whole verse is: “God gives each person some proof of the Spirit’s presence to be used to help the whole church.”

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 12:7

12:7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

Each ⌊believer⌋ is given evidence of the Spirit’s presence, for the benefit/good of all.
-or-

⌊God⌋ gives each of us gifts which shows that the Spirit is present. We are to use these gifts for the good of all ⌊believers⌋.

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