inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (1Cor. 16:12)

Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)

The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).

For this verse, translators typically select the inclusive form (including the addressee).

Source: Velma Pickett and Florence Cowan in Notes on Translation January 1962, p. 1ff.

brother (fellow believer)

The Greek that is translated in English as “brother” or “brother and sister” (in the sense of fellow believers), is translated with a specifically coined word in Kachin: “There are two terms for brother in Kachin. One is used to refer to a Christian brother. This term combines ‘older and younger brother.’ The other term is used specifically for addressing siblings. When one uses this term, one must specify if the older or younger person is involved. A parallel system exists for ‘sister’ as well. In [these verses], the term for ‘a Christian brother’ is used.” (Source: Gam Seng Shae)

In Matumbi is is translated as alongo aumini or “relative-believer.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext)

In Martu Wangka it is translated as “relative” (this is also the term that is used for “follower.”) (Source: Carl Gross)

In the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) it is often translated as Mitchristen or “fellow Christians.”

See also brothers.

complete verse (1 Corinthians 16:12)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 16:12:

  • Uma: “Continuing on, as for our relative Apolos, many times I have said to him: ‘There are some relatives about to leave for Korintus. You (sing.) also should go along with them.’ But he doesn’t feel like going [lit., his heart doesn’t see it] at this time. But when he does have opportunity, he will go.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Na, about our (incl.) brother Apollos, I really instructed/urged him, telling him to go there together with the others of our (incl.) brothers to visit you, but he says he doesn’t want to go there now. He says he will go when he has time.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And as for Apollos, our brother also in faith, I have told him many times that it would be good if he viisted you along with our brothers who have visited there; however, he will come to you when there is no longer anything to hinder him.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Concerning moreover our brother Apollos, I have done all in my power to convince him koma to go-with the rest of our brothers who are going to visit you. He says he will go there (near addressee) when he has the opportunity, but he doesn’t want to go now.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well, concerning also our sibling in believing who is Apolos, I am eagerly trying to get him to visit you, along with other siblings in believing who will go there. But, in his mind, it’s not yet good if he goes there to you right now. Some time in the future is when he will go there.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Concerning our brother Apollos, I have told him to go along with our brothers who have gone to see you. But he didn’t want to go then. But now perhaps he will have time to go there.” (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 16:12

Brother: as found in brother Apollos, see comments on verse 11. On Apollos himself, see comments on 1.12.

Strongly and “often” are equally possible meanings of the Greek, and the context gives no help in choosing between them.

Brethren as usual means “fellow Christians.”

Most translations agree with Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible in linking to visit you with the other brethren, but the translation “I have more than once encouraged him, together with the other (brothers), to go to you” (Bijbel in Gewone Taal) is also possible, implying that Paul also encouraged others to go. New Revised Standard Version has “the other brethren”; Revised English Bible “the others.”

The following words it was not at all his will do not make it clear in Greek whether Paul means God’s will or Apollos’, as the footnotes in Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible show. Paul’s language may be deliberately indirect in referring to a strong expression of Apollos’ will, with which Paul himself may not have agreed. Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible‘s solution seems best.

When he has opportunity: “when he gets the chance” (Good News Bible) is a common language English rendering of this phrase.

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 .

Sung version of 1 Corinthians 16

Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).

For more information, see here .