Paul

The term that is transliterated as “Paul” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that signifies the many letters he wrote. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Paul” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign depicting putting away a sword, referring to his conversion from a persecutor of Christians to a Christian leader. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Paul (and Saul)” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Paul (source: Bible Lands 2012)

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

Following is a Georgian Orthodox icon of Paul the Apostle from the 14th century (located in the Art Museum of Georgia, Tbilisi).

Orthodox Icons are not drawings or creations of imagination. They are in fact writings of things not of this world. Icons can represent our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. They can also represent the Holy Trinity, Angels, the Heavenly hosts, and even events. Orthodox icons, unlike Western pictures, change the perspective and form of the image so that it is not naturalistic. This is done so that we can look beyond appearances of the world, and instead look to the spiritual truth of the holy person or event. (Source )

The following is a contemporary stained glass window from the Messiah Episcopal Church in St. Paul, Minnesota by Peter Dohmen. Individual glass pieces were made in Germany in accordance with Dohmen’s design, using a technique first developed by Irish monks in the 9th and 10th centuries.

Source for the image and description below: The Stained Glass Windows of Messiah Episcopal Church

“This window is dedicated to St. Paul, the great apostle and missionary, for whom our city is named. At the top of the window is a ship which symbolizes the many missionary journeys of Paul — the Church is our ship, which carries us over the way of life. In the lower section we see Paul on the road to Damascus when he saw a great light and heard our Lord’s voice, which called him to discipleship.”

Stained glass is not just highly decorative, it’s a medium which has been used to express important religious messages for centuries. Literacy was not widespread in the medieval and Renaissance periods and the Church used stained glass and other artworks to teach the central beliefs of Christianity. In Gothic churches, the windows were filled with extensive narrative scenes in stained glass — like huge and colorful picture storybooks — in which worshipers could ‘read’ the stories of Christ and the saints and learn what was required for their religious salvation. (Source: Victoria and Albert Museum )

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Paul .

complete verse (1 Corinthians 16:21)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 16:21:

  • Uma: “This part of the letter I myself write: many greetings from me Paulus!” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Now I, Paul, am the one writing this. I remember you all.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “This is my last word to you in this letter. It is now I, Paul, who writes this: I greet all of you.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “I am Pablo who wrote this conclusion to the letter that I have had-written. How are you.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well, as for my greeting, and these last words of mine, I myself am writing.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “I Paul write here my name on the letter to greet you.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Corinthians 16:21

As in Gal 6.11, Paul guarantees that this letter is genuine by taking over the pen from his secretary for the last few lines. The phrase “Greetings from Paul” in italics in Good News Bible suggests that only these words are in Paul’s own hand. But it is perhaps more likely that the whole of verses 21-24 were personally written by Paul. Revised Standard Version‘s paragraphing suggests this.

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 .