complete verse (1 Corinthians 4:16)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 4:16:

  • Uma: “That’s why I really request, relatives, that you follow my behavior.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Therefore because I am your father I entreat you, copy my customs/behavior.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And since I am your father, I beg you that you imitate me.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Therefore please-be-so-kind-as (expression indicating strong request) to follow-my -example.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therefore, I implore you, since I am like your father, don’t deviate from what you observed to be my nature/ways.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “And now just like you saw how I did there where you live, I tell you to do like that now.” (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. )

Japanese benefactives (natte)

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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 benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

Here, natte (なって) or “become” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).” (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on 1 Corinthians 4:16

As the word then shows, this verse brings to a conclusion Paul’s brief appeal to his status as the readers’ spiritual father. I urge you may also be translated as “I beg you” (Good News Bible) or “I ask you very strongly.” Be imitators of me as children should imitate their father, or pupils imitate their teacher.

We do not know what Paul meant by the action of imitating him. Perhaps he was thinking most directly of the humiliations mentioned in verses 11-13, which contrasted with the proud claims of some of the Corinthian Christians. Paul similarly appeals to his own way of life as an example in 1 Thes 2.1-9, an earlier letter; see also 1 Thes 1.6. However, the reference to “my ways” in 1 Cor 4.17 is taken by some commentators to mean a rather fixed set of ethical rules; see the comments on 4.17. This is probably what Paul is referring to in this verse. The phrase be imitators of me may also be expressed as “that you follow my example” or “… the example which I have set for you.”

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 4:16

4:16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me.

Therefore I plead/ask you to behave and think the way I do.
-or-
So I strongly encourage you to follow my example.

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