anyone who bears the name of brother

The Greek in 1 Corinthians 5:11 that is translated as “anyone who bears the name of brother” or similar in English is translated in Huixtán Tzotzil as “those who mistakenly think they are our Christian brethren.” Huixtán Tzotzil frequently uses the verb -cuy to express “to mistakenly think something” from the point of view of the speaker. (Source: Marion M. Cowan in Notes on Translation 20/1966, pp. 6ff.)

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 5:11)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 5:11:

  • Uma: “What I said was don’t mix with those who say they do believe in the Lord Yesus, yet they [contrary to expectation] behave wrongly, are greedy/gluttonous, worship idols, curse others, are drunken, or are deceivers. Even to eat with people like that, don’t!” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But this is the meaning of what I said, don’t go along with a person who says that he is your fellow truster in Isa Almasi, but his doing is adultery or craving the possessions of his companion or (he) worships idols or slanders his companions or drinks or steals. Don’t even eat together with people/persons like that.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “I wasn’t talking about people who do not believe in God whose activities are filthy, or selfish people or people who rob and those who worship false gods, because if that was what I was talking about, it would be very difficult to avoid that, because we could only avoid things like that if we got completely out of the world. That I was saying was, that we should avoid people who say that they are believers but their activities are evil, like filthy-doing and those who are selfish, they worship false gods, and those who say their companions are evil when they’re not; those who are drunk and those who rob. Even to eat with these people, you must not do.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “What that which I said means to say is, if there is a person who says he is your brother who believes but who at-the-same-time is-sleeping-with someone not his spouse or covets or worships idols or speaks-evil-of his fellows or is a drunkard or thief, don’t be-friends-with him. Even as-far-as food, don’t eat-with a person like that.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “This is actually who I meant whom you should not go-around-as-friends-with, those people who say they are your siblings in believing, whereas they still behave-immorally with one who is not their spouse, (they are) still covetous of the things that can be obtained here in the world, (they) worship pretend gods, still use harsh language, (they are) drunkards, and make-a-habit-of-taking-what-they-want-by-force. If their nature/ways are still like that, don’t even eat with them.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “This word I want to tell you is that no longer should you carry along those who say they are your brothers and are adulterers, or concerning what they own, they only want it to increase, or those who worship idols, or liars, or drunkards, or thieves. Now about these, you cannot even eat together with them.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Corinthians 5:11

Commentators and translations disagree as to whether rather I wrote or “now I write” (Revised Standard Version footnote) is meant here. We have explained the reason for this in the comments on 4.17 and also 5.9. The Greek literally means “but now I wrote to you”; but the word translated “now” may indicate not present tense but a new step in the argument; and “I wrote” may mean “I am writing,” expressing the time element from the point of view of the person reading the letter. A majority of modern translations take the verb to be present in meaning and to refer to the letter Paul is writing now. There seems to be, however, a contrast between this verse and 9, and Revised Standard Version‘s text weakens this contrast. Some translations, such as Jerusalem Bible and An American Translation, agree with Revised Standard Version, but omit rather and But. The main argument against Revised Standard Version‘s footnote is that if Paul intended a contrast between past and present letters, it is difficult to see why he did not make this plain by using the present tense here, as for example in 14.37; 2 Cor 13.10. If the translator follows Revised Standard Version‘s text, I wrote must really mean “I meant to write.” Good News Bible and many other common language translations have rendered it in this way. It is probably the best way to translate this phrase. However, it is advisable to have a footnote similar to Revised Standard Version‘s.

The phrase “What I meant was” (Good News Bible) may also be rendered as “What I was referring to was” or “The meaning of the words that I wrote was.”

Name may mean not only “who calls himself” but “who is known as a believer in the Christian community.”

Brother means “fellow Christian” and not a real family member.

One should keep Paul’s order of items in the list of sins, although there is probably no significance to this ordering.

Reviler has a wider meaning than Good News Bible‘s “slanderer.” The Greek word refers to someone who speaks insultingly or abusively of others. Drunkard means someone who is habitually drunk.

Not even to eat with such a one explains the earlier command in this verse not to associate with …. To share any meal, especially the Lord’s Supper, was a more serious matter in New Testament times than in modern western-type societies (compare Gal 2.12).

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 5:11

5:11a But now I am writing you

(Revised Standard Version) But rather I wrote to you

I will explain what I meant:
-or-
Here is what I meant:
-or-
What I meant when I wrote that other letter to you is this:

5:11b not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother

Do not spend time with someone who claims/says that he is your fellow believer in Christ,
-or-
You must not fellowship with people who say that they are Christians

5:11c but is sexually immoral or greedy,

but yet he/she continues to commit sex/sexual sins, and is greedy for more possessions,
-or-
but behave immorally, or want more and more things,

5:11d an idolater or a verbal abuser,

who worships idols, or says bad things about other people,
-or-
or pray to other gods, or insult other people.

5:11e a drunkard or a swindler.

or who becomes drunk or cheats people.
-or-
or frequently drink too much alcohol, or take other people’s things.

5:11f With such a man do not even eat.

I do not want you to even eat a meal with that kind of a person.
-or-
Do not even let those people share meals with you.

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