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.”
Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 6:6:
Uma: “One person brings charges against his one-faith relative, he takes him before a judge [lit., sitter]–yet that judge there is not one who believes in the Lord Yesus!” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “But you, that’s what you do, you take your problems to the people who don’t even trust in Isa Almasi and tell them to judge you.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “But as for you, when you have an accusation against your companion, what you do is not food because you go and have it settled before a judge who is not a believer. And it’s not good if the one who settles cases for us is a person who is not a believer.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “But there you are filing-charges-against your fellow believers in front of those who don’t believe!” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Why are you still doing like that, that you who are one brotherhood in believing are initiating-legal-proceedings-against-one-another? And then it’s even people who are not believing/obeying Cristo are to whom you take the cases!” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Why is it that there where the judge who is not a believer is where believers go to accuse their fellow believers?” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Revised Standard Version reflects an emphasis in the Greek that is weaker in Good News Bible. The Greek is literally “brother against brother, and this before unbelievers.” “And this” could be translated as “and even more than that,” to bring out its full force. A similar phrase “and that even” is used at the end of verse 8. The phrase and that before unbelievers may be rendered as “and lets people who do not believe in Christ judge the case.”
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 .
6:6a Instead, one brother goes to law against another,
But instead ⌊of appointing such a person⌋, one of you has gone to a public/government judge/court and accused another believer of doing wrong.
-or-
But as it is, ⌊when two of you argue about a matter,⌋ one of the two goes to a judge to ask him to decide who is right.
6:6b and this in front of unbelievers!
And the judges whom you ask to judge/decide your case are not believers!
-or-
Even worse, you accuse one another and argue while judges who do not believe ⌊in Jesus⌋ listen.
-or-
You go to judges who are not believers. This is very bad/improper.
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®).
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.