Asia

The Greek that is translated as “Asia” or similar in English is translated in German with Provinz Asia (or: “Asien”) or “province of Asia.”

apostle, apostles

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The Greek term that means “one who is sent off” in its singular form and is usually transliterated as “apostle(s)” in English is (back-) translated in the following ways:

Scot McKnight (in The Second Testament, publ. 2023) translates it into English as commissioner.

In American Sign Language it is translated with a combination of the signs for “following” plus the sign for “authority” to differentiate it from disciple. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


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

In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with a sign that shows the shape of the beard, based on the common and general visual representation of the apostles. This sign differs from the sign for a beard as used in colloquial language. The sign of the apostle does not originate from a specific biblical verse, but rather from the cultural context and later ecclesiastical tradition. “Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.” Lev 19:27. In the biblical era, wearing a beard was the default social and religious norm among Jewish men. The Apostle Peter is generally depicted with a short, curly, white beard. The Apostle Paul appears with a longer, pointed beard. The Apostle John is an exception, as he was the youngest disciple. In iconography, he is often the only one painted without a beard (as a youth) to emphasize his purity and age (see for instance at Transfiguration (icon)). (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group)


“Apostle” in Hungarian Sign Language (source )

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: The Apostles in Christian Art .

complete verse (1 Peter 1:1)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Peter 1:1:

  • Uma: “This letter if from me, Petrus, the apostle [messenger] of Yesus Kristus, I send it going to you relatives that have been chosen by God, and who are scattered around in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Kapadokia, Asia and Bitinia, and who are living-as-aliens in the midst of people who do not know God.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “This writing is from me, Petros. I was commissioned by Isa Almasi, commanded to proclaim his word/message. I send this letter there to you the people chosen by God, the strangers who are scattered in all the different countries/places. I send this to you there in the place Pontus, the place Galatiya, the place Kappadoke, the place Asiya, and in the place Bitiniya.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “I, the one writing this am Peter. I am an apostle of Jesus Christ, which is to say, his sent one. I write to you who have been chosen by God, who have separated from each other outside of your town. Some of you have fled to the province of Pontus, others have fled to the provinces of Galatia, Capadocia, Asia, and Bythinia.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “I am Pedro who am an apostle of Jesu Cristo. Here is my letter to you who are God’s people who are strangers/foreigners in this world who reside in Pontus, Galacia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bitinia.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “I who am Pedro, who is an apostle of Jesu-Cristo, am the writer of this. The ones I am writing to are you who were chosen by God as his people who are like now-scattered, and foreigners in the place of Ponto, Galacia, Capadocia, Asia and Bitinia. Admittedly you are still living here under the heavens, however the truth is, it’s like you are now just transients.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “I am Peter, Jesus Christ’s representative. I greet those who have left their land and live in the foreign land of Pontus, and in Galatia, and in Cappadocia, and in Asia, and in Bithynia.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Peter

Following is a Armenian Orthodox icon of Peter (found in the Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shusha, Azerbaijan).

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 )

Following is a hand colored stencil print on momigami of Peter by Sadao Watanabe (1970):

Image taken with permission from the SadaoHanga Catalogue where you can find many more images and information about Sadao Watanabe. For other images of Sadao Watanabe art works in TIPs, see here.

In Finnish Sign Language it is translated with the sign signifying “key” (referring to Matthew 16:19). (Source: Tarja Sandholm)


“Peter” or “Cephas” in Finnish Sign Language (source )

In Swiss-German Sign Language it is translated with the sign for “rock,” referring to the meaning of the Greek word for “Peter.”


“Peter” in Swiss-German Sign Language, source: DSGS-Lexikon biblischer Begriffe , © CGG Schweiz

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

See also Peter – rock.

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Peter .

Cappadocia

The name that is transliterated as “Cappadocia” in English is translated in Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) with a sign that combines “horses” and “good” (the meaning of the name is “province of the good horses”) as well as the geological formation of the region. (Source: Missão Kophós )


“Cappadocia” in Libras (source )

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

More information about Cappadocia .