teach

The Greek that is translated as a form of “teach” is translated with some figurative phrases such as “to engrave the mind” (Ngäbere) or “to cause others to imitate” (Huichol). (Source: Bratcher / Nida)

In Noongar it is translated as karni-waangki or “truth saying” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

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 as “relative” (this is also the term that is used for “follower”) (source: Carl Gross), and in Mairasi as “in-law” (source: Enggavoter 2004).

In the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) it is often translated as Mitchristen or “fellow Christians.” The German translation by Roland Werner (publ. 2009-2022) alternates between “brothers and sisters,” “sisters and brothers,” and “siblings” (Geschwister).

See also brothers.

complete verse (1 Timothy 6:2)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Timothy 6:2:

  • Uma: “If their noble happens to be a Kristen person himself, don’t let them say like this: ‘I don’t need to follow his orders, for he is my relative in the Lord.’ Rather they should do the work of their noble even better, for the noble they are doing the work for is their one-faith relative whom they love. All that I say here, you must teach them, and fire-up their hearts so that they follow it.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “If the slave and his master equally trust in Isa Almasi, that slave should not think that he no longer has to fear/respect his master because it’s as if they indeed are siblings. Even more so he ought to cause his work to be yet better because the person for whom he works also trusts like him in Isa Almasi and because he also loves his master. This is what you ought to teach them and command them to obey/follow.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “If the master is a believer in Christ, it’s necessary that the respect for him by his servant who is a believer is not removed because of the fact that they are brothers by means of Christ. The good works of his servant must be even better because that one which is helped by means of their work is a believer and is dear to God. You must teach this and explain it to the believers.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The slave also whose master believes, he shouldn’t say/think that since it’s his brother who believes, it’s-OK-it he doesn’t respect him properly. He should do-even-better to serve him, because the one who is gaining (benefit) from his work, it is his companion who believes whom God loves. These-things are what you (sing.) are to teach and command to the believers there (near addressee).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “And as for the slaves whose master is a believer like him in God, he is indeed not to think that he doesn’t need to respect that master of his, since he has become his sibling now in believing. On the contrary he is to serve him even better, because this one he is serving is now his fellow believer therefore he values him. Teach this and say to them that they must obey it.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Concerning the workers whose bosses are believers, they must not say that just a little they should respect their bosses now that they have the same faith and are brothers now. Rather even more it is necessary that they put themselves into their work because they love the believer for whom they work. This is the word you should tell the people when you teach.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Timothy 6:2

This verse deals specifically with slaves who work for believing masters, that is, masters who are members of the church (compare New Revised Standard Version). Presumably these masters would be part of the same congregation that their Christian slaves attend. The very fact that both slaves and masters are Christians would create some difficulty, in that the slaves could take the attitude that, since they and their masters are equal before Christ, it is no longer necessary for the slaves to give their masters the obedience and respect that is due them. Accordingly the Christian slaves are encouraged not only to respect their Christian masters but to serve them even better. Believing masters may also be expressed as “masters (or, owners) who believe in Christ.” And the clause Those who have believing masters may be rendered as “Those people (or, Slaves) who are the property of masters who believe in Christ.”

Be disrespectful translates the imperative form of a verb that means “to despise” (Good News Translation), “to scorn, to look down on.” Here the focus is on not showing the masters their proper respect and obedience as masters. For further discussion of this verb, see comments on “despise” in 4.12.

On the ground that they are brethren is literally “because they are brothers,” that is, fellow Christians. There are two ways of understanding this clause: (1) It defines the ground or reason for the slaves’ wrong attitude of not respecting their masters, so “you must not stop showing your Christian masters the respect and obedience due them just because they are Christians as you are.” This is the position reflected in Revised Standard Version (compare New Revised Standard Version, Jerusalem Bible “are not to think any the less of them because they are brothers”). (2) It gives the reason why the Christian slaves should honor and respect their Christian masters, so “you must not stop showing your Christian masters the respect and obedience due them, since they are Christians as you are.” This position is reflected in Good News Translation “for they are their brothers” (see Phillips “because they work for brothers in the faith,” and Contemporary English Version “After all, they are also followers of Christ”). Both alternatives are possible, and it is difficult to choose between them.

Instead of not respecting them, Christian slaves must serve their Christian masters all the better, since those whom they are serving are equally members of a community that is characterized by love.

Rather is literally “but,” which signals an alternative to the attitude reflected in the first part of the verse. Serve is related to the word “slave” (literally “do slaving”) and pertains to rendering humble service, usually in response to the needs and demands of others. All the better translates one Greek word that qualifies an action as surpassing another in degree or intensity, hence “better” (Good News Translation), “more,” “more than,” “to a greater degree,” “even more.” The clause rather they must serve all the better may also be expressed as “instead, they must serve even better than they did before” or “instead, they must work even harder than they did before.” Since is the same Greek word translated because in the first part of the verse; here it signals a reason for the recommended action, that is, why Christian slaves should serve their Christian masters better. The Christian masters are described as those who benefit by their service, and in some languages it will be helpful to repeat the word masters; for example, “these masters that benefit….” The Greek word for benefit in this context means to experience or receive something that results in one’s benefit. Benefit in some languages will be translated as “gain fruit (or, results).” Service is literally “kind work,” referring to the actual things that the slaves do as they serve their master. Believers and beloved can be understood as two separate descriptions of the Christian masters (see, for example, New English Bible “one with them in faith and love,” Phillips “who have the same faith and love as themselves”) or more likely as a hendiadys, with beloved qualifying believers, hence Good News Translation “believers whom they love.” There is no explicit agent of beloved; the possibilities are either the slaves themselves (Good News Translation, New International Version) or, less likely, God (compare Jerusalem Bible “dear to God”). Some translations retain the ambiguity (for example, New English Bible as cited above).

Alternative translation models for this verse are:
• Slaves who are the property of masters who believe in Christ must not be disrespectful to (or, look down on) them just because they are fellow believers. Instead they must serve them better than they did before, because these masters who benefit (or, gain fruit) from their work are believers whom they love (or, whom God loves).

Or:
• You slaves who are the property of Christian masters must not stop giving your masters the respect and obedience due to them, for they are fellow believers….

The last part of verse 2 (Teach and urge these duties) can go either with what precedes or with what follows; that is, it can close the section on the instructions regarding Christian slaves, or it can introduce the rest of chapter 6. Translations will show by their paragraph divisions what their preference is. If this last part of verse 2 is included in the next section, then it introduces what follows (in addition to Revised Standard Version, also Good News Translation, Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible, Phillips, and UBS Greek New Testament). If, however, it is included with the rest of verse 2, then it would be a conclusion to the preceding section (compare New International Version). This second position seems more likely here for two reasons: first, these duties (literally “these things”) more likely refers not to the instructions in the rest of chapter 6 but to instructions already stated in chapter 5 and the first part of chapter 6; and second, the expression “these things” is used thirteen times in the Pastoral Letters (eight times in 1 Timothy, three times in 2 Timothy, and twice in Titus), and in all these cases it seems to refer to what precedes rather than to what follows.

Urge is the same word used in 1.3, for which see discussion there (see also 2.1 and “exhort” in 5.1). In this context urge these duties may also be expressed as “ask (the believers) very strongly to follow them.” Good News Translation‘s “preach” seems a little weak.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:
• You must teach these instructions that I have given you and urge believers to follow them.

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to Timothy. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1995. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Commentaire sur la traduction de 1 Timothée 6.2

Ce verset commence par la conjonction de transition, δέ de. Paul passe au cas particulier de ceux qui ont des maîtres croyants, c’est-à-dire des maîtres chrétiens. La Nouvelle Bible Segond commence par « Et », mais la traduction de la Bible de Jérusalem rend peut-être mieux cette transition : « Quant à ceux qui ont pour maître des croyants… »

Pour maîtres, voir 1 Tim 6.1.

croyant rend le terme πιστός pistos, qui renvoie à un fidèle, un chrétien. Voir 1 Tim 4.23 ; 1 Tim 6.16. On pourrait suivre la Bible de Jérusalem ou reformuler comme la Bible en français courant.

qu’ils ne leur manquent pas de considération sous prétexte qu’ils sont frères est littéralement : « qu’ils ne [les] méprisent pas parce qu’[ils sont] frères ». Mépriser veut dire « haïr » ou, dans ce contexte, « manquer de respect pour ». Tous les membres de la communauté chrétienne se considéraient comme frères et sœurs, mais d’une manière pratique, la relation maître-esclave tenaient toujours. On se souviendra, par exemple, du cas de Philémon et Onésime. En fait beaucoup d’esclaves se sont vendus eux-mêmes sous contrat pour payer leurs dettes ou pour pouvoir survivre.

Au contraire, qu’ils servent encore mieux : cette proposition est introduite par la conjonction ἀλλά alla, « mais », qui exprime un contraste fort. Au lieu de leur manquer de respect, les esclaves devraient servir encore mieux leurs maîtres, car chrétiens.

parce que ce sont des croyants et frères bien-aimés : Paul donne la raison pour laquelle les esclaves devraient encore mieux servir leurs maîtres chrétiens. C’est parce que les maîtres sont aussi des croyants et des frères en Christ. Pour croyants, voir 1 Tim 4.12. En grec ἀγαπητός agapêtos, frères bien-aimés, est simplement « bien-aimés ». Ainsi la Bible en français courant et la Parole de Vie interprètent bien-aimés dans le sens d’« aimés de Dieu » ou « amis de Dieu » (Bible de Jérusalem). En 2 Tim 1.2 Paul utilise le même mot à propos de Timothée. Dans certains contextes (Marc 1.11 ; Rom 1.7 ; 11.28), il s’agit d’être aimé de Dieu, mais ici, le contexte traite plutôt de relations humaines entre esclaves et maîtres. Ainsi la traduction de la Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, frère, semble logique. Elle est adoptée par la majorité des versions françaises : Bible de Jérusalem, La Bible du Semeur, Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie.

qui bénéficient de leurs bons offices est littéralement « qui reçoivent leurs bienfaits » ou « leurs services ». Il s’agit des services des esclaves chrétiens envers leurs maîtres chrétiens. La Parole de Vie rend bien l’idée en disant « ces maîtres qui profitent de leurs services sont des croyants aimés de Dieu ». Le terme est neutre ici, et il sera bon d’utiliser un verbe sans sens péjoratif ou qui indiquera une exploitation quelle conque.

6.2b-5

Bien que 6.2b puisse être considéré comme la conclusion de la section précédente (La Bible du Semeur), la majorité de versions en français et anglais divisent ce verset en deux et commencent une nouvelle section avec 6.2b. Voir Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Nouvelle Bible Segond, Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie En effet le texte grec a été divisé en versets des siècles après sa rédaction. Ici il s’agit d’un cas où selon la structure littéraire, le verset pourrait être divisée en deux. Néanmoins Paul fait ici une référence à « ces choses », litt. « Ces choses enseignent et encouragent », et dans les Pastorales, cette expression s’emploie presque toujours avec ce qui précède et cette solution n’est pas exclue ici. Il est aussi possible 6.2b conclut la section précédente et que 1 Tim 6.3 entame un nouveau paragraphe.
Si, comme la majorité des versions, les traducteurs voient une nouvelle section en 6.2b, on pourrait mettre un sous-titre ici. On pourrait dire « Ce qu’il faut enseigner ». Si une section plus large (6.2b-10) est envisagé, on pourrait dire « La foi en Dieu est la vraie richesse » (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible).

Le grec dit « ces choses/cela enseignez et encouragez ». Beaucoup de commentateurs pensent que « ces choses » renvoient aux instructions dans les passages précédents, c’est-à-dire 5.1ss et 6.1-2a. Plusieurs versions utilisent un démonstratif, comme la Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Voilà ce que tu dois enseigner et recommander. Dans ces lettres pastorales, Paul met en relief sur l’importance de l’enseignement (1 Tim 2.12 ; 1 Tim 4.11 ; 2 Tim 2.2 ; Tite 1.11).

Le verbe παρακαλέω parakaleô « encourager » a le sens de « recommander » ici. Voir aussi 1 Tim 1.3 ; 1 Tim 2.1 ; 1 Tim 5.1.

Source: Zogbo, Lynell & Ellingworth, Paul La première lettre à Timothée – Manuel de traduction – Commentaire linguistique et exégétique de la Bible. Alliance biblique universelle, 2021.