pain-love

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “love” in English is typically translated in Hakka Chinese as thung-siak / 痛惜 or “pain-love” when it refers to God’s love.

The same term is used for a variety of Hebrew terms that cover a range of English translations that refer to God as the agent, including “love,” “compassion,” and “mercy.”

Paul McLean explains: “[Thung-siak / 痛惜] has been used for many years in a popular Hakka-Christian mountain song based on John 3:16. The translation team decided that for this and other reasons it would be a good rendering here. It helps point to the fact that God’s ‘love’ is a compassionate (cum passio, with suffering) love.”

patience, patient

The Greek terms that are translated as “patient” or “patience” are translated in a variety of ways.

Eugene Nida (1952, p. 130) gives some examples:

“Peace is the quality of the soul; patience is the behavior of the soul. The Aymara of Bolivia have described patience well by the phrase ‘a waiting heart.’

“The Ngäbere of Panama describe patience in more vivid terms. They say that it is ‘chasing down your temper.’ The impatient person lets his temper run away with him. Patience requires one to “chase down his temper” and get it under control [see also Mairasi down below].

“The Yucateco describe patience as ‘strength not to fall.’ This seems to include almost more than patience, but it is important to note that this Yucateco translation recognizes that impatience means ‘falling.’ For some of us, who tend to take a certain secret pride in our impatience—describing it as energetic drive—it might be well to recognize that impatience is failure, while patience is strength.

“The San Blas Kuna in Panama use a rather strange phrase to depict patience. They say ‘not caring what happens.’ But this is not meant as condoning foolhardy indifference to life and danger. It reflects a kind of reckless confidence in God, a confidence not bred of desperation but of utter reliance. The patient person is not concerned about what happens; he is willing to wait in confidence.”

In Mairasi, the phrase that is employed is “stop (our) anger” (source: Enggavoter 2004) and in Suki “slow careful thinking way” is used (source L. and E. Twyman in The Bible Translator 1953, p. 91ff. )

In Kwang an expression is used that directly translates as “carry one’s head.” (Source: Mark Vanderkooi right here)

In Q’anjob’al it is translated with the phrase “large stomach” (source: Newberry and Kittie Cox in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 91ff. ).

See also Seat of the Mind / Seat of Emotions.

complete verse (2 Corinthians 6:6)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Corinthians 6:6:

  • Uma: “In all this, it is clear that we (excl.) are indeed God’s workers, for our (excl.) behavior is holy, we (excl.) know God’s Word, we (excl.) are patient, our (excl.) hearts are good to others, the Holy Spirit works in our (excl.) hearts, we (excl.) love others from our (excl.) heart.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “We (excl.) also show that we (excl.) are truly servants of God because of our good customs. We (excl.) are good (petten), we (excl.) know the true teaching, we (excl.) are not easily angry and we (excl.) have pity/are kind. It is clear that God’s Spirit is here with us (excl.) and that our (excl.) love to our (excl.) fellow-men is true/genuine.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “We have avoided filthy activities; we properly understand the word of God, we are forgiving and we are helpful to everybody. The Holy Spirit guides us. We show our favor to everyone.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “It can also be seen that God is the one we (excl.) serve on account of our (excl.) clean behavior, our (excl.) knowing God, and our (excl.) patience and kindness to our (excl.) companions. It can also be seen because of our (excl.) ability that the Holy Spirit gives, our (excl.) sincere/heartfelt love,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “It can also be recognized that, as for us (excl.), (we are) God’s true servants by our (excl.) good lives, by our (excl.) acknowledging of God and our (excl.) understanding of the truth that comes/came from him, and by our (excl.) ways/nature which are meek/patient and gracious to our (excl.) fellow men. It can also be seen in the strength of the help of the Espiritu Santo to us (excl.), in our (excl.) true valuing of everyone,” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “That which shows well that I do the work of God is that I walk good. And this good news, I know well about it. And I endure all that people do to me. And I have kindness towards people. And the Holy Spirit helps me so that I can do the work of God. And truly I do love all the people.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 2 Corinthians 6:6

Having mentioned in verses 4 and 5 the difficulties encountered in his ministry, he now turns to a list of positive characteristics.

Good News Translation adds the word “our” to the list of qualities that follow, since Paul is referring to himself and his colleagues.

Purity: this refers to moral virtue. The adjectival form of this word is found in 7.11, where it entails moral integrity, and in 11.2, where it involves the chastity of a bride. Languages use various expressions to represent this virtue. One language speaks of a “clean heart,” while another says “we do nothing that brings shame.”

Knowledge: what is involved here is the understanding that God gives, not just the knowledge of facts.

Forbearance: the basic sense of this word is “patience” (Good News Translation), without complaining. In the context here, forbearance includes the idea of being patient with the weaknesses and criticisms of other people. Kindness differs from forbearance in the aspect of actively showing goodwill by helping others.

In a list of human virtues it is strange that Paul includes the Holy Spirit. For this reason some interpreters take this to be the human spirit. Barrett says “in a holy spirit,” and New Revised Standard Version says “holiness of spirit.” If the reference is to the Holy Spirit, the sense is “by being imbued with the Holy Spirit” (God’s New Covenant) or “with gifts of the Spirit” (New English Bible and Nueva Biblia Española). Though either the Holy Spirit or the human spirit seems equally possible, translators should probably choose the Holy Spirit, because it is the most common translation in many languages (Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, Good News Translation, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Bible en français courant, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy). Translators may find it helpful to expand these words as in Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, “by the presence of the Holy Spirit in us,” or Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente “showing … the presence of the Holy Spirit….”

Genuine love: some other renderings are “sincere love” (New International Version), “unaffected love” (Revised English Bible), and “authentic love” (Anchor Bible). Contemporary English Version says “our love has been real.” In some languages this may be stated in a negative way somewhat similar in meaning to the Revised English Bible rendering: “love that is not deceitful.”

Good News Translation repeats the words “we have shown ourselves to be God’s servants” from verse 4 in order to help the reader remember the purpose of this long list in verses 4-10. But see the comment on the TEV translation of 6.4a. In some languages it will be more natural to put this at the beginning of the verse.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellingworth, Paul. A Handbook on Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .