22And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found eager in many matters but who is now more eager than ever because of his great confidence in you.
Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)
The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).
For this verse, translators typically select the exclusive form (excluding the addressee).
Source: Velma Pickett and Florence Cowan in Notes on Translation January 1962, p. 1ff.
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 2 Corinthians 8:22:
Uma: “So, along with Titus and this other earlier[-mentioned] relative of ours, there is also another person that we (excl.) are ordering to go [to you (implied in verb)]. This relatives of ours(incl.), many times we (excl.) have seen his behavior in all kinds of work, and we (excl.) know that his diligence in assisting the Lord’s work. And now, he does want to help you in Korintus organize your gathering of this money, for he really hopes in you [i.e., has high hopes in / expects a lot out of].” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “There is still another brother of ours (incl.) who we (excl.) send with Titus and company. We (excl.) have often observed this person therefore we (excl.) know that he is hard working and he perseveres in all he does. More so now. He really wants to go to you because he really trusts you.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “There’s also another brother of ours (incl.) that we are sending along with Titus. I have carefully checked up on him, and he really wants to help the believers. But more than that, he really wants to help you, because his confidence in you is very great.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “There is yet another brother of ours that we (excl.) will have-accompany them. He has often confirmed to us (excl.) that he is industrious in serving God. And now, he especially very-much-wants to go-along because of his large trust in you.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “There is also another sibling in believing whom we (excl.) have sent. We (excl.) have observed that, as for him, (he is) industrious in the work of the Lord. And right now, he really wants to go there to you since he has become-sure that you want to help.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “These two person then will go with another of our brothers. This one is one who knows how to work well and also it is apparent that he has pleasure to do God’s work. He is a good worker wherever he goes. And he is very glad to go there because he thinks that you will not hold back your hearts from helping the other believers.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.
One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).
With them, that is, with Titus (8.17) and the unnamed brother (8.18). In some languages it may be better to say “with these two men….” Contemporary English Version goes even further, making a separate sentence of this: “we are also sending someone else with Titus and the other follower.”
We are sending is literally “we sent” (see comments on the verb tense in 8.17).
Our brother is not to be taken in the literal, biological sense. This brother apparently is a Christian who has worked with Paul, so the pronoun our probably does not include the readers. The individual is not identified. Translators need to be clear that this brother is not the same as the person mentioned in verses 18-19. Revised English Bible says “We are sending with them another of our company.” Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente says “I am sending with them another of our brothers,” and Brazil’s Portuguese common language version (Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje) says “With them we are sending another brother.” It may be advisable to add the word “another [brother].”
Though Paul does not state how the brother was tested, it was probably by having always done the tasks that were assigned to him.
Earnest: some languages may speak of “enthusiasm,” “eagerness” or “fervor.” See comments on 8.16.
In the specific context the brother’s great confidence probably refers primarily to his confidence that the Corinthians will contribute generously and willingly to the collection for the Christians in Jerusalem.
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 .
8:22a And we are sending along with them our brother
And with them, we (excl.) are sending our (incl.) brother
-or-
Furthermore, we send/sent ⌊to you(plur.)⌋ another fellow-believer along with them.
8:22b whose earnestness has been proven many times and in many ways,
(Revised Standard Version) whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters,
whom we have often tested in many ⌊kinds of⌋ tasks ⌊and saw/found that⌋ he was ⌊always⌋ earnest/diligent,
-or-
We have given many tasks ⌊of various sorts⌋ to him and he has proved to be eager/zealous to do them each time.
8:22c and now even more so by his great confidence in you.
and who is now more earnest/diligent because he is very confident in you.
-or-
He is certain that you will ⌊give willingly⌋, so now he is even more eager than he was before ⌊to help in this task⌋.
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®).
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