complete verse (2 Timothy 1:17)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Timothy 1:17:

  • Uma: “But as for Onesiforus, many times he comforted me. For even though I was imprisoned, he wasn’t ashamed to visit me. When he arrived here in Roma, he exerted effort to search for me until he met with me. And you yourself know how much was his help to me before [lit., yesterday] when I was in Efesus. I call out to the Lord, I request that he bless all the relatives of Onesiforus, and that he show love to Onesiforus on the Judgment Day.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But when he arrived here in Roma he immediately looked for me and he didn’t stop until he found me.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “rather, immediately upon my arrival here in Rome he kept looking for me until he found me.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “but rather he searched-and-searched-for-me at his arrival here in Roma until he found me.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “On the contrary, on his arrival here in Roma, he kept on looking for me until he found me.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “When he arrived in Rome, he diligently searched where I was in prison until he found me.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 2 Timothy 1:17

Arrived indicates that Onesiphorus did not reside in Rome but somewhere else, most probably Ephesus. Rome appears only here in the Pastoral Letters; its being mentioned indicates that it is in this city where Paul was held prisoner. The reason for Onesiphorus’ trip to Rome is not mentioned in the text; some have suggested that he went there for business reasons, others have directly related his trip to Paul’s trial and imprisonment. All of these are of course interesting speculations that may not affect the translation in any way, although such information can become part of the notes in a study edition of the Bible. In some languages it will be necessary to indicate that Rome is a city, as in “the city Rome.”

Searched suggests the idea of an intense effort to locate something or someone. The search is done eagerly, that is, with much diligence and earnestness. It is not surprising then that he succeeded in his search; he found what he was looking for. Contemporary English Version has an interesting model: “he searched everywhere until he found me.”

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

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 1:17

1:17a

Indeed: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Indeed is the Greek conjunction alla. It expresses a strong contrast between 1:16c and 1:17. Other English words that express this contrast are “rather” or “instead.”

Rome: Rome was the capital city of the Roman Empire. Paul was still in prison in the city of Rome at the time he wrote this letter to Timothy.

1:17b

he searched diligently until he found me: Onesiphorus wanted very much to find Paul. Apparently it was very difficult for him to find the prison where Paul was. He spent a long time searching, and probably walked long distances to various places in Rome, for it was a large city.

General Comment on 1:16–17

Onesiphorus would have arrived in Rome first (17a), then searched for and found Paul (17b), and only then refreshed him (16b). In some languages it may be necessary to reorder these verses. One way to do this is:

17aWhen Onesiphorus arrived in Rome 17bhe searched eagerly for me until he found me. 16bHe often refreshed me 16cand was not ashamed of me because I was in prison. 16aTherefore, may the Lord do much good to Onesiphorus and his family.

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