complete verse (2 Timothy 2:20)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Timothy 2:20:

  • Uma: “In a big house there are many kinds of stuff in the kitchen. There are good things, for instance things made of gold and silver. There are also some made from wood or just from clay. The good things are used if there is a guest that is honored. The things that aren’t so good are used daily.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “I will tell you a comparison/parable, Timoteo. In a big house where a rich person lives are many kinds of equipment. There are gold plates and silver plates. These valuable plates are used only if there are important people visiting them. There are also in that house wooden plates and clay pots. These are used every day.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “In any large house there are implements of gold and silver, and there are also implements of wood and pottery. The owner of the house sets aside those implements of gold and silver for they are dear to him. But the others are not so dear to him.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “In the large house of a rich-person, the types of things-used are not the same. There are (things) made of gold and silver whose use is valuable/important, there are also (things) made of wood and clay for whatever.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “For let us use as an illustration an elaborate house. It isn’t as if all the utensils there are gold and silver. There are indeed those made of wood and clay. These made of gold and silver, they’re only used on high/important days. These made of wood and clay, they are for everyday use.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “In a large house the dishes are not the same. There are dishes of gold, there are dishes of silver. There are wooden ones. There are dishes of clay. Concerning these dishes, there are some which are special, and also there are those which are not special.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Natügu (verses 20-21): “In our way, when a big man comes to our house, we give him very nice food, in our honouring him. But when we stay alone, we don’t habitually eat food like that given to him. And this is the talk-picture that we must follow. And we also will be like that good food if we purify ourselves from those bad things. Because it is we who are chosen to help our Lord. So, we are already prepared to do very nice things.” (Source: Carl Gross)

Translation commentary on 2 Timothy 2:20

Great can refer to size (hence Good News Translation “large”) or more likely to quality (“majestic,” “elegant,” or “magnificent”).

Vessels translates a generic term for any kind of utensil; for example, jar, bowl, dishes, or vase. An equivalent generic term is present in many languages. However, in languages where this is not so, it will be necessary to give two or three specific kinds of utensils and indicate that these are examples of a much larger group (compare Good News Translation “dishes and bowls of all kinds”).

There are four kinds of utensils mentioned but divided into two groups: the special and the ordinary. The special ones are those made of silver or gold, while the ordinary ones are those made of wood or earthenware, because these materials are considered frail, impermanent, and inexpensive, contrasted to silver and gold that are thought to be durable and permanent, and expensive. Earthenware translates a term that refers to anything that is made of clay and therefore by implication weak, fragile, and transitory. There may be a cultural problem here, because nowadays utensils made of wood or clay are not considered ordinary, especially in highly sophisticated societies. It is therefore important to make clear in the translation that the utensils for noble use are those of gold or silver, and those for ignoble use are the utensils made of wood or clay. One may say, for example, “some, like the gold and silver ones, are for use on special occasions, while the others are for ordinary use.” It may also be necessary, however, to include this type of explanation in a footnote.

Noble use is literally “for honor,” for which see 1 Tim 1.17; 5.17; 6.1. Ignoble is the exact opposite of noble, literally “for dishonor.” The word contains the elements of indignity, dishonor, or disgrace. In the present context these two terms describe the occasions in which these utensils are used: those made of gold or silver are for “special” occasions, while those made of wood or clay are for “ordinary” use.

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 2:20

Paragraph 2:20–21

In this paragraph, Paul compared the church to a house. He also compared Christians to various types of utensils in a house.

Normally, Paul used the term “church” to refer only to the group of true believers. This paragraph may be the only place in the New Testament where Paul spoke of the church (“house”) in a broad sense that included not only true believers, but also those who claim to be believers.

The figurative language extends over two verses, so you need to try to retain the image.

2:20a

In Greek the verse begins with the conjunction de that the Berean Standard Bible has left untranslated. The de indicates that Paul was changing from one figure of speech (a foundation in 2:19) to another figure (a house). Some English versions have tried to indicate the change of figure with the conjunction “Now,” like the New American Standard Bible has done. But here, the English word “Now” does not have its normal meaning of “at this time.” Rather, it indicates a connection between topics, not simply between sentences. Many English versions omit translating the conjunction but indicate the change of subject by beginning a new paragraph.

A large house: The term large house refers to the house of a rich person. The New Living Translation (2004 Revision) translates this term as “wealthy home.”

vessels: The term vessels here refers to things like dishes, bowls, and jars. Some languages have a generic term like “containers” or “articles” for all of these items. Other languages do not have one generic word but can list some specific items, as in Good News Translation, which says, “dishes and bowls of all kinds.”

There are many different kinds of dishes, bowls, and other containers in the house of a wealthy person. In the same way, there are many different types of people in the church.

2:20b–c

of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay: The dishes and pots are not all of equal value. Some of these containers are made of expensive materials, such as gold and silver. Other containers are made of cheap materials, such as wood and clay.

The two types of containers represent various types of people in the church. (Another interpretation is that the two types of containers represent different roles that people have in the church. See also the footnotes at 2:20d and 2:20e.)

2:20d

Some indeed are for honorable use: For the phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as honorable use means that people used the containers made of gold and silver for special foods when they were celebrating or when they were entertaining guests.

The containers made of gold and silver represent the true believers in the church. (This interpretation is followed by the New International Version (2011 Revision), Revised Standard Version, NET Bible, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, God’s Word, and the New Jerusalem Bible.A second interpretation of the term “noble” is that it means “special.” According to this interpretation, the gold and silver containers are those used for special occasions. For example, Good News Translation says, “some are for special occasions.” (See also New Revised Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), New Century Version, Contemporary English Version.) According to this view, the containers used for special events represent those believers who have the more spectacular spiritual gifts such as prophesy.)

2:20e

but others are for common use: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as common means “dishonorable,” “disgraceful,” or “shameful.” It is the opposite of the term “honorable” that Paul used in 2:20d. People used these containers for dirty things like garbage or excrement.

The common containers (those made of wood and clay) represent false teachers, such as those to whom Paul has referred in 2:17–18. (This interpretation is followed by the New International Version (2011 Revision), Revised Standard Version, NET Bible, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, and God’s Word.A second interpretation of the term “ignoble” is that it means “ordinary.” According to this interpretation, the wood and clay containers are those used for common or everyday events. For example, Good News Translation says, “others for ordinary use.” (See also New Revised Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), New Century Version.) According to this view, the containers used for everyday events represent those believers who have ordinary or less spectacular gifts.)

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