complete verse (2 Timothy 4:11)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Timothy 4:11:

  • Uma: “Only Lukas is here with me. When you come, pick up for me Markus on your way by and bring him along with you, for he can assist me in my work.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Only Lukas is my companion here. Get/fetch Markus and bring him here because he can really help me in my work.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “My only companion is Luke. Stop by for Mark and bring him with you for he will be a big help to me in all I am doing here.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Only Lucas is-here as my companion. When you (sing.) come, stop-by-for Marcos, because he will be able to help-me in my work.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Now, the only one who is my companion here is Lucas. I want hopefully that you arrange with Marcos and have him accompany you when you come here. Because I’m sure he can do a lot to help me in my serving the Lord.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Only Luke remained here now. I want that you bring Mark when you come. Because Mark is the one I need here to work.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Japanese benefactives (kīte)

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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 benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

Here, kite (来て) or “come” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).” (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on 2 Timothy 4:11

Luke appears only three times in the New Testament (here, Col 4.14, and Philemon 24). Even though two of the books of the New Testament are identified as from the hand of Luke, the name of Luke does not appear in these books. The tradition that the author of the Gospel of Luke was a physician stems from identifying him with Luke “the beloved physician” in Col 4.14.

Get translates a verb that appears in 1 Tim 3.16, where the passive form is translated “taken up” to describe the ascension and exaltation of Christ. Here it has the sense of “take along” as a travel companion. For bring see “swayed” in 2 Tim 3.6. The verb should not be understood as implying force, but it does imply a certain amount of persuasion. Mark most probably refers to John Mark, cousin of Barnabas, who with Barnabas accompanied Paul during his first missionary journey (see Acts 13), and who was the reason for the split between Barnabas and Paul (see Acts 15.36-40). The tone of what is written here assumes that Mark is somewhere on the route between Ephesus and Rome, although it is not possible to be more precise. In many languages it will be more natural to express Get Mark and bring him with you as “Please locate (or, find) Mark and bring him with you.”

For useful see 2 Tim 2.21; for ministry see comments on “service” in 1 Tim 1.12.

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 4:11

4:11a

Only Luke is with me: This is another reason Paul asked Timothy to come to him. He did not have enough people to help him do all the work he wanted to do.

4:11b

Get Mark and bring him with you: Bible scholars are not sure where Mark was at this time. Apparently Timothy knew where he was. It also seems probable that Timothy would be able to go to the place where Mark was staying as he traveled on his way to Rome. The important point is that Paul wanted Timothy to contact Mark and to bring him to Rome.

4:11c

because he is useful to me in the ministry: This clause gives the reason why Paul wanted Timothy to bring Mark with him.

in the ministry: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in the ministry is literally “in service.” Paul probably meant that Mark could help him both in preaching and teaching the word of God Mark could also help Paul in personal and practical ways while Paul was a prisoner.

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Sung version of 2 Timothy 4

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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