complete verse (2 Timothy 4:12)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Timothy 4:12:

  • Uma: “Tikhikus I ordered / am ordering to go [to where you are–implied in verb] to Efesus.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “I commanded Tikikus to go to Epesus.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “I have sent Tychicus to the town of Ephesus.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “I have sent Tikicus to Efeso.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “As for Tiquico, I sent him to Efeso.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Concerning Tychicus, I sent him to the city of Ephesus.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 2 Timothy 4:12

The name Tychicus literally means “fortunate.” It is found here and in four other places in the New Testament (Acts 20.4; Col 4.7; Titus 3.12; Eph 6.21). Once again it is very hard to be certain as to whether all these verses are referring to the same person. From these references we gather that Tychicus is a Gentile Christian from the Roman province of Asia and was with Paul on his journey to Jerusalem. One can of course wonder whether he is being sent to Ephesus to take Timothy’s place, since Timothy is leaving shortly for Jerusalem.

I have sent is taken by some to be an epistolary aorist, which means that at the time of writing, Tychicus has not yet left for Ephesus but will have left by the time Timothy receives the letter. So in some languages one must translate “I am about to send….” For Ephesus see 1 Tim 1.3 (note also the map, page 6|fig:Map_Paul-12.jpg).

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 4:12

4:12

Tychicus…I have sent to Ephesus: Tychicus was another one of Paul’s co-workers. He apparently had been in Rome before Paul told him to go to Ephesus. So Tychicus was yet another person who was no longer with Paul. This is a reason why Paul wanted Timothy to come and bring Mark along to help him.

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Commentaire sur la traduction de 2 Timothée 4.12

Le commentaire sur les compagnons de Paul continue, litt. « Et Tychique j’ai envoyé à Éphèse ». En effet, l’apôtre dirige à la fois plusieurs activités au sein de plusieurs communautés à la fois. Dans certaines langues, on dirait, « Et quant à Tychique, je l’ai envoyé… »

J’ai envoyé Tychique à Éphèse : le verbe envoyé est apparenté au nom « apôtre » (qui signifie lui-même « envoyé »). Il est ici à l’aoriste qui pourra être interprété soit comme un futur, « je suis sur le point d’envoyer », soit comme un passé, comme dans la majorité des versions. Certains biblistes pensent que Paul est en train d’envoyer Tychique au moment d’écrire cette lettre. Celui-ci sera, bien sûr, arrivé au moment de la lecture de cette lettre par Timothée.

Tychique (qui veut dire « fortuné ») est mentionné en Act 20.4 ; Col 4.7 ; Tite 3.12 et Éph 6.21. Né en Asie Mineure, il semble d’origine païenne. Il est possible que Paul l’envoie à Éphèse pour remplacer Timothée, qui doit bientôt rejoindre Paul.

Source: Zogbo, Lynell & Ellingworth, Paul La deuxième lettre à Timothée – Manuel de traduction – Commentaire linguistique et exégétique de la Bible. Alliance biblique universelle, 2021.