Japanese benefactives (ataete)

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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, ataete (与えて) or “give” 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 Galatians 2:20

So that translates a Greek connective which could be rendered either as “but” or as “and.” Most translators take the connective to be continuative, indicating that what follows is a further explanation of the previous verse, and not adversative to it (for the adversative, compare King James Version “nevertheless, I live,” Knox “and yet I am alive”).

In it is no longer I who live, Paul may be saying that under the old system of the Law, the “I” was prominent, it was the “I” that lived. To depend on the Law is to put emphasis on one’s own powers to do what it requires. Instead of that, it is now Christ who lives in him. “Christ in me” is as intimate as the converse expression “in Christ.” Many languages do not have a so-called expletive such as it which may occur at the beginning of a clause and refer to something occurring later in the same clause. However, the same idea may be expressed as “the one who is living is no longer I,” or “I am not the one who is still living, but Christ is the one who is living in me.”

It is impossible in some languages to speak of “living a life,” and therefore one cannot translate literally this life that I live now. One may, however, translate as “the way I live now,” “the manner in which I live,” or “how I am now living.”

The next statement makes the previous one much clearer: Paul’s new life is based on faith in the Son of God. The Son of God is one of the titles which the early Christians used to refer to Jesus Christ. Again, faith is trust in and commitment to Christ. By faith in the Son of God may be rendered as “by trusting in God’s Son,” or “by putting my confidence in God’s Son.”

Paul mentions two acts of Christ: (1) who loved me and (2) gave his life for me. The word for “love” here suggests unmerited, undeserved, self-giving love, while the word for “give” suggests Christ’s voluntary surrender of himself to die on the cross (compare Phillips “sacrificed himself for me”; New English Bible “gave himself up for me”). This dying is now identified as a dying for me, that is, Christ’s act on the cross is intensely personal; it is as if he died for Paul alone, but there is nothing self-centered in Paul’s statement.

In some languages it is quite impossible to speak of “giving one’s life.” One can, however, “willingly die” or “willingly suffer death.”

For me may be indicated as a benefactive in a number of languages, for example, “for my benefit.” But in other instances it may be necessary to translate as “in order to help me.”

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1976. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 2:20

2:20a

Some English versions (such as the Contemporary English Version, Good News Translation, and New Jerusalem Bible) put the clause “I have been crucified with Christ” at the end of 2:19 rather than at the beginning of 2:20. You should follow the example of the national version when you decide in what verse to place these words.

I have been crucified with Christ: This clause is a metaphor. In this metaphor, Paul compared freedom from his previous life under the law to Christ’s death. They are similar in that both experienced the end of the law.

Paul did not physically die on a cross with Christ. He did not die at the same time as Christ.

Some ways to translate this metaphor are:

• Keep the metaphor. This is what most English versions do. For example:

I have been nailed to the cross with Christ. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
I was put to death on the cross with Christ (New Century Version)
-or-
My old self has been crucified with Christ. (New Living Translation (2004))

• Translate it as a simile. For example:

It is as if I have died with Christ on the cross

Do not try to make explicit who crucified Paul.

2:20b

and I no longer live: This clause continues the metaphor. In this metaphor, Paul compared freedom from his previous life under the law to no longer being alive. Obviously, Paul was still living when he wrote this, but his old self was no longer living. The person who was under the law was no longer alive.

In Greek, the pronoun I is emphasized.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

and as for me, I live no longer
-or-
it’s as if I myself am no longer alive
-or-
it’s as if I am not alive
-or-
I have died (Contemporary English Version)

but Christ lives in me: In this clause, Paul clearly stated that the source of his life is Christ. In the same way that he died with Christ, he lives with Christ.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

rather it is Christ who lives in me
-or-
instead Christ makes me alive
-or-
but Christ is the one who lives in me

2:20c

The life I live in the body: This whole clause refers to living here on earth.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

My life now
-or-
The way I now live
-or-
During my time here on the earth
-or-
The things that I now do

See flesh, Meaning 2 in the Glossary.

I live by faith in the Son of God: The phrase by faith means “by believing” or “by trusting.” Whatever Paul does, he does it while trusting in Jesus, the Son of God.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

I live by means of trusting in the Son of God
-or-
I am alive through trust in the Son of God
-or-
it’s possible because I believe in the Son of God
-or-
it is based on my faith in the Son of God
-or-
I live believing in the Son of God

See faith, Meaning 1, in the Glossary.

the Son of God: The phrase the Son of God is a title for Jesus. This title indicates that Jesus has the same nature and character as God. It also indicates that the relationship between God the Father and Jesus, his Son, is similar in some way to the relationship between human fathers and sons. God the Father does not have a physical body. He did not have a sexual relationship that resulted in Mary becoming pregnant and giving birth to Jesus.

Some ways to translate this phrase are:

Jesus Christ, God’s Son
-or-
the Son of God, Jesus Christ

Jesus is referred to as “His Son” (God’s Son) in 1:16. For further information, see the note on that phrase at 1:16.

2:20d

who loved me: This clause describes the Son of God. Be careful that the way you translate this clause does not imply that God had another son who does not love Paul.

Some ways to translate this clause are:

who showed his love for me
-or-
Jesus/He loved me

and gave Himself up for me: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as gave Himself up for me refers to Christ choosing to die for Paul.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

and gave his life for me
-or-
and chose to die for me
-or-
sacrificed himself for me (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
took the punishment for my sins (God’s Word)

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