Raising a Girl (image)

Painting by Wang Suda 王肅達 (1910-1963),
Copyright by the Catholic University Peking, China

Text under painting translated from Literary Chinese into English:
Raising a Girl
Proof that Jesus is the true God

Image taken from Chinese Christian Posters . For more information on the “Ars Sacra Pekinensis” school of art, see this article , for other artworks of that school in TIPs, see here.

relative age of James and John

Many languages have terms for siblings that define whether one is younger or older in relation to another sibling.

Dave Brunn reports this from the translation into Lamogai (see p. 141f. and 181f.):

“Some languages, including Lamogai, have two different words for brother. One means ‘older brother,’ and the other means ‘younger brother.’ In many cases, these languages do not have a generic word that includes both. Relating this to translation, which of the sons of Zebedee do you think was older, James or John? The Bible does not tell us, but there are some clues. The names James and John occur together about twenty times in the New Testament. In every occurrence, James is named first. Since there is not much else to go on, most translators who have faced this issue have considered this to be enough evidence to say James must be the older brother. Here is how we translated this pair of names in Matthew 17:1 in the Lamogai New Testament:

“‘Jems akap ino tikino Jon’ (‘James along-with his younger-brother John’)

“Technically, ‘tikino‘ means younger sibling of the same sex and ‘udikino‘ older sibling of the same sex. A man would refer to his older brother as ‘udikino‘ and his younger brother as ‘tikino.’ And a woman would use the same terms for her older and younger sisters. The term for opposite-sex sibling (either a man to his sister or a woman to her brother) is ‘luku.'” (Source for this paragraph: private communication from Dave Brunn)

In the translation into Oaxaca Chontal, the same principle is applied. (Source: Bratcher / Nida 1961)

The Chilcotin translators have tried to circumvent specifying which of the two is older, even though the language also uses age-specific terms for siblings. In Mark 1:19 and Mark 3:17 it says Zebedee beyiqi… (“Zebedee’s sons…”) and therefore avoids stating their respective age. Likewise in Mark 5:37 it says Peter hink´an ˀelhcheliqi James belh John (“Peter and brothers James and John”) (source: Quindel King).

See also Peter (Simon) / Andrew (relative age).

John the Evangelist (icon)

Following is a Bulgarian Orthodox icon of John the Evangelist from the 14th century (found in Rila Monastery, Bulgaria).

Orthodox Icons are not drawings or creations of imagination. They are in fact writings of things not of this world. Icons can represent our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. They can also represent the Holy Trinity, Angels, the Heavenly hosts, and even events. Orthodox icons, unlike Western pictures, change the perspective and form of the image so that it is not naturalistic. This is done so that we can look beyond appearances of the world, and instead look to the spiritual truth of the holy person or event. (Source )

See also John (the disciple).

John (the disciple)

The term that is transliterated as “John (the disciple)” in English is translated in American Sign Language with the sign for the letter J and the sign signifying “beloved,” referring to John 13:23 et al. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“John” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

In Swiss-German Sign Language it is translated with a sign that depicts John’s head resting on Jesus’ chest, referring to John 13:23.


“John” in Swiss-German Sign Language, source: DSGS-Lexikon biblischer Begriffe , © CGG Schweiz

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with with the sign for “young.” This refers to the traditional belief that he was the youngest of the apostles and the fact that he was younger than his brother James (see relative age of James and John. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“John” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

See also John the Evangelist (icon).

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: The Apostle John .

Mark 5:21-43 in Russian Sign Language

Following is the translation of Mark 5:21-43 into Russian Sign Language with a back-translation underneath:


Source: Russian Bible Society / Российское Библейское Общество

Jesus got into the boat and they sailed back. When they arrived, Jesus got out of the boat. There were a lot of people crowded together. One man named Jairus was in charge. He kept order in the synagogue — it was a house of prayer for the Jews who gathered there on the Sabbath. Jairus came to Jesus, knelt down and begged him, My daughter is dying. She is only twelve years old. Please come and touch my daughter with your hand and she will not die, she will be saved.

Jesus said: Let’s go.

And the two of them went. They went. There was a crowd of people around. In the crowd was a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. And they couldn’t cure her. She had gone to many doctors, spent a lot of money on treatment, but she was getting worse.

She thought: If I go to Jesus and just touch his clothes, I will be well.

She thought so and went. And there were a lot of people there. She made her way through the crowd and finally came close to Jesus. Jesus had on a long robe.

The woman thought, I just want to touch the edge of the robe!

She reached out and touched and realized that her bleeding stopped immediately. And she backed up. Jesus stopped. He felt his power had gone somewhere. He looked at the crowd and asked: Who touched my robe?

The disciples were puzzled and began to say to Jesus, Look how many people are here! And you ask who touched your clothes!

The woman was afraid. But then she decided to come out of the crowd. She knelt before Jesus and said: I have suffered from bleeding for twelve years, so I have come to touch your garment to get well.

Jesus said to her: O woman! Your faith that you dared to touch my garment, it has saved you. God is with you! Be at ease, your torment is over.

Then the men of Jairus’ house came and said, Your daughter is already dead. So you don’t need to bring Jesus to the house. Jairus was very upset.

Jesus heard and said to Jairus, Don’t be sad, keep on believing.

He told the crowd to disperse. Jesus took Jairus and the three disciples with him — Peter, John, and James. Jesus said: Come with me to Jairus’ house.

They went into Jairus’ house. There was a multitude of people there crying and shouting, The girl is dead!

Jesus came and said, There is no reason for you to cry! The girl is not dead, she is sleeping.

The people began to say to Jesus: Why are you mocking us? She is not sleeping, she is dead!

And they kept crying. Jesus told everyone to move out of the way, taking only the girl’s father and mother and his disciples with him, and they went into the room where the girl was lying. Jesus entered the room, looked at the twelve-year-old girl, took her by the hand and said: Girl, I command you — get up!

The girl immediately opened her eyes, stood up. The parents and the three disciples were amazed to see that she was alive. Jesus said, You don’t have to tell everyone that the girl came back to life after death. And feed the girl!

Original Russian back-translation (click or tap here):

Иисус сел в лодку, и они поплыли обратно. Когда они приплыли, Иисус вышел из лодки. Столпилось множество народа. Один человек по имени Иаир был начальником. Он следил за порядком в синагоге — это дом молитвы для евреев, которые собирались там по субботам. Иаир подошел к Иисусу, встал на колени и стал молить Его: Моя дочь при смерти. Ей всего двенадцать лет. Пожалуйста, приди, коснись рукой моей дочери, и она не умрет, будет спасена.

Иисус сказал: Пойдем.

И они пошли вдвоем. Они пошли. Вокруг была толпа народа. В толпе была одна женщина, которая уже двенадцать лет болела кровотечением. И никак не могли ее вылечить. Она ходила по многим врачам, истратила на лечение много-много денег, но ей становилось только хуже.

Она подумала так: Если я подойду к Иисусу и хотя бы только прикоснусь к Его одежде, то я буду здорова.

Она так подумала и пошла. А там было очень много народа. Она пробиралась сквозь толпу, наконец, приблизилась к Иисусу. У Иисуса была длинная одежда.

Женщина подумала: Мне бы только края одежды коснуться!

Она протянула руку и дотронулась и поняла, что у нее кровотечение остановилось тут же. И она попятилась назад. Иисус остановился. Он почувствовал, что его сила куда-то ушла. Он посмотрел на толпу и спросил: Кто прикоснулся к моей одежде?

Ученики в недоумении стали говорить Иисусу: Посмотри, сколько здесь народу! И ты спрашиваешь, кто дотронулся до твоей одежды?!

Женщина боялась. Но потом все-таки решилась выйти из толпы. Она встала на колени перед Иисусом и сказала: Я в течение двенадцати лет страдаю от кровотечений, поэтому я пришла, чтобы дотронуться до твоей одежды, чтобы выздороветь.

Иисус сказал ей: О женщина! Твоя вера, что ты решилась дотронуться до моей одежды, она спасла тебя. Бог с тобою! Будь спокойна, твои мучения закончились.

Тут пришли люди из дома Иаира и говорят: Твоя дочь уже умерла. Поэтому ненужно уже приводить в дом Иисуса. Иаир очень расстроился.

Иисус, услышав, сказал Иаиру: Не печалься! Продолжай верить!

Он велел толпе расступиться. Иисус взял с собой Иаира и трех учеников — Петр, Иоанн, Иаков. Иисус сказал: Пойдем со мной в дом Иаира.

Они вошли в дом Иаира. Там было множество народа, которые плакали и кричали: Девочка умерла!

Иисус подошел и сказал: Нет причины вам плакать! Девочка не умерла, она спит.

Люди стали говорить Иисусу: Ты что же издеваешься над нами? Она не спит, она умерла!

И они продолжали плакать. Иисус велел всем отойти в сторону, взял с собой только отца и мать девочки и своих учеников, и они пошли в комнату, где лежала девочка. Иисус вошел в комнату, посмотрел на двенадцатилетнюю девочку, взял ее за руку и сказал: Девочка, я повелеваю тебе — вставай!

Девочка тут же открыла глаза, встала. Родители и три ученика изумились, видя, что она жива. Иисус сказал: Не нужно всем рассказывать, что девочка ожила после смерти. И покормите девочку!

Back-translation by Luka Manevich

<< Mark 5:1-20 in Russian Sign Language
Mark 6:1-6 in Russian Sign Language >>

Mark 5:21-43 in Mexican Sign Language

Following is the translation of Mark 5:21-43 into Mexican Sign Language with back-translations into Spanish and English underneath:


© La Biblia en LSM / La Palabra de Dios

Retrotraducciones en español (haga clic o pulse aquí)

El barco iba y cuando llegó Jesús y los discípulos salieron del barco y muchas personas venían, una multitud se atestaba.

Un hombre, (llamado) Jairo, un líder del templo, vio a Jesús y caminó hacia él entre la multitud y se arrodilló.

Dijo: “Jesús, mi hija de doce años de edad está por morir, pon las manos sobre ella y la vida de mi hija será salvo, ¡por favor ven!”

Jesús acordó y Jairo se paró, y muchas personas, una gran multitud, fueron con ellos.

Dentro (de la multitud), por detrás una mujer desconocida que tenía una enfermedad de menstruación, perdiendo sangre, vio a Jesús y caminó hacia él, haciendo un paso por la multitud.

La mujer agarró la ropa de Jesús y alivió, estaba sana.

Jesús sentía que curación había salido de él y miraba alrededor: “¿Quién tocó mi ropa?”

Los discípulos (pensaron que era) absurdo y dijeron: “Tú sabes que hay muchas personas atestandose, ¿cómo (sabes) que uno te toca?”

Jesús miraba alrededor de él y la mujer lo vio: caray, y miedosa con las rodillas temblando se acercó a él y se arrodilló, y dijo: “yo agarré tu ropa, porque antes estaba sangrando de mi regla por doce años.

He ido a diferentes doctores, pero ellos (dijeron): “Perdón, no sabemos”, he gastado todo mi dinero, pero sufría peor y peor del sangrado de menstruación.

Después vi todas las personas que me lo decían y yo lo creía que tú, Jesús, puedes sanar, y yo tan sólo agarré tu ropa y estoy sana, por eso.”

Jesús la miraba y sentía cariño (y dijo): “Tu fe ya te sanó, ahora ya no sigues enferma, basta, vete tranquilamente.”

Por allá venía un grupo de gente, y dijeron a Jairo: “Dile a Jesús que ya no lo molestes, dejalo, porque tu hija ya ha muerto.”

Jesús lo oyó y se volteó a verlo y le dijo: “Jairo, no te desesperes, ten fe, un momentito: ¡vengan Pedro, Jacobo y Juan, vengan!”

El grupo fue a la casa y Jesús miraba alrededor de él y vio a las personas desesperadas, llorando y gritando. Jesus dijo: “¿Porqué gritan y lloran? La niña no está muerta, sólo está dormida.”

Las personas (pensaban que era) absurdo, y ahora se reían. Jesús miraba alrededor de él (y dijo que) todos se fueran, y la multitud se alejaba.

Jesús llamó Jairo, su esposa y los tres discípulos y el grupo entró el cuarto.

Jesús miró a la niña prostrada en la cama y caminó hacia ella, le agarró de la mano y dijo: “Talita cum”, que significa: “Te dijo, niña que te levantes.” La niña abrió los ojos y se levantó y caminaba.

Los padres y los discípulos estaban asombrados y asustados, Jesús les advirtió: “Todas las personas no saben (lo que pasó) y uds. no les cuenten, guarden silencio, es un secreto.”

Dijo: “Ahora dale comida a tu hija.”


The boat sailed and when it arrived Jesus and the disciples got out and many people came, a great crowd thronged them.

A man (named) Jairus, a leader of the temple, saw Jesus and walked up to him through the crowd and knelt down.

He said: “Jesus, my daughter who is twelve years old is dying, lay your hands on her and her life will be saved, please come!”

Jesus agreed and Jairus got up and many people, a great crowd, went with them.

From within (the crowd), from behind a strange woman who had an menstruation illness so that she was bleeding, saw Jesus and walked up to him, making a way through the crowd.

The woman took hold of Jesus’ clothes and she was relieved, healed.

Jesus felt that healing had gone out of him and he looked around: “Who touched my clothes?”

The disciples (thought it) absurd and said: “You know that many people are crowding around, how (do you know) that one touched you?”

Jesus kept looking around and the woman saw it: Ay, and with shaky knees, faint hearted, she approached him and knelt down and said: “I took hold of your clothes, because I have had menstruation bleeding for twelve years.

“I have been to various doctors, but they (said): ‘Sorry, we don’t know,’ I have spent all my money, but I suffered worse and worse from the menstruation bleeding.

“Afterwards I saw all these people and they told me, and I believed it, that you Jesus can heal, and I merely took hold of your clothes, and I was healed, that’s why.”

Jesus looked at her and felt affection (and said): “Your faith has healed you, now you will no longer be sick, it’s enough, go peacefully.”

Over there came a group of people and they told Jairus: “Tell Jesus that you will not bother him anymore, leave it, because you your daughter has died.”

Jesus heard him and turned around to look at him and said: “Jairus, don’t despair, have faith, just a moment: Come Peter, James and John, come here!”

The group went to the house and Jesus looked around and saw the people in despair, crying and wailing. Jesus said: “Why are you wailing and crying? The girl is not dead, she is just asleep.”

The people (thought it was) ridiculous, and now they were laughing. Jesus looked around (and told) them all to go away, and the whole crowd went away.

Jesus beckoned Jairus, his wife and the three disciples and the group entered the room.

Jesus looked at the girl lying on the bed and walked over to her, took her by the hand and said: “Talita cum”, which means: “I tell you, girl, to get up.” The girl opened her eyes, got up and walked around.

The parents and the disciples were amazed and shocked and Jesus warned them: “All the people don’t know (what has happened) and don’t tell them, keep silent, it’s a secret.”

He said: “Now give your daughter something to eat.”

Source: La Biblia en LSM / La Palabra de Dios

<< Mark 5:6-20 in Mexican Sign Language
Mark 6:1-6 in Mexican Sign Language >>

Peter

Following is a Armenian Orthodox icon of Peter (found in the Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shusha, Azerbaijan).

Orthodox Icons are not drawings or creations of imagination. They are in fact writings of things not of this world. Icons can represent our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. They can also represent the Holy Trinity, Angels, the Heavenly hosts, and even events. Orthodox icons, unlike Western pictures, change the perspective and form of the image so that it is not naturalistic. This is done so that we can look beyond appearances of the world, and instead look to the spiritual truth of the holy person or event. (Source )

Following is a hand colored stencil print on momigami of Peter by Sadao Watanabe (1970):

Image taken with permission from the SadaoHanga Catalogue where you can find many more images and information about Sadao Watanabe. For other images of Sadao Watanabe art works in TIPs, see here.

In Finnish Sign Language it is translated with the sign signifying “key” (referring to Matthew 16:19). (Source: Tarja Sandholm)


“Peter” or “Cephas” in Finnish Sign Language (source )

In Swiss-German Sign Language it is translated with the sign for “rock,” referring to the meaning of the Greek word for “Peter.”


“Peter” in Swiss-German Sign Language, source: DSGS-Lexikon biblischer Begriffe , © CGG Schweiz

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

See also Peter – rock.

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Peter .