gospel

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In choosing a word for the Greek that is typically translated as “gospel” in English, a number of languages construct a phrase meaning “good news,” “joyful report” or “happiness-bringing words.” In some instances such a phrase may be slightly expanded in order to convey the proper meaning, e.g. “new good word” (Tzotzil), or it may involve some special local usage:

  • “good story” (Navajo (Dinė))
  • “joyful telling” (Tausug)
  • “joyful message” (Toraja-Sa’dan) (source for this and all above: Bratcher / Nida)
  • cohuen ñoñets or “message of God” (Shilluk) (source: Nida 1964, p. 237)
  • “good news” (Yanesha’) (source: Martha Duff in Holzhausen 1991, p. 11)
  • “voice of good spirit” (San Blas Kuna) (source: Claudio and Marvel Iglesias in The Bible Translator 1951, p. 85ff. )
  • suviśēṣattinṟe (0സുവിശേഷം) or “good narrative” (Malayalam)
  • susmachar (ସୁସମାଚାର) or “good matter” (Odia)
  • suvārteya (ಸುವಾರ್ತೆಯ) or “good word” (Kannada) (source for this and two above: Y.D. Tiwari in The Bible Translator 1962, p. 132ff. )
  • the German das Buch translation by Roland Werner (publ. 2009-2022) translates as “all-transformative good news” (alles verändernde gute Botschaft), also “good news,” and the German translation by Fridolin Stier (1989) as “message of salvation” (Heilsbotschaft)
Vitaly Voinov tells this story about the translation into Rutul (click or tap here to see the rest of this insight):

“In Rutul, it was only during the most recent consultant checking session that I realized that the Rutul word for Gospel – Incir (from Arabic إنجيل — Injil) — sounds and looks exactly like the word that means ‘fig’ in Rutul. This is a case of homonymy, in which two completely non-related words from differing historical sources have come to sound exactly alike. Most Rutul speakers know that incir means ‘fig’ because they grow this fruit in their yard or buy it at the market every week. However, because the religious sphere of discourse was heavily disparaged during the Soviet era, most people simply never encountered Incir with the meaning of ‘Gospel.’ This meaning of the word, which Rutuls of the pre-Soviet era knew from the Koran, simply fell into disuse and never had much reason for returning into contemporary Rutul since there is no Christian church established among the people. So if the translator continues to use the term Incir as the rendering for ‘Gospel,’ he runs the risk that most readers will, at best, read the word with a smile because they know that it also means ‘fig,’ and, at worst, will completely misunderstand the word. The seemingly ‘easy’ solution in this case is for the translator to use a Rutul neologism meaning ‘Joyful Message’ or ‘Good News,’ [see above] instead of Incir; but in fact it is not all that easy to make this change if the translator himself insists on using the historical word because at least some Rutuls still understand it as meaning ‘Gospel.’ This is a situation in which the translation team has to gradually grow into the understanding that a fully intelligible translation of Scripture is preferable to one that maintains old words at the cost of alienating much of the readership.”

For “good news,” see also Isaiah 52:7.

brother (fellow believer)

The Greek that is translated in English as “brother” or “brother and sister” (in the sense of fellow believers), is translated with a specifically coined word in Kachin: “There are two terms for brother in Kachin. One is used to refer to a Christian brother. This term combines ‘older and younger brother.’ The other term is used specifically for addressing siblings. When one uses this term, one must specify if the older or younger person is involved. A parallel system exists for ‘sister’ as well. In [these verses], the term for ‘a Christian brother’ is used.” (Source: Gam Seng Shae)

In Matumbi is is translated as alongo aumini or “relative-believer.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific notes in Paratext)

In Martu Wangka it is translated as “relative” (this is also the term that is used for “follower.”) (Source: Carl Gross)

In the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) it is often translated as Mitchristen or “fellow Christians.”

See also brothers.

complete verse (Philippians 1:12)

Following are a number of back-translations of Philippians 1:12:

  • Uma: “So, so that you know, relatives, even though I am in prison here, I am still glad, for because-of my being imprisoned here, more-and-more people are hearing the Good News anyway.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “My brothers who trust in Isa Almasi, my wish is that you know that all that happens to me will result in good. (lit. comes home to good) For the good news about Isa Almasi is increasingly spreading.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Brothers, it’s my desire that you understand that all of the hard things that have happened to me are not bad, but rather good because they have helped me to spread the Good News.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “I want to make-known to you my siblings that the result of what has happened to me has not been bad but rather good, because the good news is increasingly becoming-known nevertheless.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “My siblings in believing, I want you to know that as for this which has happened to me, it’s been a big help to the spreading of this Good News.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Listen brothers, I want that you know that all that I have gone through has been the cause of having made known the good news even more.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Philippians 1:12

My brothers is Paul’s favorite way of describing his fellow believers in the Christian community. Though in a number of languages it is possible to identify fellow believers by such a phrase, in other languages a different kinship term with practically the same meaning may be employed, for example, “my close relations” or “you of the same family with me.” In some languages, however, one may need to use such a phrase as “my fellow believers” or “you who also believe together with me.”

The things that have happened to me is sometimes translated as “my present situation” (Bruce). It refers to the apostle’s arrest and imprisonment and may be expressed as “what I have experienced” or even “what I have suffered.”

The word translated progress, which appears again in verse 25, is a military metaphor describing a scout who identifies and, if possible, removes obstacles before an advancing army. This word signifies advancement in spite of the dangers and obstacles which block the way of the traveler.

The progress must often be stated in terms of the greater number of people hearing or believing. The verb helped in this context indicates primarily a causative relation, and for that reason one can translate “caused more and more people to hear,” or “… to believe.”

Quoted with permission from Luo, I-Jin. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1977. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Philippians 1:12

Section 1:12–18d

Paul rejoiced that people continued to preach the gospel even though he was in prison

Paul explained in 1:12–18d the way the fact that he was in prison had affected other people. Paul believed that God was working in everything that happened to him. He saw something good happening when people preached about Christ, even when they preached for the wrong reasons. Some of the Christians apparently taught about Christ because they were jealous of Paul’s reputation as a teacher. But Paul was still happy because people were telling the good news about Christ.

Paragraph 1:12–14

Paul wrote that even though he was in prison, the gospel message was spreading.

1:12a

Now I want you to know: Paul pointed out that things had happened opposite to what the Philippians might have expected.

Now: Paul is starting a new subject or topic. In Greek this is marked by a particle, de, that the Berean Standard Bible has translated Now. If in your language there is a way to mark a transition or change of topic, you should use it here. Several English translations have left it implicit (New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, Good News Translation), and this may be acceptable in your language. However, avoid translating the word literally. Its sense here is not as a time word.

brothers: The term brothers occurs here and also in 3:1, 3:13, 3:17, 4:1, 4:8. It refers to other Christians, fellow believers, not to literal brothers. You might translate this as “brothers and sisters,” “older and younger siblings” or “relatives.” But in some languages people use kinship terms only in the literal sense. If this is true in your language, a phrase such as “fellow Christians” or “fellow believers” would be better here. Whatever term you choose should be used consistently throughout the Bible whenever brothers is used to address other Christians.

In some languages it is necessary to put a term of address such as brothers at the beginning of the sentence. You should place this term wherever it is most natural in your language.

1:12b

my circumstances have actually served to advance the gospel: The bad things that had happened to Paul did not prevent people from hearing the good news about Jesus Christ. Rather, they caused more people to hear the good news.

my circumstances: Paul did not specify what events he was thinking of here. Perhaps he was referring to his imprisonment generally or to something more specific. However, there is no way to be certain, so you should not try to make this event explicit here.

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