Christ Jesus

In the instances where the Greek New Testament says Christos Iēsous (Χριστὸς Ἰησοῦς) rather than the more common Iēsous Christos and English translations typically translate as “Christ Jesus,” the Bokyi translation says Jisos Karâs or “Jesus Christ.”

Paul Bruns explains (in The Bible Translator 1986, p. 234ff. ):

“Bokyi is a rather small language in the Cross River State of Nigeria. In one Bokyi village named Bansan the oldest man’s name is Otu Obyi. There is another man in another Bokyi village named Obyi Otu. Even though these two men share the same names every Bokyi person knows that they are two different people because of the order in which their names are used.

“If you are a translator and your language uses this same method of naming people, you can not sometimes write Jesus Christ in your translation and sometimes write Christ Jesus, and still refer to the same person. It will refer to two different people. You should always write Jesus Christ or Christ Jesus, but not both. You will have to decide which order is the most natural in your language.”

Paul (icon)

Following is a Georgian Orthodox icon of Paul the Apostle from the 14th century (located in the Art Museum of Georgia, Tbilisi).

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 Paul.

Philemon 1:8 - 12 in Mexican Sign Language

Following is the translation of Philemon 1:8-12 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)

Cristo me ha entregado la autoridad, podría mandarte, pero es mejor que no.

Ya estoy viejo y todavía me quedo aquí en la cárcel. Por servir a Jesucristo me arrestaron y me metieron en la cárcel.

Por favor, mi amigo querido, ese hombre Onésimo es como mi hijo. Me visitaba varias veces y le enseñaba a creer en Dios.

Sé que antes opinabas, Filemón, que Onésimo era inútil, pero ahora sí es útil para nosotros dos.

Yo tengo mucho cariño para él, y ahora le envío a ti, para que estén juntos otra vez.


Christ has given me the authority, I could order you,but it’s better that I don’t.

I am already old and I am still here in prison. Because of serving Jesus Christ they arrested me and put me in prison.

Please my beloved friend, this man Onesimus is like my son. He visited me several times in prison and I taught him to believe in God.

I know that you used to think, Philemon, that Onesimus was useless, but now he is useful to both of us.

I love him very much, and now I send him to you so you can be together again.

Source: La Biblia en LSM / La Palabra de Dios

<< Philemon 1:4-7 in Mexican Sign Language

Philemon 1:13-16 in Mexican Sign Language >>

Paul

The term that is transliterated as “Paul” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that signifies the many letters he wrote. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


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

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign depicting putting away a sword, referring to his conversion from a persecutor of Christians to a Christian leader. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Paul (and Saul)” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Paul (source: Bible Lands 2012)

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 Paul (icon).

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Paul .

complete verse (Philemon 1:9)

Following are a number of back-translations of Philemon 1:9:

  • Uma: “and I Paulus, [am] an old person and [am] now in prison because of my work for Kristus Yesus. But remembering the greatness of your love, relative, I think/say I won’t command you. I will just request.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But I only request-of/appeal-to you because I love you and because I, Paul, am an old man already and now I am here in prison because I follow/obey Isa Almasi.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “however, because you are very dear to my breath, I will just beg you. As for me, Paul, the older person and now prisoner also because of my faith in Christ,” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “but rather I will plead-with you (sing.) because of love. I do this even though I am Pablo who am already an-old-man and am moreover imprisoned because of Cristo.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “however, I will not do this. Rather because of this valuing of yours I am initiating-an-agreement with you, I who am Pablo who am old now and furthermore being-imprisoned because of my standing up for Cristo Jesus.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “But I ask you the favor because I love you. I, Paul, am now an old man and I am in prison because I speak the word about Jesus Christ.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Christ, Messiah

The Greek Christos (Χρηστός) is typically transliterated when it appears together with Iésous (Ἰησοῦς) (Jesus). In English the transliteration is the Anglicized “Christ,” whereas in many other languages it is based on the Greek or Latin as “Kristus,” “Cristo,” or similar.

When used as a descriptive term in the New Testament — as it’s typically done in the gospels (with the possible exceptions of for instance John 1:17 and 17:3) — Christos is seen as the Greek translation of the Hebrew mashiaḥ (המשיח‎) (“anointed”). Accordingly, a transliteration of mashiaḥ is used, either as “Messiah” or based on the Greek or Latin as a form of “Messias.”

This transliteration is also used in the two instances where the Greek term Μεσσίας (Messias) is used in John 1:41 and 4:25.

In some languages and some translations, the term “Messiah” is supplemented with an explanation. Such as in the German Gute Nachricht with “the Messiah, the promised savior” (Wir haben den Messias gefunden, den versprochenen Retter) or in Muna with “Messiah, the Saving King” (Mesias, Omputo Fosalamatino) (source: René van den Berg).

In predominantly Muslim areas or for Bible translations for a Muslim target group, Christos is usually transliterated from the Arabic al-Masih (ٱلْمَسِيحِ) — “Messiah.” In most cases, this practice corresponds with languages that also use a form of the Arabic Isa (عيسى) for Jesus (see Jesus). There are some exceptions, though, including modern translations in Arabic which use Yasua (يَسُوعَ) (coming from the Aramaic Yēšūa’) alongside a transliteration of al-Masih, Hausa which uses Yesu but Almahisu, and some Fula languages (Adamawa Fulfulde, Nigerian Fulfulde, and Central-Eastern Niger Fulfulde) which also use a form of Iésous (Yeesu) but Almasiihu (or Almasiifu) for Christos.

In Indonesian, while most Bible translations had already used Yesus Kristus rather than Isa al Masih, three public holidays used to be described using the term Isa Al Masih. From 2024 on, the government is using Yesus Kristus in those holiday names instead (see this article in Christianity Today ).

Other solutions that are used by a number of languages include these:

  • Dobel: “The important one that God had appointed to come” (source: Jock Hughes)
  • Noongar: Keny Mammarap or “The One Man” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Mairasi: “King of not dying for life all mashed out infinitely” (for “mashed out,” see salvation; source: Lloyd Peckham)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “One chosen by God to rule mankind” (source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Bacama: Ma Pwa a Ngɨltən: “The one God has chosen” (source: David Frank in this blog post )
  • Binumarien: Anutuna: originally a term that was used for a man that was blessed by elders for a task by the laying on of hands (source: Desmond Oatridges, Holzhausen 1991, p. 49f.)
  • Noongar: Keny Boolanga-Yira Waangki-Koorliny: “One God is Sending” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uab Meto: Neno Anan: “Son of heaven” P. Middelkoop explains: “The idea of heavenly power bestowed on a Timorese king is rendered in the title Neno Anan. It is based on the historical fact that chiefs in general came from overseas and they who come thence are believed to have come down from heaven, from the land beyond the sea, that means the sphere of God and the ghosts of the dead. The symbolical act of anointing has been made subservient to the revelation of an eternal truth and when the term Neno Anan is used as a translation thereof, it also is made subservient to a new revelation of God in Jesus Christ. The very fact that Jesus came from heaven makes this translation hit the mark.” (Source: P. Middelkoop in The Bible Translator 1953, p. 183ff. )

In Finnish Sign Language both “Christ” and “Messiah” are translated with sign signifying “king.” (Source: Tarja Sandholm)


“Christ / Messiah” in Finnish Sign Language (source )

Law (2013, p. 97) writes about how the Ancient Greek Septuagint‘s translation of the Hebrew mashiah was used by the New Testament writers as a bridge between the Old and New Testaments (click or tap here to read more):

“Another important word in the New Testament that comes from the Septuagint is christos, ‘Christ.’ Christ is not part of the name of the man from Nazareth, as if ‘the Christs’ were written above the door of his family home. Rather, ‘Christ’ is an explicitly messianic title used by the writers of the New Testament who have learned this word from the Septuagint’s translation of the Hebrew mashiach, ‘anointed,’ which itself is often rendered in English as ‘Messiah.’ To be sure, one detects a messianic intent on the part of the Septuagint translator in some places. Amos 4:13 may have been one of these. In the Hebrew Bible, God ‘reveals his thoughts to mortals,’ but the Septuagint has ‘announcing his anointed to humans.’ A fine distinction must be made, however, between theology that was intended by the Septuagint translators and that developed by later Christian writers. In Amos 4:13 it is merely possible we have a messianic reading, but it is unquestionably the case that the New Testament writers exploit the Septuagint’s use of christos, in Amos and elsewhere, to messianic ends.”

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Christ .

Performing Philemon from a Caribbean Perspective

The following is a translation for a performance of the book of Philemon in Papiamento and its English translation. The translation is interspersed with a provocative fictional response by the historical character of Tula, the Curaçaoan revolt leader of 1795, juxtaposing the subtle liberating message of Paul with a revolutionary approach. This is followed by a video showing the performance:

1 Esaki ta karta
1 This is [a] letter

di Pablo,
from Paul,

i di ruman Timoteo,
From sibling Timothy

Pablo prezu pa kousa di Kristu-Hesus;
Paul imprisoned for the cause of Christ-Jesus

ta pa Filemon, kompañer’i trabou,
it is for Philemon, fellow of work

2 ta pa Iglesia, reuní na su kas.
2 It is for the church, gathered at his house

Karta tambe pa Apfia, nos ruman muhé,
Letter also to Apphia, our sibling female

Karta tambe pa Argipo, kompañer’i lucha.
Letter also for Archippus fellow of fight

Click or tap here to see the rest of this translation as well as the video performance

3 Dios nos Tata, duna boso
3 God the Father give you

Señor Hesu-Kristu duna boso
Lord Jesus-Christ give you

grasia i pas.
grace and peace

     Filemon, Filemon,
     Philemon, Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
     Have you not heard (then) Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Lesa mi ta lesa den karta sagrado
     Read I do read in holy letter

     Ta ku masha kachèt mester kumindá bo
     (that) with lots of respect you have to be greeted

     Pa kombensébo ku hende ta util
     (so as to) convince you that (a) human being is useful

     Hende ta mas k’util.
     (A) Human being is more than useful

4 Mi Dios mi ta gradisí,
4 My God I do thank

Ora mi kòrdabo den mi orashon,
When I remember you in my prayer

5 pasobra hopi fe den Señor Hesus bo tin
because lots of faith in (the) Lord Jesus you have

Segun mi a tende,
From what I hear

Stimashon pa Dios su pueblo bo tin.
Love for God his people you have.

6 Mi ta resa, pa e fe
I pray for the faith

ku bo ta kompartí ku otro kreyente,
that you share with other believers,

hiba na komprondementu berdadero di tur kos bon
lead to understanding true of all good things

ku pa Kristu nos por hasi.
that for Christ we can do

7 Mi ruman, bo amor
7 My sibling, your love

a hasi mi mashá kontentu
has made me very happy

kurashá mi hopi,
encouraged me a lot

pasobra el a sirbi pa animá kurason di e rumannan.
Because he has to animate (the) heart of the siblings.

     Filemon, Filemon,
     Philemon, Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
     Have you not heard (then) Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Ta trasta mester trasta ku bo
     Flatter has to flatter you

     Hunta stropi na bo boka
     Put honey at your mouth

     Pa por bisa bo ku bo ta mal robes
     So as to say that you are badly wrong

     Pa por bisa bo ku bo ta mal brua
     So as to say that you are badly confused

8 P’esei derecho mi tin di bisa bo kiko hasi,
8 That is why with what right I have to tell you what to do,

Ora mi apelá na Kristu.
When I appeal to Christ.

9 Tòg a base di amor,
9 Though on (the) basis of love,

un petishon mi ta preferá hasi na bo.
A petition I prefer to do to you.

Ami, Pablo un hòmber bieu kaba,
I, Paul a man old already

asta prezu awor pa kousa di Kristu
even imprisoned now for (the) cause of Christ

10 Mi ke pidi bo pa mi yu Onésimo;
10 I want to ask you for my son Onesimus;

ta den prisón mi a bira su tata spiritual.
it is in prison that I have become his spiritual father.

11 Un tempu e no tabata sirbi bo pa nada,
11 A time he was not useful for anything

pero awor el a bira útil pa nos tur dos,
but now he has become useful to two of us,

manera su nòmber mes ta nifiká.
just as his name means.

     Filemon, Filemon,
     Philemon, Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
     Have you not heard (then) Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Pachi7 Pablo pone preshon
     Old man Paul put pressure

     Pachi Pablo no papia ko’I kèns
     Old man Paul do not speak foolishness

     Ku trabou’i katibu n’ ta bal nada
     (to say) that work of slave is not worth anything

     Ku mi t’ei djis pa ta “util.”
     That I am (exist) just to be “useful”

12 Mi ta mand’é bèk pa bo;
12 I am sending him back to you

ta manera mi kurason mes
as if my heart itself

mi ta ranka saka manda pa bo!
I rip out and send to you!

13 Gana di ten’é serka mi, mi tin
13 Desire to have him with me, I have

pa e por a yuda mi na bo lugá,
so that he can help me in your place

tanten mi ta prezu pa kousa di e bon notisia.
while I am imprisoned for the cause of the good news.

14 Sinembargo mi no ke hasi nada sin bo aprobashon,
14 Although I do not want to do anything without your approval

pa bo no haña bo ta hasi un bondat fòrsá,
so you will not find yourself doing a good, forced,

ma dje manera akí bo por hasié di bo mes boluntat.
but in this way you can do it from your own will.

     Filemon, Filemon,
     Philemon, Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
     Have you not heard (then) Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Ai malai ai malai ei
     (lamentation sound)

     Ai malai ai malai ei
     (lamentation sound)

     Si bo tabata konosé doló di katibu
     If you do not know (the) pain of slave(s)

     Pablito lo bo no a saka bo shiri shiri,
     (Dear) Paul (diminutive)
     you would not have to take out your guts,

     Bo yu sin doló, mand’é bèk.
     your child-without-pain to send him back.

15 Por ta mashá bon:
15 Could be very well:

pa un tempu el a alehá for di bo,
For a time he has gone away from you,

djis pa bo hañ’é bèk pa semper.
Just so you can find him back for ever.

16 Pasobra awor e no ta djis un simpel katibu:
16 Because now he is not just a simple slave:

mas ku un katibu e ta un ruman stimá.
More than a slave he is a beloved sibling.

Anto spesialmente pa mi, e ta mashá stimá!
And especially for me, he is very well loved.

Pero pa abo: mas stimá ainda, komo katibu i komo ruman den Señor.
And for you more: more loved, as a slave/servant and as sibling in (the) Lord.

17 Ke men si bo tin mi pa kompañero,
17 That is to say if you have me for (a) collaborator,

risibí Onésimo manera lo bo a risibí mi mes.
receive Onesimus as you would have received me.

     Filemon, Filemon,
     Philemon, Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
     Have you not heard (then) Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Di Adam ku Eva nos ta bini.
     From Adam and Eva we come

     Boso Buki mes ta bisa.
     Your Book itself says it

     Si nos tur ta bin di tera,
     If we all can come from the earth

     T’un lokura abusá di esun
     It is a madness to abuse

     ku ta puluwé den tera.
     the one who plows the earth.

18 Si el a perhudiká bo den ki forma ku ta
18 If he has damaged you in whatever manner

òf si e ta debe bo algu,
or if he owes you something

laga esei pa mi kuenta.
leave that for to my account.

19 Awor mi mes man ta skibi esaki:
19 Now my own hand writes this:

‘Ami, Pablo, ta paga bo bèk!’
“I, Paul, will pay you back!”

Mi n’ tin nodi’ kòrda bo ku bo debe serka mi ta bo mes!
There is no need for me to remind me that your debt with me is yourself!

20 Sí, mi ruman, hasi mi e fabor akí pa Señor;
20 Yes, my sibling, do this favor for me for (the) Lord;

animá mi kurason komo ruman den Kristu!
animate my heart as sibling in Christ!

     Filemon, Filemon,
     Philemon, Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
     Have you not heard (then) Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Esta kurashi!
     What (a) boldness!

     Esta tribí!
     What audacity!

     Paga bèk, …..paga bèk??? paga bèk!!!
     Pay back,……pay back???? Pay back!!!

     Sinbèrguensa ta bo mester paga bèk.
     (You-without-shame) you have to pay back.

     Paga bèk, t’a bo mester duna bèk.
     Pay back, you have to pay back.

     Ladron di alma, ladron di bida, ezè chupadó di sanger!
     Soul robber, life robber, blood sucking vampire!

21 Sigur mi ta skibi,
21 For sure I write,

Sigur mi ta ku bo ta skucha mi.
For sure I know that you hear me.

I mi sa ku lo bo bai mas leu ku loke mi ta pidibo.
And I know that you will go beyond what I ask you.

     Filemon, Filemon,
     Philemon, Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
     Have you not heard (then) Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Changa el a changa bo Filemon
     Cornered he has cornered you Philemon.

     Komader Liberté na banda suit.
     Kamader9 Freedom to the south.

     Kompader Fraternité na banda nòrt.
     Kompader Brotherhood to the north

     I kompèr Egalité no ta bèk ni ost ni west.
     And kompèr Equality does not retreat, neither to the east nor to the west.

22 Ahan, . . . prepará un lugá pa mi keda,
22 Aha, . . . prepare a place for me to stay,

pasobra mi ta spera ku Dios lo skucha
because I expect that God will hear,

skucha boso orashon
will hear your (pl.) prayer(s)

i entregá mi bèk na boso.
and give me back to you.

23 Kumindamentu di Epafras, prizonero huntu ku mi,
23 Greetings from Epaphras, prisoner together with me,

pa kousa di Kristu-Hesus.
for the cause of Christ-Jesus.

24 Kumindamentu di esnan ku ta traha huntu kumi:
24 Greetings from those who work together with me:
Marko,
Aristargo,
Demas
i Lukas.

25 Grasia di Señor Hesu-Kristu sea ku boso.
25 Grace of (the) Lord Jesus-Christ be with you (pl.).

     Filemon, Filemon,
     Philemon, Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
     Have you not heard (then) Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Ta kua grasia por ta ku bo?
     Which grace can be with you?

     Hòmber kitadó di libertad,
     Man-robber-of-freedom,

     Ta kua Hesus a bendishoná
     Which Jesus has blessed,

     Bo kruel definishon di humanidat?
     Your cruel definition of humanity?

     Ta kua Dios, Spiritu puru,
     Which God, pure Spirit,

     B’a mira sklavisá niun hende.
     Have you seen enslave anybody?

     Mi n’ tin kunes ku ta kultura.
     Don’t care that it is culture.

     Mi n’ tin kunes ku ta di bo mes koló
     Don’t care that it is people of your color.

     Mi n’ tin kunes ku evolushon.
     Don’t care for evolution(ary change)

     P’esei m’a muri den revolushon!
     That’s why I died in a revoluton!

     Filemon, Filemon,
     Philemon, Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon

     Bo n’ tende anto Filemon
     Have you not heard (then) Philemon

     Skucha bon Filemon
     Listen good, Philemon


Source: Marlon Winedt in The Bible Translator 2015, p 3ff.