complete verse (Philippians 2:28)

Following are a number of back-translations of Philippians 2:28:

  • Uma: “That is why I think/say that it is better that I hurriedly order him to return to you, so that when you meet again, you will be comforted/relieved, and I here, my heart will be still/quiet.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Therefore I really want that he can go to you so that you will be glad when you see each other again. So-then my troubles will be lessened.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “The reason I really want him to return home to you is so that you might rejoice over his arrival, and because of this my worry about you will be relieved.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Therefore I strongly-desire to return-him so that you will be happy again when you see him and so that my mind will also become-peaceful.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “That’s why I too now want him to be able to return home, because I know that you will be very happy when he comes there to you. Well as for me, because of this happiness of yours, my grief will also be decreased.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Therefore, I am in a hurry to send him in order that you can rejoice upon seeing him again. It will put my heart at rest then when you see that he is all right.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

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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 formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Philippians 2:28

I am all the more eager, then, to send him is literally “I sent him, therefore, the more eagerly.” Here “I sent” is probably to be taken as an epistolary aorist (cf. 2.25). The Greek comparative adverb rendered all the more eager should not be taken in the sense of “more hastily.” It is used, rather, in the sense of “more eagerly,” referring to the spirit in which Paul dispatches his fellow-worker, not to outward haste. Paul’s eagerness may be expressed as a type of desire, for example, “I want all the more, therefore, to send him to you,” or “that is why I want so much to send him to you.”

The Greek word order seems to suggest that the adverb again is best taken with glad, and in Good News Translation (cf. New American Bible), rather than with see, as in Revised Standard Version and New English Bible. The Philippians’ cheerfulness had been clouded by Epaphroditus’ sickness; they would certainly regain their cheerfulness at his safe return.

The apostle identifies himself so closely with his readers that their sorrow and anxiety are his own. If Epaphroditus’ safe return will mean the restoration of their happiness, then, he says, my own sorrow will disappear (literally, “I might be the less sorrowful”). The adjective “less sorrowful” appears only here in the New Testament. It means “to be free from sorrow” or “to be relieved of anxiety.” My own sorrow will disappear is part of the purpose introduced by the conjunctive phrase so that. It may be necessary to repeat the expression of purpose, for example, “so that you will be glad again when you see him, and so that my own sorrow will disappear,” or “… so that I will not have sorrow any longer.”

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 2:28

2:28a

Therefore: You could translate this as “So…” or “For this reason…” or “That is why…” In 2:27 Paul gave his reason for wanting to send Epaphroditus back.

I am all the more eager to send him: Probably Paul already wanted to send Epaphroditus back to thank the Philippian believers for their gifts and to let them know how he was doing. But after Epaphroditus got sick and then recovered, Paul wanted even more eagerly to send him back so that the Philippians would know that he was no longer sick. Therefore, Paul said here that he was all the more eager to send him.

send him: It may be necessary to supply the implied information of where Paul was sending Epaphroditus:

send him ⌊back to you⌋

2:28b

so that when you see him again you may rejoice: Paul wanted to send Epaphroditus back in order to make the Philippian believers happy. Presumably they would be happy to see Epaphroditus again. And they would also be happy and relieved to know that he was no longer sick.

again: Translations differ in how they understand the word again :

(1) again goes with the verb “see.” The Philippians would see Epaphroditus again after his absence in Rome. (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Revised Standard Version, NET Bible, God’s Word, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, King James Version, New American Standard Bible)

(2) again goes with the verb “rejoice.” When they saw Epaphroditus safe and well, the Philippians would be happy once more. (Good News Translation)

Although both interpretations are possible from the order of the Greek words, there is no reason why Paul would have spoken of the Philippians rejoicing again when he had not mentioned them rejoicing before in this letter. So it is recommended that you follow the first interpretation (1).

2:28c

and I may be less anxious: Paul was sending Epaphroditus back to relieve two problems. It would mean that the Philippians would no longer worry about Epaphroditus. And it would also mean that Paul would no longer be anxious about the Philippians because they were worrying about Epaphroditus.

less anxious: The normal meaning of the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as less anxious is “without pain.” In this context, it does not refer to physical pain, but anxiety or sorrow. Most commentators agree that this form of the Greek word does not mean that Paul would have no sorrow/anxiety, but that his sorrow/anxiety would be lessened.

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