“Timothy” is the anglicized form of Timotheus, meaning “honoring God,” “honored of God,” “worshiping God,” “valued of God.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
It is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that combines the signs for the letter T and “young,” referring to 1 Timothy 4:12 et al. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Timothy” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
Following are a number of back-translations of Romans 16:21:
Uma: “Timotius, my fellow worker here, sends his greeting to you. Thus also Lukius, Yason and Sosipater, all who are my fellow Jews.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Timoteo, my companion working for God sends word that he remembers you. And Lukiyus and Jason and Sosipater my fellow Yahudi, send word also that they remember you.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “As for Timothy, my companion in spreading the word of God, he sends greetings to you and also do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my fellow Jews.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Timoteo who is working-with me sends-you -greetings, so also my fellow Jews Lucius and Jason and Sosipater.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Now my fellow worker, Timothy, greets you. And Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my fellow countrymen, all three of them greet you.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
The name that is transliterated as “Lucius” in English is translated in Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) with the sign for “brightness” / “white,” the meaning of the name. (Source: Missão Kophós )
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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).
Timothy was evidently with Paul when he wrote this letter; he is mentioned in a number of Paul’s letters and in several places in the book of Acts (see especially Acts 16.1-3). Nothing definite is known about the other persons mentioned. There is a Lucius mentioned in Acts 13; a Jason is mentioned in Acts 17.5-9; and a Sopater (not Sosipater) is mentioned in Acts 20.4.
Paul evidently dictated this letter as he did other of his letters (see 1 Corinthians 16.21; Galatians 6.11; Colossians 4.18; and 2 Thessalonians 3.17).
Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1973. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
Timothy, my fellow worker, sends you greetings:
This phrase indicates that Timothy did the same work as Paul, evangelizing in various places and helping the believers there. Sometimes they worked together in the same place and sometimes they worked separately. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
my co-worker (New International Version (2011))
-or-
he does the same work in Christ Jesus as me
See how you translated my fellow worker in 16:9.
16:21b
fellow countrymen: The Greek word, can mean either (1) relatives, or (2) fellow citizens.
Some languages must choose one or the other meaning. It is not clear which meaning is more appropriate here. You may want to follow the major language version here.
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
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