complete verse (Titus 2:15)

Following are a number of back-translations of Titus 2:15:

  • Uma: “So, Titus, you must teach them all those earlier things. Fire their hearts and admonish them. Don’t be shy/embarrassed, for you have authority [lit., seat] to teach them. Don’t let/allow anyone to not pay attention to you.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “The foregoing (lit. that is that) teach to the people and stop them/tell-them-not-to when/if they do bad because you have the authority to forbid them and to teach them. Nobody should put you down/criticize you.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “As for all of these things I have said, teach them to the people there. Use your authority to control them. Advise and rebuke them. It is necessary that no one looks down on you.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Those-aforementioned are what you (sing.) are to teach people there (near addressee) while also you (sing.) advise them to follow (those-aforementioned) and make-known if they have faults. In your (sing.) doing these, show all your (sing.) authority so that they-don’t deprecate/belittle -you.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therefore as for these things, you are to explain/make-clear them all. Strengthen-the-mind/encourage those you are overseeing in their believing/obeying, and rebuke if there’s something you find fault with, for you have indeed been given the authority. And ensure that they don’t disregard these words of yours.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “This is the word that you must teach the people. Encourage them to live well. Reprimand them when they do not do right. This is the work which God gave to you. Don’t want that you are not respected.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Titus 2:15

This section ends with another direct appeal to Titus, exhorting him to use his teaching function with authority, and not to allow anyone to undermine him.

Declare is literally “speak,” for which see Titus 2.1 of this chapter. These things refers to everything that is contained in this chapter. For exhort see 1 Tim 1.3 and Titus 2.6 of this chapter. For reprove see “rebuke” in 1 Tim 5.20. For authority see comments on 1 Tim 1.1, where the same word is translated “command.” The focus here is on Titus’ authority as a pastor and a church leader. For disregard see 1 Tim 4.12, where a different verb is used but with the same meaning, namely “despise,” “deprecate.” The last sentence in this verse can be translated positively; for example, Contemporary English Version “Make sure you earn everyone’s respect.” However, it does seem that the negative has greater force and effect (see Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation).

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to Titus. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1995. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .