Let no one look down on you

The Greek that is translated as “Let no one look down on you” in English is translated in Tabasco Chontalas “don’t let there be anyone to say that you don’t have brains.” (Source: John Beekman & Harwood Hess in Notes on Translation, March 1963, p. 1ff.)

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 .

Commentaire sur la traduction de Tite 2.15

Comme en Tite 2.1, Tite 2.7, Paul s’adresse directement à Tite, en employant trois verbes qui se renforcent, littéralement, « Ces choses parle et exhorte et reprend ». On peut les rendre, soit par des impératifs, soit en introduisant une forme comme tu dois… (Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie, Nouvelle Bible Segond, Bible de Jérusalem).

C’est ainsi que tu dois parler est littéralement « ces choses dis ». La Parole de Vie suggère « Voilà ce que tu dois dire ». « ces choses » renvoient aux instructions précédentes.

exhorter : comme en Tite 1.6, il s’agit d’encourager les membres de la communauté chrétienne. Voir aussi 1 Tim 1.3.

reprendre avec pleine autorité ou « avec toute autorité ». Paul utilise souvent le verbe ἐλέγχω elenchô, reprendre, dans un contexte hostile lorsque les arguments des opposants doivent être exposés. Voir dans ce livre Tite 1.9, Tite 1.13 et 1 Tim 5.20 ; 2 Tim 4.2. Dans ce contexte on pourrait dire « réprimander » ou « faire des reproches » (Parole de Vie).

avec pleine autorité : le même terme s’emploie à propos de l’autorité accordée par Dieu à son apôtre en 1 Tim 1.1. Voir aussi 1 Tim 5.20. La Parole de Vie met ces mots au début de la proposition : « Voilà ce que tu dois dire avec toute ton autorité, pour encourager ou pour faire des reproches ». La notion d’autorité est liée au rôle que Tite joue comme dirigeant dans l’église. Dans certaines langues, on pourrait dire « dans ton rôle comme leader/dirigeant, reprends-les ».

Que personne te méprise : le verbe περιφρονέω periphroneô, mépriser, s’emploie deux fois ailleurs dans la Bible grecque : 4 Mac 6.9 et 14.1. Dans les deux cas il s’utilise à propos de martyrs qui méprisent la souffrance, autrement dit, ils acceptent de souffrir. Mais ici il s’agit de « manquer de respect pour ». Si nécessaire, on peut traduire positivement : « Que tous te respectent ».

Source: Zogbo, Lynell & Ellingworth, Paul La lettre à Tite – Manuel de traduction – Commentaire linguistique et exégétique de la Bible. Alliance biblique universelle, 2021.