complete verse (Titus 3:12)

Following are a number of back-translations of Titus 3:12:

  • Uma: “When Artemas or Tikhikus whom I send to you arrives, make-haste to come here to meet me in the town of Nikopolis, because it is my intention to remain there for the cold time.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Soon I will command Artemas or Tikikus (lit. whoever of them, Artemas or Tikikus) to go there to you (sing.), Titus. When he arrives there with you (sing.), really strive to go to the city/town Nikopolis so that we (dual) meet there. I want to stay there during the cold season.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “When I sent Artemas or Tychicus to you, quickly come to meet me in Nicopolis, for I will stay there when the rainy season comes.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “I will send Artemas or Tikicus to go there (near addressee). When he arrives, put-forth your (sing.) efforts (lit. ability) to go see-me in Nicopolis, for it is there that I have decided to go stay during the season-for-frost.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “When I have chance, I will send Artenas or Tiquico to go there (to your place). When he arrives there, I want you to go-to-meet/see me quickly at Nicopolis. For I have decided that there is where I will stay while it’s cold season.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “I have decided that I will send to you Artemas or Tychicus. When he arrives there, please depart in a hurry and we will meet there in the city of Nicopolis. Because I want to spend the winter there.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Japanese benefactives (kīte)

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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 benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

Here, kite (来て) or “come” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).” (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Titus 3:12

Either Artemas or Tychicus presumably will take Titus’ place in Crete, and when either one arrives, Titus is instructed to join Paul at Nicopolis, since Paul plans to spend the winter there. There marks Paul as not being in Nicopolis when he was writing this letter; but wherever he was, it is certain that he was not in prison, since he was free to travel. There is nothing known about Artemas, since he is mentioned only here; Tychicus, however, is mentioned in 2 Tim 4.12 (see also Acts 20.4; Col 4.7; Eph 6.21), and it is safe to assume that these refer to the same person. As to Nicopolis (literally “city of victory”), there are at least seven cities at that time bearing this name, but it is likely that what is meant here is the city by that name that is located in Greece, northwest of Corinth and Athens, on the shore of the Adriatic Sea. This city, we are told, was founded by the emperor Augustus to mark his victory over Mark Antony in 31 B.C. Contemporary English Version divides the first part of the verse into two sentences as follows: “I plan to send Artemas or Tychicus to you. After he arrives, please try your best to meet me at Nicopolis.” This will be a helpful model for many translators.

For do your best see 2 Tim 2.15.

Decided translates a verb that usually means “to judge,” but in this context it refers to the act of evaluating a situation and coming to a definite decision. The decision here is to stay in Nicopolis during the winter.

Winter is one of the four seasons in the nontropical parts of the world, the other three being spring, summer, and autumn. Of these four seasons, winter is the coldest. In the area where Paul lived, winter was also known for stormy weather, when the wind made it difficult to travel safely by ship. In languages where there is no word for winter, an equivalent expression may be used, as for example, “the cold season,” “when it gets cold,” or “the cold months.”

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 .

SIL Translator's Notes on Titus 3:12

Paragraph 3:12–14

3:12a

As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you: Paul planned to send either Artemas or Tychicus to go to Crete. When Paul wrote this letter he had not yet sent either of these men. He had not yet decided which one to send. Paul was referring to the time when the one he chose would arrive in Crete. Here are some other ways to translate this:

Later I will send either Artemas or Tychicus to take your place. As soon as he arrives…
-or-
Later I will sent Artemas or Tychicus to you. As soon as that one meets you…

I send Artemas or Tychicus: Paul intended to ask Artemas or Tychicus to go to Crete. He expected that they would do as he asked. In your translation, use a verb that refers to asking someone to make a trip or do a task. For example:

I tell either Artemas or Tychicus to go
-or-
I ask either Artemas or Tychicus to go
-or-
I cause either Artemas or Tychicus to go

Artemas: This man is not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible.

Tychicus: This is most likely the same Tychicus mentioned in Acts 20:4; Colossians 4:7; Ephesians 6:21; and 2 Timothy 4:12.

3:12b

make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis: The phrase make every effort means “do your best.” Paul wanted Titus to try to join him at the city of Nicopolis on the Greek coast. Crete was an island. So Titus would have to make a voyage by sea.

Here are some other ways to translate this verse part:

hurry to visit me in the city of Nicopolis (God’s Word)
-or-
join me at Nicopolis as soon as you can (Revised English Bible)

Nicopolis: Nicopolis was a city on the coast of Greece, northwest of Athens.

3:12c

because I have decided to winter there: Paul had decided to spend the winter months in Nicopolis. Ships usually did not travel on the Mediterranean Sea during the winter months of November through March because of stormy weather. Paul needed to find a place where he could spend those months.

When Paul wrote this letter, he was not yet in Nicopolis. If you need to make this clear in your translation, you could say:

because I have decided that I will go there and stay there during the winter
-or-
because that is where I will go to spend the winter

to winter: This phrase means “to pass the winter months.” If you do not have “winter” in your part of the world, here are two translation possibilities to consider:

• Use a phrase that mentions the cold. For example:

spend the cold season

• Use a phrase that mentions stormy weather. Refer to a time when it rains a lot, or a time when it is most difficult to travel by sea.

spend the rainy season

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Sung version of Titus 3

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