genealogy

The Greek that is translated in English as “genealogies” is translated in Kwara’ae as “long stories about generations.” (Source: Carl Gross)

In Tabasco Chontal it is “names of inhabitants of a long time ago,” and in Sayula Popoluca “ancient names.” (Source: John Beekman & Harwood Hess in Notes on Translation, March 1963, p. 1ff.)

See also genealogy (Matthew 1:1).

complete verse (Titus 3:9)

Following are a number of back-translations of Titus 3:9:

  • Uma: “But there are also people who continually debate and argue with each other [lit., reciprocally-make-rebuttals and reciprocally-answer-angrily], arguing about rules of the Yahudi religion or stories of ancestry/descendants. Don’t you let them teach any more. Avoid altogether arguments that are made by those stupid people. Because they have no benefit/blessing and they have no purpose.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But avoid the people who argue (about) which has no use and if there are (people) who tell-stories about names of the generations of their ancestors, and don’t you (sing.) join in when/if someone quarrels about the law of Musa. All those things have no use.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “However, avoid stupid arguments of people. Also avoid the study of the accounts of names of the ancestors of people which is what they study. You must also avoid their quarreling about obeying the law left behind by Moses. None of this is of any value for it is destructive.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But don’t join in the useless arguing of people about lists of names of ancestors. Distance yourself (sing.) also from their quarreling about the law of Moses, for quarrels/arguments like these, they have no good result, for there is no help-that they -give to our faith.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But well as-was-said, put far away getting-into-arguments which achieves nothing. Don’t be bothered/busy with the thousands of listed-names of ancestors and their descendants, that being what others are fascinated with. And avoid/taboo arguments concerning the things Moises commanded in the past. For really nothing is achieved by these arguments for they have no usefulness, but rather are just a bother/hindrance.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “But do not want that there be arguments which are not needed. Do not argue about what was done by our ancestors long ago. Don’t argue about the law followed by the Jews. Because arguments do not bring about what is good.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Titus 3:9

But marks a contrast and clearly signals to Titus that, as he goes on with his ministry, there are certain things that he should not be doing, and one of these is following the example of the false teachers, especially in their interest in divisive theological issues that are of no value to the church.

Avoid translates a verb that refers to restraining oneself from participating in some activity. One may also say “Don’t have anything to do with.” For further discussion see 2 Tim 2.16.

What follows is a list consisting of four items, all of which are mentioned in the two letters to Timothy. For stupid controversies see 2 Tim 2.23. For genealogies see 1 Tim 1.4. For dissensions see 1 Tim 6.4. For quarrels see 1 Tim 6.4. There it is “disputes about words”; here it is quarrels over the law, which in this context probably refers to the Jewish Law or the Law of Moses. This would be expected, since many of the heretical teachers are Jewish converts to Christianity (see Titus 1.10). The law may also be expressed as “the law which Moses gave.”

All of these activities are to be avoided because they are unprofitable and futile. Unprofitable is the negative form of the word “profitable” in the previous verse. Futile comes from a verb that means “to be useless,” “to be worthless,” or “senseless” because of lack of content; hence “nonsense.” The point being stressed is that all this theological nonsense is the exact opposite of good deeds in so far as worth and usefulness are concerned.

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 3:9

Paragraph 3:9–11

In this paragraph Paul gave his final instructions to Titus and the Christians on the island of Crete. He told them to avoid foolish arguments and to avoid people who cause division among Christians.

3:9a

But: The word But indicates that verse 3:9 contrasts with the previous verses. In 3:4-8 Paul wrote about parts of the Christian faith that were “excellent and profitable” for everyone. But now he will talk about things that are not excellent or profitable for people.

avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and quarrels about the law: Paul lists four things that Titus should avoid. None of these are physical items. They all refer to actions that Titus should not get involved in. So in some languages it may be more natural to use a different verb or verbs. For example:

do not get involved in foolish controversies, in discussing genealogies, or in arguing and quarreling about the law
-or-
do not take part in foolish arguments about controversial things and family histories. Do not argue or quarrel about the law.

foolish controversies: Titus must avoid foolish controversies. These are foolish issues that people argue about unnecessarily.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

stupid arguments (Good News Bible)
-or-
foolish discussions (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))

genealogies: Paul told Titus to avoid genealogies. A “genealogy” is a list of the names of ancestors.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

lists of ancestors
-or-
family histories

Paul did not condemn all genealogies. The Bible contains many genealogies. It seems that Paul wanted Titus not to argue about genealogies. We do not know exactly which genealogies Paul was talking about, but it was something to do with religion, and something that people studied and argued about.

In 1 Timothy 1:4 Paul spoke to Timothy about a similar problem with genealogies.

arguments, and quarrels about the law: The law here refers to the Jewish law, the law that God gave to Moses. The words arguments and quarrels are similar in meaning. Both words refer to fighting with words, not physical fighting. If your language does not have two words for arguments and quarrels you can combine them and say:

arguments about the Jewish law

3:9b

because these things are pointless and worthless: In 3:8 Paul said that Christian teachings were “excellent and profitable.” Now, in contrast, he said that arguing about unimportant things was pointless and worthless.

In some languages it may be helpful to begin a new sentence here. Also, you may want to repeat the main verb “avoid.” For example:

Avoid these arguments because they do not help anyone and are useless.

because: The word because here introduces the reason why Titus must avoid meaningless arguments. He must avoid them because they do not help anyone and they are of no use.

pointless: The word pointless means “of no help.” Things that are pointless do not help us to grow in the Christian faith. This is the opposite of the word translated as “profitable” in 3:8d.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

they do not help us to grow in the faith
-or-
nothing is gained from them

worthless: The word worthless means “useless” or “futile.” It is similar in meaning to “pointless.”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

useless
-or-
empty
-or-
a waste of time (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))

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Commentaire sur la traduction de Tite 3.9

3.9-11

Après avoir recommandé que les croyants se donnent aux bonnes œuvres (Tite 3.8), Paul se tourne vers certains problèmes au sein de l’église. Il condamne les discussions vaines (Tite 3.9) et demande même à Tite d’écarter les gens qui divisent la communauté chrétienne (Tite 3.10). Ces discussions ressemblent à celles que Paul entretient avec Timothée. Voir 1 Tim 1.4. Avec ce changement de thème, la majorité des langues commenceront un nouveau paragraphe ici.

La Traduction œcuménique de la Bible suit l’ordre du grec, où les compléments d’objet direct se trouvent en position initiale dans la phrase : Mais les recherches vaines, les généalogies, les disputes… Plusieurs versions (Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie, Nouvelle Bible Segond) inversent la phrase, mettant le verbe au début : « Mais évitez… ». Les traducteurs devraient suivre les contraintes dans leur langue, tout en gardant l’emphase du texte grec.

Mais les recherches vaines… : la conjonction de transition δέ de marque une transition ici. Par la suite, Paul énumère une liste de comportements à éviter.

recherches vaines : bien que le mot ζήτησις zêtêsis puisse avoir le sens de recherches (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Parole de Vie), dans ce contexte il renvoie certainement aux « débats », « spéculations » ou « discussions » que Paul qualifie de vains, inutiles, stupides. Voir 2 Tim 2.23. Cet adjectif peut s’appliquer soit à ce mot seul, soit aux quatre noms recherches… généalogies… disputes… controverses.

Pour les généalogies, voir 1 Tim 1.4.

les disputes : il s’agit de querelles. Voir 1 Tim 6.4.

les controverses relatives à la loi : il s’agit de certains conflits ou hostilités entre des gens, relatives à la loi, certainement la loi de Moïse. Ceci est logique lorsqu’on sait que beaucoup d’opposants de Paul sont, comme lui, des Juifs convertis au christianisme, mais qui continuent à adhérer strictement à chaque élément de la loi. Ainsi la La Bible du Semeur et la Bible de Jérusalem mettent une lettre majuscule : « au sujet de la Loi ». On pourrait aussi parler de « la loi donnée par Moïse ». Voir Tite 1.10 ; 1 Tim 6.4.

S’il est difficile de trouver dans la langue cible plusieurs termes pour les trois termes en grec désignant des débats très chauds (« débat », disputes et controverses), on pourra combiner ces trois ou peut-être les deux derniers.

Pour évite-les, 2 Tim 2.16. On pourrait aussi dire « ne t’occupe pas… » ou peut-être, pour être plus fort, « n’aie rien à faire avec… »

elles sont inutiles et vaines : elles renvoie à toutes les pratiques mentionnées dans ce verset. inutile est le contraire d’utile en Tite 1.8. Ce dernier terme désigne ce qui ne produit rien, qui n’a pas d’effet positif, qui ne sert à rien. Voir aussi 1 Cor 15.17. Le mot μάταιος mataios est rendu par vaines. On pourra dire « sans valeur » (Bible en français courant) ou « elles ne valent rien » (Parole de Vie). Ce n’est pas le même terme employé à propos des recherches vaines, mais le sens des deux adjectifs est proche.

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