King Alexander to his brother Jonathan, greeting: Brother is not to be taken literally. It is a bit presumptuous, perhaps, but it is flattery, addressing Jonathan as an intimate, almost a fellow-ruler. Good News Bible‘s “friend” and Contemporary English Version‘s “dear friend” are not quite correct, but at least go in the right direction. Translators may say “colleague” or even “fellow-ruler.” This verse has the usual form for beginning a letter in ancient Greek. The fairly literal translations in Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible work well enough in English, but other possible models are:

• “King Alexander sends greetings to Jonathan, a fellow-ruler.

• “King Alexander sends his greetings to the distinguished [or, honorable] Jonathan.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.