Language-specific Insights

Kingdom (of God / heaven)

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The German Good News Bible (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch) (1st edition: 1968, 2nd edition: 1982, 3rd edition: 1997) says this about the translation of the Greek expressions that in English are often translated as “kingdom of God” or “kingdom of heaven” respectively:

“An example for how a term evolved is the rendering of ‘heavenly kingdom’ or ‘kingdom of God.’ A verbatim translation will be misunderstood by most readers today: as if it talks about a kingdom that is located in heaven, when in reality it refers in the Bible to God being the ruler, to that area in which that rule has been realized and everything that human beings can expect because of that. Dependent on the context, the term is therefore translated differently in this present version: When it focuses on the presence of God’s kingdom it is rendered as ‘God establishes his rule’ (Gott richtet seine Herrschaft auf), when the focus is on the future it is translated as ‘Once God finalizes his creation (or ‘work’) . . . ‘ (Wenn Gott sein Werk vollendet . . .), and when the focus is on that finished creation it is ‘God’s new world’ (Gottes neue Welt).” (p. 299 — for a longer exposition, see Rudolf Kassühlke in The Bible Translator 1974, p. 236ff. )

The respective translation choice in that German translation:

Likewise in the Gurung translation the term was also, depending on context, rendered in four different ways:

  • God’s power at work in the world,
  • the personal response to God, in obedience and receiving blessing,
  • God’s future open ruling of the world,
  • the ultimate blessings of God’s rule in heaven.

(Source: Warren Glover in The Bible Translator 1978, p. 231ff. — here you can also find a comprehensive list of examples where which translation was applied.)

Following is a list of (back-) translations from other languages:

  • Tzeltal: “persons like these will reach God’s government” (as in Mark 10:14 and Luke 18:16: “the Kingdom of God belongs to those”) or “the jurisdiction of God” (in the sense of where God has the authority)
  • Copainalá Zoque: “like God to rule over”
  • San Miguel El Grande Mixtec: “agree to God reigning over”
  • Kekchí: “power (or authority) of God”
  • Laka: “God’s commanding”
  • Javanese: “the rule of God”
  • Huave: “where God rules”
  • Huastec: “God as ruler”
  • San Blas Kuna: “God’s government”
  • Navajo: “what God has charge of”
  • Sayula Popoluca: “to have God rule over”
  • Tzotzil: “to have God as chief”
  • Highland Puebla Nahuatl: “the leadership of God”
  • Wayuu: “where God is chief” (this and examples above in Bratcher / Nida)
  • Fuyug “God’s clan”
  • Mono: “sana lala’aha nang” — “area of chiefly rule”
  • Martu Wangka: “The Father looks after his own relatives” (source for this and the two preceding: Carl Gross)
  • Caribbean Javanese: Kratoné Allah (“God’s seat (of a king)”)
  • Sranan Tongo: Tiri fur Gado (“the Ruling of God”) or Kownukondre fur Gado (“King’s land of God”)
  • Eastern Maroon Creole: A Nyun Tii fu Massa Gadu / Saramaccan: Di Njunjun Tii u Gadu (both: “the New ruling of God”) (source for this and 2 above: Jabini 2015)
  • Umiray Dumaget Agta: “protectorate of God” (source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
  • Lalana Chinantec: “how God is the boss of people’s hearts”
  • Chichimeca-Jonaz: “God rules as chief”
  • Chuj: “everything which is in God’s hand” (source for this and two above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
  • Kamo: kuu le Yamba: “kingdom of God” / kuu le Yamba: “kingdom of heaven.” Yamba can mean either “sky/heaven” or “God” and they distinguish between the two meanings by capitalization. The word kuu is an abstract noun meaning “rule/reign.” (source: David Frank)

In Mairasi, a language “where people would rather say something in a new way than in an old way,” there are a number of translations, including “Great Above One’s (=God) rule,” “His power,” “His control,” or “His place of authority/power.” (Source: Enggavoter 2004)

In Q’anjob’al, the translators stumbled on an additional difficulty. Newberry and Kittie Cox (in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 91ff. ) explain: “‘The kingdom of God’ may be translated ‘where God supervises’ (or literally ‘guards’). However, in Mark 10:15 and Luke 18:17 it is not possible to speak of ‘receiving the kingdom of God,’ for this would imply that one simply takes over the responsibility for guarding God’s country while He rests. Accordingly, the translation is adapted to meet the cultural and linguistic requirements of the language by the form ‘receive God as king.’

In British Sign Language it is translation with a sign that combines the signs for “God” and “rule.” (Source: Anna Smith)


“Kingdom of God” in British Sign Language (source: Christian BSL, used with permission)

The artist Willy Wiedmann envisioned Jesus foretelling the kingdom of God like this:

Click here to see the image in higher resolution. Image taken from the Wiedmann Bible. For more information about the images and ways to adopt them, see here . For other images of Willy Wiedmann paintings in TIPs, see here.

See also your kingdom come.

grace

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“The Greek word charis, usually translated by English ‘grace,’ is one of the desperations of translators. The area of meaning is exceptionally extensive. Note the following possible meanings for this word in various contexts of the New Testament: ‘sweetness,’ ‘charm,’ ‘loveliness,’ ‘good-will,’ ‘loving-kindness,’ ‘favor,’ ‘merciful kindness,’ ‘benefit,’ ‘gift,’ ‘benefaction,’ ‘bounty,’ and ‘thanks.’ The theological definition of ‘unmerited favor’ (some translators have attempted to employ this throughout) is applicable to only certain contexts. Moreover, it is quite a task to find some native expression which will represent the meaning of ‘unmerited favor.’ In some languages it is impossible to differentiate between ‘grace’ and ‘kindness.’ In fact, the translation ‘kindness’ is in some cases quite applicable. In other languages, a translation of ‘grace’ is inseparable from ‘goodness.’ In San Miguel El Grande Mixtec a very remarkable word has been used for ‘grace.’ It is made up of three elements. The first of these is a prefixial abstractor. The second is the stem for ‘beauty.’ The third is a suffix which indicates that the preceding elements are psychologically significant. The resultant word may be approximately defined as ‘the abstract quality of beauty of personality.’” (Source: Nida 1947, p. 223)

Other translations include (click or tap here to see more):

  • Inuktitut: “God’s kindness that enables us” (source: Andrew Atagotaaluk)
  • Kwara’ae: kwae ofe’ana (“kindness to one who deserves the opposite”) (source: Norman Deck in The Bible Translator 1963, 34ff. )
  • Chichewa: “being favored in the heart by God” (Source: Ernst Wendland)
  • Sayula Popoluca: “God’s favor” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)
  • Caribbean Javanese: kabetyikané (“goodness”)
  • Saramaccan: bunhati (“good heart”)
  • Sranan Tongo: bun ati (“good heart”) or gadobun (“God’s goodness”)
  • Eastern Maroon Creole: (gaan) bun ati (“(big) good heart”) (source for this and three above: Jabini 2015)
  • Fasu: “free big help”
  • Wahgi: “save without reward” (source for this and the one above: Deibler / Taylor 1977)
  • Warao: “goodness of his obojona.” Obojona is a term that “includes the concepts of consciousness, will, attitude, attention and a few other miscellaneous notions” (source: Henry Osborn in The Bible Translator 1969, p. 74ff. ) — see other occurrences of Obojona in the Warao New Testament.
  • Nukna: “God gave his insides to one.” (“The ‘insides’ are the seat of emotion in Nukna, like the heart in the English language. To give your insides to someone is to feel love toward them, to want what is best for them, and to do good things for them.” (Source: Matt Taylor in The PNG Experience )
  • Uma: “(God’s) white insides” (source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Hindi, Bengali: anugraha (Hindi: अनुग्रह, Bengali: অনুগ্রহ) from graha: “grasp, a reaching out after, with gracious intent” (source: R.M. Clark in The Bible Translator 1962, p. 81ff. )
  • the German das Buch translation by Roland Werner (publ. 2009-2022) uses a large variety of translations, including “undeserved friendliness,” “wonderful work of God,” “loving attention,” “generous,” but also “undeserved grace” (using the traditional German term Gnade)

In Latvian the term žēlastība is used both for “grace” and “mercy.” (Source: Katie Roth)

For Muna, René van den Berg explains the process how the translation team arrived at a satisfactory solution: “Initial translation drafts in Muna tended to (…) use the single word kadawu ‘part, (given) share, gift,’ but this word is really too generic. It lacks the meaning component of mercy and kindness and also seems to imply that the gift is part of a larger whole. Consequently we now [translate] according to context. In wishes and prayers such as ‘Grace to you and peace from God’ we translate ‘grace’ as kabarakati ‘blessing’ (e.g. Gal 1:3). In many places we use kataano lalo ‘goodness of heart’ (e.g. Gal 1:15 ‘because of the goodness of his heart God chose me’) as well as the loan rahamati ‘mercy’ (e.g. ‘you have-turned-your-backs-on the mercy of God’ for ‘you have fallen away from grace’; Gal 5:4). In one case where the unmerited nature of ‘grace’ is in focus, we have also employed katohai ‘a free gift’ (typically food offered to one’s neighbo-1urs) in the same verse. ‘The reason-you-have-been-saved is because of the goodness of God’s heart (Greek charis, Muna kataano lalo), going-through your belief in Kristus. That salvation is not the result of your own work, but really a free-gift (Greek dooron ‘gift’; Muna katohai) of God.’ (Eph 2:8).

In Burmese, it is translated with the Buddhist term kyeh’jooh’tau (ကျေး​ဇူး​တော်). LaSeng Dingrin (in Missiology 37/4, 2009, p. 485ff.) explains: “As regards the Christian term ‘grace,’ Judson [the first translator of the Bible into Burmese] could not have brought the Burmese Buddhists the good news about the redeeming work of Jesus Christ and its benefits (i.e., forgiveness and salvation), without employing the Burmese Buddhist term kyeh’jooh’tau (‘grace’). Deriving from Pali kataññuta (“gratefulness”), kyeh’jooh’tau denotes ‘good deeds for others or benefits,’ which occur among humans. (…) When Christianized, kyeh’jooh’tau also refers to the atoning work of Jesus and its benefits, and can occur between humans and God. The word kyeh’jooh’tau looks very Burmese Buddhist, but it is Christian, too, and conveys the core of the Christian proclamation. Furthermore, kyeh’jooh’tau itself shows that translatability of Christianity cannot be imagined without reliance on Buddhism.” (See also the Burmese entry for God)

In American Sign Language it is translated with a sign that combines “compassion” and “giving out.” (Source: RuthAnna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Grace” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

See also grace to you.

gentiles

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The Greek that is often translated as “gentiles” (or “nations”) in English is often translated as a “local equivalent of ‘foreigners,'” such as “the people of other lands” (Guerrero Amuzgo), “people of other towns” (Tzeltal), “people of other languages” (San Miguel El Grande Mixtec), “strange peoples” (Navajo) (this and above, see Bratcher / Nida), “outsiders” (Ekari), “people of foreign lands” (Kannada), “non-Jews” (North Alaskan Inupiatun), “people being-in-darkness” (a figurative expression for people lacking cultural or religious insight) (Toraja-Sa’dan) (source for this and three above Reiling / Swellengrebel), “from different places all people” (Martu Wangka) (source: Carl Gross).

Tzeltal translates it as “people in all different towns,” Chicahuaxtla Triqui as “the people who live all over the world,” Highland Totonac as “all the outsider people,” Sayula Popoluca as “(people) in every land” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.), Chichimeca-Jonaz as “foreign people who are not Jews,” Sierra de Juárez Zapotec as “people of other nations” (source of this and one above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.), Highland Totonac as “outsider people” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.), Uma as “people who are not the descendants of Israel” (source: Uma Back Translation), and Yakan as “the other tribes” (source: Yakan Back Translation).

See also nations.

complete verse (1 John 4:18)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 John 4:18:

  • Uma: “If we really know God’s love to us, we are no longer afraid of God. His complete love strengthens our heart so that we are no longer afraid. If we fear that God will punish [us], its meaning, we do not yet really know his love for us.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “True love is not mixed with fear because if we (dual) truly love God our (dual) fear disappears. Whoever fears, his love is not yet complete, because he is afraid that perhaps he will be punished by God.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Anyone who loves God, it is not necessary that he be afraid of God, and since God’s love for us has no lack, he has removed already our fear of Him. The reason a person is afraid is because he expects God’s punishment on him, but as for that person who is afraid of God, God’s love for him has not yet been drawn tight in his mind.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “So long as there is love, it not possible that it be added-to with fear, because the love which has no lack, it blocks fear. So the person who is afraid because he is thinking about God’s punishment, that is the evidence that his love is still lacking.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “For as long as our holding dear of God and valuing of our fellowman is true, we no longer have fear of punishment. Because, as for complete holding dear, it’s like it can bury/cover up this fear. Because what people really fear is, to be punished. Therefore if we are still afraid of being punished, it’s clear that our holding dear and valuing is still lacking.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “The person who loves God from the heart does not then fear that God will be angry with him. How can you go on fearing when from the heart you love? A person fears that God will be angry at him when he doesn’t love from the heart.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “If we love God there is nothing for us to fear. And if we love God as we ought, there is nothing left for us to fear, because it is like a punishment for us when we are afraid. And if we fear anything, we do not love God as we ought.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “He who fears the judgment, he fears it because he hasn’t yet known well the love that God does to him. God’s love removes fear. When we fear, we think God will punish us.”
  • Tzotzil: “If we believe that God loves us, therefore we are not afraid. Because if we are afraid, it is because we think that God is going to punish us. If we believe that God really and truly loves us, not thus we think. Therefore if we are afraid it is because we have not believed that God loves us.”
  • Sayula Popoluca: “He who loves God, doesn’t fear. Because he who truly loves God will not fear anything. Because he who fears will suffer. He who fears, he doesn’t truly love God.” (Source for this and three above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.
  • Eastern Arrernte “The person who knows that God loves him does not fear God. But the person who fears that God will punish him, he does not yet know that God loves him very much.” (Source: Carl Gross)

complete verse (1 John 5:10)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 John 5:10:

  • Uma: “People who believe in God’s Child, they know in their hearts that God’s testimony is true. Whoever doesn’t believe God, they are actually calling-a-liar God, for they haven’t believed God’s testimony that talks about his Child.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Whoever trusts in the Son of God, he knows in his liver that Isa is really God’s Son. But the one who doesn’t believe God, it is as if he says that God is lying because he does not believe the witness of God about his Son.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Anyone who believes that Jesus is the Son of God, he has become convinced by the witness of God. Anyone who will not believe in the witness of God, he thinks of God as a liar, for he has not believed the witness of God about his Son Jesus.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Whoever then believes in the Child of God, what God confirmed concerning him has been stored-away in his mind, but as for the one who doesn’t believe what God said, he turns-God -into a liar, because of course he doesn’t believe what he said.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therefore whoever believes-in/obeys and trusts the Son of God, he is sure in his mind/inner-being that this testimony of God is really true. But as for the one who doesn’t believe this testimony of God, he is doing none other than saying God is lying, because he isn’t believing what he is testifying concerning his Son.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “He who believes the Son of God already knows in his own heart that what he believes is true. He who does not believe what God says, this person calls God a liar because he does not believe the word God has said about who his Son is.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “If we trust in God’s son, God speaks about his son in our head-hearts. If we do not believe God’s words, we treat God like a liar, because we do not believe his words which he speaks about his son.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “He who believes God’s Son, has been given understanding, and knows, himself, in his heart what is true. But he who doesn’t believe God, he looks on God as a liar, because he didn’t believe what God said about his Son.”
  • Tzotzil: “If we believe the word of the Son of God, thus we know that it is true what God has told us about his Son. If we do not believe the word of God’s Son, we think wrongly that God lies because we do not believe what God has told us about his Son.”
  • Sayula Popoluca: “He who believes God’s Son, he knows that it is true that which God says. And he who doesn’t believe God, he says that God lies, because he doesn’t believe what God says so we can know his Son.” (Source for this and three above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)

complete verse (1 John 5:16)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 John 5:16:

  • Uma: “If we see a relative of ours doing sin that doesn’t bring eternal punishment, you must pray for him so that God gives him life. What I say here concerns [lit., strikes] people who do sin(s) that don’t bring eternal punishment. For there is also sin(s) that brings eternal punishment. So, I do not order you to pray for them who do that sin.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “If there is a person who sees his fellow truster in Isa commit a sin, and his sin is not one that draws God’s wrath (katekkahan mulka’ Tuhanin), he should ask God to forgive that fellow of his. And God will give him life if only/as-long-as he has not committed a sin that draws God’s wrath. There is sin that draws God’s wrath and I am not telling you that you should ask God for people who commit this sin.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “If there is anyone who has seen his companion sin, but the result of that sin is not death, he must pray about it to God and God will give life without end to that person who has sinned. What I am talking about here is a person who has sinned and the result of that sin of his is not death. There is a sin whose result is death. I do not say that you should pray for the person who has sinned like that.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “If we see a companion of ours who is sinning, let us at-the-same-time pray-for-him so that God will give him the life that has no end. What I mean to say is, let us pray-for-him provided his sin, it is a kind of sin that can be forgiven therefore it will not lead to punishment that has no end. Because there certainly is a sin that cannot be forgiven, but I don’t say that that’s what we should pray for.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “This too is what I also want to say to you. Supposing you (sing.) see one of your (sing.) siblings in believing who happened to do a sin which can be forgiven by God, it is necessary that you (sing.) pray for him, so that he will be shown-grace/mercy by God that his believing/obeying will be able to revert to being strong again. But there is a kind of sin that God will not forgive, sin which can lead the one doing it to punishment which is without ending. As for the one doing this sin, I can’t say he can be prayed for.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “When someone knows that his brother committed a sin which can be forgiven, he should pray to God for him. And God will give the new life, if it was a sin that can be forgiven. Because there is the sin which cannot be forgiven, the person will pass to punishment. This sin now, I do not tell you that you can pray to God for the person in order that he be forgiven.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

    • Yatzachi Zapotec: “If we know one of our fellows who trusts in Christ is doing evil, we should ask God to help him, in order that he may be of peace with God again. That is what we should do for people who do evil which is not such that it makes them with their head-hearts like dead people. There is evil which people do which makes them with their head-hearts like dead people. And I do not say we should ask God to help people who do that.”

  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “If you see one of your siblings do sin, if he hasn’t for-good taken the evil road, you can ask God’s favor for him. God will cause him to come back, whoever did sin. But if someone has taken the evil road for-good, I don’t say that you ask God’s favor in regards to him.”
  • Tzotzil: “If you see there is our brother (Christian) that is seeking sin, if he has not found his sin that he will be lost (eternally) because of it, pray for him. Thus he will still be given life forever. There is sin that we will be lost (eternally) because of it. It is not that I am telling you that you are to pray for those who thus find their sin.”
  • Sayula Popoluca: “If a man sees that his brother sins that which is not for him to die, he will ask God and he will give him life for the one who doesn’t sin to die. He who sins to die that one I do not say you should ask for him.” (Source for this and two above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)

complete verse (2 John 1:1)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 John 1:1:

  • Uma: “This letter is from me, Elder, I send it to the mother/woman [polite form of address to an adult woman] chosen by God, and to all your (sing.) children whom I really love. It isn’t just I who love you (pl.), all people who know the true teaching, they love you as well.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “This letter/writing is from me the Elder of the trusters in Isa Almasi, I send this to the woman chosen by God and to her children. Truly I love you. And not only I but also all who know the true teaching from God love you,” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “As for me the old person, I write to you, the woman chosen of God and your children. You are very dear here in my breath, and not only here in my breath, rather you are all dear also in the breaths of all who have believed the true doctrine.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “My-esteemed Lady, I am Juan who am one of the leaders of the believers. This is my letter to you (sing.) whom Diyos (God) has chosen and to your (sing.) children as well. My love for you (pl.) is from-the-heart, and it’s not only I who love you but rather also all who know the true teaching.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Dear woman who has been chosen by God, and your (sing.) children, there-with-you is my letter, I who am the senior-elder. As for you, I really hold you very dear, and not only I but also all those who have really acknowledged the truth concerning the Lord/Chief.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “I lead in relation to God’s word, I greet my sister, a woman who is chosen by God. I also greet your children. I truly love all of you. And now just I do, but also all those who know the true word love you.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “In my old age I am writing you, woman whom God has chosen and your children. Truly I love you and not I only, but also all the other people who are acquainted with what is true.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “I am the Old-Man Leader. I am sending you this paper, you woman chosen by God, and together (you are with) with your children. I love you in that equally we follow the true Word. And it is not only I who love you, but also all those others who know the Word, also all of them love you.”
  • [tip_language language="7646"]Isthmus Zapotec: “I am an old man, I am writing this paper to the Señora whom God chose and to her children. Truly I love you; and not I only but also all those who are acquainted with that which is true.”
  • Sayula Popoluca: “I am old man John. I am writing to that lady (Señora, not native word for woman as it might give a bad connotation) who is selected and her children, whom I love (them) truly and not just I but every one who knows that which is true.” (Source for this and three above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)

complete verse (2 John 1:9)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 John 1:9:

  • Uma: “All people who wander/detour from the true teaching, and they do not follow the teaching of Kristus, those people are not connected with God. People who remain following the teaching of Kristus, they are connected with God the Father and with God the Child.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Whoever does not remain/stick-to the teaching of Almasi but goes beyond (it), God is not there with him. Whoever stays/remains with the teaching of Almasi, both the Father and the Son are with him.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “If there is a person who has abandoned the true doctrine taught by Christ so that he might hold fast to a false doctrine that he has added on, he has not become one with God. Anyone, by contrast, who holds fast to the true doctrine, he is the one who has been made one with our Father God and His Son.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Any person, if he doesn’t continue to follow what Cristo taught, but rather exceeds it, he doesn’t know God. But the one who carries-on in following what Cristo taught, God the Father and his Child also are in him.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “As for the one who is not holding fast to the teaching of Cristo, because he is (emphatic) overriding it, he is really far from God. However, whoever is holding fast to this teaching of Cristo, he is really being held fast to by God the Father and Son.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Concerning the person who does not want to say only what Christ taught, but speaks other words which Christ did not teach, he is a person who does not walk with God. But the person who speaks only what Christ taught is one who walks with the Father and also with the Son of God.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “Any of us if we are forsaking what Christ taught us and are taking another road, God is not with us. But if we are constantly heeding what Christ taught us, our father God and his son are with us.”
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “But whoever wants to go beyond (outdo) God’s teaching, and doesn’t want to remain in the teaching of Christ, but then he isn’t with God. But he who remains in the teaching of Christ, he is with the Father, and also with his Son.”
  • Isthmus Zapotec: “Whoever goes another direction (all one verb stem) and no longer follows what Christ taught does not know (is not acquainted with)God. But whoever follows what Christ taught, he truly knows God the Father and His Son.”
  • Sayula Popoluca: “He who goes astray after another doctrine and doesn’t remain (stay with) Christ’s doctrine, he doesn’t have fellowship with God . . ..” (Source for this and three above: John Beekman in Notes on Translation 12, November 1964, p. 1ff.)