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The Greek term that is translated as a form of “save” in English is translated in Shipibo-Conibo with a phrase that means literally “make to live,” which combines the meaning of “to rescue” and “to deliver from danger,” but also the concept of “to heal” or “restore to health.”

In San Blas Kuna it is rendered as “help the heart,” in Laka, it is “take by the hand” in the meaning of “rescue” or “deliver,” in Huautla Mazatec the back-translation of the employed term is “lift out on behalf of,” in Anuak, it is “have life because of,” in Central Mazahua “be healed in the heart,” in Baoulé “save one’s head” (meaning to rescue a person in the fullest sense), in Guerrero Amuzgo “come out well,” in Northwestern Dinka “be helped as to his breath” (or “life”) (source: Bratcher / Nida), and in Noongar barrang-ngandabat or “hold life” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).

In South Bolivian Quechua it is “make to escape” and in Highland Puebla Nahuatl, it is “cause people to come out with the aid of the hand.” (Source: Nida 1947, p. 222.)

See also salvation.

complete verse (1 Corinthians 16:2)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 16:2:

  • Uma: “Every Sunday, every one of you set-aside money in your house, each one according to what-you-have-gotten/your-income. Store that money until I arrive, so that it won’t be that when I arrive, only then you gather it.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Every Sunday each one of you should put aside beforehand money for your helping them. Figure out your earnings of the past week. If your earning was much you ought to give much; if little, only little. And gather all the money in order that when I come there, your help is ready beforehand.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Every Sunday, now it’s necessary that each of you prepare what he is going to give to God. According to what you have gained, it’s necessary you set aside God’s share. And keep this so that when I come there, it will no longer be necessary for you to collect any money because it will already be prepared.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Each of you should weekly set-aside what he will give in proportion to his income so that the money that will be given will be saved-up and you won’t have to gather it when I go there (near addressee).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Each Sunday it would be good if each one now puts-aside something, according to how much money he obtained that week. If like this is done, I will not have to cause-you -to-give when I come there.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “When you get together on Sunday, each time you do so every believer should bring a bit of money for the offering which is collected. Therefore when I come there where you live you won’t have to gather the money then. You will already have put aside however much you could from your earnings.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Corinthians 16:2

The first day of every week means “Sunday” (Good News Bible, Revised English Bible).

Aside certainly implies that for the time being, each member’s contribution is to be saved up in his own home. Bible en français courant has “at home,” and Barclay “each of you must personally lay aside and save up.” The last part of the verse must therefore imply that the collection should be started before Paul’s visit.

In this context, something obviously means “some money” (Good News Bible), as the rest of the verse makes clear.

There is some disagreement about the meaning of the words translated as he may prosper. Héring translates “whatever he can succeed in saving.” The Greek originally meant “to have a successful journey,” and was then more widely applied to success in business. Some translations express this phrase in a slightly different way: “as much as he can spare.” Good News Bible as usual prefers “you” to he.

When I come: compare 11.34.

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, 2nd edition. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1985/1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .