brother (fellow believer)

The Greek that is translated in English as “brother” (in the sense of a fellow believer), is translated with a specifically coined word in Kachin: “There are two terms for brother in Kachin. One is used to refer to a Christian brother. This term combines ‘older and younger brother.’ The other term is used specifically for addressing siblings. When one uses this term, one must specify if the older or younger person is involved. A parallel system exists for ‘sister’ as well. In [these verses], the term for ‘a Christian brother’ is used.” (Source: Gam Seng Shae)

In Martu Wangka it is translated as “relative” (this is also the term that is used for “follower.”) (Source: Carl Gross)

See also brothers.

complete verse (1 Corinthians 6:8)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Corinthians 6:8:

  • Uma: “Yet it’s you who are the ones who are deceiving others and defrauding others–and you are doing it to your one-faith relatives too!” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But you are the ones doing bad and taking advantage/cheating and you do this yet to your fellow trusters in Isa.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “But as for you, you harm and you take the possessions of your fellow believers!” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But instead of your doing that, you yourselves are the ones doing wrong and cheating, even your brothers who believe, you’re cheating (them)!” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But well, the-whole-lot-of-you who are one brotherhood in believing are doing wrong and deceiving one another!” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “But instead, you yourselves do wrong, even robbing from your fellow believers.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Corinthians 6:8

But marks a strong contrast with verse 7, as Good News Bible‘s “Instead” shows.

The emphatic you yourselves stresses that the situation is the opposite of what it should be. Paul is stressing that instead of patiently enduring wrong and robbery, they are actively wronging and hurting each other. Languages will have differing ways of showing this emphatic quality. One can say “Instead, you turn around and….”

Wrong and defraud represent the same Greek words as are used in 7b.

Even your own brethren: see the comments on 1 Cor. 6.6. “Even fellow Christians” is a better translation in most languages, as Paul is not referring to actual family members.

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 .