inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (1Thess. 3:3)

Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)

The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).

For this verse, translators typically select the exclusive form (excluding the addressee).

Source: Velma Pickett and Florence Cowan in Notes on Translation January 1962, p. 1ff.

In Fijian, the paucal exclusive forms neitou and keitou (“of me and a few [two or slight more]”) are used instead. This choice is understandable in view of the introduction found in both letters to the Thessalonians, where the writer Paul indicates clearly that the letters were co-authored by two other colleagues, Silas and Timothy, hence the use of a pronoun referring to three people (“Paul, Silas and Timothy”).

Source: Joseph Hong in The Bible Translator 1994, p. 419ff.

complete verse (1 Thessalonians 3:3)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Thessalonians 3:3:

  • Uma: “We ordered him to go, so that there will be no-one whose faith is shaken because of the persecution that is striking you. For we (incl.) do know, relatives, that the persecution which is striking us (incl.) is none other than the intention of God beforehand for us (incl.) Kristen people.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “We (excl.) don’t want that because of your difficulties anyone of you would turn-his-back-on/reject the true teaching. You knew beforehand that we (incl.) all have to come across/experience difficulties.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “so that none of you might become confused because of people’s persecution of you. You know that as for us (incl.) believers, God has destined affliction for us.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “so that none of you would go-astray on-account-of that aforementioned being-hardshipped of yours. You admittedly know of-course that God has designated that we be hardshipped,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “so that even though you are being caused hardship, no-one will be led astray and drop/give-up his believing/obeying. For you know that as for these caused-hardships/persecutions, they are indeed God’s determined-plan for us.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “We did not want that your hearts be discouraged from being persecuted. You know already that it is necessary that you suffer from persecution.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Thessalonians 3:3

The word translated turn back is not used anywhere else in the New Testament. Of its possible meanings in New Testament or later times, the most appropriate here is “disturbed” (Best), “shaken” (Translator’s New Testament Barclay), “unsettled” (Jerusalem Bible). Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch interestingly transfers “your faith” from verse 2: “He was to strengthen and encourage you, so that no one should let himself be turned aside from the faith.”

In some languages there may be no meaningful connection between “turning back” and “faith” or “trusting.” Therefore it may be necessary to say “so that none of you would give up believing,” or “… would cease trusting Christ.”

These persecutions (already mentioned in 1.6 and 2.14) must often be rendered as “the way in which you have suffered persecution,” or “the ways in which people have caused you to suffer.”

You yourselves know. Good News Translation follows the Greek closely here in emphasizing you by the addition of yourselves; but the emphasis really attaches to the whole phrase; there is no contrast with any other group of people. Moffatt transfers the emphasis to know: “You know that well” (cf. Knox Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Barclay (cf. Translator’s New Testament) emphasizes both elements: “You yourselves well know.” Bijbel in Gewone Taal, like Moffatt, emphasizes the whole phrase by transferring it to the end of the sentence: “that you know.”

Such persecutions are part of God’s will for us. Good News Translation and Bible en français courant make explicit a reference to God which is implicit in the text, which could be translated almost literally “that is why we have been put here.” Here, as in many places, the passive implies an activity of God. References to “our appointed lot” (New English Bible, cf. Revised Standard Version), like the use of the verb “destined,” wrongly suggest an impersonal fate, which is far from Paul’s way of thinking. The context shows that here “we” includes Paul, his companions, and the Thessalonians. In the next verse, however, the Thessalonians are excluded from “we.”

The rendering of such persecutions are part of God’s will for us must be done with care. Otherwise the reader may think that God himself had purposely planned or even organized the persecutions against the Christians in Thessalonica. In some languages it may be necessary to say “God has permitted these persecutions to come to us,” or “God has allowed these people to cause us to suffer.” It is sometimes possible to speak of “God’s will” as being “God’s plan,” for example, “God’s plan for us includes our being caused to suffer.”

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1976. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .