deacon

The Greek that is often translated as “deacon” in English is translated as kavumbi in Chokwe, someone “who serves another, not from compulsion or for a wage, but because of vumbi or grace.”

(Source: D. B. Long in The Bible Translator 1952, p. 87ff.)

complete verse (1 Timothy 3:12)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Timothy 3:12:

  • Uma: “Helpers in the Lord’s work [must] have just one wife, they must know how to manage well their children and the people who stay in their house.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “A person who is thus titled ought to have only one wife. He ought to take good care of his children and wife and all his companions in the house.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “As for a deacon, he must have only one wife and he does not commit adultery against her. It is also necessary that his leading his wife and children is good.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Another-thing also that is necessary for those who are helpers, they must have only-one spouse and not commit-adultery (lit. woman-with). They must also know how to properly manage their children and their families.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “The man who is a helper of the overseer, it’s necessary that he doesn’t switch wives, having only one. And he knows how to supervise his children and his household.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “The men who have the position of helping at the church must have only one wife. They must know well how to rule in their houses. The same for their children, as well as the others (in their home) they must rule them well.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Timothy 3:12

Two further qualities of deacons are mentioned, involving the deacons’ relationship with their families. These qualities have already been mentioned in relation to bishops; see 3.2 and 3.4. If a translation has “female church helpers” in the previous verse, verse 12 should have the equivalent of “male church helpers (or, male deacons).”

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to Timothy. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1995. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .