truth

The Greek, Latin and Hebrew that is usually translated in English as “truth” is translated in Luchazi with vusunga: “the quality of being straight” (source: E. Pearson in The Bible Translator 1954, p. 160ff. ), in Obolo as atikọ or “good/correct talk” (source: Enene Enene), and in Ekari as maakodo bokouto or “enormous truth” (esp. in John 14:6 and 17; bokouto — “enormous” — is being used as an attribute for abstract nouns to denote that they are of God [see also here]; source: Marion Doble in The Bible Translator 1963, p. 37ff. ).

The translation committee of the Malay “Good News Bible” (Alkitab Berita Baik, see here ) wrestled with the translation of “truth” in the Gospel of John (for more information click or tap here):

“Our Malay Committee also concluded that ‘truth’ as used in the Gospel of John was used either of God himself, or of God’s revelation of himself, or in an extended sense as a reference to those who had responded to God’s self-disclosure. In John 8:32 the New Malay translation reads ‘You will know the truth about God, and the truth about God will make you free.’ In John 8:44 this meaning is brought out by translating, ‘He has never been on the side of God, because there is no truth in him.’ Accordingly Jesus ‘tells the truth about God’ in 8:45, 46 (see also 16:7 and 8:37a). Then, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life’ becomes ‘I am the one who leads men to God, the one who reveals who and what God is, and the one who gives men life.” At 3:21 the translation reads ” … whoever obeys the truth, that is God himself, comes to the light …’; 16:13a appears as ‘he will lead you into the full truth about God’; and in 18:37 Jesus affirms ‘I came into the world to reveal the truth about God, and whoever obeys God listens to me.’ On this basis also 1:14 was translated ‘we saw his glory, the glory which he had as the Father’s only Son. Through him God has completely revealed himself (truth) and his love for us (grace)’; and 1:17 appears as ‘God gave the law through Moses; but through Jesus Christ he has completely revealed himself (truth) and his love for us (grace).'” (Source: Barclay Newman in The Bible Translator 1974, p. 432ff. )

Helen Evans (in The Bible Translator 1954, p. 40ff. ) tells of the translation into Kui which usually is “true-thing.” In some instances however, such as in the second part of John 17:17 (“your word is truth” in English), the use of “true-thing” indicated that there might be other occasions when it’s not true, so here the translation was a a form of “pure, holy.”

complete verse (2 Peter 1:12)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Peter 1:12:

  • Uma: “So, relatives, although you already know all this, and although your following of the true teaching is already strong, I am going to keep on reminding you of it anyway.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “This is the reason why I constantly remind you about this, even though you know it beforehand and you are steadfastly following the true teaching that you heard.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Even though you already understand all of this, and your faith in the true doctrine is drawn tight, it’s still necessary that I continually let you hear this.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “So even though you already know these-things and you persevere in following the truth that was taught to you, I will nevertheless continually remind you of these-things by-means-of this letter.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “That’s why I am always reminding you of these things, even though you know them already, and your believing/obeying the truth which was taught to you is firm.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Therefore continually I want to remind you of this word, even though you now know about it and you do not doubt the truth of the message which was taught you.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 2 Peter 1:12

I intend is in the future tense in the Greek; this is reflected in Good News Translation “I will always remind you” (and see also New English Bible “I will not hesitate to remind you”). A translation should be avoided that excludes this letter, that is, one which gives the idea that Peter will in the future remind his readers by writing yet another letter. A more appropriate way of understanding the future tense here is in the sense of including the present: “I will always remind you, as I am doing now.” In this sense New Revised Standard Version is quite appropriate: “I intend to keep on reminding you.” We can also express this sentence as “I will continually bring these matters to your attention” or “I will continually cause you to remember these things.” In some languages there will be idioms that will capture this meaning quite satisfactorily; for example, the English idiom “jog your memory.”

These things refers back to verses 3-11, which contain a summary of Peter’s message and of the apostolic message in general.

You know them refers back to The First Letter from Peter, which forms a background to The Second Letter from Peter and which the readers are assumed to have read. Many of the things discussed in 2 Peter are also found in 1 Peter, such as the importance of being steadfast (1 Peter 1.3-9) and the possibility of sharing in divine glory (1 Peter 1.8; 5.1).

Are established translates a verb that indicates solid grounding in and firm commitment to something, as in Good News Translation “firmly grounded,” and New English Bible “well grounded.” Are established in many languages can be rendered as “are deep in your heart” or “are firmly fixed in your heart.” The truth that you have refers to the Christian message that the believers have been taught since their conversion and baptism. Truth is often used in the New Testament to designate the Christian message in general (see, for instance, Gal 2.5; Eph 1.13; Col 1.5; 2 Thes 2.12-13; 2 Tim 2.15; James 1.18). Here we can see the development of a body of authoritative Christian teaching to which believers have to give their allegiance. This truth that the believers have is something they received as a result of proclamation and teaching (New Revised Standard Version “the truth that has come to you”); it was handed down to them through the Christian community’s ministry of preaching and nurture. Some translators may be able to follow New Revised Standard Version “that has come to you.” However, in certain languages it will be difficult to talk about an abstract idea such as truth performing an action, that is, “coming.” In this case we can say “you heard the true teachings” or “the true teachings were preached (or, taught) to you.”

An alternative translation model for this verse is:
• Therefore I will continually cause you to remember those things, even though you know them already. The true teachings that were taught to you are also firmly fixed in your heart (or, mind).

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Second Letter from Peter. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .