love (Luang)

The various Greek terms that are translated as “love” in English can be translated with various terms in Luang with different shades of meaning.

For Acts 7:46 and Titus 1:8, ralamni nala (“insides take”). “This term has the sense of finding favor with or being pleased by someone and is used for love between a man and a woman, between a parent and a much-loved child. It is also used of God’s being especially pleased with a human, such as he was with Noah and Moses. It can refer to loving objects good or bad, and to loving the world. The focus here is on some pleasing characteristic of the person or thing loved.”

For Mark 6:34, nmawaldoinla (“insides turn completely over”). “Love mixed with pity and distress. One can feel this for oneself as well as for others. Jesus felt this way when he looked at the multitudes who were like sheep without a shepherd.”

For Mark 1:11, lilili (“take care of, honor”). “Loving with special care, attention, and honor. This is the term often used for loving a dear child and God’s loving his Son.”

For 1 Thess. 2:8 and Mark 1:11, siayni (“love, pity”). “Affection for children or for those in difficult circumstances.”

For Titus 3:4 and 1 Thess. 1:2-3, ralamni kalwieda-paitiota (“good insides”). The focus of this term is the goodness of the one who loves. There is absolutely no focus whatsoever on the one loved, who may even be despicable. This term is often used for God’s love and mercy toward us especially in such verses as ‘God loved us, not because of what we have done, but because of his great mercy.'”

For 1 Thess. 1:4 and 2 Tim. 4:10, napalniana (“insides face”). “The sense of this term is very close to that of the sense of ‘ralamni nalal’ for ‘love’. It indicates something about the thing or person loved that pleases the one loving. However, the sense ‘ralamni nalal’ refers generally to love as an outcome of the loved one’s pleasing characteristics, while this term, when it collocates with human beings, is used more for love that results from the loved one’s loving actions. It is not used for the love between a man and a woman.”

The following are service-related terms for “love.” “There are several different words for love where the focus is on the act produced by love, not on the goodness of the one loving, the one being loved, or any emotion of affection or pity. These words are differentiated by the particular service given and are mainly used in verses where people are commanded to love one another.”

For 2 Thess. 1:3 and 1 Tim. 6:18, ra’a-palu (“love-widow”). “This term’s focus is on love displayed by giving to one another financially.”

For 1 Thess. 3:12, nhimpai-nmanatu (“hold out hands, place carefully”). This term’s focus is more on daily practical care of someone.

For Titus 2:2 and 1 Tim. 6:11, hima-re’a (“hold out hands”). “This term’s focus is on helping someone with their work.”

For 1 Thess. 4:9, mpiehwa-mliakta kalwiedweda (“good/careful actions”). “This term’s focus is on the proper treatment of others on meeting them. It implies being hospitable, polite, respecting.”

Source: Kathy Taber in Notes on Translation 1/1999, p. 9-16.

world (Chinese)

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “world” in English is translated in Mandarin Chinese with shìjiè (世界). While shìjiè is now the commonly used term for “world” in Chinese, it was popularized as such by Chinese Bible translations. (Source: Mak 2017, p. 241ff.)

See also world.

complete verse (2 Timothy 4:10)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Timothy 4:10:

  • Uma: “For almost no-one is with me any more here. Demas, he forsook me [emphatic], for he desired/longed-for his life in this world. He went to Tesalonika. As for Kreskes, he has gone to Galatia. Titus went to Dalmatia.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Demas, what is already valuable to him are the things in this world now. He is no longer here with me, he has already left to go to Tessalonika. Kereskes took off for Galatiya and Titus took off for Dalmatiya.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “for Demas has left me since what he has set his heart on is his life here on the earth. He has gone to Thessalonica. As for Crescens, he has gone to Galatia, and Titus also has gone to Dalmatia.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “because Demas, he up-and-left me and went to Tesalonika because his love is concentrated on the life on this earth. As for Cresente also, he went to Galacia, and Tito, he went to Dalmacia.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “For I’ve been left/deserted now by Demas, because he preferred what pleases his own body. He’s now in Tesalonica. As for Crescente, he’s now gone to Galacia. As for Tito, he’s in Dalmacia.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Because Demas liked the pleasure here in this world and left me, and went to the city of Thessalonica. Cresens went to Galatia. Titus went to Dalmatia.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 2 Timothy 4:10

This verse mentions three people who for one reason or another have left Paul.

For: in some languages it will be helpful to follow Revised Standard Version‘s model and keep the For in For Demas, to show the connection with the previous verse. Paul needs Timothy because both Demas and Crescens have left him for various reasons, and only Luke remains with him (compare verse 11).

The name Demas also appears in Col 4.14 and in Philemon 24, where he is identified as Paul’s fellow worker. Whether the Demas in 2 Timothy is the same Demas mentioned in Colossians and Philemon is difficult to ascertain. It may be simply incidental that the names are the same. At any rate, if these references refer to the same people, then Demas may have deserted Paul at a later time.

The word for world is also the word that is sometimes translated “eternity.” Here the focus is on the world as transitory and under the influence of evil, and therefore opposed to God. The world is characterized as present as opposed to the coming world. This also contrasts Demas with Paul and all those who long eagerly for Christ’s appearing. See further comments on 1 Tim 6.17.

Deserted translates a verb that means “to leave behind,” in either a good or a bad sense; in the present context it is definitely the negative sense that is in focus. In certain languages this will be expressed figuratively; for example, “threw me away” or “discarded me.” It is not clear as to whether this desertion is simply physical (Demas left Rome) or spiritual as well (Demas left the Christian faith). Since Paul does not explicitly say that Demas has renounced the Christian faith, it is best to focus simply on the fact that Demas had left Rome and gone somewhere else. In certain languages it will be helpful to say “left me here in Rome and went….”

For gone to see “going to” in 1 Tim 1.3.

Thessalonica is the capital city of the Roman province of Macedonia, which is now northern Greece. In the book of Acts we are told that Paul established the church there (see Acts 17.1-9; see also the map, page 6|fig:Map_Paul-12.jpg).

Crescens appears only here in the whole New Testament. There is no other information about him.

Galatia most probably refers to the Roman province in southern Asia Minor by that name (presently part of Turkey). It is in that part where Paul went during his first missionary journey (see Acts 13.13–14.26; 15.36–16.5; note the route on the map, page 6|fig:Map_Paul-12.jpg).

Titus, a Gentile Christian, was one of Paul’s co-workers and is prominently mentioned in many of Paul’s letters. He accompanied Paul to Jerusalem (Gal 2.1) and played an important role in the correspondence between Paul and the church at Corinth (see 2 Cor 2.13; 7.6). In Titus 1.5 we are informed that Paul left Titus behind in the island of Crete. He was probably also known as Silas (see Acts 15.40; Gal 2.1).

Dalmatia occurs only here in the whole New Testament. It consists of the southern half of the province of Illyricum (present-day Albania) on the northeast coast of the Adriatic Sea. See Rom 15.19.

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