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 (2 Timothy 4:21)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Timothy 4:21:

  • Uma: “You come quickly before the cold time arrives! Many greetings from Ebulus, Pudes, Linus and Klaudia, and from all the one-faith relatives who are here.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Timoteo, really try to come to me soon (lit. easily) so that you are not reached by the strong winds on the way. Ubulus, Pudes, Linus and Kalauda send word there to you that they remember you. Likewise the rest of our (incl.) brothers who trust Isa here.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Quickly come here before the rainy season starts. Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the believers here send greetings to you.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Put-yourself-(sing.)-to-hardship to come here before (lit. then) frost-season. Eubulus, Pudens, Linus and Claudia and all the other believers who are here, likewise also of-course they send-you (sing.) -greetings.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well as-was-said, supposing you have the opportunity, it’s good if you will be able to come here at once, before the time of cold season. You are greeted by Eubulo, Pudente, Lino, Claudia and others here who are our siblings in believing.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “And you, earnestly try to come before the cold rains begin. Concerning Eubulus, he sends you greetings. Also Pudens greets you. Also Linus along with Claudia, and all the other brethren here, all of them greet you.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 2 Timothy 4:21

For Do your best see 2 Tim 2.15. It is important for Timothy to get to Rome before winter because, for one thing, Paul needs his winter coat (verse 13), but more importantly, it would be extremely difficult to travel from Ephesus to Rome during winter time, since ships didn’t sail in the Mediterranean from November to March. If Timothy was unable to get to Rome before winter, it meant that he had to postpone his trip until the spring. Other ways to express winter are “the cold season,” “the time of the year when the weather is cold,” or even “the hard season,” meaning the one when there are storms accompanied by snow and bitter cold.

Eubulus, Pudens, Linus and Claudia appear only here in the whole New Testament. They are obviously known to both Paul and Timothy, but nothing more is known about them. All the names are masculine except Claudia.

For greetings see comments on “Greet” in verse 19.

For brethren see 1 Tim 4.6. One can restructure as “all the other Christians here in Rome.” There seems to be a contradiction between this verse and 4.16, where Paul stated that all the Christians in Rome had deserted him. But perhaps those who did not stand by Paul or witness on his behalf during his first trial still remained believers, and there is no reason then why they should not send their greetings to Timothy.

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 .