elder (of the church)

The Greek that is translated as “elder” in most English versions (“presbyter” in The Orthodox New Testament, 2000) is translated as “Old-Man Leader” in Eastern Highland Otomi (source: John Beekman in Notes on Translation November 1964, p. 1-22) and in Bacama as mi kpan-kpani vɨnə hiutə: “big/old person of house of prayer” (source: David Frank in this blog post ).

Other translations include:

  • “the people who command among the people of Jesus” in Lalana Chinantec
  • “the old men who watched over the believers” in Morelos Nahuatl
  • “the ones guarding the brethren” in Isthmus Mixe (source for this and two above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
  • “the old men who believe” in Sayula Popoluca
  • “those who care for the assembly of Christ” in Rincón Zapotec
  • “those in authority among the brothers” in Central Mazahua
  • “the supervisors of the creed” in Guhu-Samane (source for this and three above: Ellis Deibler in Notes on Translation July, 1967, p. 5ff.)
  • “those who have taken on responsibilities in the congregation” in German (das Buch translation by Roland Werner, publ. 2009-2022)

See also elder (of the community).

Paul (icon)

Following is a Georgian Orthodox icon of Paul the Apostle from the 14th century (located in the Art Museum of Georgia, Tbilisi).

Orthodox Icons are not drawings or creations of imagination. They are in fact writings of things not of this world. Icons can represent our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. They can also represent the Holy Trinity, Angels, the Heavenly hosts, and even events. Orthodox icons, unlike Western pictures, change the perspective and form of the image so that it is not naturalistic. This is done so that we can look beyond appearances of the world, and instead look to the spiritual truth of the holy person or event. (Source )

See also Paul.

James (brother of Jesus)

The Greek that is transliterated as “James” is translated in Swiss-German Sign Language with a sign that depicts putting faith into action.


“James” in Swiss-German Sign Language, source: DSGS-Lexikon biblischer Begriffe , © CGG Schweiz

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with the sign for “tongue,” referring to James 3:5 and following. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“James” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

Following is a Russian Orthodox icon of James from the 16th century.

Orthodox Icons are not drawings or creations of imagination. They are in fact writings of things not of this world. Icons can represent our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. They can also represent the Holy Trinity, Angels, the Heavenly hosts, and even events. Orthodox icons, unlike Western pictures, change the perspective and form of the image so that it is not naturalistic. This is done so that we can look beyond appearances of the world, and instead look to the spiritual truth of the holy person or event. (Source )

Paul

The term that is transliterated as “Paul” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that signifies the many letters he wrote. (Source: RuthAnna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Paul” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign depicting putting away a sword, referring to his conversion from a persecutor of Christians to a Christian leader. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Paul (and Saul)” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Paul (source: Bible Lands 2012)

See also Paul (icon).

inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Acts 21:18)

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.

complete verse (Acts 21:18)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 21:18:

  • Uma: “The next day we (excl.) went with Paulus to visit Yakobus. All the other leaders were also there gathered with Yakobus.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “The next day, we (excl.) went together with Paul to visit Yakub. The elders also gathered there.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And the next morning Paul and we visited apostle James, and there were there also all of the elders of the believers.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Upon its getting-light (i.e. next day), we (excl.) and Pablo went to go visit Santiago. All the leaders of the believers were also there.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “The following day, we (excl.) went with Pablo to Santiago. On our (excl.) arrival there, the overseers of the believers were assembled.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 21:18

James, the brother of the Lord, occupied a leading position in the early church (see 12.17; 15.13). From all indications, Peter and the other apostles were no longer in Jerusalem at this time. The expression see James must often be rendered as “to talk with James” or “to visit James.” It is not mere “seeing” which is involved.

The church elders are, of course, the leaders in the Jerusalem church.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .