eternity, forever, forever and ever

The Greek that is typically translated as “eternity,” “forever,” or “forever and ever” in English are translated in Mairasi as “mashed out infinitely.” Lloyd Peckham explains: “Bark cloth required pounding. It got longer and wider as it got pounded. Similarly, life gets pounded or mashed to lengthen it into infinity. Tubers also get mashed into the standard way of serving the staple food, like the fufu of Uganda, or like poi of Hawaii. It spreads out into infinity.” (Source: Lloyd Peckham)

In Lisu the phrase “forever and ever” is translated as ꓕꓲꓽ ꓞꓲꓼ ꓕꓲ ꓑ — thi tsi thi pa, verbatim translated as “one – lifetime – one – world.” This construction follows a traditional four-couplet construct in oral Lisu poetry that is usually in the form ABAC or ABCB. (Source: Arrington 2020, p. 57f.)

See also forever, eternal life and salvation.

complete verse (Philemon 1:15)

Following are a number of back-translations of Philemon 1:15:

  • Uma: “That is why I order(ed) him to go [to you], I thought/said that perhaps this short separation of yours (pl.) the Lord is using-as-a-road, so that he will return to you forever.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Perhaps that is why Onesimus was caused-to-be-separate from you for a short while so that as long as he lives he will be there with you.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Perhaps the purpose of God in Onesimus’s leaving you is: he was taken away from you for a short time so that he might become yours again forever.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “It’s-possible that the reason Onesimus was separated from you (sing.) for a short-while was so that he will return to join you (sing.) forever.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “And another thing, maybe he was separated from you for a short time so that he could return again and stay for always under your authority.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “It seems that it was necessary that your worker left you for a while. Because when he returns, now as a believer he returns and now he will nevermore leave you.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Philemon 1:15

“Perhaps” (Revised Standard Version) represents Greek tacha (here and in Rom 5.7). The potentiality suggested by the introductory expression it may be that is often better expressed by an adverb such as “perhaps.”

Was away (from you) … you might have him back refer to two contrasting situations: the first during the time Onesimus was in flight from Philemon and the second when he is to return to his master. It seems quite clear that the way in which Paul phrases the matter [particularly in the use of the cautions “perhaps,” the use of the passive form of the verb “to be separated,” and the avoidance of the verb “he ran away (from you)”] implies that in all this God was at work to bring about the intended result which Paul so ardently hopes to achieve.

Was away from you may be expressed more effectively as a negation, for example, “was not with you” or “did not remain there with you.”

Onesimus’ separation was for a short time (literally “for an hour,” see also 2 Cor 7.8); his return will hold good for all time (Revised Standard Version “for ever”). It is difficult to determine exactly what Paul meant by this “eternally”; perhaps something like “for good,” “permanently” (see a similar use in John 8.35). In any case the new relationship, that of Christian brothers, is a permanent one, which will not change regardless of whatever else may change.

For a short time must not be understood as merely a brief period of a day or so. Obvious Onesimus had traveled some distance from Colossae and had probably been with Paul for some time. If a somewhat definite expression of time must be employed, it should reflect at least several weeks and possibly several months.

For all time may be expressed as “from now on” or “continuously.”

You might have him back may be expressed in many languages as “he might be again with you” or “he might remain with you.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to Philemon. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1977. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .