I say nothing about your owing me even your own self

The Greek that is translated in English as “I say nothing about your owing me even your own self” or similar is translated in Kinaray-A as “I will not mention your debt to me, because wasn’t it because of me that you obtained life without end?” The rhetorical question is used to soften the impact of the reminder that the person has an eternal debt (utang) to the writer. A person with such a debt is forever obligated to his benefactor almost as a slave to his master. So, a straightforward assertion would be a crude reminder to the debtor of his lowered status as being practically a slave to the writer. This might cause the person to feel he was being deliberately put to shame and thus caused to lose face. So, to avoid that, the writer softens the reminder with a rhetorical question. (Source: Balbina Abadiano in Notes on Translation 1988, p. 40ff.)

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.

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).

complete verse (Philemon 1:19)

Following are a number of back-translations of Philemon 1:19:

  • Uma: “That is why I write here with my own hand: I Paulus will pay all. (I do not need to remind you that I am the one who taught you to believe in the Lord. So, you are in behavior debt to me.) [i.e., you should do something good for me because of what I did for you]” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “I am the one writing this: I, Paul, am the one to pay. I do no longer mention that you have a great debt to me, for it is because of me that you have everlasting life.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Look at my writing this: I Paul will pay. However, you know that your debt to me is also big, for by means of me you came to own life forever.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “I myself am the writer (lit. owner of the writing) and signer (lit. owner of the signature) of this in order that you (sing.) will thereby-know that I will fulfill what I have said: ‘I am Pablo. I will pay Onesimus’ debt to you (sing.).’ Perhaps I don’t need to remind you (sing.) that your (sing.) life that is forever is your (sing.) debt to me.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “As proof, I will now write this with my own hand, I Pablo will take responsibility to pay you. But good if you remember also that your debt-of-gratitude to me is your being able to know/recognize Cristo, that being what can enable you to be saved.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “I put here on this paper these words here: ‘I Paul will pay you.’ But I do not want to remind you that you also are in debt to me. Because it was I who told you the word about how to save your life.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Philemon 1:19

Here Paul takes the stylus and writes these words himself (see Col 4.18). The aorist tense of the verb “to write” is another instance of the epistolary aorist (see verse 12). Only here in the NT does the verb apotinō “to repay” occur.

I will write this with my own hand may be expressed as “I myself am writing the following words.” In some languages, with my own hand is expressed “with my own fingers” or even “with my own arm.” It is important to use the expression which is most in keeping with receptor-language usage.

I, Paul, will pay you back may be rendered as “I, Paul, will pay you.” A literal rendering of “pay back” might suggest that this was a debt which Paul himself had incurred and not on behalf of Onesimus. It may be necessary to refer to what is to be paid as, “I will pay you whatever is owed” or “I will pay you all that money.”

Then Paul adds, almost as an afterthought, a reminder to Philemon: “I am now indebted to you; but don’t forget that your debt to me is much greater—you owe me you very self.” Paul is referring to the fact that he had been instrumental in Philemon’s conversion, so that Philemon owes his spiritual life to Paul.

The phrase translated I should not have to remind you is used also in 2 Cor 9.4. It may be expressed as “surely it is not necessary for me to mention to you” or “… to tell you.”

The verb owe in this verse translates the compound prosopheilō which occurs only here in the NT; the simple opheilō is used in verse 18. It may be rather difficult to speak of “owing oneself.” The Good News Translation rendering that you owe your very self to me may, however, be restructured as “you are in debt to me for life.” But a literal rendering of “for your life” might suggest that Paul himself had at one time rescued Philemon from death. It may, therefore, be essential to indicate precisely what is involved, for example, “you are in debt to me for your new life through Christ” or “… for your life as a Christian.”

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 .