genealogy

The Greek that is translated in English as “genealogies” is translated in Kwara’ae as “long stories about generations.”

complete verse (Titus 3:9)

Following are a number of back-translations of Titus 3:9:

  • Uma: “But there are also people who continually debate and argue with each other [lit., reciprocally-make-rebuttals and reciprocally-answer-angrily], arguing about rules of the Yahudi religion or stories of ancestry/descendants. Don’t you let them teach any more. Avoid altogether arguments that are made by those stupid people. Because they have no benefit/blessing and they have no purpose.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But avoid the people who argue (about) which has no use and if there are (people) who tell-stories about names of the generations of their ancestors, and don’t you (sing.) join in when/if someone quarrels about the law of Musa. All those things have no use.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “However, avoid stupid arguments of people. Also avoid the study of the accounts of names of the ancestors of people which is what they study. You must also avoid their quarreling about obeying the law left behind by Moses. None of this is of any value for it is destructive.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But don’t join in the useless arguing of people about lists of names of ancestors. Distance yourself (sing.) also from their quarreling about the law of Moses, for quarrels/arguments like these, they have no good result, for there is no help-that they -give to our faith.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But well as-was-said, put far away getting-into-arguments which achieves nothing. Don’t be bothered/busy with the thousands of listed-names of ancestors and their descendants, that being what others are fascinated with. And avoid/taboo arguments concerning the things Moises commanded in the past. For really nothing is achieved by these arguments for they have no usefulness, but rather are just a bother/hindrance.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “But do not want that there be arguments which are not needed. Do not argue about what was done by our ancestors long ago. Don’t argue about the law followed by the Jews. Because arguments do not bring about what is good.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Titus 3:9

But marks a contrast and clearly signals to Titus that, as he goes on with his ministry, there are certain things that he should not be doing, and one of these is following the example of the false teachers, especially in their interest in divisive theological issues that are of no value to the church.

Avoid translates a verb that refers to restraining oneself from participating in some activity. One may also say “Don’t have anything to do with.” For further discussion see 2 Tim 2.16.

What follows is a list consisting of four items, all of which are mentioned in the two letters to Timothy. For stupid controversies see 2 Tim 2.23. For genealogies see 1 Tim 1.4. For dissensions see 1 Tim 6.4. For quarrels see 1 Tim 6.4. There it is “disputes about words”; here it is quarrels over the law, which in this context probably refers to the Jewish Law or the Law of Moses. This would be expected, since many of the heretical teachers are Jewish converts to Christianity (see Titus 1.10). The law may also be expressed as “the law which Moses gave.”

All of these activities are to be avoided because they are unprofitable and futile. Unprofitable is the negative form of the word “profitable” in the previous verse. Futile comes from a verb that means “to be useless,” “to be worthless,” or “senseless” because of lack of content; hence “nonsense.” The point being stressed is that all this theological nonsense is the exact opposite of good deeds in so far as worth and usefulness are concerned.

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