Thursday, May 12, 2011

Sahidic Coptic John 1:1-18 and Contemporary English translation

1 ϩΝ ΤЄϩΟΥЄΙΤЄ ΝЄϤϢΟΟΠ ΝϬΙΠϢΑϪЄ. ΑΥШ ΠϢΑϪЄ ΝЄϤϢΟΟΠ ΝΝΑϩΡΜ ΠΝΟΥΤЄ. ΑΥШ ΝЄΥΝΟΥΤЄ ΠЄ ΠϢΑϪЄ. 2 ΠΑΙ ϩΝ ΤЄϩΟΥЄΙΤЄ ΝЄϤϢΟΟΠ ϩΑΤΜ ΠΝΟΥΤЄ. 3 ΝΚΑ ΝΙΜ ΑΥϢШΠЄ ЄβΟλ ϩΙΤΟΟΤϤ. ΑΥШ ΑϪΝΤϤ ΜΠЄ λΑΑΥ ϢШΠЄ. ΠЄΝΤΑϤϢШΠЄ 4 ϩΡΑΙ ΝϩΗΤϤ ΠЄ ΠШΝϩ. ΑΥШ ΠШΝϩ ΠЄ ΠΟΥΟЄΙΝ ΝΝΡШΜЄ. 5 ΑΥШ ΠΟΥΟЄΙΝ ЄϤΡΟΥΟЄΙΝ ϩΜ ΠΚΑΚЄ. ΑΥШ ΜΠЄ ΠΚΑΚЄ ΤΑϩΟϤ.

6 ΑϤϢШΠЄ ΝϬΙΟΥΡШΜЄ ЄΑΥΤΝΝΟΥΥϤ ЄβΟλ ϩΙΤΜ ΠΝΟΥΤЄ. ЄΠЄϤΡΑΝ ΠЄ ΙШϩΑΝΝΗС. 7 ΠΑΙ ΑϤЄΙ ЄΥΜΝΤΜΝΤΡЄ. ϪЄΚΑС ЄϤЄΡΜΝΤΡЄ ЄΤβЄ ΠΟΥΟЄΙΝ. ϪЄΚΑС ЄΡЄ ΟΥΟΝ ΝΙΜ ΠΙСΤЄΥЄ ЄβΟλ ϩΙΤΟΟΤϤ. 8 ΝЄ ΠЄΤΜΜΑΥ ΑΝ ΠΟΥΟЄΙΝ. ΑλλΑ ϪЄΚΑС ΝΤΟϤ ЄϤЄΡΜΝΤΡЄ ЄΤβЄ ΠΟΥΟЄΙΝ. 9 ΠΟΥΟЄΙΝ ΜΜЄ ЄΤΡΟΥΟЄΙΝ ЄΡШΜЄ ΝΙΜ ΠЄ ЄϤΝΗΥ ЄΠΚΟСΜΟС. 10 ΝЄϤϩΜ ΠΚΟСΜΟС ΠЄ. ΑΥШ ΝΤΑ ΠΚΟСΜΟС ϢШΠЄ ЄβΟλ ϩΙΤΟΟΤϤ. ΑΥШ ΜΠЄ ΠΚΟСΜΟС СΟΥШΝϤ. 11 ΑϤЄΙ ϢΑ ΝЄΤЄΝΟΥϤ ΝЄ. ΑΥШ ΜΠЄ ΝЄΤЄΝΟΥϤ ΝЄ ϪΙΤϤ. 12 ΝЄΝΤΑΥϪΙΤϤ ΔЄ ΑϤϮ ΝΑΥ ΝΤЄξΟΥСΙΑ ЄΤΡЄΥϢШΠЄ ΝϢΗΡЄ ΝΤЄ ΠΝΟΥΤЄ. ΝЄΤΠΙСΤЄΥЄ ЄΠЄϤΡΑΝ. 13 ΝΑΙ ΝϩЄΝЄβΟλ ΑΝ ΝЄ ϩΝ ΟΥШϢ ΝСΝΟϤ ϩΙ СΑΡξ. ΟΥΔЄ ЄβΟλ ΑΝ ϩΜ ΠΟΥШϢ ΝΡШΜЄ. ΑλλΑ ΝΤΑΥϪΠΟΟΥ ЄβΟλ ϩΜ ΠΝΟΥΤЄ.

14 ΑΥШ ΠϢΑϪЄ ΑϤΡСΑΡξ. ΑϤΟΥШϩ ΝΜΜΑΝ. ΑΥШ ΑΝΝΑΥ ЄΠЄϤЄΟΟΥ. ΝΘЄ ΜΠЄΟΟΥ ΝΟΥϢΗΡЄ ΝΟΥШΤ ЄβΟλ ϩΙΤΜ ΠЄϤЄΙШΤ. ЄϤϪΗΚ ЄβΟλ ΝΧΑΡΙС ϩΙ ΜЄ. 15 ΙШϩΑΝΝΗС ЄΡΜΝΤΡЄ ЄΤβΗΗΤϤ. ΑΥШ ϤΑϢΚΑΚ ЄβΟλ ЄϤϪШ ΜΜΟС. ϪЄ ΠΑΙ ΠЄΝΤΑΙϪΟΟС ЄΤβΗΗΤϤ. ϪЄ ΠЄΤΝΗΥ ΜΝΝϹШΙ ΑϤϢШΠЄ ϩΑΤΑϩΗ. ϪЄ ΝЄϤΟ ΝϢΟΡΠ ЄΡΟΙ ΠЄ. 16 ϪЄ ЄβΟλ ϩΜ ΠЄϤϪШΚ ΑΝΟΝ ΤΗΡΝ ΝΤΑΝϪΙ ΟΥШΝϩ ΑΥШ ΟΥΧΑΡΙС ЄΠΜΑ ΝΟΥΧΑΡΙС. 17 ϪЄ ΠΝΟΜΟС ΝΤΑΥΤΑΑϤ ЄβΟλ ϩΙΤΜ ΜШΥСΗС. ΤЄΧΑΡΙС ϩШШС ΑΥШ ΤΜЄ ΝΤΑСϢШΠЄ ЄβΟλ ϩΙΤΜ ΙΗСΟΥС ΠЄΧΡΙСΤΟС. 18 ΠΝΟΥΤЄ ΜΠЄ λΑΑΥ ΝΑΥ ЄΡΟϤ ЄΝЄϩ. ΠΝΟΥΤЄ ΠϢΗΡЄ ΝΟΥШΤ ΠЄΤϢΟΟΠ ϩΝ ΚΟΥΝϤ ΜΠЄϤЄΙШΤ ΠЄΤΜΜΑΥ ΠЄΝΤΑϤϢΑϪЄ ЄΡΟϤ.

Contemporary English translation (2006)

1. In the beginning the Word existed. The Word existed in the presence of God, and the Word was a divine being. 2. This one existed in the beginning with God. 3. All things came into existence through him; without him nothing that exists came to be. What came to be 4. through him is life, the life that is the light of mankind. 5. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overtake it.

6. There came a man who was sent by God, his name is John. 7. This one came to bear witness, to bear witness about the light, so that everyone may actively believe through him. 8. He was not the light, but his purpose was to bear witness about the light.

9. The real light which gives light to everyone was about to come into the world. 10. He was in the world, the world which came into existence through him, but the world did not know him.

10. He came to those who were his own, yet those who were his own did not receive him. 12. But he gave authority to become children of God to those who did receive him, to those actively believing in his name. 13. The origin of these was not flesh and blood, nor human will; they were begotten from God.

14. The Word became flesh and lived among us. We saw his dignity, the dignity possessed by a Father’s only Son; he was filled with divine loving-kindness and truth. 15. John bore witness about him, calling out and declaring, “This was the one concerning whom I said, ‘He who comes behind me has come to be ahead of me, because he existed prior to me.’” 16. From his fullness we all received life, and divine loving-kindness upon divine loving-kindness. 17. The Law was given through Moses, but the divine loving kindness and the truth came to be though Jesus, the Christ. 18. No one has ever seen God at any time. The divine being, the only Son, who is in the bosom of his Father, is the one who has revealed him.

Notes:

1. The Word was a divine being. Or, "the Word was a god" or "the Word was divine."

14. Dignity. Or, "glory."

16. Divine loving-kindness. Or, "unmerited favor."

18. The only Son. Or, "the unique Son."

Thursday, September 16, 2010

"I am the Way"

ΠЄϪΑϤ ΝΑϤ ΝϬΙ ΙΗСΟΥС ϪЄ ΑΝΟΚ ΠЄ ΤЄϨΙΗ ΑΥШ ΤΜЄ ΑΥШ ΠШΝϨ
ΜΠ ΛΑΑΥ ΝΗΥ ЄϨΟΥΝ ϢΑ ΠЄΙШΤ ЄΙΜΗΤΙ ЄΒΟΛ ϨΙΤΟΟΤ -- John 14:6, Sahidic Coptic Text

"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes in to the Father except through me." (My translation)

Many recognize that Jesus is the Way. Fewer recognize that the Father is the Destination. True Christianity does not stop with Jesus. It does not pause along the Way. True Christianity is oriented toward the Father, Who is the Destination, just as Jesus himself was oriented toward, not himself, but his Father.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

"Truly My Disciples"

ЄϢШΠЄ ΝΤШΤΝ ЄΤЄΤΝϢΑΝϬШ ϨΜ ΠΑϢΑϪЄ ΝΤЄΤΝ ΝΑΜΑΘΗΤΗС ΝΑΜЄ
ΑΥШ ΤЄΤΝΑСΟΥΝ ΤΜЄ ΑΥШ ΤΜЄ ΝΑΡΤΗΥΤΝ ΝΡΜϨЄ – John 8:31, Sahidic Coptic text

“If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples. And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (My translation)

Jesus' disciples are those who continue in His word, as found in the Holy Scriptures. Man-made traditions abound in religion today, but a true disciple follows his Master.

That way lies real truth and Christian freedom.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Coptic John 16:27-33

"I have conquered the world!"

27.ntoF gar peiwt Fme mmwtn Je ntwtn atetnmerit auw atetnpisteue Je anok einhu ebol Hitm peiwt.
For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came forth from the Father.

28.ntaei ebol Hitm peiwt auw ai epkosmos. palin on Tnakw nswi mpkosmos tabwk Sa peiwt.
I came forth from the Father, and I have come into the world. Furthermore, I am leaving/renouncing the world and I am going to the Father.

29.peJau naF nCi mmaqhths Je eis Hhhte tenou kSaJe Hn ouparrhsia auw ngJe laau an mparHoimia.
His disciples said to him, "See, now you are speaking with plainness and you are saying nothing in a parable/proverb.

30.tenou tnime Je ksooun nHwb nim auw ngrcria an Jekaas ere oua Jnouk. Hm pai tnpisteue Je ntakei ebol Hitm pnoute.
"Now we know that you know all things and you have no need that anyone question you. By this we believe that you came forth from God."

31.aFouwSb nau nCi ihsous. Je tenou tetmpisteue.
Jesus answered them, "Now you believe!"

32.eis Hhhte snhu nCi ouounou auw asei Jekaas etetneJwwre ebol poua poua eneFma auw ntetn kaat mauaat. auw nTCeet mauaat an Je paiwt Soop nmmai.
See, an hour is coming and it has come, that you might be scattered, each one to his place, and you will leave me alone. And yet I do not remain alone, because my Father is with me.

33.nai aiJoou nhtn Jekaas etetnekw nhtn noueirhnh Hrai nHht. ounthtn mmau nouqliyis Hm pkosmos alla twk nHht Je anok aiJro epkosmos.
These things I have said to you in order that you might have peace in me. In the world you are having tribulation, but show courage! I have conquered the world!

Monday, April 21, 2008

Coptic John 3:31-36

The Father loves the Son

31.pentaFei ebol Hn tpe FHiJn ouon nim. petSoop ebol Hm pkaH ou ebol Hm pkaH pe auw eFSaJe ebol Hm pkaH. pentaFei de ebol Hn tpe***
The one who came from above/Heaven is above everyone. The one being from the earth is one from the earth, and he is speaking from the earth. But the one who came from above/Heaven,***

32.pentaFnau eroF auw aFsotmeF Frmntre mmoF auw mmn laau Ji nteFmntmntre
that which he saw and heard, about it he testifies, and no one receives his testimony.

33.pentaFJi de nteFmntmntre aFsfragize mmoF Je oume pe pnoute
But the one who received his testimony has affirmed/marked with his seal that God is true.

34.penta pnoute gar tnnoouF eFJw nnSaJe Je mpnoute nere pnoute gar T an mpepneuma Hn ouSi
For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God, for God was not giving the spirit by measure/was not measuring out the spirit.

35.peiwt me mpShre auw aFT nka nim eHrai eteFCiJ
The Father loves the Son and gave everything into his hand.

36.petpisteue epShre ountaF mmau mpwnH Sa eneH pete nFpisteue**** de an epShre nFnanau an epwnH alla torgh mpnoute naCw eHrai eJwF
The one who actively believes in the Son has life forever, but the one who is not actively believing**** in the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God will remain upon him.

Notes:
*** The Sahidic Coptic text omits the second instance of "is above everyone" found in some Greek texts here, but is absent from the early witnesses Sinaiticus, Bezae and p75 (Bodmer)

****The Greek text has "the one who is disobeying the Son," but the Greek word may also signify "refusing to believe." (Complete Biblical Library: Greek-English Lexicon, Alpha-Gamma; BDAG page 99)

Monday, April 7, 2008

Coptic John 3:16-21

Loving the light

16.tai gar te qe enta pnoute mere pkosmos. Hwste peFShre nouwt aFtaaF Jekaas ouon nim etpisteue eroF nneFHe ebol alla eFeJi nouwnH Sa eneH
"For God loved the world so much/in this manner that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who is actively believing in him might not perish, but receive life forever.

17.nta pnoute gar tnneu peFShre an epkosmos Je eFekrine mpkosmos. alla Jekaas erepkosmos ouJai ebol HitootF
"For God did not send his Son into the world that he should judge the world, but so that the world should be saved through him.

18.petpisteue eroF nsenakrine mmoF an. pete nFpisteue de an hdh aukrine mmoF Je mpFpisteue epran mpShre nouwt nte pnoute
"The one who actively believes in him will not be judged, but the one who does not actively believe is judged already, because he did not actively believe in the name of the only Son of God.

19.tai de te tekrisis Je apouoein ei epkosmos auw anrwme mere pkake eHoue pouoein. nere neuHbhue gar Hoou pe
"And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and the men loved the darkness more than the light because their works were wicked.

20.ouon gar nim etire nmpeqoou Fmoste mpouoein auw mefei Sa pouoein Jekaas enneuJpie neFHbhue Je seHoou
"For everyone who performs wickedness hates the light and does not come to the light, so that his works may not be convicted/reproached as wicked.

21.petire ntoF ntme SaFei Sa pouoin Jekaas ere neFHbhue ouwnH ebol Je ntaFaau Hm pnoute
"The one who performs instead the truth, comes toward the light, so that his works may be manifested/revealed, that he performed them in God."

Monday, March 31, 2008

Coptic Luke 10:29-37

"Who is my neighbor?"

29.ntoF de eFoueS tmaioF peJaF nihsous Je nim pe petHitouwi
But he, wishing to justify himself, said to Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?"

30.aihsous ouwSb peJaF naF Je. ourwme pentaFei ebol Hn qierosoluma eiericw. aFei etootou nHenma nsoone nai de aukaaF kaHhou auJFHensaS aubwk aukaaF eFo mpSmou.
Jesus replied, saying to him, "There was a man who went from Jerusalem to Jericho. He fell among a den of robbers, and these stripped him naked and inflicted blows, and went off leaving him half-dead.

31.Hn ouSsne de auouhhb ei epesht HiteHih etmmau aFnau eroF aFsaatF
And by coincidence, a priest coming down on that road saw him, but crossed over.

32.Homoiws on ouleueths ntereFei eJmpma etmmau aFnau eroF aFsaatF
Likewise also a Levite, when he came upon that place, saw him, but crossed over.

33.ausamariths de eFmooSe ei eJwF aFnau eroF aFSnHthF eHrai eJwF
But a Samaritan, travelling toward him, saw him and had pity upon/felt compassion for him.

34.aFTpeFouoi eroF aFmour nneFsaS aFpwHt nouneH eJwou nmouhrp aFtaloF eJn peFtbnh mmin mmoF aFntF eupantocion aFFipeFroouS
He approached him, bound up his wounds, and poured oil and wine upon them. He mounted him upon his own beast/donkey and brought him to an inn and took care of him.

35.mpeFraste de eFnhou ebol aFTFkhte mppantoceus peJaF naF Je. FipeFroouS auw petknaJoF ebol eroF. eiSanktoi TnataaF nak
And on the next day, he brought forth a double drachma and gave it to the inkeeper, and said to him, "Take care of him and what (more) you will expend on him, when I return I will give it to you."

36.nim mpeiSomnt nnaHrak pentaFr petHitouwF mpentaFei etootou nnsoone
Who of these three appears to you to have become the neighbor of the one who fell into the hands of the robbers?

37.ntoF de peJaF naF Je pentaFrpna nmmaF pe. peJe ihsous de naF Je bwk Hwwk ngeire Hinai
And he said to him, "The one who treated him mercifully." And Jesus said to him, "Go, and you yourself do likewise."