‘This is going to take explaining’

How would you translate “letter of recommendation” in 2 Corinthians 3:2-3 for a people group who never knew writing before?

That’s the question Gordie and Nancy Hunt face as they put God’s Word into the language of the Manjui people of Paraguay.

“But what about a people who recently come out from living in the jungle and still hunt for deer and pig, and had never even seen paper until we came along?” wrote Gordie and Nancy. “This one is going to take a bit of explaining.”

And it gets harder. Paul also says in verse 3 that this letter was written in their hearts.

“Again, we have a difficulty here because the Manjuis only see their heart as a blood pump,” the Hunts wrote. To the Manjuis, emotions reside in their “insides,” so that may work for the translation.

Still, saying a letter was written on their insides is potentially very confusing for the Manjui readers, who are used to concrete expressions, not figurative ones. However it is translated, Gordie wrote, the expression “is going to take quite a bit of explanation. I can’t wait to sit down with my translation helper on this one.”