Translations
F.O.G.MPrimary
F.O.G MessageI have much more I want to share with you, but I'd rather not put it in writing. I hope to come and speak face to face, so that our joy may be made complete.
F.O.GSecondary
The F.O.GThough I have much to write to you, I chose not to use papyrus and ink. I hope to come to you and speak mouth to mouth, so that our joy may be made complete.
KJV
King James VersionHaving many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
BSB
Berean Standard BibleI have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come and speak with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
Footnotes
Στόμα πρὸς στόμα ('mouth to mouth') is a deeply resonant OT idiom: in Numbers 12:8, YHWH describes His relationship with Moshe as 'mouth to mouth I speak with him'—the most intimate, unmediated form of divine communication possibl; in effect to say his word are My words. The F.O.G preserves 'mouth to mouth' to honour this intertextual echo; the F.O.G Message renders it 'face to face' for natural English idiom. The goal—πεπληρωμένη ἡ χαρά ('joy made complete')—echoes John 15:11 and 16:24, where fullness of joy is the mark of abiding in the Son.
