Paragraph 1:13–15
1:13a
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers: The address brothers occurs in the middle of the sentence. In some languages, it is more natural to have the address first. For example:
Brothers and sisters, I want you to know (New Century Version)
I do not want you to be unaware: The Greek clause here is literally “I do not want you to be ignorant.” It emphasizes what he was about to say. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
I want you to know (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
my desire is that you know
brothers: Here the word brothers refers to believers in Jesus, both men and women. The word indicates a close relationship because all believers are considered spiritual children of God. For example:
my fellow believers
In some languages brothers would be understood as literal brothers. If that is true in your language, you may want to translate differently. For example:
my brothers ⌊and sisters⌋ ⌊who believe⌋ ⌊in Jesus/Christ⌋
-or-
my family of believers
-or-
my friends (Contemporary English Version)
1:13b
how often I planned to come to you: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as planned probably refers to Paul making plans to go to Rome. The word often indicates that he made those plans at various times but was unable to go for some reason.
1:13c
but have been prevented from visiting until now: This clause is passive. Here Paul implied that either God or Paul’s work among the churches that he started or something else has prevented him from going to Rome. Some languages must use a non-passive clause here. For example:
something has always kept me from doing so (Good News Translation)
-or-
⌊something⌋ has always blocked me
-or-
the way to come to you was closed, from earlier until today
1:13d
in order that: This phrase introduces the purpose for Paul’s plan to go to Rome.
I might have a harvest among you: The phrase have a harvest is a metaphor. It refers to there being results of his ministry in Rome. There are a number of possible results that Paul could have been thinking of, so your translation should indicate that Paul wanted something to occur that would build God’s kingdom but does not say what possibilities he had in mind.
Some languages must translate without part or all of the metaphor for the correct meaning. For example:
I might work as fruitfully among you (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
I want to work among you and see spiritual fruit (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
have some of the results of working among you
1:13e
just as I have had among the other Gentiles: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as just as :
(1) It indicates that Paul compared his hope for a harvest in Rome to what he had already done among Gentiles in other places. For example:
as I have among other Gentiles (Good News Translation)
(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, New Revised Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)
(2) It indicates that Paul wanted to add to the harvest at Rome with a harvest among Gentiles elsewhere. For example:
as well as among the rest of the Gentiles (Revised Standard Version)
(Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because that is the usual meaning of the Greek word.
I have had: The Berean Standard Bible adds these words, but they are clearly implied from the rest of the sentence. Here is another way to translate this:
I have (Good News Translation)
among the other Gentiles: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the other indicates that Paul thought of the group of believers at Rome were mostly Gentiles, and Paul had preached among other Gentiles and some believed in Jesus. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
among the rest of the Gentiles (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
among other Gentiles (Good News Translation)
The Greek word probably implies all other Gentiles. Paul had not gone to all other Gentiles, but used this as a figure of speech to imply that he visited many Gentiles. The Good News Translation example above avoids the exaggeration in English. You should avoid indicating or implying “all” other Gentiles.
Gentiles: The word Gentiles refers to non-Jewish people. Here are other ways to translate this word:
• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:
non-Jews
-or-
those who were not Jewish
• Use a word or phrase from another language that is well known to the people in your language. If you choose this option, you may want to add a footnote. Here is an example footnote:
The Jews considered all other people and nations to be outside of God’s plan to save them. The word used here describes all people who were not Jews.
General Comment on 1:13a–e
The words “but have been prevented from visiting” (1:13c) interrupt the words “how often I planned to come to you…in order that I might have a harvest among you” (1:13b,d). The Berean Standard Bible indicates that by putting parentheses around the words. In some languages it is more natural to have the words of 1:13c either before or after the words of 1:13b,d. For example:
13a I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that 13c I have been prevented from visiting, but 13b I often planned to come to you 13d in order that I may have a harvest among you 13e as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.
-or-
13a I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, 13b that I often planned to come to you 13d in order that I may have a harvest among you 13e as well as among the rest of the Gentiles, 13c but have been prevented from visiting.
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