1:27a
abandoned: Here this phrase refers to completely stopping what someone was doing. Here it refers to men who stopped having sex with women. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
gave up (English Standard Version)
-or-
leaving (King James Version)
-or-
completely stopped
natural relations with women: As in 1:26, the phrase natural relations here to having sex, here men with women. Translate in a similar way here but speaking of men with women.
1:27b
burned with lust: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as burned indicates feeling a very strong desire. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
were inflamed with lust (New International Version)
-or-
burned in their desire (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
had strong desires for sex (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
it’s their fellow men whom they exceedingly crave to sleep-with
lust: The Greek word here refers to a strong desire that is considered bad. See the above examples.
for one another: Here this phrase refers to men having strong desire for other men.
1:27c
Men committed indecent acts with other men: This clause further describes the men Paul talked about in 1:27a–b. Some languages must made that connection explicit. For example:
⌊They were⌋ men committing shameless acts with men
-or-
⌊They⌋ committed shameless acts with other men
committed indecent acts: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as indecent acts refers to deeds that cause dishonor, disgrace, embarrassment, or shame. (Here the word indecent indicates that these men should have been ashamed, but they were not.) Here it refers specifically to men having sex with other men. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
doing shameful things (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
behave indecently (Revised English Bible)
-or-
the filthy-things they have been doing
The Greek tense indicates that they continued to do these things at that time. Translate with that meaning.
committed: Here this word means “doing.” See the examples above.
1:27d
and received in themselves the due penalty for their error: There are three ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and :
(1) These men received this penalty in addition to them doing shameless things. For example:
and received… (New International Version)
(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, English Standard Version, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)
(2) The penalty is the result of these men doing shameless things. For example:
and as a result they… (Good News Translation)
(Good News Translation, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word)
(3) The penalty is these men doing shameless things. For example:
and what has happened to them is punishment… (Contemporary English Version)
(Contemporary English Version)
The Greek word can mean any of these things. But it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the context does not seem to support interpretations (2) or (3).
received in themselves: Here the word received refers to God giving them the due penalty. It does not indicate that they took it because they wanted to. In some languages some form of “give” must be used for the correct meaning. For example:
being given in their own bodies
-or-
⌊God⌋ giving them in their own bodies
The Greek tense indicates that they continued to receive the due penalty at that time. Translate with that meaning.
in themselves: Here this phrase refers to the penalty being in their own bodies. For example:
in their own persons (Revised Standard Version)
the due penalty: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as due indicates that the penalty needs to be given. It is not maybe or perhaps. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
the necessary punishment
-or-
the punishment that God has chosen for those deeds
error: The Greek word here means “wandering” and here implies wandering from the path of truth. It can refer to both wrong behavior and wrong thinking. Here are other ways to translate this word:
sin
-or-
wrongs (New Century Version)
Some languages must choose between wrong behavior and wrong thinking. If that is true in your language, translate both. For example:
wrong deeds and wrong thoughts
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