2:29a

No: This word indicates contrast between outward appearances and thoughts. But 2:28 says it is not about outward appearances, and 2:29 says it is about thoughts.

In some languages it is more natural to allow the context to indicate the connection and not translate the conjunction. For example:

True,
-or-
Indeed,

a Jew: See the note at 2:28a–29a above.

inwardly: Here this word means “the inner being.” It refers to what a person thinks. Here are other ways to translate this word:

on the inside (Good News Translation)
-or-
thoughts
-or-
in what is not seen
-or-
in what he thinks

2:29b

circumcision is a matter of the heart: Here Paul used the word circumcision and heart in a figurative sense. This clause means “the mark of a relationship with God is found in the inner being of a person.” If a person has turned to God, God makes his inner being new and that marks him as having a relationship with God.

In many languages, a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Explain the clause in the text. For example:

circumcision ⌊(and here I mean the mark/sign that he is one of God’s people)⌋ is a matter of the heart

But since you added this implied information in 2:28b, you may not need to repeat it here.

• Translate the meaning of “the mark of a relationship with God is found in the inner being of a person” here. You may then want a footnote to indicate the literal word. Here is an example footnote:

Literally “circumcision is a matter of the heart.”

• Translate the literal meaning of the clause but explain it here in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

Here this clause means “the mark of a relationship with God is found in the heart of a person.”

by the Spirit, not by the written code: There are four ways to interpret the word Spirit here:

(1) It refers to the Holy Spirit, as in the Berean Standard Bible.

(Berean Standard Bible, English Standard Version, New International Version, Good News Translation, New American Standard Bible, New Living Translation (2004), NET Bible, New Century Version)

(2) It refers to the intent and purpose of the law of Moses. It contrasts to the letter (the literal words) of that law. For example:

in the spirit, [and] not in the letter (King James Version)

(King James Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition)

(3) It indicates that this circumcision is spiritual. For example:

spiritual and not literal (Revised Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, Revised English Bible)

(4) It refers to a person’s spirit. For example:

a thing not of the letter but of the spirit (New Jerusalem Bible)

(New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because many scholars support it.

2:29c

Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God: This clause refers to the man who has a relationship with God. The Holy Spirit has “circumcised” his heart.

In some languages this clause would refer to the person of the “written code,” because it is the last word of 2:29b. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Make “Spirit” the last word in 2:29b. For example:

29b and circumcision is a matter of the heart, not by the written code but by the Spirit. 29c Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God.

• Explain the correct meaning in the text. For example:

⌊The man whose circumcision is by the Spirit,⌋ such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God.

praise: This word refers to God commending this person. God says that he has done good and approves him.

Some languages must use a verb here. For example:

God, rather than men, praises such a person.

men: Here this word is general and refers to people. For example:

He may not be praised by any human being, but he will be praised by God. (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Nobody might praise him, but God praises him.

General Comment on 2:28a–29c

These verses say what a true person of God is not, then says what he is. In some languages it is more natural to say what he is first. For example:

28-29 For a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God. A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical.

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