Division 3:21–5:21
People believe in Jesus and God declares them righteous
In this division Paul showed that God has made a way to rescue people from being punished for wrongdoing and put them in a right relationship with himself.
Here are other possible headings for this division:
God makes his people right with him
-or-
Our relationship with God because of Jesus
Section 3:21–31
God makes people righteous when they believe in Jesus
In this section Paul explained God’s plan for rescuing wrongdoers and making them right with himself. God did this by sending Jesus Christ to stand in the place of every wrongdoer and take the punishment that every wrongdoer deserves. So then, when a person believes in Jesus as the one who has taken the punishment on his behalf, God makes that person right with himself. In this way God remains true to his righteous character, for wrongdoing has been punished.
Since God did that, believers cannot boast in themselves. Paul also said that this faith in Jesus supports the law of Moses.
Here are other possible headings for this section:
Righteousness Through Faith (New International Version)
-or-
How We Are Put Right with God (Good News Translation)
-or-
God Gives Us His Approval as a Gift (God’s Word)
-or-
God’s Way of Accepting People (Contemporary English Version)
Paragraph 3:21–26
3:21a
But now: This phrase introduces a new topic that contrasts with obeying the law of Moses. It may also indicate a new period of time. It introduces Jesus dying on the cross and God resurrecting him, which occurred about twenty-five years before Paul wrote this letter. Consider how to translate that meaning in your language. For example:
But at this time
apart from the law: This phrase indicates that the law of Moses does not help people get this righteousness of God that he has revealed through Jesus. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
It has nothing to do with law (Good News Translation)
-or-
without keeping the requirements of the law (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
not on the basis of obeying the laws ⌊of Moses⌋
-or-
But we do not become straight in his sight from our following the Lord’s Law.
the righteousness of God has been revealed: The word revealed means that, by what Jesus did, God showed people how they can be righteous before God without following the law of Moses.
This clause is passive. Some languages must translate it as an active clause. For example:
God has shown us a way to be made right with him (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
God has a way to make people right with him…and he has now shown us that way (New Century Version)
the righteousness of God: There are three ways to interpret the Greek word ending that the Berean Standard Bible translates as of :
(1) Here it indicates that God makes people right in their relationship with him. For example:
a way to be made right with him (New Living Translation (2004))
(Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version)
(2) Here it indicates that God enables believers to behave in right ways. For example:
a righteousness from God (New International Version (1984))
(New International Version (1984))
(3) Here it refers to the righteousness that God has. This is the natural way to interpret the meaning of the word of in English here. For example:
the righteousness of God (Revised English Bible)
(Berean Standard Bible, English Standard Version, Revised Standard Version, New International Version (2011), New American Standard Bible, King James Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition, NET Bible, Revised English Bible)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because many scholars and versions support it.
Here are other ways to translate this phrase according to interpretation (1):
how God does make us acceptable to him (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
God has a way to make people right with him (New Century Version)
3:21b
as attested by the Law and the Prophets: The Greek is literally “being testified to by the law and the prophets.” The words in the Old Testament (the Law and the Prophets) do not help people get the righteousness of God. But some of those words speak about this righteousness.
There is an implied contrast in this phrase. For example:
even though the Law of Moses and the prophets gave their witness to it (Good News Translation)
In some languages it is more natural not to translate the contrast. For example:
to which the Law and the Prophets testify (New International Version)
-or-
as was promised in the Law and the Prophets
-or-
The Law and the Prophets tell of it.
attested: This word means “report what one saw.” The word is often used where the person is expected to be truthful and accurate. Here are other ways to translate this word:
testify (New International Version)
-or-
told us about (New Century Version)
the Law and the Prophets: Here this phrase refers to the whole Old Testament. In some languages the meaning of this phrase would not be clear. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain it in the text. For example:
⌊the books of⌋ the Laws ⌊of Moses⌋ and ⌊the books of⌋ the Prophets
-or-
⌊the books of⌋ the Laws ⌊of Moses⌋ and the Prophets
the Prophets: Prophets are people who speak on behalf of God. God’s message may be in words or visions. The prophets then tell the people God’s message. See how you translated this word in 1:2.
This phrase here implies the writings of the prophets in the Old Testament. In some languages it would be more natural or more clear to indicate that. For example:
the writings of…the prophets (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
the writings of the past that God caused…the prophets to write
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