Paragraph 9:22–29

9:22a–24b

The words of 9:22–24 are all a part of a long question in the Greek. The main part of the question is: “What if God has endured with much patience vessels of wrath?” There are three purposes introduced with the word “desiring”: (1) to show his wrath, (2) to make known his power, and (3) to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy. The phrase “prepared for destruction” describes the vessels of wrath. The words “whom He prepared in advance for glory—including us, whom He has called not only from the Jews, but also from the Gentiles” describe the vessels of mercy. Paul was not questioning these purposes and descriptions.

In some languages it is more clear to have the question separate from the purposes and the long description of the vessels of mercy. For example:

Intending to show his wrath and make his power known, what if God bore with great patience the vessels of his wrath, prepared for destruction? 23 ⌊He did that⌋ in order to make the riches of his glory known to vessels of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory—24 including us, whom he has called not only from the Jews, but also from the Gentiles.
-or-
What if God bore with great patience the vessels of his wrath, prepared for destruction? ⌊He did that because⌋ he intended to show his wrath and make his power known, 23 and in order to make the riches of his glory known to vessels of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory—24 including us, whom he has called not from the Jews, but also from the Gentiles.

What if God…bore with great patience the vessels of His wrath, prepared for destruction…to make the riches of His glory known to the vessels of His mercy: The Greek does not have a “then” clause to go with the if -clause. So the Berean Standard Bible and many English versions add the word What to give the sentence the right meaning in English. Here is another way to translate this:

But suppose that God… (New Jerusalem Bible)

This is a rhetorical question. Here the word if introduces a situation that is true. If this first part is true, that supports the second part (“to make known the riches of his glory”) to also be true. Together they emphasize that God does endure with much patience the vessels of wrath. Translate this with that meaning. Here are some ways:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

What if God…has endured with much patience the vessels of wrath made for destruction? This was to make known the riches of his glory to the vessels of mercy…. (New American Bible, Revised Edition)

• As a statement. For example:

But/And God…bore with great patience the vessels of his wrath…to make the riches of his glory known to vessels of his mercy….

9:22a

show His wrath: The word wrath refers to anger. This word is a noun. In some languages a different kind of word must be used. For example:

show that he is angry
-or-
show-anger-at

9:22b

make His power known: These words indicate that God wants people to understand that he is powerful. Here are other ways to translate these words:

to…reveal his power (God’s Word)
-or-
to let people see his power (New Century Version)

9:22c

bore with great patience: These words indicate that God waited with calmness in order to express his anger later. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

he has with great patience tolerated (Revised English Bible)
-or-
he patiently put up with them (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
waited with much calmness

the vessels of His wrath: The word vessels refers to things a potter makes, as in 9:21. Here it is a metaphor for people with whom God is angry and to whom he will one day show that anger.

In some languages the meaning of the metaphor will not be clear. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Translate the literal meaning and explain it in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

The words “vessels of His wrath” refers to people with whom God is angry and to whom he will one day show that anger.

• Translate without the metaphor. For example:

people to whom God will one day show his anger

You may then want to indicate what the literal words are in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

Literally “vessels of His wrath.”

9:22d

prepared for destruction: This clause further describes the vessels of wrath. It does not separate these vessels of wrath from other vessels of wrath. For the correct meaning in some languages, translators must avoid the implied word “who.” For example:

and they are prepared for destruction

This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

and ⌊God⌋ has prepared them for destruction

prepared: This word indicates that God has made these people ready for judgment day when he will destroy them. Here are other ways to translate this word:

made fit
-or-
made ready

for destruction: The word destruction refers to ruining something so much as to be completely useless and not repairable. The noun destruction refers to an event. Some languages must use a verb for this event. For example:

to be completely ruined
-or-
for ⌊God/him⌋ to destroy

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