If one accepts as valid the argument of Paul’s opponents in verse 7, the natural conclusion will be let us do evil (“sin”) that good (“honor to God”) may come. Paul himself cannot accept this conclusion as valid, and affirms that those who accuse him of saying this thing will be condemned, as they should be.

This initial question in verse 8 may be changed into a statement by modifying the introductory portion—for example, “Therefore some people argue, Let us do evil as a way of honoring God.”

Although Paul uses the first person plural “us” in the expressions “have insulted us by accusing us,” commentators agree that Paul is here speaking about himself, and hence the Good News Translation employs the first person singular me. The relation between the events insulted and accusing is essentially one of means and result: “by means of accusing Paul, they insulted him.” This relation may be expressed in a number of languages by two paratactically combined sentences—for example, “Some people indeed have insulted me; they have accused me of saying this very thing;” or “Indeed, some people have spoken bad about me; this is the very argument which they said I have used.”

In the last part of this verse Paul literally says “their condemnation is just” (Revised Standard Version). The Good News Translation takes this as a reference to the condemnation which God will bring upon such people, they will be condemned, as they should be. An American Translation* has “such people will be condemned as they deserve!” but the Jerusalem Bible (“but they are justly condemned”) and the New English Bible (“to condemn such men as these is surely no injustice”) apparently take this as a human condemnation. Moffatt (“such arguments are rightly condemned”) and Phillips (“such an argument is quite properly condemned”) seem to understand “they” as a reference to the arguments, rather than to the people who make the arguments.

Though in some languages one can be ambiguous as to the agent of the condemnation, in most languages that is not possible, especially if an active form of the verb “condemn” must be employed—for example, “God will condemn them just as he should.” If one interprets the condemnation as being from persons, the subject may simply be changed: “people will condemn such accusations” or “people will condemn those who make such accusations.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1973. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .