According to certain rabbinic teachings of Paul’s day, Abraham’s faith gave him grounds to boast, not only before men but also before God. But it is Paul’s intention to demonstrate through the following quotation from Scripture that Abraham had no grounds on which to boast before God.

The if clause of verse 2 may require some change, in view of the necessity in some languages of employing an active rather than a passive form—for example, “if God put Abraham right with himself by means of the things which Abraham did” or (as is more common in some languages) by an expression of cause: “if God put Abraham right with himself because of what Abraham did.” In such inversions from active to passive it is essential that the appropriate reference to Abraham be clear.

The auxiliary cannot must be made somewhat more specific in some languages—for example, “he has no basis to boast” or “he has no reason to boast.” Mere inability to boast is not sufficient in some languages.

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 .