Translation commentary

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 1:1

Paragraph 1:1–6

1:1a

Paul: The author of this letter is named Paul. He began this letter with his name. This was the normal way to begin a letter at that time in that region.

Paul did not use a sentence here. In some languages it is more natural to introduce the writer in a different way. For example:

From Paul, (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
This letter is from Paul, (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-

⌊I,⌋ Paul, ⌊am writing this letter.⌋ ⌊I am⌋

a servant of: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as servant refers to a slave. Here, this phrase indicates that Paul belonged to Jesus as his slave. Paul served him and completely submitted himself to the authority of Jesus.

People often despised servants or slaves. But when someone called himself a slave of Jesus, as Paul did here, he was not ashamed of it. You may have more than one word to describe servants or slaves. Choose the one that indicates or implies the believer’s good relationship to Jesus. That is why many English versions use the word servant instead of slave.

Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

a slave of (NET Bible)
-or-
a worker of/for

If you have translated other books, see how you translated this word in Galatians 1:10, Philippians 1:1, Titus 1:1, or James 1:1.

In some languages, it will be best to translate the word servant as a verb. For example:

I serve
-or-
I completely submit to
-or-
I do the work of

Christ Jesus: There is a textual issue here about the order of the words Christ Jesus :

(1) The correct order is Christ Jesus.

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

(2) The correct order is Jesus Christ.

(Revised Standard Version, King James Version, God’s Word)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) because the UBS Handbook Greek New Testament supports it.

The order of the words Christ Jesus emphasizes that Jesus is the Christ/Messiah. However, in some languages the order Christ Jesus is not natural. If that is true in your language, emphasize, if possible, the fact that Jesus is the Christ in a natural way. For example:

Jesus, ⌊who/he is the⌋ Christ
-or-
Jesus, the Messiah,

Christ: This name is spelled “Christos” in the Greek language. (The Greek sound spelled ‘ch’ here is similar to a ‘k’ but without making the air stop in the mouth.) Spell the name as people in your language say it, or use the name from the common language in your region.

The word Christ was used as a title. It was the Greek translation of the Hebrew word “Messiah.” It means “the anointed one.” In the Jewish culture a person was anointed by pouring oil on top of his head in a ceremony. This was done to show that God chose him for a special task/job. In the Old Testament, some were anointed to be priests, some to be kings, and some to be prophets. In the Old Testament, “the anointed one” refers to the person whom God promised would save/free his people and rule them.

Here are other ways to translate Christ :

• Use a title or a descriptive phrase in your language that has the same meaning as Christ. For example:

⌊God’s⌋ Anointed/Chosen One
-or-
the Messiah
-or-
Promised Deliverer
-or-
the Rescuer-King whom God appointed

• Transliterate Christ and include a phrase that explains the meaning. For example:

Karisiti, the appointed one
-or-
Cristo, the King whom God promised to send

• Transliterate Christ and indicate in some way that it is a title. For example:

the Kirisita

If you do not indicate the meaning of Christ in your translation, you may want to include a footnote to explain it. For example:

The word/title “Christ” refers to the one whom God had promised to send. He would be both king and savior.

Or you may want to explain the meaning in a glossary.

1:1b

called to be an apostle: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as called to be an apostle is literally “(a) called apostle.” Here the word called means “chosen to be given a special benefit or purpose.” God invited Paul to do the work of an apostle (1 Timothy 1:1). Here are other ways to translate this word:

⌊his⌋ appointed apostle
-or-
an apostle by ⌊God’s⌋ call/choice

Some languages must use a verb here. For example:

called as an apostle (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
called by God to be an apostle (Revised English Bible)
-or-

⌊God⌋ invited me to be an apostle
-or-
an apostle whom ⌊he/God⌋ chose

an apostle: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as apostle means a “representative” or “messenger.” It refers to a person whom someone sends with his authority. He is sent to give a message or accomplish a particular task. Here, the word apostle refers to Paul whom Jesus sent as his messenger. Paul’s message was the gospel about Jesus. Here are other ways to translate apostle :

• Translate the meaning. For example:

his/Jesus’ ⌊special⌋ representative
-or-
Christ’s/his messenger
-or-
a man whom Jesus Christ sent (on a mission)
-or-
a person with authority ⌊from Jesus Christ to do his work⌋

• Use the common word for the word apostle if it is already in use. For example:

apostol

Use the same term for apostle as you used in the Gospels. (See Mark 6:30 or Luke 6:13.) Be sure that the term you choose for apostle is different from your terms for prophet (1:2) and angel (8:38).

1:1c

This clause also describes Paul (1:1a). God set him apart for the preaching of the gospel. In Greek and the Berean Standard Bible, the sentence continues from 1:1b. But in some languages, a new sentence would be more clear. For example:

God set me apart for his gospel

set apart for the gospel of God: The phrase set apart indicates that God chose Paul from among a group of people to do a specific task. He chose Paul to be a messenger to tell the gospel to the non-Jews (1:5). Here are other ways to translate these words:

separated to serve the gospel of God
-or-

⌊he/Jesus/God⌋ caused me to dedicate all my life for the gospel of God

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

God set me apart for the gospel ⌊about Jesus⌋

See how you translated the phrase set apart in Acts 13:2 or Galatians 1:15.

for: Here the word for introduces a purpose clause. God set Paul apart from other work for the purpose of preaching or sharing the gospel. Here are other ways to translate for :

in order that
-or-

The reason he chose me to be an apostle was so that
-or-

to speak/tell God’s good news

the gospel of God: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as gospel means “good news” or “announcement of a message that people consider very good.” Here, it refers to the good news that God sent Jesus to save us from wrongdoing and reconcile us to God. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

good/sweet news from God
-or-
God’s message/report that causes joy
-or-
good news ⌊about Jesus Christ⌋ that God sent

of God: The word of here indicates that the gospel is from God. See the examples above.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on John 12:44

Section 12:44–50

Jesus came to save the people

Jesus taught the people about who he was and why he had come into the world. He encouraged people to believe in him and receive his word. He emphasized that he came from God and was obedient to God in everything he said. Here are some other possible titles for this section:

The need to receive Jesus’ word
-or-
Believing in Jesus or rejecting him

12:44a

Then: This word introduces what happened next, a new event in the story.

Jesus cried out: This phrase indicates that Jesus spoke loudly or shouted. He was speaking publicly and announcing something important. See how you translated this word in 1:15 and 7:28. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

Jesus proclaimed (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Jesus shouted out (NET Bible Bible)
-or-
In a loud voice Jesus said (Contemporary English Version)

Whoever: This word refers to any person that believes in Jesus. In some languages it is more natural to follow one of these examples:

The one who (NET Bible Bible)
-or-
Everyone who (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
If you (New Living Translation (2004))

believes in Me: This phrase includes the idea of believing the facts about who Jesus was and what he did. But it also includes the idea of trusting Jesus instead of trusting oneself or someone else. Both ideas are very closely related. If someone believes the facts about Jesus, it should result in trusting him. See how you translated similar phrases in 1:12b, 3:16b, and 12:36a. Here are other ways to translate this idea:

has faith in me (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
trust me (New Living Translation (2004))

12:44b

does not believe in Me alone, but in the One who sent Me: This expression emphasizes that faith in Jesus includes faith in God. A person who believes in Jesus also believes in the one who sent him. For example:

believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me (God’s Word)
-or-
you are trusting not only me but also God who sent me (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
is really believing in the One who sent me (New Century Version)

does not believe in Me alone: The word alone is implied in this Greek phrase. You may need to make this word explicit, as the Berean Standard Bible does. See the above examples for other ways to say this. Translate the word believe the same way you did in 12:44a.

but: The Greek word the Berean Standard Bible translates as but shows a contrast and emphasizes what follows. As the word “only” was implied in “believes not in me,” so “also” is implied here. The one who believes in Jesus does not only believe in him but also believes in God the Father.

the One who sent Me: This phrase refers to God the Father. In some languages you may want to make that explicit. For example:

God who sent me (New Living Translation (2004))

SIL Translator’s Notes on John 12:45

12:45

And whoever sees Me sees the One who sent Me: Jesus was saying that he was one with God, which is similar to what he said in 12:44. Seeing Jesus was the same as seeing God. As in 12:44a, the word whoever refers to anyone and everyone who sees Jesus. Use the subject that is most natural in your language. For example:

and the one who sees me sees the one who sent me (NET Bible Bible)
-or-
And everyone who has seen me has seen the one who sent me. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. (New Living Translation (2004))

SIL Translator’s Notes on John 12:46

12:46a

I have come into the world as a light: In this clause, Jesus clearly compared himself to light, as he did in 8:12b, 9:5b, and 12:35a,b. He came into the world to be its light. The Greek text emphasizes the word I.

This clause contains a simile. Jesus was like light in that he showed people the truth, especially about God and salvation. In some languages a literal translation of this simile may be difficult to understand. Here are some other ways to translate this simile:

• Make the simile clearer. For example:

I have come into the world to be like a light for you/it.

• Make the point of similarity explicit. For example:

I have come into the world like a light, ⌊to show/reveal God/truth to you⌋

12:46b

so that: This phrase introduces Jesus’ purpose in coming into the world to be its light.

no one who believes in Me should remain in darkness: In some languages it may be natural to use the subject “everyone” and a negative verb. For example:

everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness (New Revised Standard Version)

has faith in me (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
put their trust in me (New Living Translation (2004))

should remain in darkness: The phrase remain in darkness is a figure of speech, a metaphor. The word darkness represents evil. Jesus came so that those who believe in him would no longer continue to live in evil. Those who remain in evil are like those who remain in darkness in the following ways:

(a) They live in fear.

(b) They do not know the truth, how things truly are.

See how you translated the idea of darkness in 8:12c and 12:35d. For example:

in the dark (God’s Word)
-or-
in dark places
-or-
in a dark world

In some languages this figure of speech may be hard to understand. Here are other ways to translate it:

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

they should not remain in what is like darkness
-or-
they should not live as though they were in the dark

• Make the meaning of the metaphor more explicit. For example:

they should not live in ⌊spiritual⌋ darkness
-or-
they need not live in the darkness ⌊of evil⌋

SIL Translator’s Notes on John 12:47

12:47a

As for anyone who hears My words and does not keep them, I do not judge him: The Greek text emphasizes the word I, which refers to Jesus. For example:

It is not I who am the judge of those who hear my words and do not keep them.
-or-
I am not the one who will judge those who refuse to obey my teachings. (Contemporary English Version)

anyone who hears My words and does not keep them: The word anyone refers to any person who has rejected Jesus. Use the noun or pronoun that is natural in your language. It may be singular or plural. For example:

those who hear me but don’t obey me (New Living Translation (2004))

My words: This phrase refers to Jesus’ message or teachings. For example:

my teachings (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
my message (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
what I say

and: This word introduces something that is not expected. You would expect that someone who heard Jesus’ words would obey them. However, here Jesus spoke about those who did not obey. Translate this word in a way that is natural in your language to indicate something not expected. For example:

but (New Living Translation (2004))

does not keep them: This phrase indicates that this individual does not obey Jesus’ words. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

does not obey them (New Century Version)

I do not judge him: These words indicate that Jesus himself is not the one who condemns these people. This was not his purpose in coming into the world. Jesus referred to the future as well as the present, and in some languages it may be natural to use future tense. For example:

I will not judge (Good News Translation)
-or-
I don’t condemn (God’s Word)

General Comment on 12:47a

In some languages it may be natural to follow the Greek text and reorder the clauses in 12:47a. For example:

If anyone hears my words and does not keep them faithfully, it is not I who shall judge such a person. (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
If anyone hears my message and does not obey it, I will not judge him. (Good News Translation)

12:47b

For: This word means “because” and is an introduction to the reason why he is not the judge. For example:

because (New Century Version)

I have not come to judge the world: The reason why Jesus came into the world was not to judge the people of the world. There was a different reason. See the General Comment on 12:47b–c for another way to order this information. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

I did not come to judge the world (New Century Version)
-or-
I didn’t come to condemn the world (God’s Word)

judge: The word judge in this context means “condemn and punish.” See Key Biblical Terms Judge, Judgement B.3.

the world: The phrase the world here refers to the people of the world. For example:

the people of this world (Contemporary English Version)

12:47c

but: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but here connects a negative statement (12:47b) to a positive statement (12:47c). This kind of sentence emphasizes the positive statement. Languages have different ways to indicate this type of emphasis. Here are some ways to show the emphasis:

• Use the conjunction but as in the Berean Standard Bible.

• Use a conjunction other than but. This is a common way in English to show this type of emphasis. For example:

I did not come to judge the people of the world; rather I came to save them.

• Do not use a conjunction. For example:

I did not come to judge the world. I came to save the world.

• Change the order of the clauses. For example:

I came to save the people of this world, not to be their judge. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. (New Living Translation (2004))

You should translate this emphasis in the way that is most natural in your language.

to save the world: In some languages it may be natural to use a pronoun rather than repeating the noun world from 12:47b. However, that may lose some of the emphasis on the world. For example:

but to save it (Good News Translation)

save: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as save here means “rescue or free from sin.” The result is that Jesus will not judge or condemn a person that he has saved. That means that he will not punish that person.

SIL Translator’s Notes on John 12:48

12:48a

There is a judge: The phrase means someone will judge anyone who rejects Jesus. There is someone who will judge that person. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

there is a judge for that person
-or-
there is one who will judge those people

In some languages it is more natural to use judge as a verb. For example:

someone will judge that person
-or-
will be judged (New Living Translation (2004))

the one who rejects Me and does not receive My words: The phrase the one who refers to anyone and everyone who rejects Jesus. It does not refer to just one person. For example:

anyone who rejects me and does not accept my words (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Those who reject me by not accepting what I say (God’s Word)

rejects Me and does not receive My words: The verbs rejects and does not receive refer to the same attitude in two different ways. They do not refer to two different things. It may be natural to use just one verb. For example:

all who reject me and my message (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
everyone who rejects me and my teachings (Contemporary English Version)

rejects Me: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rejects means to ignore or refuse to accept. The one who rejects Jesus is someone who will not believe him and what he says.

does not receive My words: This phrase means to not accept what Jesus says as true, and therefore not follow it as a guide. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

does not accept my words (NET Bible Bible)
-or-
do not accept my teaching as true

General Comment on 12:48a

In some languages it may be natural to reverse the order of the information in this clause and mention the judge first. For example:

There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words. (New International Version)

12:48b

The word that I have spoken will judge him: This clause is a figure of speech. In it, Jesus’ word (what Jesus said) acts like a person that could be a judge. It refers to the time when God will judge people as to whether they received Jesus’ word. There are several ways to translate this figure of speech:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

the word I have spoken will be his judge on the last day (Revised English Bible)

• Translate the metaphor as a simile. For example:

my word will act like it was his judge

• Make the meaning explicit. For example:

⌊God⌋ will judge him for ⌊rejecting⌋ my word

on the last day: The phrase the last day refers to the day God ends the world and judges its people. You may want to make that clear. For example:

on the day of judgment (New Living Translation (2004))

SIL Translator’s Notes on John 12:49

12:49a

In Greek this verse begins with a conjunction that means that means “because.” It introduces the reason why Jesus’ word will judge those who reject it. It is because God was the original source of what Jesus said. Here is another way to translate this word:

Because
-or-
This is true, because (Good News Translation)

I have not spoken on My own: This clause means that Jesus was not talking based on his own authority. He did not make up his own thoughts and say them. See how you translated the phrase “on my own” in 7:17. The Greek text emphasizes the words I and My own to contrast with “the Father who sent me” in the next clause. For example:

I do not speak on my own authority (Revised English Bible)
-or-
my teachings are not from my own thinking (Yakan Back Translation)

12:49b

but: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but here connects a negative statement (12:49a) to a positive statement (12:49b). This kind of sentence emphasizes the positive statement. Languages have different ways to indicate this type of emphasis. Here are some ways to show the emphasis:

• Use the conjunction but as in the Berean Standard Bible.

For I have not spoken from my own authority, but the Father himself who sent me has commanded me what I should say and what I should speak. (NET Bible Bible)

• Use a conjunction other than but. This is a common way in English to show this type of emphasis. For example:

I have not spoken on my own. Instead, the Father who sent me told me what I should say and how I should say it. (God’s Word)

• Do not use a conjunction. For example:

The things I taught were not from myself. The Father who sent me told me what to say and what to teach. (New Century Version)

• Change the order of the clauses. For example:

Because the Father who sent me has commanded me about what to say and what to speak. I was not the one who decided what to say.

You should translate this emphasis in the way that is most natural in your language.

the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it: This clause says that God had given Jesus his message. The authority on which he spoke was not his own but God’s. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

the Father himself who sent me has commanded me what I should say and what I should speak (NET Bible Bible)
-or-
the Father who sent me has commanded me what I must say and speak (Good News Translation)

the Father who sent Me: The words who sent Me tell something about the Father. They do not imply that Jesus had more than one Father, one who sent him and another one who did not. In some languages a literal translation may imply that Jesus had more than one Father. To avoid this wrong meaning, it may be necessary to translate this information as a separate clause. For example:

The Father sent me ⌊into this world⌋ and told me what to say.

The Greek text emphasizes the phrase the Father who sent Me. This emphasis indicates a strong contrast with Jesus (“I” and “my own” are also emphasized in 12:49a). Jesus was not the source of his words, but it was his Father instead. Indicate this emphasis and contrast in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

but it is my Father who sent me who commanded me

the Father: The phrase the Father refers to God. In some languages it is necessary to say whose Father Jesus referred to. For example:

⌊my⌋ Father
-or-

⌊God my⌋ Father

has commanded Me: In some languages it may be more natural to use a noun form rather than the verb commanded. For example:

has himself given me a commandment (New Revised Standard Version)

what to say and how to say it: The phrases what to say and how to say it mean the same thing. Saying it twice emphasizes the idea: God told Jesus exactly what to say, or possibly everything that he should say. For example:

exactly what to say
-or-
just what I should say
-or-
about all that I should say

SIL Translator’s Notes on John 12:50

12:50a

And I know that His command leads to eternal life: This sentence indicates that God’s command (see 12:49b) results in eternal life. God’s command brings eternal life to those who follow it. Here are other ways to translate this sentence:

And I know that this command brings eternal life. (Good News Translation)
-or-
And I know that eternal life comes from what the Father commands. (New Century Version)
-or-
what he has commanded causes people to live forever (TH)

His command: This phrase refers to the commandment that God gave to Jesus in 12:49b.

eternal life: This phrase refers to living forever with God, life with God that never ends. See how you translated this phrase in 12:25. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

unending life
-or-
life that never ends
-or-
living forever ⌊with God⌋

12:50b

So: This word introduces what Jesus did because he knew that the Father’s command brings life (12:50a).

I speak exactly what the Father has told Me to say: The phrase I speak exactly refers to what Jesus had been telling the people. Jesus had said just what the Father had told him to say. Here are other ways to translate this sentence:

That is why I tell you exactly what the Father has told me. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
so I say whatever the Father tells me to say (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
So whatever I say is what the Father told me to say. (New Century Version)

the Father: This phrase refers to God. See the note on 12:49b and translate it here as you did there.

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Category: Translation commentary