2:9a

for: There are several ways to show the relationship between 2:8d and 2:9a. Good News Translation uses one of the most common ways by repeating some form of 2:8d “the gospel that I preach” at the beginning of 2:9a. This way is followed in the Display. (See also God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), Contemporary English Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English.)

which I suffer: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as suffer is related to the word translated “endure hardship” in 2:3a. It is a general word that can include all of the things Paul had endured because people tried to stop him from preaching the good news about Jesus Christ. In particular, at this time, Paul was suffering because he was in prison.

2:9b

to the extent of being chained like a criminal: In those days people punished criminals by fastening metal chains to or between their hands and feet. They did this to prevent the criminals from moving around and finding a way to escape from the prison. Paul mentioned the chains earlier in 1:16c.

2:9c

But: The Greek conjunction alla, which the Berean Standard Bible translates here as But, signals a strong contrast between Paul’s situation and God’s word. If your language uses a word in addition to “but” to mark such a contrast, you may want to use it here. Some ways of showing this contrast in English are:

But God’s word, in contrast…
-or-
But as for God’s word….

the word of God cannot be chained!: This clause is a figure of speech. Paul meant that God’s word would continue to be preached. Even though Paul himself could not travel around to preach God’s word because chains held him, other Christians who were not in prison would continue to tell people the good news and teach the word of God. Neither chains nor any other thing could stop God’s word from being preached.

General Comment on 2:9b–c

Some ways to translate 2:9b and 2:9c are:

• Use the word “chain” in both. For example:

They chained me like a criminal, but they cannot chain God’s word.

• Use the word “prison” in both. For example:

I am in prison like a criminal, but God’s word is not in prison.

• Replace the figure of speech with the direct meaning. For example:

I am chained like a criminal and cannot preach God’s word, but others will preach God’s word

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.