5:10
This is a complicated verse that is one long sentence in the Berean Standard Bible, as it is in the Greek. In some languages it may be natural to break it up into shorter sentences, as in the Contemporary English Version. For example:
But God shows undeserved kindness to everyone. That’s why he had Christ Jesus choose you to share in his eternal glory. You will suffer for a while, but God will make you complete, steady, strong, and firm.
It may then be necessary to supply an introductory phrase such as:
⌊Remember that⌋
5:10a
And: There are two ways of interpreting the Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as And :
(1) It introduces a contrast to the previous thought. For example:
But (Good News Translation)
(Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, King James Version)
(2) It introduces a continuation of the previous thought. For example:
And (NET Bible)
(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, English Standard Version, NET Bible, Revised Standard Version, New Century Version)
The New American Standard Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible and New Living Translation (2004) do not explicitly translate this conjunction. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). You may translate the conjunction explicitly, or you may leave it implicit if that is more natural in your language.
after you have suffered for a little while: Peter referred to the way in which his readers were suffering at the time he was writing.
a little while: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as a little while also occurs in 1:6b. It is vague as to the length of time, but in relation to eternity it is “short.” The restoration promised may be in this life or later when Jesus Christ is revealed. Another way to translate this expression is:
a short time
5:10b
the God of all grace: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the God of all grace means “the God who gives all grace” or “the very gracious/kind God.” A similar phrase is used in 2 Corinthians 1:3, “the God of all comfort.”
In some languages the phrase the God of all grace may suggest that there are other gods who are not very gracious. If that is the case in your language, you may need to omit the definite article “the.” For example:
God, who gives all grace (New Century Version)
In some languages it may be necessary to make explicit to whom God gives grace. If that is the case in your language, supply a general object such as “us,” “you.” or “all people.” For example:
God, who shows you his kindness (God’s Word)
-or-
God shows undeserved kindness to everyone (New Century Version)
grace: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as grace here means “undeserved kindness/goodness.” See how you translated this word in 1:2e and 1:10a and 5:5d.
5:10c
who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ: Peter was saying that God had chosen the believers to share in his glory. He implied that his readers would actually reach that glory to which God had called them. In some languages it may be necessary to make this explicit:
who will bring you to his eternal glory
-or-
who will cause you to share in his eternal glory
His eternal glory: The phrase eternal glory refers to honor that lasts for ever. See how you translated glory in 5:1b and 5:4b. Some other ways to translate eternal are:
unending
-or-
that lasts for ever
in Christ: The phrase in Christ indicates the means in which we are called to share God’s glory. Some other ways this phrase may be translated are:
in union with Christ (Good News Translation)
-or-
by means of Christ Jesus (New Living Translation (2004))
In some languages it may be more natural to express in Christ as a separate clause. For example:
this is possible because of our being united with Christ
-or-
this happens because we are one with Christ
5:10d–e
will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you: In the Greek these words are all verbs. They describe four things that God will do to strengthen the Christians when their time of suffering is over. The verbs have similar meanings, and Peter uses four of them together for emphasis.
5:10d
will Himself restore you: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as restore means to repair, put into good condition, make whole again. Another way to translate this expression is:
will make you (plur.) whole
5:10e
secure you, strengthen you, and establish you: There is a textual problem here. Some Greek manuscripts have two verbs in this phrase and some have three:
(1) There are three things that God will do: For example:
support, strengthen, and establish you (New Revised Standard Version)
(Berean Standard Bible, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New International Version, New Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, NET Bible, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version)
(2) There are two things that God will do. For example:
establish and strengthen you (Revised Standard Version)
(Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible)
It is recommended that you follow option (1), with the majority of English versions.
secure you, strengthen you: The two Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as secure and strengthen are a doublet. This means that these two words mean almost the same thing. Because this is a doublet, it is possible to translate these two words as one:
strengthen you
secure: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as secure refers to God making us more capable. Some other ways to translate this word are:
confirm (English Standard Version)
strengthen: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as strengthen refers to God making us strong with regard to our faith. Some other ways to translate this word are:
support…you (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
make you strong in your spirits (Easy English Bible)
establish you: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as establish you is a metaphor referring to providing a good foundation for a building. In some languages it may be natural to keep this figure of speech. In other languages it may be more natural to express the meaning. Some other ways to translate this word are:
place you on a firm foundation (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
establish you (plur.) in your faith
General Comment on 5:10
In some languages it may be natural to reorder this verse and put the reference to suffering at the beginning. For example:
You will have to suffer only for a little while: the God of all grace who called you to eternal glory in Christ will restore you, he will confirm, strengthen and support you. (New Jerusalem Bible)
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