2:7a
This verse begins with a Greek conjunction that is often translated as “but.” Some English versions, such as the New American Standard Bible and New Century Version, translate it that way in order to introduce the contrast between what the leaders might have done (2:6b) and what they actually did (2:7a). The Berean Standard Bible has not translated this conjunction, and many other versions, including the English Standard Version, New International Version, NET Bible, and New Living Translation (2004), also do not translate it. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either. Connect 2:7a to 2:6b in a way that is natural in your language.
On the contrary: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as On the contrary introduces the unexpected way that the leaders responded to what Paul told them. The leaders may have been expected to teach Paul some things and add to his message. But instead of doing that, they agreed with his message.
Some other ways to introduce the leaders’ unexpected response are:
Instead (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
But instead ?of adding something to my message?
-or-
But rather ?than adding something to my message?
they saw that: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as saw means “realized,” “understood,” or “accepted.” The leaders recognized that the gospel that Paul preached was true and complete.
Some other ways to translate this verb are:
They realized that (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
they recognised that (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
they understood that
Do not use a word that implies that the leaders literally saw something.
2:7b
I had been entrusted to preach the gospel to the uncircumcised: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as entrusted means “given the work/responsibility of.” This word is related to the word for “trust” or “have faith in.” God had given Paul the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles. He trusted Paul to be faithful in doing the task.
This is a passive clause. Some ways to translate this clause are:
• Use a passive verb. For example:
I had been given the work of telling the Good News to those who are not Jewish (New Century Version)
• Use an active verb. For example:
God had given me the responsibility of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
God had sent me with the good news for Gentiles (Contemporary English Version)
the uncircumcised: This phrase refers to non-Jews. They were people who were not circumcised.
If your word for circumcised is a long phrase, you may want to translate the phrase the uncircumcised in another way. For example:
those who are not Jewish (New Century Version)
-or-
Gentiles (Contemporary English Version)
2:7c
just as Peter had been to the circumcised: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as just as links Paul’s ministry with Peter’s ministry. It means that God had entrusted Paul with the gospel in the same way that he had entrusted Peter with the gospel. They both preached the same gospel, but they preached it to different groups of people. Peter preached to the circumcised.
Here Paul used the word circumcised to refer to Jews.
This is a passive clause. Some ways to translate this clause are:
• Use a passive verb. For example:
as Peter had been entrusted to tell it to those who are circumcised (God’s Word)
• Use an active verb. For example:
just as he had given Peter the task of preaching the gospel to the Jews (Good News Translation)
-or-
just as Peter had the work of telling the Jews (New Century Version)
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