2:7a–c

Each part of this verse expresses something that the religious leaders were thinking.

2:7a

Why does this man speak like this?: This is a rhetorical question that the teachers of the law were asking in their minds. It expresses their disapproval of what Jesus had said. There are two ways to express this rhetorical question:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Why would he say such a thing? (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
How does he dare talk like this? (Good News Bible)

• As a statement. For example:

This man/fellow should not say that!

Use a natural form in your language to express surprise and disapproval. Translate in a way that would not imply that the question was spoken out loud.

this man: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as this man indicates that the teachers of the law felt disrespect or even contempt for Jesus.

speak like this: The words speak like this refer to Jesus’ words to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven.”

2:7b

blaspheming: The Greek word the Berean Standard Bible translates as blaspheming often means “speaking against God” or “dishonoring God in a serious way.” In this context it refers to claiming to do something that only God had the authority to do. So the New Century Version says:

speaking as if he were God (New Century Version)

2:7c

Who can forgive sins but God alone?: This is a rhetorical question. The teachers of the law believed that God is the only one who has authority to forgive sins. They used the rhetorical question to express this belief in a very emphatic way. There are two ways to translate this rhetorical question:

• As a question. For example:

Doesn’t he know that only God can forgive sins?

• As an emphatic statement:

No one except God can forgive sins!
-or-
Only God can forgive sins. (New Century Version)
-or-
Jesus is just a man. He cannot forgive sins. Only God can forgive sins.

Use whichever form is most natural in your language to emphasize a belief. Do not imply that the teachers of the law were speaking aloud.

forgive: In this context the word forgive refers to canceling sins so that a person will not be punished for them. It is another form of the same word that was used in 2:5c. You should translate in a similar way here.

sins: See the note on 2:5c.

God: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as God refers here to the eternal spirit who created everything. He is more powerful than any other spirit, and he is perfectly good and wise. He deserves to be worshipped. Here are some ways to translate God:

• Use a name or title for God that people in your culture already use.

• Use a descriptive term that fits the truth about God that is revealed in the Bible. For example:

Creator
-or-
Great Spirit
-or-
Ruler of the universe

See how you translated God in 1:1. For more detailed information, see God in the Glossary.

General Comment on 2:7a–c

In some languages it may be more natural to express the parts of this verse in a different order. For example:

7aIt is blasphemy for a person 7bto say that a man’s sins are forgiven! 7cNo one can forgive a person’s sins except God.
-or-
7cNo one can forgive a person’s sins except God. 7bThis person is blaspheming 7aby saying that the paralytic’s sins are forgiven.
-or-
7cGod can forgive sins, but a person cannot. 7aWhen this man says he forgives the paralytic man’s sins, 7bhe is blaspheming against God.

© 2008 by SIL International®

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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