10:4a
For: Here this word introduces grounds or an explanation of 10:3.
Christ is the end of the law: There are several ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as end :
(1) It indicates that Christ has ended any role that the Laws of Moses had for gaining right standing before God. For example:
Christ has brought the Law to an end (Good News Translation)
(Revised Standard Version, New International Version, Good News Translation, New Century Version)
(2) It indicates that Christ is the goal of the Laws of Moses regarding gaining right standing before God. For example:
Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes (English Standard Version)
(Berean Standard Bible, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, English Standard Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New Living Translation (2004), NET Bible)
(3) It indicates that Christ satisfies all the requirements of the Laws of Moses for the purpose of gaining right standing before God. For example:
the Law has found its fulfilment in Christ (New Jerusalem Bible)
(New Jerusalem Bible, God’s Word)
(4) It indicates that Christ is the best (and final) expression of the Laws of Moses for the purpose of gaining right standing before God. For example:
Christ is the culmination of the law (New International Version (2011))
(New International Version (2011))
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because “For” probably connects this verse to the Jews working hard to establish their own righteousness (by using the Laws of Moses) (10:3). If the major language version in your area follows interpretation (2), you may want to follow that.
Here are other ways to translate this clause according to interpretation (1):
Christ ended the law (New Century Version)
-or-
Cristo is the ending-place of the law
-or-
Christ has made it so that there is no value in obeying the Law
If you followed interpretation (2), here are other ways to translate this clause according to that:
Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
The goal of the Law is Christ
10:4b
(New International Version🙂 so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes: There are several ways to interpret the Greek words that the New International Version translates as so that :
(1) It introduces the purpose of what Paul said in 10:4a. For example:
so that everyone who believes is put right with God (Good News Translation)
(Revised Standard Version, New International Version, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, God’s Word, New Century Version)
(2) It introduces the goal of what Paul said in 10:4a. For example:
for righteousness to everyone who believes (English Standard Version)
(Berean Standard Bible, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, English Standard Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New Living Translation (2004), NET Bible)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). But if the major language version in your area follows interpretation (2), you may want to follow that.
Here are other ways to translate this clause according to interpretation (1):
so that everyone who believes in him may be right with God (New Century Version)
-or-
so all those who believe in him are made-righteous in God’s sight
-or-
So that as for anybody it is only by believing in Christ that he is considered righteous by God.
If you followed interpretation (2), here are other ways to translate this clause according to that:
As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
for everyone who believes ⌊in him⌋ is made right with God
(New International Version🙂 there may be righteousness for everyone who believes: This clause is more literally “righteousness to everyone believing.” It indicates that righteousness is available to every believer. (Other verses, such as 4:5, make it clear that God gives this righteousness to all of them.) Here are other ways to translate this clause:
righteousness ⌊is given⌋ to everyone who believes
-or-
everyone who believes ⌊is made⌋ righteous
-or-
⌊God makes⌋ everyone who believes righteous
righteousness: Here the word righteousness refers to a person’s relationship with God being right. See how you translated this word in 10:3a.
believes: Here this refers to believing in Jesus as the Christ/Messiah. For example:
believe in him (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
believe ⌊that Jesus is the Christ⌋
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