14:18a
For: Here this word introduces a consequence of living in the Holy Spirit with righteousness and peace and joy (14:17).
whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as pleasing can also mean “acceptable.” Many languages must choose one meaning or the other:
(1) It means pleasing here, as in the Berean Standard Bible.
(Berean Standard Bible, Good News Translation, New International Version, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, New Century Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition)
(2) It means acceptable here, as in the English Standard Version.
(Revised Standard Version, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, English Standard Version, Revised English Bible)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because many English versions and scholars choose it. But this author found no scholar who explains their choice. 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):
the one who serves Christ in that way, by those deeds pleases God
-or-
God is pleased with the one who serves Christ in that way
serves Christ: The word serves refers to doing the things that Jesus commands us to do. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
lives as a servant of Christ
-or-
lives doing the will of Christ
in this way:
This phrase refers back to the previous verse. Some languages must use “that” here for the correct meaning. For example:
in that way
Here this phrase probably refers to living in the Holy Spirit with righteousness and peace and joy (14:17). For example:
by living this way (New Century Version)
14:18b
approved by men: This clause indicates that these men approve of the believers who serve Christ in that way. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:
men/people approve him
approved: The Greek word refers to considering someone worthy of high regard. Here are other ways to translate this word:
respected (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
highly regarded
men: Here the word men refers to men and women. See the example above.
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