Paragraph 15:13

15:13a

Now may the God of hope fill you: This indicates that Paul wanted God to fill the Roman believers. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

I pray that God…will fill you (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
I request that he give you
-or-
I-desire-that…God…will graciously-favor you

the God of hope: Here the word of indicates that God enables us to hope. As believers we also hope in God, but that does not seem to be the main reason why Paul wrote of hope here. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

God, the source of hope, (Good News Translation)
-or-
God, who gives hope, (Contemporary English Version)

hope: This word refers to wanting something to happen or even confident expectation that something will happen. The meaning is “confident expectation” here. See how you translated this word in 4:18 or 12:12.

fill: Here this word is a figure of speech that indicates that God will give completely the ability to have joy and peace. Some languages can use fill in that way. Some languages must translate with a different word or phrase for the correct meaning. For example:

give in/an abundance
-or-
cause that you may completely rejoice…
-or-
give you happiness and peace…that is complete

all joy and peace: The word all connects to both joy and peace. In some languages it is more clear or natural to repeat this word. For example:

all joy and ⌊all⌋ peace

all: Here this word refers to all kinds of joy and all kinds of peace. In some languages the word all cannot be placed with a singular item like joy or peace. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:

all kinds of joy and ⌊all kinds of⌋ peace

joy: This word refers to a continuing experience of being happy or glad. See how you translated this word in 14:17.

peace: Here this word refers to well-being and being free from troubles. See how you translated this word in 1:7 or 14:17.

as you believe in Him: There are several ways to interpret the Greek words here. Here are the three main ones:

(1) It means within the sphere or influence of believing. Joy and peace are experienced within the sphere or influence of believing. For example:

in your faith (New Jerusalem Bible)

(Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, English Standard Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New American Standard Bible, King James Version)

(2) It indicates that believing is the way in which one experiences or gets joy and peace. For example:

by means of your faith in him (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, God’s Word)

(3) It indicates that joy and peace are experienced at the same time as one believes. For example:

as you believe in him (NET Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because it seems the most fitting definition here.

believe in Him: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as believe :

(1) It refers to faith, as in the Berean Standard Bible.

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition, English Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, Revised English Bible)

(2) It refers to trust. For example:

trust (New International Version)

(New International Version, New Living Translation (2004), New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

The Greek is in the present tense, which indicates an ongoing faith.

15:13b

so that: These words introduce the purpose of Paul praying for God to give them joy, peace, and hope.

you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit: Some English versions place by the power of the Holy Spirit first in the clause to emphasize it. However, in the Greek it is a place that does not normally indicate emphasis. Place this phrase wherever is most natural in your language.

overflow with hope: Here the word overflow refers to having very much hope. The Greek word is the verb related to the word that means “abundant.” Paul wanted them to have abundant hope. Here are other ways to translate this word:

be rich in hope (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
filled full of hope
-or-
have very great hope
-or-
hope ⌊in God⌋ in complete sufficiency
-or-
hope very strongly/much

the Holy Spirit: This phrase refers to God’s Spirit. The word Spirit is used in a similar way that a person refers to his spirit. The word Holy here means “clean” or “sacred.” But it also refers to “coming from God.” See how you translated this phrase in 5:5 or 14:17.

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