Paragraph 2:12–16

2:12a

The Greek begins with a conjunction that is usually translated as “for.” The Berean Standard Bible does not translate this conjunction. It introduces a reason or an explanation of what Paul said in 2:11. If it would be more natural in your language to translate this word, here are other ways to translate it:

Because
-or-
Here’s the reason: (God’s Word)
-or-
Indeed
-or-
The fact is

All who sin: The word sin means “do wrong against someone,” either by breaking a law or going against what is expected to be done. Here it includes doing wrong against God.

apart from the law: This phrase describes people who do not use the Jewish law to rule their lives. This Jewish law is in the first five books of the Old Testament. It is sometimes called “the Law of Moses” (for example, Luke 2:22), because God gave these laws to Moses.

In some languages a literal translation would not refer to the Jewish law. If that is true in your language, indicate clearly which law this is. For example:

do not have the Law of Moses (Good News Translation)
-or-
don’t know about God’s Law (God’s Word)

You may want a footnote to explain where these laws are. Here is an example footnote:

This refers to the laws God gave Moses. They are in the first five books of the Old Testament.

2:12b

will also perish apart from the law: This indicates that God will judge the non-Jews by what they know about God but not by the Jewish law. He will see that they are guilty of sinning against him, so they will experience death and destruction as punishment for their sins. Here are other ways to translate these words:

will also perish without the law (English Standard Version)
-or-
will die without reference to the Law (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
will perish outside the law (Revised English Bible)

In some languages a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to include some implied information to explain the text. For example:

will also perish ⌊because they were guilty before God even if he judges them⌋ without using the law ⌊of Moses⌋
-or-
will also perish ⌊because they sinned against God even⌋ without ⌊God judging⌋ them by the law ⌊of the Jews⌋

perish: Here this word refers to dying but also implies destruction or ruin. Here are other ways to translate this word:

be destroyed (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
die in ruin/destruction

2:12c

under the law: This phrase describes people who use the Jewish law to rule their lives. Translate the word law so that it refers to the Jewish law here. You may want to:

• Allow 2:12a–b to explain that it is the Jewish law and do not explain it again here. For example:

under that law

• Translate it here as you did in 2:12a. For example:

have the law of Moses
-or-
know about God’s Law

2:12d

will be judged by the law: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

⌊God⌋ will judge them according to the law ⌊of Moses⌋

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