2:28a–29a
Jew…Jew: Paul now used the word Jew in a figurative sense. Here it means “a person with a special relationship to God” or “God’s people.” He did not mean being a Jew because your ancestors were Jews.
In many languages, a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Explain the word Jew in the text. For example:
Jew ⌊(and here I mean God’s people)⌋…Jew
-or-
the true Jew, I mean to say, the true person of God,…the person
-or-
It is said that the Jew is God’s people. But it is not true that one is God’s people just because he was born of Jews…
• Translate the meaning of “God’s people” here. You may then want a footnote to indicate the literal word. Here is an example footnote:
Literally “Jew.”
• Translate the word Jew as you always do but explain it here in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:
Paul now used the word “Jews” in the sense of “people with a special relationship to God” or “God’s people.” He was not talking about being a Jew because your ancestors were Jews.
2:28a
The Greek begins with a conjunction that is usually translated as “for.” The Berean Standard Bible omits this word. The conjunction introduces an explanation of what Paul said in 2:27.
outwardly: The word outwardly refers to what people can see about someone. How a person appears to look or behave may not be the same as what he truly thinks or feels. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
on the outside (Good News Translation)
-or-
in appearance and in custom only
-or-
in what is seen
-or-
in the things people see him do or wear
2:28b
nor is circumcision only outward and physical: The word nor means “and not.” For example:
and circumcision is not outward and physical
circumcision: Paul now used the word circumcision in a figurative sense. Here it means “the mark of a relationship with God.” Jewish circumcision indicates that the Jew is a member of the people who have a covenant with God. This figurative circumcision refers to right attitudes and thinking (2:29b).
In many languages, a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Explain the word circumcision in the text. For example:
circumcision ⌊(and here I mean the mark/sign that he is one of God’s people)⌋
-or-
the true circumcision, I mean to say, the true mark/sign that a person belongs to God
-or-
It is said that ⌊Jewish⌋ circumcision is the mark/sign of God’s people. But the true mark/sign is not outward and physical
• Translate the meaning of “the mark of a relationship with God” here. You may then want a footnote to indicate the literal word. Here is an example footnote:
Literally “circumcision.”
• Translate the word circumcision as you always do but explain it here in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:
Paul now used the word “circumcision” in a figurative sense. Here it means “the mark of a relationship with God.”
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