3:7a–b

However, if my falsehood accentuates God’s truthfulness, to the increase of His glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?: This verse is similar to 3:5. Paul was speaking generally of lying making God’s truth more clear. He said my falsehood, but was referring generally to lying. He is probably not confessing a specific sin here.

In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that Paul was confessing that he was lying about something. If that is true in your language, translate in a way that indicates that the meaning is more general. For example:

But if through our falsehood God’s truthfulness is accentuated to the increase of his glory, why are we still being condemned as sinners?
-or-
Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” (New International Version)

3:7a

However:
There is some contrast here to 3:6b. So some English versions translate the Greek conjunction as However. However, some English versions do not see contrast here and so omit the conjunction. For example:

If my lie increases… (God’s Word)

if my falsehood accentuates God’s truthfulness, to the increase of His glory: Here the word if introduces a situation that is true. If this first part is true, that supports the second part (“why am I still condemned as a sinner?”).

In some languages, using an if -clause would have a different meaning. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:

my falsehood accentuates God’s truthfulness, to the increase of his glory. ⌊True?⌋ ⌊So⌋…
-or-

⌊Would you agree that⌋ my falsehood accentuates God’s truthfulness, to the increase of his glory? ⌊So⌋…
-or-

⌊You would agree that⌋ my falsehood accentuates God’s truthfulness, to the increase of his glory. ⌊So⌋…

my falsehood accentuates God’s truthfulness, to the increase of His glory: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as my falsehood accentuates God’s truthfulness is literally “the truthfulness of God is much in my falsehood.” The Berean Standard Bible put the phrase my falsehood before the subject God’s truthfulness, probably for emphasis. But the phrase in the Greek is not emphasized in that way. Follow normal phrase order in your language here. In English here is a more normal word order:

God’s truthfulness abounds to the increase of his glory through/in my falsehood

The Greek tense on this verb usually is translated as past tense. But many English versions use the present tense, because the English present tense is used to indicate a general statement. The lie could refer to being unfaithful to promises (3:3), but here it probably is general, referring to any sin. Consider how to translate this word so that it indicates a general statement.

my falsehood: This phrase is literally “in/through my falsehood.” It indicates that this falsehood caused God’s “truthfulness” to more clearly be seen. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

by means of my falsehood
-or-

my falsehood makes God’s truth abundantly clear
-or-

my lie increases the glory that God receives by showing that God is truthful (God’s Word)
-or-

on account of my lies, the trueness of God’s word is increasingly seen

accentuates: This word means “be much.” Here it refers to God’s truth being more clearly shown. Here are other ways to translate this word:

making his truth stand out more clearly (Good News Translation)
-or-
highlights (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
abounds (English Standard Version)

In some languages one cannot speak of truthfulness being “accentuated.” If that is true in your language, indicate that people see more and more of God’s truth. For example:

is increasingly seen
-or-
being more apparent
-or-
makes it apparent that God’s word is true

God’s truthfulness: Here this phrase refers to God’s words; they are true. Whenever God speaks, he says what is true. In some languages a literal translation is not possible. If that is true in your language, refer to his words being true. For example:

God’s truth (English Standard Version)
-or-
showing that God is truthful
-or-
the trueness of God’s word

glory: Here this word refers to people praising and honoring God because they recognize his greatness and majesty. Here are other ways to translate this word:

great honor (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
he is honored/praised

See also glory, sense A3(a) in the Key Biblical Terms.

3:7b

why am I still condemned as a sinner?: This is a rhetorical question based on what Paul said in 3:7a. Paul implied here that it was wrong to think that an excuse for sin would be that it increases God’s truth and therefore his glory. Translate this with that meaning. Here are some ways:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Why should I still be condemned as a sinner? (Good News Translation)

• As a statement. For example:

then I should not be judged to be a sinner at all. (New Jerusalem Bible)

why am I still condemned: The Greek is literally “why still am even I being judged/condemned.” The Greek word that means “even I” indicates emphasis on the meaning of I. If possible translate this emphasis. For example:

why is it I who is still being condemned

This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause here. For example:

why is ⌊God/he⌋ still condemning me

still: Here this word indicates that God condemned this person even though his lie caused God’s truth to be shown more clearly and more people honor him (3:7a).

sinner: This word refers to a person who sins.

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