4:2a–c
If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God: Here, the word If introduces a situation that was not true. Abraham was not justified because of his works. But the “then” clause (he had something…) imagines what might have happened if Abraham had been justified because of his works.
Here are some ways to translate this:
• Some languages have a word or phrase that indicates this if-clause is a situation that was not true. For example:
if as-might-be-said it was because of his perfect obedience to the laws that this Abraham was declared righteous in God’s sight, he would of course now have something to boast about, (but not before God)
-or-
if-it-had-been,-but-was-not,-that God made Abraham righteous through what he had done, he would have been able to boast, but not before God
• Other languages can add other words to help indicate that this if-clause is a situation that was not true. For example:
If for-example God counted him as righteous because of what he did, there would be something for him to boast-about, but the truth of it is that there is nothing that he could boast-about to God.
-or-
if ⌊it were true that⌋ God called Abraham righteous because of what Abraham did, then Abraham could boast ⌊about that⌋ ⌊to someone⌋, but he could not boast ⌊about it⌋ to God
• Other languages must translate without using the word If. For example:
we know that the reason that God regarded Abraham as righteous was not because he did good deeds, so he has nothing to boast about, and certainly could not boast before God
4:2a
This verse begins with a Greek conjunction that is usually translates as “for.” It introduces an explanation of why Paul asked about Abraham in 4:1. In some languages it is more natural to omit this conjunction and allow the context to imply that connection, as the Berean Standard Bible does. For example:
If Abraham… (New Jerusalem Bible)
Abraham was indeed justified by works: This clause is passive. God justified Abraham. Some languages must use an active clause here. For example:
his good deeds had made him acceptable to God (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
⌊God⌋ declared Abraham righteous by his/Abraham’s deeds
-or-
⌊God⌋ considered Abraham to be just/innocent because of what he/Abraham did
justified: Here the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as justified means “called and treated as righteous.” God regarded Abraham as righteous. See the above examples. See how you translated this word in 2:13 (where the Berean Standard Bible translates it as “declared righteous”) or 3:30.
by works: Here the word works refers to a person’s own effort, or the deeds one does. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
by the things he did (Good News Translation)
-or-
because of what he had done (New Jerusalem Bible)
4:2b
he had something to boast about: This is still part of the statement which is not true (see note at 4:2a–c). If it was possible that his good deeds caused God to call him righteous, Abraham could boast about that.
boast: The word boast means “to talk about one’s own accomplishments or abilities with too much pride.” Here are other ways to translate boast :
brag (God’s Word)
-or-
tell others how good he is
4:2c
but not before God: The words “he had something to boast about” are implied from 4:2b. Some languages must repeat some or all of those words. For example:
but ⌊he could⌋ not ⌊boast⌋ before God
-or-
but ⌊he could⌋ not ⌊boast about it⌋ before God
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