Paragraph 6:12–14

6:12a

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body: In some English versions, the word Therefore is in the middle of the clause. For example:

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body (English Standard Version)

In some languages, it may be more natural to put the word Therefore at the beginning of the sentence, as the Berean Standard Bible does.

do not let sin reign: There are two ways to interpret the Greek words here:

(1) It is a command to not do something. For example:

do not let sin reign (Berean Standard Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, King James Version, English Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004), New American Standard Bible, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, New Century Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition)

(2) It is a command to stop doing something. For example:

sin must no longer reign in your mortal body (Revised English Bible)

(Good News Translation, Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because many scholars support it as well.

This clause refers to not following the temptations of sin. The figure of speech speaks of sin as a ruler/king over someone. In some languages a literal translation would have the wrong meaning or not be clear as to its meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Use “like/as” to indicate the comparison. For example:

Do not let sin control you like a ruler/king

• Translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:

Do not let sin control you

• Translate literally and explain the meaning in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

This clause refers to not following/obeying the temptations of sin.

The present tense refers to the ongoing effort of the believer to not follow the temptations of sin. Each time a believer is tempted, he must reject that temptation. For example:

Always be stopping sin from reigning/controlling you

in your mortal body: Here the word body implies the things someone does. The power of sin should not control what we do. In some languages a literal translation would imply that.

But in some languages a literal translation would wrongly refer only to sins internal to the physical body. If that is true in your language, refer to what we do. For example:

do not let sin control your life here on earth (New Century Version)

mortal body: The word mortal refers to something being able to die. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

the body which dies
-or-
your bodies are a thing for dying
-or-
during the time we live here on earth

6:12b

so that you obey its desires:
Here the phrase so that introduces the purpose of sin reigning in believers’ lives. It does not connect to “Do not let.” Make that clear in your translation. For example:

and make you obey its evil desires
-or-
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body. It/Sin wants to make you obey its passions.

desires: Here this word means “strong urge to do something.” It refers here to anything that sin might try to make believers want that they should not. It does not refer here to only desires of having sex. Other ways to translate it are:

evil desires (New International Version)
-or-
passions (English Standard Version)

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