8:17a
And if we are children: Here the word “his” is implied before the word children. Here the word if introduces a situation that is true. If this first part is true, that supports the second part (“then we are heirs”) to also be true.
In some languages, using an if -clause would have a different meaning, or be confusing after just saying clearly that we are God’s adopted children. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:
⌊we are his⌋ ⌊adopted⌋ children, ⌊true?⌋ ⌊So⌋…
-or-
⌊Would you agree that⌋ ⌊we are his⌋ ⌊adopted⌋ children? ⌊So⌋…
-or-
⌊we are his⌋ ⌊adopted⌋ children, so…
then we are heirs: The Greek here is more literally “also heirs.” The Berean Standard Bible and many English versions add the word then to make the connection to “if children” clear. For example:
then we are also heirs
The word “his” is implied before the word heirs. In some languages it is more natural to add these implied words. For example:
then we are also ⌊his⌋ heirs
heirs: Here this word indicates that God has chosen things for us to receive once we get to the new Jerusalem. It does not imply that God will one day die. In some languages a different word or phrase must be used for the correct meaning. For example:
ones who will receive an inheritance
-or-
people who will receive blessings/gifts ⌊up in the future, renewed world⌋
8:17b explains that we are heirs of God.
8:17b
heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ: These words further describe what kind of heirs we are. Here are other ways to translate that connection:
that is, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ
-or-
furthermore ⌊we are⌋ heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ
-or-
it is like this: ⌊we are⌋ heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ
The Greek connecting words indicate that heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ are connected but different things. An English idiom that is sometimes used for the Greek connecting words is “on the one hand…on the other hand.”
heirs of God: Paul here explained whose heir we are. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
it is God who gives it
-or-
the blessings/gifts that God will give
co-heirs with Christ: This phrase indicates that we will share in some of the things that Jesus received when he went to heaven. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
⌊Jesus⌋ Christ will share his inheritance with us
-or-
Christ’s blessings that we will share
8:17c
if indeed we suffer with Him: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as if indeed introduces a possibility for the readers to consider and indicates emphasis. For example:
provided we suffer with him (English Standard Version)
-or-
if we suffer like Jesus Christ did
we suffer with Him: Jesus suffered, died, and went to heaven long before Paul wrote this. But Jesus lives in us (1 John 3:24), and our sufferings are connected to his sufferings (Philippians 3:10). In that way we suffer with Him.
suffer: This word refers to experiencing physical or emotional pain because of something happening to us.
8:17d
so that we may also be glorified with Him: This is a result clause. This result will occur at the end of this age and is certain, like a promise, if we suffer for Jesus’ sake. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
and the result will be that we will also be glorified with him
-or-
we will also share his glory (Good News Translation)
we may also be glorified with Him: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:
⌊God⌋ may/will also glorify us together with him
be glorified with Him: These words refer to the greatness/splendor and blessings of God that he will give to us believers. The splendor and blessings are shared with Jesus. It may also refer to being highly honored. Here are other ways to translate this Greek word:
be made/allowed to share in his glory
-or-
we will also be included in his greatness (lit. highness)
-or-
we (incl.) will also be honored/made-great together with him
See how you translated the word “glory” in 1:23 or 6:4.
© 2020 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.