8:34a

Who is there to condemn us?: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes that no one will be able to condemn God’s elect, that is, declare them guilty of wrongdoing and saying how they should be punished. Translate this clause with that meaning. Here are some ways:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Who will condemn them? (God’s Word)
-or-
Who can say God’s people are guilty? (New Century Version)

• As a statement. For example:

No one will condemn them.
-or-
No one can say his people are guilty of sin!

to condemn us: The Greek word here is in the future tense, again referring to any time in our future. See the examples above.

condemn: For the meaning of this word, see the note on “condemned” in 8:3.

8:34b–e

For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us: There are two ways to interpret how to punctuate this verse:

(1) It is a statement, as in the Berean Standard Bible.

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

(2) It is a question. For example:

Is it Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us? (Revised Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because it parallels the question and answer in 8:33a–b.

8:34b

Christ Jesus, who died: As an answer to the rhetorical question of 8:34a, this clause implies that Jesus will not condemn us. For example:

No one. Christ Jesus who died… (New International Version (2011))

Christ Jesus: There is a textual issue here:

(1) The text is Christ Jesus, as in the Berean Standard Bible.

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New Living Translation (2004), English Standard Version)

(2) The text is Christ. For example:

Christ (Contemporary English Version)

(King James Version, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), because the UBS5 supports it, although they say they had difficulty in deciding. If the major language version follows option (2), you may want to follow that.

The order of the words Christ Jesus emphasizes that Jesus is the Christ/Messiah. However, in some languages the order Christ Jesus is not natural. See how you translated this phrase in 1:1 or 8:1.

8:34c

and more than that: These words indicate that Paul had more to say about Jesus here. Jesus’ resurrection is also an important part of his work as Savior. These words imply that Jesus’ resurrection is more important than his death. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

yes and more, (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-

but he was also raised (New Century Version)
-or-
He did not do that only, but
-or-
and beyond that
-or-
and what is more is that

was raised to life: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

whom ⌊God⌋ raised

In some languages the words “from the dead” must be added to make the meaning clear. For example:

who was raised from the dead (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
whom ⌊God⌋ raised ⌊from death⌋

See how you translated the words was raised in 6:4.

8:34d

is at the right hand of God: The Greek has the word that can mean “and” or “also” here. For example:

and is at God’s right hand (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
who also is at the right hand of God (New American Bible, Revised Edition)

at the right hand: To sit at the right hand of a ruler is a figure of speech that indicates that the ruler gave the place of greatest honor to that person.

If the words at the right hand do not imply highest honor under the leader in your culture, you may want to:

• Include some implied information. For example:

⌊in the place of honor⌋ at the right hand
-or-

⌊in the position of highest honor⌋ at the right side

• Include a footnote. For example:

To be at God’s right hand is the position of highest honor under God.

8:34e

and He: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and is often translated as “also.” Here it introduces the last thing that Paul wanted to add to the fact that Jesus died (for us). For example:

and who (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
and is also (New International Version)

is interceding: The word interceding refers to speaking to someone on behalf of someone else. Here Jesus speaks to God on our behalf. See how you translated this word in 8:26.

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