8:4a
so that the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in us: The phrase so that introduces a purpose clause. The righteous standard of the law has already been fulfilled in us. In some languages a purpose clause indicates something that has not yet happened. If that is true in your language, introduce this as a result clause. For example:
and so the righteous standard of the law has been fulfilled in us
the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in us: This clause is passive. Some languages cannot use a passive clause. For example:
the righteous standard of the law might become true in us
the righteous standard of the law: The word standard is singular, so refers to something that the whole of the law of Moses demands that people be. It probably refers to living righteously as a result of fulfilling this requirement through the sacrificial death of God’s Son, Jesus. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
being righteous as the law/Law demands
-or-
our deeds would be truly upright as the Law ⌊of Moses⌋ commands ⌊us⌋
fulfilled: The Greek tense indicates that this is a complete event. It refers to God declaring us righteous when we believed in Jesus. Sometimes the word “justify” (as in 2:13, where the Berean Standard Bible translates it as “declared righteous”) describes God doing that. God declared us righteous and that fulfilled the righteous requirement of the law in us.
in us: Here the word in refers to what God does in our lives. He enables us to live righteously.
8:4b
who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit: These words further describe the word “us” in 8:4a. It does not separate some people referred to by “us” from other people referred to by “us.” For the correct meaning in some languages, translators must avoid the word who. For example:
as those who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit
-or-
and we walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit
-or-
as we direct our lives not by our natural inclinations but by the Spirit (New Jerusalem Bible)
do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit: In some languages it is more natural to repeat the verb walk in the second part. For example:
walk not according to the flesh but ⌊walk⌋ according to the Spirit
-or-
walk according to the Spirit and do not ⌊walk⌋ according to the flesh
In some languages it is more natural to have according to the Spirit before not…according to the flesh. For example:
walk according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh
walk: This is a figure of speech. It refers to living. Believers live as the Holy Spirit directs them. In some languages a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:
live (New International Version)
-or-
direct our lives (New Jerusalem Bible)
flesh: Here this word refers to having a body, with its needs and passions. See how you translated this word in 7:14 or the first occurrence in 8:3.
the Spirit: This implies the Holy Spirit here.
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