The mention of law in the previous verse leads to a discussion of the nature and function of the law within the Christian community.

In the Greek, verses 8-11 consist of one sentence; this is reflected in many translations, as, for example, Revised Standard Version. In New Revised Standard Version, however, these four verses are restructured into two sentences, with verse 8 forming one sentence and verses 9-11 another. In Good News Translation, on the other hand, this long sentence has been broken up into three sentences: verse 8, verses 9-10, and verse 11. In Contemporary English Version there are five sentences: verse 8, verse 9a, verse 9b, verse 10a, and verses 10b-11. Translators always need to remember that they are not bound by the sentence divisions in the original text or in various modern translations. What is of primary importance is to enable the intended audience to understand the message of the passage, and the sentence structure must serve this purpose.

The expression we know occurs only here in the Pastoral Letters; in the other letters, particularly those of Paul, it is used to introduce a principle that is generally accepted and acknowledged within the Christian community (see, for example, Rom 2.2; 3.19; 6.6; and others). We should be translated inclusively, since it refers to all Christians, including both the author and the recipient of the letter. In the present context the statement is about the goodness of the law when it is used properly. Law is used in the same way as in the previous verse (verse 7). Good translates a term that usually refers to pleasant outward appearance, hence “beautiful.” Here, however, the focus is on the character of the law as a valid guide for conduct that is morally and ethically acceptable. So one may also translate this first clause as “We know that what God’s law says is correct (or, valid).” In languages that cannot talk about a law “speaking,” one may translate “We [inclusive] know that what is written in God’s law (or, the Law) is good” or “We [inclusive] know that the words in God’s law are good.”

Any one may include everybody, but it has direct reference to those who are teachers of the law (see verse 7). In some languages it may be more appropriate to change any one into a plural form, hence “people,” and say “if people use the Law in the proper way.” In languages that do not use the passive, the active form if any one uses will be more natural. However, in some other languages it may be more natural to use a passive construction here; for example, “if it [the Law] is used lawfully,” “if it is used as it should be used” (compare Good News Translation), or “… in the right way” (Contemporary English Version).

Lawfully refers to the correct and proper use and application of the law. In the Greek text there is a play on the words law and lawfully (nomos–nomimōs); this can be retained in translation as long as there is a natural way of doing it in the receptor language and, more importantly, if the meaning matches that of the Greek text. The clause “if any one uses it lawfully” may be also expressed as “if a person uses it as it should be used” or “if people use it correctly.”

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to Timothy. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1995. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .