In the word order of the Greek this verse begins with because there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles, a statement which serves as a transition between the thought of verse 11 and the last part of verse 12. The Jerusalem Bible makes this transition clear by placing a comma, rather than a full stop, at the end of verse 11: “when scripture says: those who believe in him will have no cause for shame, 12 it makes no distinction between Jew and Greek: all belong to the same Lord….” Both the Good News Translation and New English Bible make the relation explicit by picking up the word everyone at the first of verse 12 (Good News Translation this includes everyone; New English Bible “—everyone: there is no distinction between Jew and Greek”).

In the Greek of this verse the phrase Jews and Gentiles is in the singular (“Jew and Greek”), but in English the plural is more natural. For the use of “Greek” as the equivalent of “Gentile,” see the comments on 1.16.

To say there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles may cause some complications, since Jews and Gentiles did differ in certain respects. The emphasis in this context is, of course, that the manner in which Jews and Gentiles are saved is the same. Therefore, it may be appropriate in some languages to translate “for it is the same for both Jews and Gentiles” or “since Jews and Gentiles are saved in the same way.”

God is the same Lord of all is literally “for the same (is) Lord of all.” Most scholars take this as a reference to Jesus Christ, who in the context is referred to as Lord (see, for example, New English Bible “the same Lord is Lord of all”). However, it is possible that the reference is to God the Father, and the Good News Translation apparently interprets the phrase in this manner. Translators may prefer to use an expression employed in some languages: “there is just one Lord for all.”

There is an interesting contrast between this verse and 3.22. In the earlier passage Paul indicated that Jews and Gentiles were alike, since they had all sinned; in the present passage he indicates that they are all alike, because God is the same Lord of all, and richly blesses all who call to him.

Richly blesses may be translated as “is extremely good to,” “gives many good things to,” or “causes great good to.” In many languages the appropriate equivalent of call to is simply “pray to.” Otherwise the implication may be that people are “screaming at God.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1973. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .