The introductory statement I am speaking now to you Gentiles should indicate clearly that it is what Paul is going to say which is directed to the Gentiles. One may, therefore, need to translate as “in what I am going to say now, this is for you Gentiles” or “my following words are directed to you Gentiles.”

Beginning with the words as long as and continuing down through the end of verse 14 is one sentence in Greek. The precise meaning of Paul’s words “I glorify my ministry” is difficult to determine. Some commentators take the word “glorify” in the sense of “to give thanks for,” but most translators take the word to mean either take pride in (Jerusalem Bible “I am proud of being sent”; New English Bible “I am a missionary to the Gentiles, and as such I give all honour to that ministry”) or “make the most of” (An American Translation*; Moffatt “lay great stress on”).

The introductory conjunctive phrase as long as should probably not be interpreted in a merely temporal sense, implying that for the time being Paul was an apostle for the Gentiles and he might change his ministry shortly. A more appropriate equivalent in some languages is “inasmuch as” or “since.”

In view of the different ways in which the term “glorify” may be interpreted, there are a variety of ways in which the final clause of verse 13 may be translated. What is important, however, is to make certain that a translation of my work will focus upon Paul’s “task” rather than upon “what he has accomplished.” Paul’s pride, therefore, is not in “what he has already done” so much as in “his ministry.” Therefore one may translate as “I will take pride in my task” or “I will take pride in the work which I have to do.” Following a different interpretation of “glorify,” one may have some such translation as “I give thanks to God for the work which he has given me to do.” An interpretation such as “make the most of” may be most satisfactorily translated in some languages as “I consider my work very important.”

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 .