The first half of this verse serves as a transition from Paul’s personal introduction to the Romans to his definition of the gospel in 16b and 17. I have complete confidence in is literally “I am not ashamed of.” (The shame referred to is that which comes when one is disappointed by something he has trusted in.) Most translations render this literally, but Moffatt also transforms Paul’s negative statement into a positive one: “I am proud of the Gospel.” I have complete confidence in may be rendered as “I trust completely in” or, idiomatically, as “I rest my whole weight on” or “I lean against completely.”

Paul equates the gospel (see vv. 1-2) with God’s power to save all who believe (in Jesus Christ). Historically this message was proclaimed first to the Jews, but also to the Gentiles (literally “Greeks”). In this context “Greeks” does not refer to those who were Greek by nationality or culture, but to all persons other than Jews, and for this reason the Good News Translation renders the term Gentiles. (See comments on v. 14.) In many languages the most appropriate term for Gentiles is “those who are not Jews”; hence, the last phrase of verse 16 may be rendered as “first the Jews and then those who are not Jews.”

In some languages it is impossible to speak of something being God’s power. However, an object can be the means by which God can do certain things; therefore the second clause of verse 16 may be restructured as “by means of the gospel God can save all who believe” or “the good news is God’s tool by which he can save all who believe.”

In Greek to save is actually a noun phrase (“for salvation”), but an event is here spoken of and so a verb expression is accurate and more natural as an English equivalent (Jerusalem Bible “it is the power of God saving all who believe”). Although the word “salvation” covers a wide area of meaning (in the early books of the Old Testament it often denoted deliverance from physical danger), in this verse it refers to Christian salvation, the deliverance from the power of sin.

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 .