The participle translated in the service of represents a verb sometimes used by Paul in specific reference to the collection of money for the Jerusalem church (see 2 Corinthians 8.19-20). The related noun is used in this sense in verse 31; 1 Corinthians 16.15; 2 Corinthians 8.4; 9.1, 12, 13. Although this verb may relate to the collection of money for the church in Jerusalem, it seems better to render it by a more general term, as most translations do (Revised Standard Version “with aid for”; An American Translation* “to take help to”; Moffatt, New English Bible “on an errand to”; New American Bible “to bring assistance to”), rather than to make it a specific reference (Jerusalem Bible “I must take a present of money”; Phillips “to make a contribution”).

God’s people is literally “the saints” (see 1.7).

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 .