The verb decided is the same verb rendered have freely decided in the previous verse. In some instances the equivalent of freely decided may be “they decided without being commanded to” or “they themselves decided to do it, even though no one had told them that they should do it.”

But, as a matter of fact, they have an obligation to help those poor is literally “and they are their debtors.” The force of “and” in this context is emphatic (Revised Standard Version, New English Bible “and indeed”), and so is rendered but, as a matter of fact by the Good News Translation. In some languages the equivalent may be “in reality, however,” “but the truth is,” or “but they really (have an obligation).”

“They are their debtors” is transformed by the Good News Translation to read they have an obligation to help (the possessive pronoun “their” refers back to the poor in the previous verse). The expression of obligation may be rendered in some languages as an obligatory mode: “they should help those poor.”

The next clause in this sentence literally reads “for if the Gentiles shared in their spiritual things.” The “if” clause refers to a condition that is true to fact, and so may be rendered as a statement as in the Good News Translation. “Spiritual things” is best taken in the sense of spiritual blessings (so also Revised Standard Version); the possessive pronoun “their” refers to the Jews (Good News Translation).

As can be seen in the literal translation, this clause in Greek involves a pseudo-substitute passive construction. Accordingly, “the Gentiles shared in the spiritual blessings of the Jews” may be transformed into an active expression the Jews shared their spiritual blessings with the Gentiles. Spiritual blessings in this context, as in so many instances, is “blessings for their spirits.” Within the larger context the entire sentence may read: “The Jews shared with the Gentiles the good things from God for their spirits.”

The last clause in this verse contains several problems. First there is the pronominal ambiguity in the Greek text: “they are obligated to serve them.” In this “they” refers to the Gentiles, while “them” is a reference to the Jews. Then there is the problem of the Greek phrase “with (or in) their fleshly things.” Most translations take the Greek preposition (en) to mean “with” and “fleshly things” (King James Version “carnal things”) to mean material blessings (so Revised Standard Version). But the New English Bible understands the preposition to have the meaning of “in” and so takes “fleshly things” as a reference to the material needs of the Jews: “the Gentiles have a clear duty to contribute to their material needs.”

The Gentiles may require further specification, “the Gentile believers”; and their material blessings may be translated as “the things which they have received from God,” “the physical things which they have received from God,” “the everyday things they have received from God,” or “the things necessary for everyday living.” The entire clause may be translated: “the Gentile believers, therefore, ought to help the Jewish believers by giving them those things which are needed for everyday life.”

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 .