In these verses Paul lists three sins which are also mentioned together in lists compiled by Jewish teachers: theft, adultery, and idolatry. The verbs teach and preach would refer to a context of a teaching and preaching situation, while the verb say should probably be understood as referring to a context of exegesis or interpretation.

In a number of languages the contrast between the four statements You teach … You preach … You say … You detest … and the following questions cannot be treated in the same way as in the Good News Translation. The contrast must be preserved, but this can be done in other ways—for example, “you teach others but you ought to teach yourselves; you preach that people should not steal but you yourselves steal”; etc.

A translation of commit adultery should normally be the most general expression for illicit sex relations. In some languages this becomes quite specific and is often male oriented—for example, “you say, Do not sleep with other men’s wives.”

You detest idols may be translated as “you speak strongly against idols” or “you denounce those who worship idols.” It is possible that in some languages there is no clear connection between the idols and their temples. It may, therefore, be necessary to say “you strongly denounce idols, but you rob buildings in which idols are kept” or “… buildings in which people worship idols.”

The verb rendered rob temples (so most translations) may be taken in a more general sense, “to commit an irreverent act towards a holy place” (Phillips “how honest are you towards the property of heathen temples?”) It is extremely doubtful that this word should be taken with the meaning “to hold back one’s gift from the (Jewish) temple.”

God’s law (v. 23) is literally “law,” but the reference is to the law which God have the Jewish people. The Good News Translation makes this identification explicit (note Jerusalem Bible “the Law”), in order to bring out the evident contrast with the statement that follows: but do you bring shame on God by breaking his law?

Bring shame on God may be rendered as “cause people to have disrespect for God” or “cause people to speak against God.”

In many languages one cannot “break a law.” One may, however, “disregard a law,” “refuse to obey a law,” or even “untie a law.”

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 .