Paul’s first reference to Law in this verse is literally “the law,” which is most naturally taken to mean the (Jewish) Law (see An American Translation* and Moffatt), though the New English Bible and the Jerusalem Bible take is simply in a general sense of “law.” The Revised Standard Version seems also to take this as a reference to the Jewish Law, though the phrase “the law” is ambiguous inasmuch as “law” is not written with a capital. It is generally agreed that the second reference to “law” in this passage is a reference to law in general, and not to the Jewish Law in particular.

In a number of languages it is extremely difficult to distinguish between Law, as a specific reference to the Old Testament Law, and law in general. Capitalization may be of some assistance to those who read the text, but it has no value to those who merely hear the reading; and since many more people are likely to hear a text read than read it for themselves, capitalization is of limited value. In some languages this distinction may be made by translating Law (capitalized) as “the Law of Moses” or “the Law which came through Moses,” while the more generic meaning of law (with lower case) may be translated as “laws” or “regulations.”

The verb rendered brings (New English Bible, Revised Standard Version; An American Translation* “brings down”) has as its basic meaning “to bring about” (see Moffatt “produces”). Paul is here speaking of a reality, not of a possibility, and so the Jerusalem Bible falls short of his meaning “involves the possibility of.” However, the Jerusalem Bible does give a footnote indicating that this means literally “for law brings.” Although Paul merely says “wrath” the reference is to God’s wrath (see also An American Translation*), and the Good News Translation makes this information explicit. On the meaning of wrath see 1.18.

In most languages one cannot speak about the “Law bringing down wrath.” However, a causative may be employed—for example, “the Law causes God’s wrath” or “the Law causes God’s judgment.”

Disobeying (of the law) (Jerusalem Bible “breaking the law”; New English Bible “breach of law”; An American Translation* “violation of it (law)”) translates the word usually rendered “transgression,” a word not in general use among speakers of American English. The final two clauses in verse 15 may be treated as conditional—for example, “but if there are no regulations, then one cannot disobey the regulations” or “if laws do not exist, then no one can violate the laws.”

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 .