In this verse Paul describes the status of the Israelites by a series of nouns, which are better rendered by descriptive phrases in English. For a literal translation of this verse see the Revised Standard Version (“they are Israelites, and to them belong the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises”). The Good News Translation translates “Israelites” as God’s chosen people, because the emphasis in the present context is not upon their racial origin but upon the fact that God chose them to be his own people. It is important in the selection of a word for chosen to avoid the idea of favoritism. It is true that God “specially selected” his people, but one should not suggest that this means that he treated them as pampered favorites.
The remaining series of nouns, though introduced in Greek by the phrase “to them belong,” actually describes things that God did for his chosen people, and so the Good News Translation makes this connection explicit: he made … shared … made … they have … they have received. It should be noticed that the Jerusalem Bible also makes this connection clear. On the term “sonship” (Good News Translation he made them his sons) see 8.15, 23. In the present passage Paul seems to be referring to the specific time of the Exodus, when God chose Israel to be his people (see Exodus 4.22).
On the use of the word “glory” (Good News Translation shared his glory with them) see 3.23; 5.2. In the present passage the reference is to the specific manifestations of God among his people, beginning with the Exodus experiences and culminating with his presence with them in the temple.
In some languages one can only translate shared his glory with them as “gave them part of his glory,” but a more appropriate equivalent, considering the context, is probably “showed them his glory” or “showed them how glorious he was.”
The use of the plural, covenants, has occasioned some difficulty, and some manuscripts have the singular “covenant.” However, the plural is by far the more difficult reading and is preferred by the UBS textual committee. Paul may have reference to the several covenants that God made (with Adam, Noah, Abraham, and Moses), or else he may have reference to the Jewish translation which distinguished three covenants that together made up the great covenant of the Exodus (the covenant made at Horeb, the one made in the plains of Moab, and the one made at Mounts Gerizim and Ebal). Although Paul interprets the purpose of the Law in a different way from that of many Jews, he still looks upon it as a privilege which God gave to the people of Israel. If at all possible, one should choose a term for covenants which will indicate that the initiative exists with God. In order words, the covenant is not a “bargained contract.” In some languages a term such as “compact” may be appropriate, provided this indicates something good. However, in order to indicate clearly the initiative on the part of God, it is possible in some languages to say “he tied himself to them” or “he linked himself to them.”
The true worship is literally “the worship,” but the reference is to the Israelite temple service, which the Jews considered to be the only true way to worship God. The equivalent of they have the true worship may be expressed in some languages as “they worship God in true way,” “they know how to worship God truly,” or “God has shown them how to worship him in the true way.”
God’s promises (literally “the promises”) is doubtless a reference to the many promises of salvation and deliverance made by God throughout the Old Testament.
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 .