13:14a The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will favor you (plur.), ⌊I pray⌋ that God will love you,
13:14b and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
and ⌊I pray⌋ that the Holy Spirit will give to you close relationships ⌊with him and with each other⌋.
Division 1:1–17
Paul introduced his letter to the believers in Rome
In this division, Paul introduced himself and the gospel about Jesus. He also greeted the people to whom he was writing. He thanked God for the believers in Rome. He told them that he wanted to visit them, and that he expected them to encourage one another in their faith. He told them that the gospel is powerful.
Here are other possible headings for this division:
Introduction and Opening Remarks
-or-
The beginning talk of this letter of Paul about himself and the believers in Rome
Section 1:1–7
Introduction
In this first section, Paul introduced himself and the gospel about Jesus. He also greeted the people to whom he was writing.
Before you begin to translate this section, consider what is the natural way to begin a letter in your language. Consider also how closely to follow that way in your translation.
Consider whether or not you want a section heading here. The Good News Translation, for example, does not have one here. It is good to read or translate this section before you decide on a heading for it. Here are other possible headings for this section:
Paul introduced himself and the gospel about Jesus and greeted the Roman believers
-or-
Paul and His Message of Good News (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Paul began his letter to the Christians in Rome
Paragraph 1:1–6
1:1a
Paul: The author of this letter is named Paul. He began this letter with his name. This was the normal way to begin a letter at that time in that region.
Paul did not use a sentence here. In some languages it is more natural to introduce the writer in a different way. For example:
From Paul, (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
This letter is from Paul, (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
⌊I,⌋ Paul, ⌊am writing this letter.⌋ ⌊I am⌋
a servant of: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as servant refers to a slave. Here, this phrase indicates that Paul belonged to Jesus as his slave. Paul served him and completely submitted himself to the authority of Jesus.
People often despised servants or slaves. But when someone called himself a slave of Jesus, as Paul did here, he was not ashamed of it. You may have more than one word to describe servants or slaves. Choose the one that indicates or implies the believer’s good relationship to Jesus. That is why many English versions use the word servant instead of slave.
Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
a slave of (NET Bible)
-or-
a worker of/for
If you have translated other books, see how you translated this word in Galatians 1:10, Philippians 1:1, Titus 1:1, or James 1:1.
In some languages, it will be best to translate the word servant as a verb. For example:
I serve
-or-
I completely submit to
-or-
I do the work of
Christ Jesus: There is a textual issue here about the order of the words Christ Jesus :
(1) The correct order is Christ Jesus.
(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition, English Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)
(2) The correct order is Jesus Christ.
(Revised Standard Version, King James Version, God’s Word)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) because the UBS Handbook Greek New Testament supports it.
The order of the words Christ Jesus emphasizes that Jesus is the Christ/Messiah. However, in some languages the order Christ Jesus is not natural. If that is true in your language, emphasize, if possible, the fact that Jesus is the Christ in a natural way. For example:
Jesus, ⌊who/he is the⌋ Christ
-or-
Jesus, the Messiah,
Christ: This name is spelled “Christos” in the Greek language. (The Greek sound spelled ‘ch’ here is similar to a ‘k’ but without making the air stop in the mouth.) Spell the name as people in your language say it, or use the name from the common language in your region.
The word Christ was used as a title. It was the Greek translation of the Hebrew word “Messiah.” It means “the anointed one.” In the Jewish culture a person was anointed by pouring oil on top of his head in a ceremony. This was done to show that God chose him for a special task/job. In the Old Testament, some were anointed to be priests, some to be kings, and some to be prophets. In the Old Testament, “the anointed one” refers to the person whom God promised would save/free his people and rule them.
Here are other ways to translate Christ :
• Use a title or a descriptive phrase in your language that has the same meaning as Christ. For example:
⌊God’s⌋ Anointed/Chosen One
-or-
the Messiah
-or-
Promised Deliverer
-or-
the Rescuer-King whom God appointed
• Transliterate Christ and include a phrase that explains the meaning. For example:
Karisiti, the appointed one
-or-
Cristo, the King whom God promised to send
• Transliterate Christ and indicate in some way that it is a title. For example:
the Kirisita
If you do not indicate the meaning of Christ in your translation, you may want to include a footnote to explain it. For example:
The word/title “Christ” refers to the one whom God had promised to send. He would be both king and savior.
Or you may want to explain the meaning in a glossary.
1:1b
called to be an apostle: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as called to be an apostle is literally “(a) called apostle.” Here the word called means “chosen to be given a special benefit or purpose.” God invited Paul to do the work of an apostle (1 Timothy 1:1). Here are other ways to translate this word:
⌊his⌋ appointed apostle
-or-
an apostle by ⌊God’s⌋ call/choice
Some languages must use a verb here. For example:
called as an apostle (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
called by God to be an apostle (Revised English Bible)
-or-
⌊God⌋ invited me to be an apostle
-or-
an apostle whom ⌊he/God⌋ chose
an apostle: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as apostle means a “representative” or “messenger.” It refers to a person whom someone sends with his authority. He is sent to give a message or accomplish a particular task. Here, the word apostle refers to Paul whom Jesus sent as his messenger. Paul’s message was the gospel about Jesus. Here are other ways to translate apostle :
• Translate the meaning. For example:
his/Jesus’ ⌊special⌋ representative
-or-
Christ’s/his messenger
-or-
a man whom Jesus Christ sent (on a mission)
-or-
a person with authority ⌊from Jesus Christ to do his work⌋
• Use the common word for the word apostle if it is already in use. For example:
apostol
Use the same term for apostle as you used in the Gospels. (See Mark 6:30 or Luke 6:13.) Be sure that the term you choose for apostle is different from your terms for prophet (1:2) and angel (8:38).
1:1c
This clause also describes Paul (1:1a). God set him apart for the preaching of the gospel. In Greek and the Berean Standard Bible, the sentence continues from 1:1b. But in some languages, a new sentence would be more clear. For example:
God set me apart for his gospel
set apart for the gospel of God: The phrase set apart indicates that God chose Paul from among a group of people to do a specific task. He chose Paul to be a messenger to tell the gospel to the non-Jews (1:5). Here are other ways to translate these words:
separated to serve the gospel of God
-or-
⌊he/Jesus/God⌋ caused me to dedicate all my life for the gospel of God
This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:
God set me apart for the gospel ⌊about Jesus⌋
See how you translated the phrase set apart in Acts 13:2 or Galatians 1:15.
for: Here the word for introduces a purpose clause. God set Paul apart from other work for the purpose of preaching or sharing the gospel. Here are other ways to translate for :
in order that
-or-
The reason he chose me to be an apostle was so that
-or-
to speak/tell God’s good news
the gospel of God: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as gospel means “good news” or “announcement of a message that people consider very good.” Here, it refers to the good news that God sent Jesus to save us from wrongdoing and reconcile us to God. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
good/sweet news from God
-or-
God’s message/report that causes joy
-or-
good news ⌊about Jesus Christ⌋ that God sent
of God: The word of here indicates that the gospel is from God. See the examples above.
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