SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 2019 – Page 14

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 4:3

4:3a–b

and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace: The basic meaning of this verse is this: the Holy Spirit has united believers into one group, so they must do all they can to maintain this unity by living in peace with each other.

This verse has several difficult phrases that contain abstract nouns. To make it easier to understand, you may have to translate these nouns as verbs. For example:

with diligence: You can restate as:

Do your best (Good News Translation)
-or-
Try hard
-or-
Use all your strength

to preserve the unity of the Spirit: You can restate this as:

to maintain/preserve the harmony which the Holy Spirit gives
-or-
the Holy Spirit has united you all into one group. Continue to be one group

through the bond of peace: This is a metaphor. Peace is compared to a rope or something that binds two objects together. So, the idea here is that peace binds Christians together and keeps them unified the way a rope binds or ties two objects together. You can restate this metaphor as:

Through the peace that ties you together (God’s Word)
-or-
by living together in peace which binds/holds us together
-or-
by the peace that binds/ties us together ⌊like a rope that binds/ties two objects together⌋

4:4–6

In verses 4:4–6, Paul listed some of the things that unite all believers:

• they have become one body/group

• they have received the same Holy Spirit

• they confidently expect to receive the same blessings from God

• they have the same Lord

• they believe the same truths

• they have received the same baptism

Furthermore, there is only one God who is the Father of all people.

Paul used the word “one” six times in 4:4–6 to stress that Christians are united. In your language, it may not be possible to use “one” with things like “faith” and “baptism.” This is especially true if you translate these words as verbs instead of nouns. Think of a natural way to translate these verses so that Paul’s emphasis on unity is clear. For example, you could translate “one Spirit” as:

we all have received the same Spirit

In 4:4, Paul uses the pronoun “you.” But the things he says in 4:4–6 are true not only for the Ephesians, but also for Paul and all believers. Because of this, some translators use “we (incl.) ” in these verses.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 5:3

5:3a–b

But among you…there must not be even a hint: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as not be even a hint is literally “not even be named.” There are several ways to understand this expression. It can mean:

(1) There should not even be a reason for rumors or gossip that the Ephesians committed these sins. In other words, Christians should have such pure behavior that it will never cause non-Christians to even talk about Christians doing these kinds of sins. For example:

don’t let it be said that any of you are immoral (Contemporary English Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Contemporary English Version, UBS Handbook, SSA)

(2) These sins should not be mentioned by the Ephesians. This means that Christians themselves should not even talk about such sins in their conversation. For example:

don’t even talk about such things (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, God’s Word, English Standard Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(3) These sins should not occur among Christians. For example:

Such sins have no place among God’s people. (New Living Translation (2004))

(NET Bible, New Living Translation (2004), New Century Version)

Paul is urging the Ephesians to keep themselves far away from this sort of sinful behavior. Since Paul is himself, discussing and warning the Ephesians against these sins, (2) seems unlikely. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), but (3) is also acceptable.

5:3a

as is proper: The word proper means “suitable.”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

right (New Century Version)
-or-
it should be

among the saints: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as saints is literally “holy ones.” It means “people set apart for God.” This Greek word refers to every believer. It can be translated as:

God’s people
-or-
people who belong to God

Many English versions translate this word as saints. All Christians are saints. This word does not refer only to special people that the modern church regards as “saints.”

See how you translated the similar phrase “saints” in 4:12a. And see Holy, Meaning 1, special use in the Glossary, if you want more information.

5:3b

sexual immorality: The term sexual immorality refers to all types of sexual behavior that are forbidden in God’s law. It includes adultery and all sexual relations outside of marriage. Another way this phrase has been translated is:

sexual sin (New Century Version)

5:3c

impurity: The word impurity is a stronger word for immorality and includes all perverted and unnatural sexual behavior. In the New Testament, this word is often used together with “sexual immorality.” (See Galatians 5:19 and Colossians 3:5.)

In your language, there may not be two different words that mean exactly the same things as “sexual immorality” and impurity. But you can probably find ways to talk about the same things. For example:

adultery and other kinds of sleeping around
-or-
taking a woman who is not your wife or other unacceptable actions like that

Try to make your translation clear, but do not use coarse words that are not appropriate to read in public.

greed: The word greed refers to a never-ending desire to get more than you have or deserve. While it is usually associated with material gain, in this context, it could also refer to a strong desire for sexual pleasure.

Your translation of greed should allow for a general understanding of the word.

General Comment on 5:3a–b

In some languages, it will be more natural to reorder parts of 5:3. For example:

3a Since you are holy people, 3b you must not do anything sexually immoral or 3c shameful/perverted, and you must not be greedy. 3b There must not even be a cause for rumors of such behavior 3a among you.
-or-

3a But among you 3b there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, 3c or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, 3a because these are improper for Godʼs holy people. (New International Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 6:2

6:2a

“Honor your father and mother”: The command Honor your father and mother is a quote from the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:12 and Deuteronomy 5:16). Most English translations put quote marks around these words, or make some kind of mark to show that it is a quote. You should introduce this quote in a way similar to the quote in 5:31a. For example, you could say:

It is written in God’s Book

Honor: The word Honor means to “respect, esteem greatly and act accordingly.” See the note above for 6:1–2 for more information.

your father and mother: In Greek, this command is singular: “Honor your (sing.) father….” This command is not just for one person, of course, but is meant for all people. In Hebrew, all of the commands in the Ten Commandments are singular. This is a common way in the Hebrew language to give commands that are meant for everyone. You should translate this command in a way that is natural in your language.

6:2b

(which is the first commandment with a promise): Here, Paul interrupts his quotation from the Old Testament to add a comment. It is not part of the quotation. The Berean Standard Bible makes this explicit by enclosing 6:2b in parentheses. Other versions such as the New International Version use dashes to show that this clause is not part of the quotation.

One other way to translate this clause is to put it at the end of 6:3. For example:

6:3a–b that everything may go well for you, and you may have a long life on earth.” 6:2b This is an important commandment with a promise. (God’s Word)

Translate this clause in a way that is natural in your language to show that it is not a part of the quotation.

Paul meant that out of all the commandments that God gave, this is the first time he added a promise to his command. Take care that your translation does not say that the command to honor one’s parents is the first commandment in the Ten Commandments. (It is not. It is the fifth commandment.)

General Comment on 6:2–3

It may be clearer to change the order of 6:2a and 6:2b, so that this verse connects better with 6:3 (see 6:2–3 in Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English):

2b The first commandment which the Lord gave and joined a promise to it is this: 2a “Honor your father and mother, 3 so that things may be good for you and you may live for a long time.”

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 1:16

1:16a

I have not stopped giving thanks: The clause I have not stopped giving thanks contains a figure of speech. Paul used the negative expression not stopped to emphasize a positive idea. The meaning is “I give thanks all the time.” If this figure of speech does not occur naturally in your language, translate the meaning directly. For example:

I thank God continually for you (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

1:16b

remembering you in my prayers: The clause remembering you in my prayers means that when Paul prayed, he spoke to God about them. This does not mean that at other times Paul forgot about the Christians!

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

as I mention you in my prayers (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
I pray for you constantly (New Living Translation (2004))

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 3:3

3:3a

that is: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as that is is literally “that.” It is used to introduce the content of the “grace” given to Paul. Some versions do not translate it. Here is another way to translate this:

how (Revised Standard Version)

Translate this word in a way that is natural in your language.

the mystery: The word mystery here refers to God’s plan that was unknown to mankind in the past. God had not yet explained his plan to man. Another way to say mystery is “hidden matter.” Paul also used this word in 1:9a.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

mysterious plan (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
secret plan (Good News Translation)

Paul wrote about God’s plan in 3:3–5, but he did not clearly state what God’s plan is until 3:6.

made known to me by revelation: Paul knew God’s plan only because God revealed it to him.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

God revealed his secret plan to me
-or-
God explained his hidden course of action to me

3:3b

as I have already written briefly: There is an interpretation issue here. We do not know exactly which passage in his letters Paul was referring to:

• Most commentators think that he was referring to what he wrote in this letter, specifically to 2:11–22 and perhaps also to 1:9–10.

• A few commentators think that he was referring to something he wrote in another letter.

Some languages distinguish between events that just happened a short time ago and events that happened a long time ago. If this is true in your language, you should use terms for something that happened a short time ago.

General Comment on 3:a-b

In some languages, it may be more natural to reverse the order of 3a and 3b. For example:

3b As I briefly wrote earlier, 3a God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. (New Living Translation (2004))

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 4:14

4:14

This verse describes immature Christians. They are like children who are easily influenced by false teachers. Paul compared such Christians to a boat blown about on the sea during a storm. The false teachers who try to influence believers are cunning and deceitful.

4:14a

Then: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Then is sometimes translated as:

in order that (Revised Standard Version)

This conjunction introduces another purpose of 4:11–12a. Translate this conjunction in a way that is natural for introducing a purpose in your language.

Here are some other ways to translate this conjunction:

In order that
-or-
So that
-or-
The purpose is that
-or-
If we do that, then…

we will no longer be infants: The clause we will no longer be infants is a metaphor. It is a continuation of the figure of speech that Paul used in 4:13. It means “immature,” which is the opposite of “mature” in 4:13b. For example:

we will no longer be immature like children (New Living Translation (2004))

Another way to translate this is as a simile:

we will no longer be like children

4:14b–c

tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching: There are at least two issues you must consider as you translate 4:14b–c.

Issue 1—passives:

There are several passives in 4:14b–c. If it would be more natural in your language to use active clauses here, you could say:

The waves will no longer toss us about, and every wind of teaching will no longer carry us around.

Issue 2—metaphor:

4:14b–c contains another metaphor. Here Paul compared Christians to boats in the water. The New Century Version makes this explicit when it says:

We will not be tossed about like a ship that the waves carry one way and then another. (New Century Version)

The waves and wind easily push boats off course. In the same way, cunning men easily deceive weak Christians and “push” them away from true doctrine.

In translating this metaphor, you have several possibilities:

• You may want to translate this as a simile:

⌊We will no longer be like boats⌋ that the waves toss back and forth and the wind blows here and there.

• You may want to translate the direct meaning of the metaphor. If you live in a place where boats and travelling on the water are unknown, people who read your translation may be confused by this figure of speech. If that is true, you may need to translate the meaning with no figure of speech:

14c Cunning men will no longer easily deceive us 14b to believe false teaching.

• Or you may need to use another figure of speech, for example:

We will no longer be like dry leaves that the wind blows around.

by every wind of teaching: The phrase by every wind of teaching means we will no longer be easily deceived “by every type of false teaching.” The word wind is part of the figure of speech that Paul used. The word teaching helps explain the meaning of this figure of speech. Wind easily blows a boat in different directions. In the same way, false teaching easily “blows off course” a weak Christian. That is, it easily causes a weak Christian to leave the truth and follow false teaching.

4:14d

by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming: The phrase by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming is also a passive. If it would be more natural in your language to translate this as an active clause, you could say:

Cunning and crafty men ⌊will no longer⌋ deceive us with their scheming.

clever cunning of men: The two words clever and cunning may be treated as a doublet. Together they add emphasis. Both words indicate men who “deceive” or who “trick” people. Some versions translate this phrase like this:

deceitful people (Good News Translation)

deceitful scheming: The phrase deceitful scheming refers to working in an underhanded, lying way. For example:

tricks (Good News Translation)

Paul used these words to emphasize his point. The meaning is similar to “clever” and “cunning.”

General Comment on 4:14b–c

The clever and cunning men in 4:14d are the ones who do the false teaching mentioned in 4:14c, so in some languages, it will be more natural to put 4:14d before 4:14b–c. For example:

14d Clever and cunning men ⌊will no longer be able to⌋ deceive us with their false teaching. 14b–c This teaching tries to toss us back and forth ⌊like boats⌋ on the waves or ⌊like boats⌋ blown here and there by the wind.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 5:14

5:14a–c

The words in 5:14b–c are probably from an early Christian hymn. It is not a direct quotation from the OT. Paul quoted these words because they speak about the same things he has just said: we must expose the evil deeds of people so they will come to the light.

So it is said: This is a passive clause. If you need to translate this with an active verb, you can translate it as “people say.”

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

This is why ⌊people⌋ say:
-or-
This is the reason ⌊there is a song/poem⌋ with these words:
-or-
And so there is a saying which sounds like this:

In the words that Paul quotes, there are three metaphors for turning to God:

(a) waking from sleep,

(b) being raised from death,

You should try to translate all three of these metaphors as literally as possible. Add only as much of the implicit meaning as is necessary.

Wake up, O sleeper: The clause Wake up, O sleeper is a metaphor. The meaning of this metaphor is: “You are like a person who is asleep, because you are not aware of your sins. Become aware of your sins!”

O sleeper: The word O is not in the Greek text, but the Berean Standard Bible and some other English versions have included it. It is sometimes used in English poetry to add emphasis to what follows it.

He is speaking about someone who isn’t aware of his sin and needs to be forgiven. He is not speaking about someone who is actually asleep.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

Get up you sleeping ones!
-or-
You who are asleep, wake up!

If people would think that this is speaking of a person who is actually asleep then you may want to add some of the meaning in the text to make the meaning clear. For example:

You who are asleep ⌊spiritually⌋, wake up!
-or-
You who are ⌊like⌋ a sleeping person, Get up!
-or-
You who are ⌊unaware of your sins are like a person who is⌋ asleep. Wake up!

rise up from the dead: The clause rise up from the dead is also a metaphor. The meaning of this metaphor is: “You are like a person who is dead, because you are separated from God and do not have the new life that God gives. Come to God and get this new life!” (In 2:1 Paul also used the word “dead” as a metaphor.) He is not speaking to people who are literally dead.

In some languages a literal translation of this metaphor may be difficult to understand.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

You who are ⌊like⌋ dead people, rise up!

• Change the metaphor to a simile and make explicit the meaning. For example:

You who are separated from God like dead people, rise up and be saved

• Translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:

You who are separated from God, be saved
-or-
You who do not know God, accept Him!

and Christ will shine on you: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Christ will shine on you is yet another metaphor. Christ is like the sun. The idea is that Christ’s goodness and truth will be given to them (shine on them) giving them new life.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Christ will ⌊make his light⌋ shine in your heart.
-or-
…⌊the light of⌋ Christ will shine on you.
-or-
Christ will give his light ⌊of truth and goodness⌋ to you ⌊and change you⌋.

and: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and here introduces a result of doing what 14b says.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

⌊If you do these things,⌋ then as a result Christ will shine on you.
-or-
As a result ⌊of doing this⌋ Christ will give you his light ⌊of truth and goodness⌋

General Comment on 5:14b–c

The person being spoken to in 5:14b–c (“Wake up, O sleeper…”) is an unbeliever. In the Greek, the commands in 5:14b and the “you” in 5:14c are singular, as if one person is being spoken to. But these words are good for all people who are still “in the darkness.” If it is more natural in your language, you can translate these words as plural:

Wake up, O sleepers…Christ will shine on you (plur.).

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 6:13

6:13a

Therefore: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Therefore connects 6:12 as a reason for 6:13. We are fighting against spiritual forces (6:12). So, as a result, you should put on the armor of God.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

For this reason (God’s Word)
-or-
That is why (New Century Version)

take up the full armor of God: Paul repeated here almost the same words he used in 6:11. In 6:11 in the Greek text, Paul used a verb that means, “put on.” Here, he used a different verb that means, “pick up” or “take.” But these verbs mean almost the same thing, and you can translate it here using the same verb that you used in 6:11.

6:13b

so that when the day of evil comes: The phrase day of evil is a figure of speech. It refers to a time when suffering, trouble and bad things happen. This is any time that the Christian has to fight against evil. It is not the final battle between God and the forces of evil. It does not refer to a literal, single day.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

these evil days (God’s Word)
-or-
in the time of evil (New Living Translation (2004))

you will be able to stand your ground: The phrase you will be able here does not suggest potential or the possibility of doubt.

stand your ground: The phrase stand your ground is a figure of speech. The verb stand is the same verb as in 6:11b. It means “to oppose,” “to resist,” or “to fight back and not give in.”

Here are some other ways to translate stand your ground :

standing firm (New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version)
-or-
stand strong (New Century Version)

6:13c

and having done everything: There is an interpretation issue here. There are at least two ways to understand the Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as having done. It can mean:

(1) after accomplishing or doing everything to prepare for battle and resist an attack. For example:

and after you have done everything (New International Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Revised Standard Version, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) after overcoming, that is, after fighting the whole battle. For example:

And when you have finished the whole fight (New Century Version)

(Good News Translation, New Century Version, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This is the normal meaning of the verb and has good commentary support.

everything: Many English versions do not specify what is included in the word everything. Commentators differ as to the exact details of what everything includes. It probably includes all the things a soldier must do before a battle to prepare himself. Perhaps it also includes the things he would do during the battle. If possible, your translation should not be too specific. If you need to make it specific, you can say:

After you have done everything ⌊to prepare for battle⌋

to stand: As in 6:11b and 6:13b, to stand means “to oppose,” “to resist,” or “to fight back and not give in.” This phrase is a restatement of the overall goal of putting on the full armor of God. After having done everything necessary to prepare for the battles, at the end of the battles he will be left still standing victorious.

General Comment on 6:13

Here is a way to translate 6:13 using an “if-then” clause:

Therefore, put on/wear all the fight clothes God gives us. If you do, then when the bad time comes, you will stand strong and when the fight is over, you will still be standing strong.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 2019

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 4:3

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 5:3

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 6:2

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 1:16

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 3:3

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 4:14

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 5:14

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 6:13

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