SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 2019 – Page 18

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 2:9

2:9

not by works: The phrase not by works means almost the same thing as “this not from yourselves” (2:8b). Here, Paul is more specific and mentions works. God does not save you because of any good deeds or behavior you have done.

Here are some other ways this phrase has been translated:

your own efforts (Good News Translation)
-or-
anything you’ve done (God’s Word)
-or-
the good things we have done (New Living Translation (2004))

so that no one can boast: The word boast means “to talk or to brag about what you have done.”

Here is another way to translate this clause:

It’s not the result of anything you’ve done, so no one can brag about it. (God’s Word)

General Comment on 2:9

In some languages, 2:9 may be more clearly expressed as a direct quote. For example:

So no one can boast and say, “God saved me because of my good behavior.”

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 3:19

3:19a

As mentioned above, verse 3:19a is the second part of Paul’s prayer about love.

love of Christ: Here, the phrase love of Christ means “Christ’s love for believers.” See love, meaning 1 in the Glossary for more information.

and to know this love that surpasses knowledge: The clause and to know this love that surpasses knowledge may seem to contradict itself. Generally, people cannot know something that surpasses knowledge. People cannot know something that is beyond knowing. But that is Paul’s prayer here. Paul used this statement to emphasize that human beings can never completely know or understand how much Christ loves them but they can experience that love.

know this love: The phrase know this love refers to experiencing Christ’s love. It is more than simply knowing about Christ’s love. It means that believers have experienced or seen how much Christ loves them.

surpasses knowledge: The phrase surpasses knowledge means “beyond knowing.” Christ’s love is so great that people cannot completely know or understand it.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
I want you to know all about Christ’s love, although it is too wonderful to be measured. (Contemporary English Version)

General Comment on 3:18b-19a

In the Berean Standard Bible, the phrase “of the love of Christ” is placed at the beginning of verse 19. However, in some other English translations, such as the New International Version, this phrase is placed at the end of verse 18b. In some languages, it may be helpful to combine or reorder 3:18b-19a to create simplier sentences. See the meaning lines in 3:18b-19a for different ideas of how to translate these verse parts.

General Comment on 3:19a

Some English versions have a “—” at the end of 3:19a. This is to show the reader that what follows, 3:19b, is a comment inserted here by Paul. Other English versions, like the Berean Standard Bible, do not do this, so it is recommended that you do not use a “—” at the end of this verse part.

3:19b

that you may be filled with all the fullness of God: 3:19b is the purpose of Paul’s prayer in 3:17 and 18. Here is a summary of these verses:

(3:17a) I pray that Christ will live in your hearts…and

(3:18–19a) I pray that you will know Christ’s love

(3:19b) so that you may be completely filled with God’s character

filled with all the fullness of God: The clause filled with all the fullness of God means:

completely filled with the very nature of God (Good News Translation)

The words filled and fullness are figures of speech. To be full of God’s fullness means to have character qualities that are completely like his. Paul prayed that the Ephesians would be the kind of people God wants them to be. He prayed that they would be mature, loving and wise, with strong faith, peace, joy and all the other characteristics God wants to give them.

In some languages it is not natural to use the verb “fill” when referring to “character.” If that is the case in your language, you can leave out the figure of being filled and translate the meaning directly. For example:

⌊I pray this so⌋ that you may become completely like God in your character.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

and so be completely filled with the very nature of God (Good News Translation)
-or-
Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God (New Living Translation (2004))

Paragraph 3:20–21

This paragraph is a “doxology” or song of praise to God. Paul was expressing his praise for God in a very strong way.

It may be necessary to begin this paragraph with a phrase taken from 3:21. For example:

Let us glorify/praise God
-or-
May God be praised
-or-
Praise God
-or-
That God’s name would be huge

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 4:30

4:30

In 4:30b–c Paul repeated part of a metaphor that he used in 1:13b–14. This metaphor is about the Holy Spirit. In both passages, Paul said that God sealed us with the Holy Spirit. This shows that we belong to God.

In 1:14a Paul also added that the Holy Spirit is like a deposit or guarantee that one day God will redeem us. The idea of a guarantee is not explicit in 4:30, but some translations make it explicit to make the verse more clear. For example:

a guarantee that the Day will come when God will set you free (Good News Translation)

See below under 4:30c for other examples of this.

4:30a

And do not grieve: The word grieve means “to sadden,” “to cause sorrow” or “to cause grief or emotional pain.” Some other ways grieve has been translated include:

make sad (New Century Version)
-or-
bring sorrow to (New Living Translation (2004))

the Holy Spirit of God: See how you translated Holy Spirit 1:13e. Also see Holy, Meaning 3 in the Glossary for more information.

4:30b

in whom you were sealed: The clause in whom you were sealed is passive. If it would be more natural in your language to make it active, you can say: “God sealed you in/with his Holy Spirit.”

sealed: In NT times, a seal was the personal sign of an owner showing that something marked with a person’s seal belonged to him. Here God sealed his people with his Holy Spirit to show that they belong to him.

For the translation of sealed, you may:

• Use a verb or noun in your language that means seal. For example:

tribal mark/sign
-or-
mark (put on animals) to show ownership

• Use a simile. If a metaphor is not clear (“God sealed you with the Holy Spirit”), you can say:

When God gave you the Holy Spirit, it was as if he put his seal/mark of ownership on you

• If this figure of speech is confusing, you may have to translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:

God gave you the Holy Spirit to show that you belong to him

Paul used this same metaphor to describe the Holy Spirit in 1:13c. You should translate the expression “you were sealed” in 4:30 in a way that is similar to the way you translated it in 1:13c.

4:30c

for the day of redemption: The phrase the day of redemption refers to a future time when God will completely redeem or deliver/free Christians from sin and the evil of this world. Here Paul is talking to the Christians in Ephesus.

Here are some ways to translate this phrase:

⌊he is the guarantee⌋ that one day God will completely redeem you
-or-
to show that God will make you free when the final day comes (New Century Version)
-or-
a guarantee that the Day will come when God will set you free (Good News Translation)

See how you translated redemption in 1:14b. See redeem in the Glossary for more information.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 5:30

5:30

For: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For gives the reason why Christ cares for the church. He cares for the church because we are part of his body.

we are members of His body: The phrase we are members of His body is a metaphor. It means that we are united with other believers in the church.

Here are some ways to translate this phrase:

• As a simile. For example:

We are ⌊like⌋ the parts of Christ’s body.

• In a non-figurative sense. For example:

We all belong to him.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 1:11

Paragraph 1:11–14

God makes everything happen in the way in which he has decided. He chose the Jews to be the first to believe in Christ, so that they should bring him praise. But the Gentiles were also united with Christ when they believed the gospel and God gave them the Holy Spirit to show they were his people. So we should all praise God for his greatness.

1:11a

In Him: The pronoun Him refers to Christ. This same expression occurs in 1:7a. You may be able to translate it in the same way.

we were also chosen: Here Paul used the pronoun we to refer to himself and other Jewish believers. Since the Ephesians were Gentiles, the pronoun we does not refer to the Ephesians.

also: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as also is used to emphasize God’s action of choosing Paul and his fellow Jews through Christ.

chosen: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as chosen occurs only here in the New Testament. It is a passive verb. This verb includes the idea of casting lots either:

(a) to determine who is appointed to a certain role,
-or-
(b) to determine who obtains a portion of something such as an inheritance. There are several ways to interpret this verb:

(1) It means that the Jews were appointed to be God’s inheritance. As such, the verb basically means “chosen.” For example:

God chose us to be his own people (Good News Translation)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, NET Bible, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version)

(2) It means that the Jews were chosen to obtain/receive an inheritance, i.e. salvation. For example:

we have received an inheritance from God (New Living Translation (2004))

(New Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible, King James Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation (2004))

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), as it better fits the context of this verse.

1:11b

having been predestined: The verb predestined means “to decide something beforehand” or “to determine ahead of time what one plans to do.” This is a passive verb. In some languages it may be necessary to make it an active verb by stating who did the predestinating. God predestined us long before.

Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

⌊God⌋ determined long ago ⌊to do this for us⌋
-or-
This was ⌊God’s⌋ decision ⌊for us⌋ from ages past

In many English versions, the relationship is ambiguous between the clause “we were chosen” in 1:11a and the clause “having been predestined” in 1:11b. The Display follows the model of the Good News Translation, New Living Translation (2004) and New Century Version. These versions state that God chose the Jews because he had predestined it (decided it beforehand).

according to the plan of Him: The phrase according to the plan of Him means that God’s plan was to decide to choose the Jews.

1:11c

who works out everything by the counsel of His will: The clause works out everything by the counsel of His will means: “God makes all things happen just as he determined/wanted.”

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

he makes everything work out according to his plan (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
which makes everything work the way he intends (God’s Word)

General Comment on 1:11a–c

In some languages, this verse will be clearer if the parts are put in a different order. For example:

11c God makes all things happen just as he wanted. 11b From long ago he decided 11a to choose us to be his people by uniting us with Christ.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 2:20

2:20a

foundation of the apostles and prophets: There are different views about the meaning of this phrase. This phrase could mean that:

(1) the foundation is composed of the apostles and prophets. For example:

You are like a building with the apostles and prophets as the foundation (Contemporary English Version)

(Contemporary English Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(2) the foundation has been laid by the apostles and prophets. This means that the work that the apostles and prophets did is the foundation. For example:

You, too, are built upon the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets (Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Most English versions translate the Greek literally, and it is not possible to tell which interpretation they follow. In some languages, a literal translation would mean that the apostles and prophets owned the foundations, so be careful to avoid such a meaning.

foundation: In New Testament times the houses were built on rocks to make them solid. These rocks were called the foundation. If your language has no word for foundation, you may need to say something like this:

rocks that they build the house on

apostles: The apostles are the twelve disciples plus Paul and perhaps a few other men. See how you translated “apostle” in 1:1b. See apostle in the Glossary if you want more information.

prophets: In this context, prophets were people in the church to whom God gave a spiritual gift. This gift enabled the person to speak a message from God. Most commentators think that the prophets Paul was talking about were New Testament prophets rather than Old Testament prophets. (See Acts 13:1, Ephesians 3:5, Ephesians 4:11.)

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

spokesmen for God
-or-
men who speak God’s words
-or-
God’s message-speakers

See prophet in the Glossary for more information.

2:20b

cornerstone: The Greek word the Berean Standard Bible translates as cornerstone was the largest and most important stone in the building. It was a large stone placed in the corner of the foundation. It made the building solid and helped hold the foundation and walls together.

If your readers will not understand a word like cornerstone, you may need to use a word for the most important part of your buildings. For example:

the most important stone (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
the central post ⌊of the house⌋

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 4:9

4:9–10

Paul proved that this quotation from the Psalms applies to Christ, since Christ is the only one who descended from heaven before he ascended.

General Comment on 4:9–10

Some English versions put these verses in (parentheses) to show that this is background information given by Paul. If you are able to do this in your language and it would be natural to do so, you will want to consider following the example of those versions. If not, following the example of the Berean Standard Bible, which does not use parentheses.

4:9a

What does “He ascended” mean: This is a rhetorical question. So Paul is not asking the question so he can get an answer. He asked this question in order to introduce a new aspect of his teaching to his readers. He then explained how Psalm 68:18 applied to Christ.

ascended: The word ascended means “went up.”

There are two ways to translate this question:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Now, what does “he went up” mean? (Good News Translation)

• As a statement. For example:

Notice that it says “he ascended (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
The words “he ascended” mean…

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

4:9b

except that He also descended: Here, the words except that have the meaning of “it could only mean that.” The Revised Standard Version and English Standard Version translate except that as:

but that

He also descended: Beginning here, Paul talked about Christ and how the words of the quotation in 4:8 are like Christ. So the pronoun He refers to Christ, and you can translate it that way if necessary. To make it clear that Christ descended before he ascended, the Good News Translation says:

first came down (Good News Translation)

Here are some other ways to translate the word descended :

came down (New Century Version)
-or-
had gone down (God’s Word)

to the lower parts of the earth: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as to the lower parts of the earth may refer to:

(1) the earth below in contrast to the highest heaven. This refers to where Christ was when he became a human. For example:

This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world (New Living Translation (2004))

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Revised English Bible, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, New Living Translation (2004), English Standard Version, NET Bible, New Century Version)

(2) Hades. This refers to where Christ was after he died. According to some interpretations of 1 Peter 3:18 and 1 Peter 4:6, Christ descended into Hades after his death. For example:

…it means that Christ had been deep in the earth. (Contemporary English Version)

(Good News Translation, Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, King James Version, Contemporary English Version, God’s Word)

If possible, translate in a way in which either interpretation could be understood. If you must choose one interpretation, choose interpretation (1). You may also want to include a footnote that gives the other interpretation.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 5:9

5:9

In some English versions, verse 5:9 is marked by parentheses; that is, it is an extra thought added in between “walk as children of light” (5:8b) and “test and prove what pleases the Lord” (5:10). You could show this by starting the verse:

I say this because….

If you rearranged 5:5c you may want to rearrange this verse in the same way. If not, consider following the example of the Berean Standard Bible and set this verse apart with a comma. Or, you could use parentheses, as some English versions do (see the New International Version).

for the fruit of the light: The phrase the fruit of the light contains two metaphors. Paul continues to use the metaphor of “light” introduced in 5:8b–c. Here in 5:9 he is introducing the metaphor of fruit of the light. Light is compared to a plant or a field that produces a harvest (fruit). Just as a plant produces fruit, so also spiritual light produces spiritual fruit: goodness, righteousness and truth.

In some languages, it may be necessary to drop the metaphor of fruit.

So here are some ways to translate this without using the metaphor of fruit:

For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. (New Living Translation (2004))

-or-If people live in the light, the result is that they behave in good, upright and honest ways.
-or-
The light ⌊of the truth⌋ causes people to do good and upright and true things.

consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth: These are the qualities or kinds of behavior that people who are in the light (that is, Christians) should have.

goodness: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as goodness means being good, kind and generous. In some languages it may not be natural to use nouns for qualities such as goodness. In that case it may be more natural to use a verb to express this idea. For example:

to do good things
-or-
be good
-or-
To act kindly

righteousness: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as righteousness means being upright, moral, doing things that please God (see 4:24b).

Some other ways righteousness may be translated here include:

honest (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
(everything) that has God’s approval (God’s Word)
-or-
live a straight life

See righteous in the Glossary for more information.

truth: The word truth in this verse means “to behave in an honest, sincere manner.” It is not referring to something that is true and not false.

General Comment on 5:9

In some languages, it may be more natural to translate all three of these nouns (“goodness,” “righteousness,” and “truth”) in a form that is not a noun. For example:

for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true
-or-
The people who walk in the light will bear fruit. They will do good behavior, walk the straight path, and speak the truth.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 2019