SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 2019 – Page 3

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 6:16

6:16a

In addition to all this: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as In addition to all this is literally “with all (these things).” There is an interpretation issue here. Scholars interpret this phrase in two ways:

(1) It means As well as putting on the things I have already mentioned. Paul had already told the Ephesians to put on a belt, breastplate and shoes. Next he told them some other pieces of armor to take. For example:

In addition to all these (God’s Word)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004))

(2) It means At all times or always. For example:

At all times (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, English Standard Version, New Living Translation (1996))

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) and the greater number of versions. It also seems to fit the context better.

6:16b

the shield of faith: A shield is a large piece of armor that protected the soldier’s whole body. A soldier held it in one hand out in front of himself to protect himself from his enemies’ weapons.

A shield was made of wooden boards fastened together, covered with cloth and then leather. Before a battle, a soldier would soak his shield in water so that it would not burn when enemies shot flaming arrows at him. See the shield of a soldier in the picture at Section 6:10–20.

This is also a metaphor. Paul compared faith to a shield.

One way to fully explain this metaphor is like this: “Just as a shield protects a soldier in a battle, so if you trust in God, he will protect you when Satan attacks you.”

faith: Here faith means to trust or believe in God. See how you translated faith in 1:15b and 3:12a. See faith, Meaning 1, in the Glossary for more information.

Here are some ways to translate 6:16b:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

Take hold of the shield. The shield is faith ⌊in God⌋.

• Make the metaphor a simile. For example:

Have faith ⌊in God⌋. This will be like your shield.
-or-
Let your faith be like a shield (Contemporary English Version)

• Give the full meaning of the metaphor. For example:

⌊As a soldier⌋ takes hold of a shield ⌊to protect himself in battle⌋, if you believe/trust in God ⌊it will protect you when Satan attacks⌋.

6:16c

with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows: As was mentioned in 6:16b, before a battle, soldiers soaked their shields in water. When the enemy shot burning arrows at them, the wet shields put out the flames and the shields did not burn.

If people do not use bows and arrows in your part of the world, this figure of speech may be difficult to explain. If this is the case, you may want to translate this without the metaphor of arrows. One example is:

Your faith will be like a shield that protects you from all the dangerous weapons/things that the evil one throws at you.

all the flaming arrows: In Paul’s time, soldiers dipped the tips of arrows in something like tar. During a battle, they would set the arrows on fire before shooting them.

the evil one: The phrase the evil one refers to Satan, the devil, the ruler of demons. See note on 6:11b.

Here are some other ways to translate 6:16c:

to stop the fiery arrows of the devil (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One (Good News Translation)

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 1:19

1:19a

the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe: This is the third thing that Paul prayed that the Ephesians would know.

the surpassing greatness of His power: The phrase surpassing greatness means that God’s power is so strong that no other power can compare with it. His power is greater than all other power.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

incredible greatness of God’s power (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
unlimited greatness of his power (God’s Word)
-or-
great and mighty power that God has (Contemporary English Version)

to us: A literal English translation of the Greek is “toward us.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

power which helps us
-or-
power which he uses on our behalf

1:19b

These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength: Paul means that the power that God uses to help us is the same power that God used to raise Christ from death and to take him up to heaven (1:20a–b).

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

This is the same mighty power (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
This power working in us is the same as the mighty strength (Good News Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 3:6

3:6

In this verse, Paul finally explained what God’s mystery/plan is. God’s plan is to call both Gentiles and Jews to be his people and to make them equal partners in the church.

Paul described the relationship between Gentile and Jewish believers by three nouns, all of which have the same prefix “joint,” meaning “together”:

(a) joint-heirs : The Gentiles now receive the same blessings from God that the Jews receive. (3:6c)

(b) joint-body : Gentiles and Jews are now united in one body, the church. (3:6d)

In some languages it may be possible to use similar wording for all three of these. This may help your readers to see the similarity between these terms. For example:

heirs together…members together…sharers together (New International Version)
-or-
fellow heirs…fellow members…fellow partakers (NET Bible)
-or-
have the same inheritance…belong to the same body…share the same promise (God’s Word)

3:6a

This mystery is that: In order to show that Paul has arrived at his main point, the Berean Standard Bible begins 3:6 with the clause This mystery is that…This is a good model to follow. Other English versions do similar things. For example:

And this is the secret plan… (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
And the meaning of that hidden/secret talk is this

mystery: The word mystery means “something that has not been explained.” This refers to God’s plan that was unknown to man in the past. It also occurred in 3:3a and 3:4b.

3:6b

through the gospel: The phrase through the gospel is connected to the three clauses:

(a) Gentiles and Jews have become joint-heirs,

(b) members of the same body and

Some ways to translate through the gospel are:

by means of your believing the gospel
-or-

because you believed the gospel
-or-
the good news has given (Contemporary English Version)

See gospel in the Glossary for more information.

General Comment on 3:6b

The Berean Standard Bible has the phrase “through the gospel” at the beginning of 3:6b. However, in the Greek text, the phrase “through the gospel” occurs at the end of 3:6. For example:

This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. (English Standard Version)

Insert this phrase in 3:6 where it would be natural to do so in your language.

3:6c

the Gentiles: Here the word Gentiles refers to people who are not Jews. See how you translated “Gentiles” in 2:11a and 3:1c. Also, see Gentiles, Meaning 1 in the Glossary for more information.

are fellow heirs: An “heir” is a person who has the right to inherit things from his parents or other relatives. The phrase fellow heirs is just one word in Greek: “joint-heirs.” Some English versions add the implied words “with Israel.” Other versions such as Good News Translation say:

with the Jews (Good News Translation)

When Paul says that the Gentiles are joint-heirs, he means that Gentiles believers will have an equal share with Jewish believers in all the good things God has for his children.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

have the same inheritance as Jewish people do (God’s Word)
-or-
have a part with the Jews in God’s blessings (Good News Translation)

3:6d

fellow members of the body: A literal English translation of the Greek is “joint-body.” This is a figure of speech. Gentile and Jewish believers are like part of the same body. This implies that they are members of the same group. They are united as one new people.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Both are part of the same body (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
They belong to the same body (God’s Word, New Century Version)
-or-
They both are now united as one people

3:6e

fellow partakers of the promise: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fellow partakers of the promise is literally “joint-sharers of the promise.” This means almost the same thing as “fellow heirs” which was used earlier in 3:6c. Both Gentiles and Jews equally share all that God promises and gives to his children. The word promise is singular, and it sums up all that God has promised his people. For example:

promise of blessings (New Living Translation (2004))

in Christ Jesus: The phrase in Christ Jesus means “through Christ Jesus” For example:

the promise that God made through Christ Jesus (Good News Translation)

Through our union with Christ, God’s plan has been fulfilled. These words are connected to the preceding words “the promise”: God made the promise through Christ Jesus.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

and share the same promise that God made in Christ Jesus (God’s Word)
-or-
both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
and share the same promise that God made to us (incl.) because we are united with Christ Jesus

General Comment on 3:6a–e

Here is another way to translate 3:6a–e:

6a That hidden talk is like this: 6e That which God promised to give us (incl.) 6b through the good news of Christ Jesus, 6c,e he didn’t just promise us (excl.) Israel people alone, no, he also promised it to you Gentiles, 6d thereby making us (incl.) all into one body.

Paragraph 3:7–13

In the previous verses 3:3–6, Paul talked about God’s mystery/plan. However, beginning in 3:7, he changed topics. Here he talked about his work preaching the gospel to the Gentiles.

Even though Paul was not one of the twelve apostles, God gave him the work of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles. God intended that through the church, made up of Jews and Gentiles, all the angels and evil spirits would see his wisdom. So Paul urged the Christians not to be discouraged by the fact that he was suffering in prison. He reminded them that it was for their honor that he was suffering in prison.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 3:17

3:17a

so that Christ may dwell in your hearts: There are different views about how this clause is related to 3:16.

(1) It is a second request that Paul prays for. So dwell is parallel with “strengthen,” that is, “I pray that God will strengthen you…and I pray that Christ may dwell….” For example,

I pray that Christ will live in your hearts (New Century Version)

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

(2) It is the purpose or result of what Paul prays in 3:16: “I pray that God will strengthen you…so that Christ will dwell….” For example,

so that Christ may live in your hearts

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

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), though both interpretations have strong support.

dwell in your hearts: The verb dwell has the meaning of “live permanently,” “settle down.”

in your hearts: In the New Testament, the word “heart” refers figuratively to the whole inner life of a person. It includes the mind, will, and emotions. You should use the expression in your language that refers to the inner part of man. In some languages people say ‘mind,’ ‘throat,’ ‘liver,’ or ‘stomach.’

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Christ will make his home in your hearts (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
and I pray that Christ will make his home in your hearts (Good News Translation)
-or-

⌊I also pray⌋ that Christ may control your whole/inner being

3:17b

through faith: The phrase through faith means “because you believe in Christ.” See faith, Meaning 1 in the Glossary for more information.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

as you trust in him (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
because you believe in him
-or-
because of your faith (Contemporary English Version)

General Comment on 3:17a–b

In some languages, it may be natural to change the order of 17a–b. For example:

⌊I pray that⌋ 17b through your believing, 17a Christ would come and live in your inside stomachs.

3:17c

Some English versions add the words “And I pray that” here, and in 3:16a, to make the translation clearer. See how you translated this clause in 3:16a and then decide if it would be natural in your language to translate it here.

being rooted and grounded in love: The words rooted and grounded are both metaphors referring to “strength.” The word rooted refers to the roots of a tree holding the tree steady. The word grounded refers to the foundation of a house making the house firm. The roots of a tree hold the tree steady, and the foundation of a house makes the house established/firm. In the same way, love makes Christians strong.

When you translate these words you may need to:

• translate the meaning directly. For example:

love will make you strong and keep you from falling

• translate the metaphors as similes. For example:

love is like the roots which make a tree stand firm or like the foundation on which a house stands

Both possibilities are shown in the Display. You should choose the option that is most natural in your language.

in love: There is an interpretation issue here. Scholars do not agree about what Paul meant here. There are two possibilities:

(a) Paul wrote about both our love for God and our love for other people.

(b) Paul wrote about God’s love for us (as in 3:18–19b). (Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation (2004))

Both interpretations make sense. As we come to love God and others, and as we learn how much God loves us, that love makes our hearts strong. You may want to follow your national translation in deciding which interpretation to choose.

The Display follows interpretation (a). If you want to follow interpretation (b), you could say:

I pray that you will come to really know how much God loves you, so this will make you firm and keep you from falling.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 4:28

4:28a

He who has been stealing must steal no longer: Paul is speaking to the Ephesians who would have been thieves before their conversion to Christianity. Paul is reminding the Ephesians that stealing is not acceptable behavior for Christians.

In the Greek text, this is a direct declarative statement. Some English versions translate it as a conditional statement. If it is more natural in your language, you may want to translate this sentence in a conditional form. For example:

If you are a thief, quit stealing. (New Living Translation (2004))

must steal no longer: Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

must stop stealing (New Century Version)
-or-
quit stealing (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
must stop robbing (Good News Translation)

4:28b

but must: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but must is literally “but rather.” It is used to show a strong contrast between 4:28a and 4:28b. Translate this phrase is a way that would naturally show a strong contrast in your language.

work…with his own hands: To work…with his own hands is a figure of speech that means “to work for his daily food,” “to work to support himself,” or “to work so he can buy (or make or grow) the things he needs to live.” The thief formerly used his hands to steal, but now he should use his hands to do honest, good, and hard work.

Most people use their hands when they work, for example, farmers and carpenters. But Paul does not mean that former thieves must do only manual work (work with their hands) and no other kind of work.

In some languages, it may not be necessary to explicitly translate the phrase with his own hands. For example:

They should earn an honest living for themselves. (New Century Version)

doing good: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as doing good is literally “at (something) good.” Commentators are divided as to what it means in this context. The main two interpretations are:

(a) It refers to “honest work.” For example:

doing honest work… (Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, English Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Century Version)

(b) It refers to good or useful work. For example:

They should do something good… (Berean Standard Bible, God’s Word, New International Version, New Living Translation (2004), NET Bible)

Since both interpretations have good translation and commentary support, either one is acceptable. You may want to follow the interpretation of your national translation.

4:28c

that he may have something to share with the one in need: The phrase the one in need refers to people who are poor and in need of food and clothing.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

and then give generously to others in need (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
so you will have something to give to people in need (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
If he does that, he will be able to give to people who don’t have things.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 5:28

5:28a

In the same way: There is implied information here. The husbands are to love their wives in the same way as Christ loved the church. If this is not clear in the translation you may want to include the implied information. For example:

In the same way ⌊that Christ loved the church⌋ so a husband should love his wife.”

husbands ought to love their wives: This means that each husband should love his own wife. In areas where there is polygamy, it may be better to use a singular subject instead of a plural. For example:

…each man should love his own wife as he loves his own body.

This fits well with the singular verb (loves himself) that follows in 5:28b.

as their own bodies: These words mean that a husband should love his wife just like he loves his own body. When Paul says that a husband loves his own body, he means that he does things to protect himself from harm. He wants to survive, and so he does what helps him survive and live well. (as mentioned in 5:29a). If it is not natural in your language to talk about loving your body, you can translate this as:

as he loves himself (Contemporary English Version)

5:28b

He who loves his wife loves himself: There is implied information here. Paul is making a comparison by referring back to the metaphor of 5:23: The husband is the head of his wife just as Christ is the head of the church. Using that metaphor, Paul reminds the Ephesians that a husband is united to his wife in the same way that Christ is united to the church. So, figuratively, the wife is the “body” of her husband just as the church is the “body” of Christ.

In translating this sentence, it may be helpful to show that Paul is making a comparison. For example:

When a man loves his wife, it is like he loves himself too.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 2:7

2:7a

in order that: The conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in order that introduces the purpose for which God saved people (2:4–6). God saved people in order to show how great his grace is.

Here are some other ways to translate this conjunction:

so (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
for the purpose that
-or-
God did that so

You should translate it in a way that is natural in your language.

in the coming ages: The phrase in the coming ages refers to the future. It may refer to the present church age, or it may refer to the time after Christ’s second coming, or both. The exact time period should not be made explicit.

Here are some other ways this phrase has been translated:

for all time to come (Good News Translation)
-or-
for all future time (New Century Version)
-or-
in all future ages (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
in future years

2:7b

He might display: The Greek text does not indicate to whom God would show his great grace. Some commentators say he will show it to people. Other commentators say God will show his grace to both people and angels. If you must make it explicit, you can translate in a general way such as:

to the world
-or-
to people

might display: The phrase might display expresses potential and means “would be able to show.” It does not express doubt.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

could show (New Century Version)
-or-
would exhibit/manifest
-or-
will make clear
-or-
will make known

the surpassing riches of His grace: As in 1:7c and 2:4, Paul here used the word riches in a figurative sense to mean “abundant” or “great.” This means that God’s grace/kindness to us is so great that nothing can be compared with it. His grace/kindness is greater than anything else.

grace: Here, grace means that God shows his generous kindness to people. See how you translated grace in 2:5b. Also, see grace, Meaning 2 in the Glossary for more information.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

extraordinary greatness of his grace (Good News Translation)
-or-
incredible wealth of his grace (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
He is very generous to us

2:7c

demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus: The clause demonstrated by His kindness to us means that God shows his great grace through his kindness to us.

kindness: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as kindness also means “goodness.” It is used only here and in Romans 11:22 and 2 Corinthians 6:6. It is a different Greek word than the word for “love” or “grace.”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

kindly acts toward us
-or-

kind way of helping us
-or-

being good to us

in Christ Jesus: The phrase in Christ Jesus represents the means by which God would show his love for us.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

because of what Christ Jesus has done (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
By what Christ Jesus has done for us.

General Comment on 2:7a–c

In some languages, it may be helpful to reorder verse parts 7a, 7b, and 7c. The example below has the verse parts in the following order: 7c, 7a, 7b. For example:

7c He showed us his kindness through Christ Jesus, 7a so that for all time to come 7b people will be able to see the greatness of his grace.

The second meaning line in the display shows another example of reordering 2:7a–c.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 4:7

Paragraph 4:7–16

In 4:4–6 Paul talked about the things that unite Christians. These are things that we have in common. But in 4:7 he talked about special abilities that some Christians have and that others do not have. We all have the same Spirit, we all worship the same Lord, and so on. But to each of us, Christ has given different special abilities.

4:7a

Now: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Now marks a contrast and a transition. In 4:4–6 Paul talked about what Christians have in common. In this paragraph he talked about special abilities that Christ gives to individual believers. Indicate this contrast in a way that is natural in your language.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

However (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
And yet
-or-

⌊Although we are united in these ways⌋ yet

to each one of us grace: Here the word grace means “the ability which Christ gives to do a special task.” Some of these tasks are described in 4:11. It does not mean “mercy.”

Here are some other ways to translate the word grace:

special gift (Good News Translation)
-or-
favor (God’s Word)
-or-
generous gift/enabling
-or-
gracious empowering

In some languages it is translated as:

power to do a work

See grace, Meaning 3 in the Glossary for more information.

has been given: The phrase has been given is passive. Christ is the one who has given to us these gifts/abilities.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

he has given each one of us a special gift (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Christ gave each of us a gracious gift/ability

4:7b

according to the measure of the gift of Christ: The words according to the measure means “to measure out,” “to distribute,” or “to divide.” Christ decides which gift each Christian should receive. He does not give the same abilities to every Christian.

Here are some other ways to translate the words according to the measure :

as…divided (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
as…measured out (God’s Word)
-or-
as…distributed

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 2019

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 6:16

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 1:19

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 3:6

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 3:17

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 4:28

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 5:28

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 2:7

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 4:7

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