SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 2019 – Page 5

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 5:16

5:16a

redeeming the time: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as redeeming the time means to “make good use of your time,” or “use your time wisely/effectively.”

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Make good use of every opportunity (Good News Translation)
-or-
Use every chance you have for doing good (New Century Version)
-or-
so make every minute count (Contemporary English Version)

This clause is the same as Colossians 4:5. Compare your translations of these two passages and use similar wording.

In both passages, Paul advised Christians to use every opportunity or occasion to show and tell the world what a true follower of Christ was.

5:16b

because the days are evil: The clause the days are evil means that “at this time, people do much evil.” Paul is not saying that the days themselves are evil. People will continue to do many evil deeds.

Here is another way to translate this clause:

these are evil times (Contemporary English Version)

General Comment on 5:16a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to reorder the parts of 5:16a–b. For example:

16b These are evil times, 16a so make every minute count. (Contemporary English Version)

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 6:15

6:15

and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace: This is a metaphor. There are two ways to understand this metaphor:

(1) It can be explained like this: “Just like a soldier puts on his shoes/boots to get ready for battle, so you must rely on the good news about peace with God to get ready to fight the evil one.” Here is another way to translate this:

For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. (New Living Translation (2004))

(New International Version, New Living Translation (2004), New Century Version, English Standard Version, Revised English Bible, NET Bible)

(2) It can be explained like this: “Just like a soldier puts on his shoes/boots to get ready for battle, so you must get ready to tell others the good news about peace with God.” Here is another way to translate this:

As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. (New Revised Standard Version)

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

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) as it has more commentary support.

with your feet fitted: The phrase with your feet fitted means that “you have put on the shoes.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Put on your ⌊war⌋ shoes/sandals
-or-
having put on your shoes ⌊fit for war⌋
-or-
with your shoes/sandals fitted ⌊appropriately for war⌋

readiness: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as readiness refers to being ready, prepared or equipped. Here are some ways to translate this:

equipped by the gospel of peace
-or-

made ready by the gospel of peace
-or-
made secure by the gospel of peace

gospel of peace: The gospel of peace is the good news that tells how a person can have peace with God. Here, peace probably means having a good relationship with God as in Romans 5:1. See gospel in the Glossary for more information.

Here are some other ways to translate this verse:

For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
On your feet wear the Good News of peace to help you stand strong. (New Century Version)
-or-
let the shoes on your feet be the gospel of peace, to give you firm footing (Revised English Bible)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 2:6

2:6a

And God raised us up with Christ: Here Paul continued the metaphor which he began in 2:5a. The clause God raised us up with Christ means the same thing as “made us (incl.) alive with Christ” in 2:5a. When we trusted in Christ, God raised us up in a spiritual sense. He raised us up from spiritual death and gave us spiritual life. He raised us up like he raised Christ up from the dead.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

God raised us from death to life with Christ Jesus (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
God has brought us back to life together with Christ Jesus (God’s Word)

2:6b

seated us with Him: This phrase is a figure of speech. It normally refers to a king or leader sitting on his throne to rule with power and authority.

In this verse, Paul again used a metaphor to compare us with Christ. When Christ ascended to heaven, he sat at the right hand of God to rule (a position of authority). When people trust in Christ, they receive the Holy Spirit, who gives them the power to rule in a spiritual sense. It is in this sense that believers are seated with Christ.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

he has given us a place beside Christ (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
has given us a position in heaven with him (God’s Word)

in the heavenly realms: The phrase in the heavenly realms means “in the spiritual places” or “the supernatural world.” It is a general term that describes the invisible spirit world. This includes heaven, but it also includes the areas where all types of spirits use their power. In this context it refers to heaven.

This phrase occurs only five times in the New Testament, and all of them are in Ephesians (see also 1:3b, 1:20b, 3:10a–b, 6:12b).

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

in the spiritual realm/world
-or-
in the world of unseen beings/spirits
-or-
In the unseen world of spiritual beings

in Christ Jesus: The phrase in Christ Jesus means God “united believers with Christ Jesus.” The phrase repeats how God raised up us believers with Christ and made us sit with him in heaven. He did it “by uniting us with Christ Jesus.” See how you translated in Christ Jesus in 1:1d and in Christ in 1:3b, 1:9b, and 1:12a.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 3:16

3:16

Verses 3:16–19 are the contents of Paul’s prayer. Be sure that this is clear in your translation. Another way to introduce the contents of this prayer is:

I ask God… (Good News Translation)

3:16a

I ask that: The words I ask are not in the original Greek. The Berean Standard Bible (and many other English versions) has added them here, and in 3:17c, to make the translation clearer.

out of the riches of His glory: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as out of the riches of His glory is literally “according to the wealth of the glory of him.” Both “wealth” and “glory” refer here to God’s unlimited resources, to everything he has and is. He is infinite in his goodness, power, and love. See glory, Meaning 4 in the Glossary.

Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

from his glorious, unlimited resources (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
from the wealth of his glory (Good News Translation)

Because this is Paul’s prayer to God, it may be more natural to use direct speech here. For example:

I pray ⌊to God⌋ for you like this, “God, from out of the many many things you(sg) have”…

3:16b

He may strengthen you with power: The phrase He may expresses Paul’ wish for the Ephesians. It is what he wanted for the Ephesians It does not express doubt in his thinking.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

he will (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
he would (God’s Word)

strengthen you with power: The words strengthen and power are a doublet. The Greek language uses doublets to emphasize an idea.

Here are some ways to translate this phrase:

⌊I pray that he will⌋ mightily empower you
-or-

⌊I pray that he will⌋ give you power so you will be spiritually strong

through His Spirit: It should be clear in your translation that this is a reference to the Holy Spirit. Some other ways to translate this are:

by means of His Holy Spirit
-or-
his Spirit will make you (Contemporary English Version)

inner being: The inner being includes the heart, mind, will and spirit of a person. It is similar to “heart” in 3:17.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

your inner selves (Good News Translation)
-or-
the inner person (NET Bible)
-or-
inwardly (New Century Version)
-or-
inner minds

General Comment on 3:16

Here is how to translate 3:16 using direct speech:

⌊God, I pray,⌋ “Take the many many things you have and send ⌊them⌋ through your Spirit so that the peoples’ inside minds might be strengthened and made strong.”

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 4:27

4:27

If it is natural in your language, you may want to follow the model of some English versions which connect 4:27 with 4:26 (See 4:26–27 in the New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation (2004)).

Here are some ways to connect these two verses:

26 Do not let the sun do down while we are still angry, 27 because if we do we will give the devil an opportunity to tempt us to sin.
-or-

26 Stop being angry before the end of the day, 27 so that you do not give the Devil an opportunity….

and do not give the devil a foothold: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as do not give the devil a foothold is literally “do not give the devil a place.” This means “do not give the devil a chance or opportunity ⌊to deceive you⌋ ” or “do not make it easy for the devil to tempt you to do wrong.”

the devil: The devil is the ruler of all evil spirits. The name of the devil is Satan. See devil in the Glossary for more information.

Here are some other ways to translate this sentence:

Don’t give the devil any opportunity to work. (God’s Word)
-or-
and don’t give the devil a chance (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
And don’t allow Satan to take advantage of ⌊your anger⌋ ⌊to lead you into sin⌋

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 5:27

5:27a

to present her to Himself: This is the second purpose Christ gave himself for the church (5:25b). He gave himself for the church in order to present her to Himself.

The picture of marriage continues. The church is compared to a beautiful bride. In a Jewish wedding, the groom’s friend brings the bride to meet the groom at the wedding party. Christ is like the husband or groom, and the church is like his bride. Christ is also like the groom’s friend, because he himself will come and take us and bring us to be with himself.

Usually we give something to another person, not to ourselves. But Paul says that Christ died for the church to present her (the church) to himself. Most commentators think that Paul is talking about what will happen when Christ comes back to earth. He will give us (the church) new bodies and set us free from sin and all that is bad. Then he will take us to be with him, and we will be “radiant…holy and blameless.”

as a glorious church: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as glorious means “beautiful, splendid, radiant.” God will give his people wonderful new life.

Here are some other ways to translate glorious :

radiant (New International Version)
-or-
in all her beauty (Good News Translation)

church: The church refers to the group of all believers in Christ throughout the world. See how you translated church in 5:25b.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

group of all Christ-believers
-or-
Christ’s people
-or-
people who follow Christ
-or-
community of Christ-followers

5:27b

without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish: The words stain, wrinkle, and blemish are figures of speech that represent different kinds of faults and sins. Christ does not want any bad thing to be in his church. He compares his church to a beautiful woman wearing beautiful clean clothes who has no dirt or wrinkles on her clothes and no blemishes (ugly spots) on her skin. That is a comparison of how the church will be: beautiful, perfect, with no sins or faults.

stain: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as stain can also be translated as “spot.” It refers to a small dirty area on a cloth, a rug, etc.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

dirty spot
-or-
soiled clothes

wrinkle: The word wrinkle refers to a small crease, as in some cloth or one’s skin.

blemish: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as blemish is literally “any such things.” It refers back to “stain” and “wrinkle.” This refers to any defects or imperfections. For example:

any other imperfection (Good News Translation)

If it would not be natural or clear in your translation to translate the terms “stain,” “wrinkle,” and blemish, you may want to translate the meaning directly. For example:

have absolutely no fault/lack
-or-
with no evil or sin or any other wrong thing in it (New Century Version)
-or-
nothing evil would be found against them

5:27c

but: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but here marks a contrast between 5:27b and 5:27c. Translate this contrast in a way that is natural in your language.

Here are some other ways to translate this conjunction:

but rather
-or-
instead

holy and blameless: These are the same words Paul used to describe believers in 1:4b.

holy: The word holy here means “pure” or “without sin.” We will be holy/pure, because he made us holy/pure. (In Greek the word “sanctify” in 5:26a is related to the word holy here.)

Here are some other ways to translate holy :

pure (Good News Translation)
-or-
without sin

See holy, Meaning 2 in the Glossary for more information.

blameless: The word blameless means that there is nothing bad in a person’s behavior that God (or other people) could accuse the person of doing. Some other ways to translate blameless are:

without fault (New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version)
-or-
innocent

General Comment on 5:27a–c

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of 5:27b–c. For example:

27a in order to present the church to himself in all its beauty—27c pure and faultless, 27b without spot or wrinkle or any other imperfection (Good News Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 1:8

1:8a

that He lavished on us: The word lavished means, “gave in great quantity.” Paul used strong words to show how great is God’s grace towards us. Try to find strong expressions in your language.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

He showed us his kindness to a very great extent.
-or-
he poured out his kindness (God’s Word)
-or-
he gave to us in such large measure (Good News Translation)

1:8b

with all wisdom and understanding: There are different views about whether the phrase with all wisdom and understanding belongs to the words before it or the words after it. Furthermore, there are different views about whether Paul was talking about God’s wisdom and understanding or man’s wisdom and understanding. Some of these views are:

(1) It refers to “lavished” in 1:8a and shows two further gifts that God gives to us. For example:

8a He has showered his kindness on us, 8b along with all wisdom and understanding. (New Living Translation (2004))

(Revised English Bible, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(2) It refers to “lavished” in 1:8a and to God’s wisdom; that is, in all his wisdom and understanding God lavished his grace on us. For example:

7c…according to the riches of his grace 8a that he lavished on us 8b in all wisdom and insight (NET Bible)

(NET Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, King James Version)

(3) It refers to “made known” in 1:9 and to God, that is, in his wisdom God made known to us his plan. For example:

8b God has great wisdom and understanding, 9 and by what Christ has done, God has shown us his own mysterious ways. (Contemporary English Version)

(Good News Translation, Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, New Century Version, Contemporary English Version, English Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The majority of commentaries support this interpretation.

all: The word all here means “all kinds of.” God has given us all kinds of wisdom and understanding.

wisdom: The word wisdom refers to the quality of being wise and acting wisely. Someone who has wisdom is someone who has good sense and can correctly decide which is the right way to think and act.

If your language would prefer an adjective here rather than the noun wisdom, you could say something like:

God makes us to be very wise…

understanding: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as understanding refers to the ability to understand or know something. It is slightly different from the word “wisdom.”

Here is another way to translate this word:

insight (Good News Translation)

If your language would prefer a verb here rather than the noun understanding, you could say something like:

and to know all kinds of things
-or-
and to understand/comprehend all kinds of things

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 2:17

2:17a

preached peace: The word preached means publicly told or announced a message.

peace: The word peace here has a more general meaning than in 2:14–15. In this context it refers to the message of salvation. Christ came into the world and preached that there is now peace between man and God. Some English versions make this association with the message of salvation explicit.

Here are some other ways to translate the phrase “preached peace”:

So Christ came and preached the Good News of peace to all (Good News Translation)
-or-
He brought this Good News of peace to you (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
He announced that his death would do away with that hostility/hatred between the two

you who were far away: The pronoun you refers to the Ephesians who were Gentiles. This is stating their condition before they believed in Christ.

far away: As in 2:13a–b, the phrase far away is a figure of speech that means that they were “far away ⌊from God⌋.” They did not have a close relationship with God.

If this figure of speech is not clear in your language, you may want to use different words, such as:

you who had no relationship with God
-or-
you who were spiritually separated from God

See how you translated far away in 2:13a–b.

2:17b

peace: The Greek text repeats the word peace in 2:17a and 2:17b. If it is not natural to repeat this word in your language, here is a way you can translate this:

Christ came and preached peace to you who were far away from God, and to those who were near to God. (New Century Version)

to those who were near: The phrase those who were near refers to the Jews. Since Paul was also a Jew, it is possible to translate this clause using a first person plural pronoun (us). For example:

to us ⌊Jews⌋ who were near

near: The word near (like the expression “far away” in 2:17a) is a figure of speech here. The Jews were near to God because they had a special relationship with him. He had chosen them to be his special people. It does not mean that they were physically near or close to God.

If this figure of speech is not clear in your language, you may want to use different words, such as:

those people who had a close relationship with him
-or-
the ⌊Jews⌋ who are his chosen/special people

Here is another way to translate 2:17:

To you non-Jews who are far and to you Jews who are near, he came and said this, “Live in peace ⌊together⌋.”

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 2019

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 5:16

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 6:15

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 2:6

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 3:16

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 4:27

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 5:27

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 1:8

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 2:17

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