SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 2019 – Page 6

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.

© 1999, 2019 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

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 1:9

1:9a

He has made known to us: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as made known means “revealed” or “showed.” Paul is saying here that God revealed to believers the “mystery of his will.”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

revealed (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
shown (Contemporary English Version)

mystery of His will: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as mystery means “something which was previously hidden from man that God has now revealed to him.” The next verse (1:10) tells us what this mystery is.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

God’s hidden plan
-or-
the plan that God had hidden in his heart
-or-
God’s purpose that no one knew about in the past
-or-
God’s plan that was previously not known ⌊to mankind/anybody⌋
-or-
God’s plan that he has now made known ⌊to believers⌋

1:9b

according to His good pleasure: This phrase is similar to the phrase, “according to the good pleasure of His will” in 1:5b. As in 1:5b, it may be easier to understand if you change the noun pleasure into a verb. For example:

it pleased God to reveal his plan to us
-or-
God delighted in revealing his plan to us

See how you translated the similar phrase in 1:5b.

which He purposed in Christ: There is an interpretation issue here. The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in Christ is literally “in him.” Scholars are divided as to whom the “him” refers. These views are:

(1) It refers to Christ. This means God decided to reveal his plan through or by means of Christ. For example:

and he planned to do it through Christ (New Century Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New Century Version, Revised English Bible, New International Version, Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, Good News Translation, God’s Word, NET Bible, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) It refers to God himself. This means God decided to reveal his plan through or by means of himself or his own work. For example:

which he has purposed in himself (King James Version)

The New American Standard Bible leaves it ambiguous, using “in him.” The New Living Translation (2004) says:

God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ. (New Living Translation (2004))

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

The phrase which He purposed in Christ means “God decided to reveal his plan through (or by means of) Christ.” That is, God decided to reveal his plan by means of what Christ would do.

Here are some other ways to translate which He purposed in Christ :

which he decided to accomplish through Christ
-or-
That he planned to do by means of Christ
-or-
That he planned to do through what Jesus would do

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 2:18

2:18

For through Him: The phrase For through Him refers to Christ dying on the cross for people. The New Living Translation (2004) makes this explicit:

because of what Christ has done for us (New Living Translation (2004))

we both: The phrase we both refers to the Jews and the Gentiles. If it is not clear to whom this phrase refers you may want to make it clearer in the translation.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

both we ⌊Jews⌋ and you ⌊Gentiles⌋
-or-
we ⌊who are Jews⌋ and you ⌊who are not Jews⌋
-or-
we (incl.) all, both ⌊Jews and Gentiles⌋

have access to the Father: The word access means we have the right to enter God’s presence here on earth. Paul meant that believers can talk with God in this life because they have a good relationship with him. Paul was not talking here about believers going to heaven after they died.

If there is a special word in your language that indicates entering the presence of a chief/ruler, you may want to use it here.

It is possible to translate the word access as a verb. For example:

all of us can come to the Father (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
all of us…are able to come…into the presence of the Father (Good News Translation)
-or-
Jewish and non-Jewish people can go to the Father (God’s Word)

by one Spirit: The phrase by one Spirit in this context means “the same Holy Spirit.” It is the same Holy Spirit who leads both Jews and Gentiles to God.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

we all can approach God by ⌊the power of⌋ the same Holy Spirit
-or-
both ⌊Jews and Gentiles⌋ can approach ⌊God our⌋ Father with the help of the same Holy Spirit

Paragraph 2:19–22

In this next paragraph, Paul used three comparisons to describe the unity of Jewish and Gentile believers in Christ. He said that they are like:

(a) citizens of the same country (19a–b)

(b) members of the same family (19c)

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

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 5:7

5:7

Therefore: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Therefore introduces an appeal on the basis of what Paul said in 5:3–6. It indicates the following: God will punish immoral people, therefore, we must not participate in their evil deeds.

Here are some other ways to translate this conjunction:

So (Good News Translation)
-or-
For that reason

Many versions do not translate the conjunction in 5:7. Translate it in a way that is natural in your language.

do not be partakers with them: The clause do not be partakers with them means that they should not join these people when they do evil things.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

So have nothing at all to do with such people. (Good News Translation)
-or-
Don’t participate in the things these people do (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
do not be part of their group
-or-
If people behave in those ways, then don’t be with them.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 6:6

6:6a

And do this not only to please them: Here are some other ways to translate the phrase to please them :

to please your masters
-or-
to gain the approval of your masters
-or-
so that your owners will praise you

while they are watching: The clause while they are watching means “when your master is watching you.”

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Try to please them all the time (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Don’t obey them only while you’re being watched (God’s Word)
-or-
Do what your masters say even when they are not around.

6:6b

but as servants of Christ: This is a comparison. Paul is comparing slaves of men to slaves of Christ. The point of comparison between a slave of another person and a slave of Christ is that both should obey their masters. So the meaning is: “Obey your earthly masters as servants of Christ obey their heavenly master.”

Here is one way to translate this phrase:

But obey like slaves who belong to Christ… (God’s Word)

6:6c

doing the will of God: Another way to say doing the will of God is “doing what God wants.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

following the will of God
-or-
do God’s wishes (Yakan Back Translation)
-or-
do what God says to do

from your heart: The phrase from your heart means “wholeheartedly” or “with enthusiasm.” An English idiom is:

with all your heart (Good News Translation)

If there is an idiom in your language with this meaning you can use it.

It has a similar meaning as the phrase “sincerity of heart,” found in 6:5b.

your: Depending on how you translate this verse, you may have to use different pronouns. For example:

They do what God wants them to do with all their heart.

See the second meaning line in the Display for another example.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 1:20

1:20a

which He exerted in Christ: Paul is saying that God used this same power referred to in 1:19b when he raised Christ from death.

Here are some other ways to translate the word exerted :

used
-or-
showed

when He raised Him from the dead: Paul is reminding the Ephesians that it was God’s power that made Christ live again.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

when he raised Christ from death (Good News Translation)
-or-
when he brought him back to life (God’s Word)

General Comment on 1:19b–20a

Here is another way to translate 1:19b–20a:

This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead (New Living Translation (2004))

1:20b

seated Him at His right hand: The clause seated Him at His right hand is a figure of speech. In Jewish culture, the seat at the right-hand side of a ruler is the place of greatest honor and authority. This same figure occurs frequently in the Bible. So you should keep this figure in your translation.

If it is not clear in your translation that this is the place of honor, you may want to make this clearer in your translation. For example:

and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand (New Living Translation (2004))

in the heavenly realms: This is the same expression as in 1:3b. Here, however, it refers specifically to heaven where God reigns.

Here are some other ways to translate this expression:

in heaven (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
in the heavenly world (Good News Translation)

Step into the multitudes of languages of the Bible and join the worldwide conversation!

Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 2019

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 4:28

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 5:28

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 1:9

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 2:18

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 4:7

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 5:7

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 6:6

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 1:20

Step into the multitudes of languages of the Bible and join the worldwide conversation!

American Bible Society