SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 2019 – Page 8

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 4:1

Section 4:1–16

Believers are united in Christ

In the previous sections, Paul taught the important truths of the Christian faith. In this section, Paul showed how those truths should affect the way we live. He urged the Ephesian Christians to behave in the way that would keep their unity. He explained in detail the basis of this unity. He also explained that Christ gives believers power to do different tasks so that the church may become strong and mature. Mature believers should no longer be influenced by false teaching. Instead, they will proclaim the truth, and the church, with Christ as its head, will grow as it should and become strong.

Here are some other examples for a heading for this section:

Unity of the body of Christ
-or-
Christ’s gifts to the church
-or-
Live in unity, using God’s gifting to strengthen believers
-or-
Paul urges the Ephesians to live a life of unity in Christ
-or-
Believers in Christ should live in unity, strengthening each other

Paragraph 4:1–6

4:1a

prisoner in the Lord: The phrase prisoner in the Lord means that Paul was in prison for serving the Lord.

This phrase is the same as the phrase “prisoner of Christ Jesus” in 3:1b, though the Greek is not exactly the same. Here are some other ways to translate this:

I am imprisoned because I serve the Lord
-or-

⌊People⌋ put me in prison for serving my Master ⌊Jesus⌋

the Lord: Here the phrase the Lord refers to Jesus. The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Lord means “master” or “one who has authority over others.” People used this word as a polite title when they spoke to an elder or someone in authority. However, the Jews also used this same title to refer to God. Paul here recognizes Jesus as his sovereign Master who had authority from God and is the Son of God. Use a term in your language that could also be used in this way.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

Master
-or-
Chief
-or-
Owner
-or-
Sovereign God

In some languages it may be necessary to add a word like “my” before such a term of address. For example:

⌊my⌋ Chief/Sovereign

then: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as then connects all that Paul had taught in chapters 1–3 to the advice that he gave in chapters 4–6. This is not a time word. Paul began his advice by urging the Ephesians to behave like Christians should because of all that God had done for them.

Here are some other ways to translate the main idea here:

⌊Because of all this⌋ therefore…
-or-
Because ⌊of all that God has done for you⌋, I urge you…

The Berean Standard Bible has placed the conjunction then after the phrase “prisoner for the Lord” because it is good English style. In Greek, this conjunction occurs before the phrase “prisoner for the Lord.” For example:

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord… (New Living Translation (2004))

In some languages, it may not be necessary to explicitly show a connection here. In such cases, you may leave this conjunction untranslated.

General Comment on 4:1a–b

The Greek text of 4:1a–b is literally “I encourage therefore you, I, the prisoner of the Lord…” Paul repeats the pronoun “I” when he adds that he is a prisoner in the Lord. He does this to emphasize that he is in prison for the Lord, and this gives added authority to the advice he is going to give to the Ephesians in the following sections. As you translate 4:1a–c, try to include this emphasis in your translation in a natural way.

4:1b

I urge you to walk in a manner worthy: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as urge can also mean “beg,” “plead,” “request” and “encourage.”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

encourage (God’s Word)
-or-
beg (Revised Standard Version)

to walk in a manner worthy: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to walk refers to our daily actions and our behavior.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

to live
-or-
to behave

(For other references to “walk,” see notes on 2:2a, 2:10c.)

worthy: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as worthy also means “fitting,” or “proper.”

Here are some other ways to translate “to walk in a manner worthy”:

to live the kind of life which proves ⌊that God has called you⌋ (God’s Word)
-or-
behave in a way that is proper ⌊for God’s people to behave⌋
-or-
to live in a way which agrees/conforms ⌊to the way God wants his people to live⌋

When God called the Ephesians to be his people, he expected them to behave in a way that pleased him.

4:1c

of the calling you have received: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as of the calling you have received is literally “of the calling to which you were called” (as in the Revised Standard Version). This is a passive construction. God is the one who calls us. He calls us to be his people.

received: Some other ways to translate the word received are “invited” and “chosen.”

Here are some other ways to translate the phrase “of the calling you have received”:

(worthy) of the fact that God called you ⌊to be his people⌋
-or-
of the invitation that God gave you ⌊to belong to him⌋

The word “calling” is the same as the word “called” in 1:18b. See how you translated this word there.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 5:1

Section 5:1–20

Paul described behavior which is fitting for believers

In chapter 5, Paul continued with the subject of Christian behavior, which he had begun in the last section of chapter 4. So it is not necessary to start a new section here. One reason to start a new section here is to help the reader, as the previous section is already long. Some English versions begin a new section at 5:1 (Berean Standard Bible, Good News Translation, New Living Translation (2004), NET Bible, God’s Word, New Century Version, English Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, New King James Version), and some do not (New International Version, Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Contemporary English Version, Revised English Bible, King James Version). You may want to consult your national translation and follow their example.

In this section, Paul exhorted the Christians to imitate God and avoid the sins of the pagan people surrounding them.

Here are some other examples for a heading for this section:

Living in the light (Good News Translation, New Living Translation (2004), New Century Version)
-or-
Imitate God (God’s Word)

Paragraph 5:1–5

5:1a

Be imitators of God: The word “imitate” means “to copy the behavior, appearance, or speech, of another person.” People who are imitators of God are those who “behave in the same way as God.”

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

try to be like God (Good News Translation, New Century Version)
-or-
do as God does (Contemporary English Version)

therefore: The conjunction therefore links 4:32 to 5:1 as an expanded conclusion. In 4:32 Paul said that we should be kind, considerate and forgive others just as God has forgiven us. In 5:1, Paul made a conclusion with a more general statement and expanded on it in the following verses. We should follow God’s example in all our behavior.

In some languages, it will not be natural to translate this conjunction here. Some English versions leave it untranslated.

Here is another way to translate this conjunction:

In conclusion

5:1b

as beloved children: Here Paul figuratively refers to his readers as as beloved children of God. It should be clear in your translation that that the beloved children are God’s rather than Paul’s. Some translations make this explicit. For example:

because you are his dear children (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
since you are the children he loves (God’s Word)
-or-
Since you are God’s dear children (Good News Translation)

See love, meaning 1 in the Glossary for more information.

General Comment on 5:1a–b

If it is more natural in your language to reverse 5:1a–b, you may want to do so. For example:

5:1b Since you are God’s dear children, 5:1a you must try to be like him. (Good News Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 5:33

5:33a

Nevertheless: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Nevertheless connects 5:33 with the previous verses. There are two possible ways to understand this connecting word:

(1) It indicates that Paul stopped talking about Christ and the church and summarized his advice/commands to husbands and wives. The connecting word means “however,” “nevertheless,” or “in any case.” For example:

To sum up… (New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) It indicates a contrast. Even though the quote from Genesis in 5:31 has a deeper meaning, it also applies to husbands and wives. For example:

But it applies also to each one of you (Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It is possible that both aspects of this connecting word are present, but most commentators follow interpretation (1).

love his wife as he loves himself: See how you translated the similar clause “He who loves his wife loves himself” in 5:28b.

General Comment on 5:33a–b

Note that in 5:33a, Paul summarizes the advice he gave to husbands in 5:25–31. In 5:33b he summarizes the advice he gave to wives in 5:22–24.

5:33b

must respect: The word respect means “admire” or “have high regard” for someone or something.” For example:

should respect (God’s Word)
-or-
should think highly of

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 1:14

1:14a

pledge: A pledge is a down payment. It is the first part of a payment for something that shows that the full price will be paid later. Paul used this as a metaphor for the Holy Spirit. Just as a person gives a deposit as a promise/pledge that he will pay the full price later, so God gave us the Holy Spirit as a pledge that he will one day give us our full inheritance.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

deposit (New International Version)
-or-
down payment (NET Bible)

inheritance: Here Paul used the word inheritance in a figurative sense. Inheritance literally refers to the money or property that someone receives when a relative dies. In its figurative sense, inheritance in this context refers to all the good things that God will give his people. It includes salvation and a future life in heaven with God.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

what God has stored up for his people (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
everything he promised (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
promised blessing

1:14b

until the redemption: Here the word redemption refers to God completely freeing us from evil and giving us new bodies. This will happen when Christ comes back to earth.

In one sense, God has already redeemed us, as Paul said in 1:7. But God has not yet given us everything that he has promised. Now he has given us the Holy Spirit as a seal/sign that we belong to him (1:13) and as a guarantee/pledge that in the future he will completely redeem us from this sinful world.

In some languages it may be necessary to translate the noun redemption with a verb. For example:

redeemed (Revised English Bible)
-or-
purchased us (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
set free (Contemporary English Version, God’s Word)
-or-
gives full freedom (New Century Version)

See redeem in the Glossary for more information.

of those who are God’s possession: We who are God’s children are called God’s possession. We belong to him, that is, he possesses us.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

his own people (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
those who are his (Good News Translation, New Century Version)
-or-
to belong to him (God’s Word)

1:14c

to the praise of His glory: God will redeem his people so that they will praise him for his greatness and glory.

Here are some other ways to translate these phrases:

Let ⌊us⌋ praise him for his greatness.
-or-
Praise him for his greatness.
-or-
So that ⌊we and others⌋ may praise him for his greatness

See how you translated similar phrases in 1:6a and 1:12a–b.

glory: Here glory means “God’s magnificence or greatness.” See glory, Meaning 1 in the Glossary for more information.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 3:1

Section 3:1–13

God sent Paul to preach the good news to the non-Jews

In 3:1, Paul was about to pray for the Christians. Instead, in 3:2 he stopped his sentence and began to write about the special work that God had given him. It was not until 3:14 that Paul resumed his prayer.

The special work that God had given Paul was to preach God’s message to the Gentiles. The blessings of God are for the Gentiles as well as for the Jews, but God had hidden this great truth for a long time. Then God gave Paul the task of telling people about this truth. In this way, everyone would know that God was very wise and loving because he saved both Jews and Gentiles and united them into one church.

Here are some other titles for this section:

God’s mysterious plan revealed (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Paul’s work in telling the Good News (New Century Version)
-or-
God’s plan to unite Jews and Gentiles in Christ is revealed to Paul

Paragraph 3:1–6

3:1

In the Greek, 3:1 is an incomplete sentence. The Berean Standard Bible shows this with an ellipsis at the end of the verse. Paul’s intention in 3:1 was probably to say something like:

For this reason I, Paul…pray for you.

Paul did not complete the sentence here. Instead, he inserted 3:2–13 where he described his ministry. In 3:14 Paul continued the prayer he started in 3:1.

It is recommended that you make this a complete sentence by adding the words “pray to God.”

Here is a way to translate this:

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles, pray to God. (Good News Translation)

3:1a

For this reason: The phrase For this reason refers back to God’s grace towards the Gentiles in 2:11–22. Since God had blessed them so much, Paul began to pray that they would appreciate his grace.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

This is the reason… (God’s Word)
-or-
So… (New Century Version)

This phrase also occurred in 1:15a.

I, Paul: The words I, Paul are emphatic in the Greek. Paul began to talk about himself. Look for an expression in your language to show this emphasis.

3:1b

the prisoner of Christ Jesus: When Paul said that he was a prisoner of Christ Jesus, he meant that he was in prison “because he belonged to or served Jesus.” People who did not like him preaching about Jesus had put him in prison.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

who am imprisoned ⌊on account⌋ of ⌊my serving⌋ Christ Jesus
-or-
a prisoner ⌊because⌋ of ⌊my following⌋ Jesus Christ

Avoid translating in a way that could give the impression that Jesus had put him in prison, or that Jesus was keeping Paul in prison.

3:1c

for the sake of you Gentiles: Another reason Paul was in prison was because he had been preaching the gospel to the Gentiles.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

so that I could help you Gentiles (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
so that you Gentiles ⌊will believe in⌋ Christ Jesus

Gentiles: Here the word Gentiles refers to people who were not Jews.

See how you translated Gentiles in 2:11a. See Gentiles, Meaning 1, in the Glossary for more information.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 4:12

4:12

This verse explains the purpose of Christ giving some of his people these special abilities that Paul mentioned in 4:11. The purpose is to give the ability to all God’s people to work for him, so that they all may grow and become stronger in their faith.

4:12a

to equip: The phrase to equip means to “make able and adequate” to a task. Paul intended that they would be up to the task and fit to serve God’s people.

Here is another way to translate this:

to equip God’s people to do his work (New Living Translation (2004))

the saints: A literal English translation of the Greek is “holy ones.” It means “people set apart for God.” This Greek word refers to every believer.

See how you translated the saints in 3:8a. See Holy, Meaning 1, special use in the Glossary for more information.

for works of ministry: The phrase works of ministry means “to work serving God.” Notice that Paul did not say that the apostles, prophets, evangelists and pastors are the ones who are equipped to work for God. He says that the apostles and others are to prepare “the saints” to work for God. All of God’s people are to work for him.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the work of serving (New Century Version)
-or-
would learn to serve (Contemporary English Version)

4:12b

and to build up the body of Christ: This clause begins with and to. It tells why Christ appointed some people to be apostles, prophets, evangelists and pastors and teachers (4:11). He appointed people to these positions so that they could prepare all of God’s people to work for him (4:12a).

Here are some other ways to translate the phrase and to :

for (Revised English Bible)
-or-
He did that so

build up the body of Christ: The body of Christ is a metaphor that refers to all Christians. To build up the body of Christ means to cause all Christians to become strong in their relationship with Christ (the head of the body) and with each other (other members of the body). If it is not clear what the body of Christ refers to, you can make it explicit. For example:

and build up the church, the body of Christ (New Living Translation (2004))

build up: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as build up is a verb meaning “to construct (a house).” He uses the same word in 2:22a and 4:16b. Paul is using the word in a figurative sense that means “cause to grow strong” or “make complete and mature.”

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

and his body would grow strong (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
make the body of Christ stronger (New Century Version)
-or-
cause the assembly of Christians/believers to be more mature

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 5:12

5:12

The Good News Translation translates 5:12 in parentheses:

(12 It is really too shameful even to talk about the things they do in secret.)

The thought of 5:13 connects directly with 5:11. See how you translated 5:9, which many versions also translate in parentheses. Translate 5:12 in a way that is natural for your language.

For it is shameful even to mention: The clause For it is shameful even to mention means that Christians should feel ashamed or embarrassed to even talk about the evil deeds that non-Christians do.

what the disobedient do: The word disobedient is not in the Greek text. The Greek text literally says, “being done by them” which refers to those people who do evil deeds. The Berean Standard Bible has supplied the word disobedient in order to make the pronoun “them” more explicit.

Another way you could make the pronoun “them” more explicit, is to say:

those people
-or-
those ⌊unbelieving⌋ people

in secret: In the Greek text, this is literally “the hidden/secret things.”

Here are some other ways to translate these words:

the things people do which others cannot see
-or-
the things people do when other people cannot see them

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 6:11

6:11a

Put on the full armor of God: This is another command. The word armor is the general term for the protective clothing and equipment a soldier wears and the weapons he carries. In some languages, this may be called:

war stuff
-or-
fighting tools
-or-
soldier’s clothes and weapons

The pieces of armor that Paul mentions in 6:14–17 include the belt, breastplate, shoes and helmet that a soldier puts on, and the shield and the sword that he holds in his hands. So another way to translate this is:

take hold of the things that God has given you to fight the devil

full: The word full here means “complete.”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

whole (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
all (Good News Translation)

armor of God: Paul calls this the armor of God, because God is the one who provides the armor.

armor of God is a metaphor. A soldier gets all his special clothing and weapons ready so he can fight. His armor protects him. In the same way we must use all the things that God has given us to protect us, so we can fight against the devil.

6:11b

so that you can make your stand: To make your stand means “to oppose,” “to successfully resist,” or “to fight back and not give in.” When a soldier is fighting well he does not go backwards or retreat. He stands where he is or moves forward.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

so that you will be able to stand firm (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
so that you will be able to stand up (Good News Translation)

against the devil’s schemes: The devil’s schemes refers to the devil’s/Satan’s tricks or tactics. Here Paul talked about the things Satan does to try to make us sin, to make us stop trusting in Jesus and to make us stop serving Jesus. He used the same word in 4:14d (“scheming”).

Here are some other ways to translate these words:

the devil’s strategies (God’s Word)
-or-
the Devil’s evil tricks (Good News Translation)

the devil: The devil is the ruler of all evil spirits. The name of the devil is Satan.

Here are some other ways to translate the devil :

chief of demons
-or-
ruler of the evil spirits
-or-
Satan

See devil in the Glossary for more information.

General Comment on 6:11b

Some languages might need to translate 6:11b as an “if-then” clause. For example

If you do, then Satan might do his trickery but you will remain standing, you won’t fall down.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 2019

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 4:1

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 5:1

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 5:33

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 1:14

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 3:1

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 4:12

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 5:12

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ephesians 6:11

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