Paragraph 1:1–6

1:1a

Paul: The author of this letter is named Paul. He began this letter with his name. This was the normal way to begin a letter at that time in that region.

Paul did not use a sentence here. In some languages it is more natural to introduce the writer in a different way. For example:

From Paul, (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
This letter is from Paul, (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-

⌊I,⌋ Paul, ⌊am writing this letter.⌋ ⌊I am⌋

a servant of: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as servant refers to a slave. Here, this phrase indicates that Paul belonged to Jesus as his slave. Paul served him and completely submitted himself to the authority of Jesus.

People often despised servants or slaves. But when someone called himself a slave of Jesus, as Paul did here, he was not ashamed of it. You may have more than one word to describe servants or slaves. Choose the one that indicates or implies the believer’s good relationship to Jesus. That is why many English versions use the word servant instead of slave.

Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

a slave of (NET Bible)
-or-
a worker of/for

If you have translated other books, see how you translated this word in Galatians 1:10, Philippians 1:1, Titus 1:1, or James 1:1.

In some languages, it will be best to translate the word servant as a verb. For example:

I serve
-or-
I completely submit to
-or-
I do the work of

Christ Jesus: There is a textual issue here about the order of the words Christ Jesus :

(1) The correct order is Christ Jesus.

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition, English Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)

(2) The correct order is Jesus Christ.

(Revised Standard Version, King James Version, God’s Word)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) because the UBS Handbook Greek New Testament supports it.

The order of the words Christ Jesus emphasizes that Jesus is the Christ/Messiah. However, in some languages the order Christ Jesus is not natural. If that is true in your language, emphasize, if possible, the fact that Jesus is the Christ in a natural way. For example:

Jesus, ⌊who/he is the⌋ Christ
-or-
Jesus, the Messiah,

Christ: This name is spelled “Christos” in the Greek language. (The Greek sound spelled ‘ch’ here is similar to a ‘k’ but without making the air stop in the mouth.) Spell the name as people in your language say it, or use the name from the common language in your region.

The word Christ was used as a title. It was the Greek translation of the Hebrew word “Messiah.” It means “the anointed one.” In the Jewish culture a person was anointed by pouring oil on top of his head in a ceremony. This was done to show that God chose him for a special task/job. In the Old Testament, some were anointed to be priests, some to be kings, and some to be prophets. In the Old Testament, “the anointed one” refers to the person whom God promised would save/free his people and rule them.

Here are other ways to translate Christ :

• Use a title or a descriptive phrase in your language that has the same meaning as Christ. For example:

⌊God’s⌋ Anointed/Chosen One
-or-
the Messiah
-or-
Promised Deliverer
-or-
the Rescuer-King whom God appointed

• Transliterate Christ and include a phrase that explains the meaning. For example:

Karisiti, the appointed one
-or-
Cristo, the King whom God promised to send

• Transliterate Christ and indicate in some way that it is a title. For example:

the Kirisita

If you do not indicate the meaning of Christ in your translation, you may want to include a footnote to explain it. For example:

The word/title “Christ” refers to the one whom God had promised to send. He would be both king and savior.

Or you may want to explain the meaning in a glossary.

1:1b

called to be an apostle: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as called to be an apostle is literally “(a) called apostle.” Here the word called means “chosen to be given a special benefit or purpose.” God invited Paul to do the work of an apostle (1 Timothy 1:1). Here are other ways to translate this word:

⌊his⌋ appointed apostle
-or-
an apostle by ⌊God’s⌋ call/choice

Some languages must use a verb here. For example:

called as an apostle (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
called by God to be an apostle (Revised English Bible)
-or-

⌊God⌋ invited me to be an apostle
-or-
an apostle whom ⌊he/God⌋ chose

an apostle: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as apostle means a “representative” or “messenger.” It refers to a person whom someone sends with his authority. He is sent to give a message or accomplish a particular task. Here, the word apostle refers to Paul whom Jesus sent as his messenger. Paul’s message was the gospel about Jesus. Here are other ways to translate apostle :

• Translate the meaning. For example:

his/Jesus’ ⌊special⌋ representative
-or-
Christ’s/his messenger
-or-
a man whom Jesus Christ sent (on a mission)
-or-
a person with authority ⌊from Jesus Christ to do his work⌋

• Use the common word for the word apostle if it is already in use. For example:

apostol

Use the same term for apostle as you used in the Gospels. (See Mark 6:30 or Luke 6:13.) Be sure that the term you choose for apostle is different from your terms for prophet (1:2) and angel (8:38).

1:1c

This clause also describes Paul (1:1a). God set him apart for the preaching of the gospel. In Greek and the Berean Standard Bible, the sentence continues from 1:1b. But in some languages, a new sentence would be more clear. For example:

God set me apart for his gospel

set apart for the gospel of God: The phrase set apart indicates that God chose Paul from among a group of people to do a specific task. He chose Paul to be a messenger to tell the gospel to the non-Jews (1:5). Here are other ways to translate these words:

separated to serve the gospel of God
-or-

⌊he/Jesus/God⌋ caused me to dedicate all my life for the gospel of God

This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

God set me apart for the gospel ⌊about Jesus⌋

See how you translated the phrase set apart in Acts 13:2 or Galatians 1:15.

for: Here the word for introduces a purpose clause. God set Paul apart from other work for the purpose of preaching or sharing the gospel. Here are other ways to translate for :

in order that
-or-

The reason he chose me to be an apostle was so that
-or-

to speak/tell God’s good news

the gospel of God: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as gospel means “good news” or “announcement of a message that people consider very good.” Here, it refers to the good news that God sent Jesus to save us from wrongdoing and reconcile us to God. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

good/sweet news from God
-or-
God’s message/report that causes joy
-or-
good news ⌊about Jesus Christ⌋ that God sent

of God: The word of here indicates that the gospel is from God. See the examples above.

© 2020 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.

Paragraph 2:25–29

2:25a

The Greek begins with a word that is usually translated as “For.” This word introduces an example of breaking the law, or a further point about breaking the law. The Berean Standard Bible does not translate this word and it may not be necessary in some languages to translate it. However, if it would be more natural in your language to translate this word, here are other ways to translate it:

For example (God’s Word)
-or-
In the same way

Circumcision has value if you observe the law: Here the if -clause comes after the then-clause. This makes the then-clause the topic. In some languages the if -clause must come first. For example:

if you obey the law, ⌊then⌋ circumcision indeed is of value

Circumcision: The word “circumcise” means to cut off the loose skin at the end of a boy’s penis. The father or a man who specialized in doing circumcision would do that. Among the Jews, Circumcision is a religious ritual which serves as a sign that they have a covenant with God (Genesis 17:9–14).

In some cultures, it is acceptable to translate explicitly the meaning “cut off the loose skin at the end of a boy’s penis.” In other cultures, it is necessary to speak more generally or use a euphemism to describe this event. Here are some examples:

Cutting the skin
-or-
Marking ⌊the body to show he belongs to God⌋
-or-
Receiving the mark

In some cultures people do not circumcise babies, and in some cultures they do not circumcise any males. In other cultures circumcision is done for different reasons than Jewish circumcision. If that is true in your culture, you may want to include a footnote to explain the Jewish custom. For example:

Circumcision is the cutting off of the skin at the end of the penis. Every male Jew was required to be circumcised. Circumcision was the sign that he was a member of the community with whom God had made a covenant.

But if you have already included a footnote in other books of the Bible (for instance Luke 1:59), you may want to refer your readers there. Here is an example footnote:

See footnote on circumcision at Luke 1:59.

has value: God gave circumcision to Abraham and his descendants as a sign of his covenant with them. It showed that they were a member of his people. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

is valuable (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
is worthwhile (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
There is…a use/benefit
-or-
is good

the law: This phrase refers to the law that God gave to Moses. See how you translated it in 2:12 or 2:23.

2:25b

you break the law: See how you translated a similar clause (“breaking the law”) in 2:23.

2:25c

your circumcision has become uncircumcision: This indicates that if a Jew disobeys the law, the fact that he has been circumcised is no use to him. In God’s eyes he is no better off than a non-Jew. Here are other ways to translate these words:

you have become as though you had not been circumcised (New International Version)
-or-
you are no more circumcised than the uncircumcised (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
circumcision is of no value
-or-
we are just like those people who aren’t Jews who have never been circumcised

uncircumcision: This word refers to not being circumcised.

© 2020 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.

3:28a

For:
This conjunction introduces an explanation of what Paul said earlier.

maintain: Here this word means “consider to be true.” Paul said here that Christians are convinced that God justified them because they believed in Jesus and not because of what they have done. Here are other ways to translate this word:

consider (NET Bible)
-or-
believe

a man is justified by faith: This clause indicates that when someone believes in Jesus, God declares that that person is righteous.

This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause here. For example:

⌊God⌋ justifies someone when he believes ⌊in Jesus⌋

a man: Here the phrase a man refers to any person. For example:

a person (New Jerusalem Bible)

is justified: The words is justified indicates that God declares that a person is acceptable to him. When people believe in Jesus, God declares them to be right with him. See how you translated this word in 2:13 (where the Berean Standard Bible translates it as “declared righteous”) or 3:24.

faith: This word refers to believing in Jesus as Lord and Savior. In some languages a verb must be used. For example:

believing ⌊in Jesus⌋

3:28b

apart from works of the law: This phrase means “without regard to doing what the law of Moses requires people to do.” God does not justify people because they follow the law of Moses. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

not by doing what the Law tells him to do (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
not through obeying the law (New Century Version)
-or-
without any regard to following the law ⌊of Moses⌋

See how you translated works of the law in 3:20.

© 2020 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.

5:4a

character: This Greek word refers to a good result of being tested. Here it refers to things like moral strength, the will to do as one promised, or the intention to be kind when one is suffering. Here are other ways to translate this word:

strength of character (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
proven character (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
our behavior is strong to follow good ways
-or-
standing/living straight
-or-
maturity

5:4b

hope: This word has the same meaning as it does in 5:2c. But the object of the hope here is probably more general than it is there. In some languages what is hoped for must be made explicit. If that is true in your language, refer to God or his promises. For example:

hope ⌊in God⌋
-or-
hope ⌊to receive what God has promised⌋

© 2020 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.

Section 6:15–23

Become as slaves to righteousness

In this section, Paul told the believers in Rome that they must not sin even if they are not under the Laws of Moses. He told them that if they obey sin then they are slaves to sin. Instead, they must become slaves of righteousness, that is, doing things that God says are right to do. This command includes all parts of their lives.

Paul further explained that when they were always obeying the desires of sin, they were free from doing things that God says are right to do. He reminded them that they were now ashamed of those sins and the consequences. The final consequence of those sins is death. God had set them free from a life of sin and they had become like slaves of God. The consequences of that is becoming holy and receiving eternal life. For sinning earns a person death, but when that person believes in Jesus, God gives him eternal life.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

We must be slaves of God doing righteous deeds
-or-
We must always do what God says is right ⌊to do⌋
-or-
We are servants of straight/upright behavior

Paragraph 6:15–19

6:15a

What then?: This is a rhetorical question. Paul used this question to introduce the next question. It also indicates a connection to what Paul just said with the Greek word often translated “therefore.” Here are other ways to translate this question:

So what should we do? (New Century Version)
-or-
So, what then shall we say/think?

In some languages a question is not natural here. If that is true in your language, translate it as a statement. For example:

Well then, (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Therefore, think about this:

6:15b–c

Shall we sin because we are not under law, but under grace? Certainly not!: The question is rhetorical. By asking it, Paul wanted the readers to think about what the answer might be. He also answered it himself here. Here are some ways to translate this:

• As a rhetorical question and its answer. For example:

Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! (New International Version)
-or-
We are not under law but under grace, and so should we sin? Of course not!

• As a statement. For example:

We are certainly not to sin because we are under grace, not under law.
-or-
We are under grace, not under law, but we are certainly not to sin because of that.

6:15b

we are not under law: This clause refers to believers not being under the authority of the laws of Moses. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

we are not under ⌊the authority of⌋ the laws ⌊of Moses⌋
-or-
the laws ⌊of Moses⌋ do not sit over us

See how you translated under law in 6:14.

under grace: The words “we are” are implied here. Believers are under the authority of grace. The grace of God affects our lives in all ways. Here are other ways to translate these words:

⌊we are⌋ under ⌊the authority of⌋ ⌊the⌋ grace ⌊of God⌋
-or-

⌊the⌋ grace ⌊of God⌋ ⌊sits⌋ over ⌊us⌋

See how you translated under grace in 6:14.

6:15c

Certainly not!: The Greek is literally “May it not be.” It indicates a very strong “no.” Here are other ways to translate this clause:

Not at all!
-or-
By no means! (English Standard Version)
-or-
No, indeed!

See how you translated these words in 3:4 or 6:2. Note that “certainly” in the As a statement examples in 6:15b–c translate the words Certainly not! here. If you used “certainly” there, do not translate these words here.

© 2020 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.

7:24a

What a wretched man I am!: The Greek is literally “I (a) miserable/wretched man,” with the word “miserable/wretched” first to emphasize it. Here Paul considered himself very unhappy and distressed about the terrible situation he was in (wanting to do right but always sinning). Here are other ways to translate this clause:

I am such a miserable man!
-or-
A man of unhappiness/distress, that is me.

7:24b

Who will rescue me from this body of death?: Here the word rescue means “deliver.” This question is a rhetorical question. Paul wanted his readers to think about the answer before he told them the answer in 7:25a. Translate this clause in that meaning. Here are some ways:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Who will rescue me from this body of death? (New International Version)
-or-
Who will rescue me from this body doomed to death? (New Jerusalem Bible)

• As a statement. For example:

There is only one person who will rescue me from this body destined to die.

this body of death: 7:23 says that the law of sin dwelt in the parts of Paul’s body. 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death. So in that way Paul here referred to his body as connected to death. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

this body that is subject to death (New International Version (2011))
-or-
this body that brings me death

Also see the ways this phrase was translated in the previous note.

© 2020 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.

Section 8:31–39

Nothing can separate us from God’s love

In this section, Paul asked a number of rhetorical questions. In asking them he expected the believers in Rome to agree with him in these ways: God is for us and no one has greater power than him when they stand against us. God has made us right with him, so no one can accuse us of wrongdoing that God has not already forgiven. Jesus died for our sins and rose again, so no one can say we are worthy of God punishing us. Nothing of this earth or of the demons and spirits can separate us from God’s love. With God’s power we can overcome all those things.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

God’s love for us because of Jesus Christ
-or-
The love of God will not abandon/leave us

Paragraph 8:31–34

8:31a

What then shall we say in response to these things?: The word then introduces what Paul concluded from what he said in 8:18–30, or possibly chapters 6–8, or even the whole letter to this point. The question “What shall we say?” also introduces what Paul concluded. In some languages it is more natural to have the word then first. For example:

Therefore, what shall we say to these things?

What…shall we say in response to these things?: This is a rhetorical question. It draws attention to what Paul said next. Paul did not expect the readers to answer this question. Here are other ways to translate this question:

How shall we respond to these/those things?
-or-
what will we say about those things ⌊that God did⌋ ?

In some languages the correct meaning is indicated by using a statement instead of a question. For example:

Let us think about what to say about those things.
-or-
Here is something we can say about those things:

shall we say: The Greek tense is the future tense (“will we say”). Here it indicates what someone might say. See the examples above.

these things: Some scholars see this phrase referring to 5:1–8:30, and some see it referring to all of the letter of Romans to this point. Translate in a way that allows for this phrase to include many verses back. For example:

⌊all⌋ those things

8:31b

If God is for us: Here the word If introduces a situation that is true. If this first part is true, that supports the second part (“who can be against us?”).

In some languages, using an if-clause would have a different meaning. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:

God is for us, so
-or-

⌊you would agree that⌋ God is for us, ⌊so⌋

God is for us: The Berean Standard Bible and many English versions add the word is here for natural English.

who can be against us: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes that no one can be against us, in the sense of no one can stop God from being for us or defeat God’s efforts for us. Translate this clause with that meaning. Here are some ways:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

who can ever be against us? (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
who will come against us and gain victory over us?

• As a statement. For example:

no one can defeat us (New Century Version)
-or-
it does not matter who opposes us

can be: There is no verb in the Greek. The Berean Standard Bible and some English versions add the words can be. Some English versions add the same word they added in “if God…for us.” For example:

is (Revised Standard Version)

Here the word can indicates ability. People or Satan may stand against us, but no one can block God’s plan for us.

© 2020 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.