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.

2:11

For: This conjunction introduces the reason why God will judge Jew and non-Jew in the same way.

God does not show favoritism: This clause indicates that God treats one person or group in the same way as any other person or group. He does not look at their family, wealth, name, language, culture, or nationality and say “I like them better.” Here are other ways to translate this clause:

God shows no partiality. (English Standard Version)
-or-
God judges everyone by the same standard. (Good News Translation)
-or-
When God judges people, he looks at all of them as equal.
-or-
When God judges a person, he does not think, “I will not punish that person because he comes from an important family/tribe.”

© 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.

3:14

Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness: The phrase full of indicates that people do something often. These people were always cursing and they were always bitter. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

their speech is full of cursing and bitterness (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
They only curse and speak bitterly

cursing: This word refers to a person asking God or an evil spirit to cause something bad to happen to another person.

bitterness: This word indicates that the words of these people were resentful, angry, and spiteful. Here are other ways to translate this word:

bitter resentment (God’s Word)
-or-
spite

General Comment on 3:14

These words are similar to the words found in Psalm 10:7.

© 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.

4:15a

because: The word because here introduces an explanation for what Paul said in 4:14a–c. Translate that meaning in a way that is natural in your language.

the law brings wrath: This clause implies that people cannot obey all the law of Moses all the time. When they break the law, God becomes angry.

In some languages translating literally would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Translate literally and explain its meaning in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

This clause implies that people cannot obey all the law of Moses all the time, and so God becomes angry at people when they break the law.

• Include some or all of the implied information in your translation. For example:

the law can only bring God’s anger (New Century Version)
-or-
God becomes angry when his Law is broken (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
It is God’s anger that we get from his Law ⌊because we break it⌋
-or-
the Law is the reason God is angry with us because we cannot obey it

the law: The word law here refers to the law of Moses, as in 4:13–14. See how you translated it there.

wrath: The word wrath refers to violent anger. It implies punishment for breaking the law.

4:15b

And:
The Greek begins with a word that the Berean Standard Bible and many English versions literally translate as And. Many languages would see contrast between 4:15a and 4:15b. Translate it in a way that is most natural to connect 4:15b to 4:15a.

where there is no law, there is no transgression: This probably refers to the time before God gave the law to Moses. Abraham could not break the law of Moses, because God gave it to Moses hundreds of years after Abraham died. So God could not be angry with Abraham (4:15a) when he did things that would have broken the laws of Moses. Here are other ways to translate these words:

where there is no law, there is no disobeying of the law (Good News Translation)
-or-
where laws don’t exist, they can’t be broken (God’s Word)
-or-
if there is no law, it cannot be disobeyed
-or-
The only (situation) in which no-one would be breaking laws is if there were no laws

In some languages it is more natural or clear to state this without using no twice. For example:

a person can only break a law that has already been put in place

where: Here this word refers to locations where “there is no law.” It is not used to signal a question. Translate this word in a way that does not signal a question. See examples above.

transgression: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as transgression means “to disobey a law or custom.” Here it refers to knowingly disobeying or breaking a law. See 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.

Division 6:1–8:39

How to live as believers

In this division Paul showed that God has made a way to rescue people from being punished for wrongdoing and put them in a right relationship with himself.

Here are other possible headings for this division:

We must live as dead to sin and the Laws of Moses and live in the Holy Spirit
-or-
Living free from sin and the law and living in the Holy Spirit

Section 6:1–14

We must live for God because we died to sin

In this section, Paul told the believers in Rome that they should not continue to sin, because baptism symbolizes death to sin. Jesus’ resurrection symbolizes the new life that believers can live in. The believers’ old way of life is crucified on the cross of Jesus so that they have no need to follow the desires to sin. Believers will live new lives for God and death no longer rules them, because Jesus died and was raised for them. Therefore believers should consider themselves dead to sin and do the good deeds that God wants them to do. God’s grace removes believers from the rule of sin in their lives.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

Believers are dead to sin, so they must live for God
-or-
Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ (New International Version)
-or-
We are no longer slaves to sin, but God’s servants

Paragraph 6:1–4

6:1a

What then shall we say?: The word then indicates a connection to previous verses. Here it introduces the question “What shall we say?” In some languages, it is more natural to have the word then first. For example:

Then/Therefore, what shall we say?

This is a rhetorical question. It introduces the next question (6:1b–c). Paul did not expect the readers to answer this question. Here are other ways to translate this question:

Shall we say this?
-or-
What then are we to say? (New Revised Standard Version)

In some languages, it is more natural to avoid this kind of question. For example:

So do you think we should continue sinning…? (New Century Version)
-or-
Well now, is it good if
-or-
But let’s not say/think like this:
-or-
Maybe we might say this:
-or-
there is perhaps a person who will say that

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

6:1b–c

Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase?: In 5:20 Paul said that an increase in sin resulted in an abundance of grace. Someone might misunderstand Paul’s words and think that he should continue sinning in order to receive more grace from God. Here Paul referred to that thinking with this question. He showed that this thinking was clearly wrong with the words “Certainly not” in 6:2.

This is a rhetorical question. But Paul answered it himself in 6:2. So you should translate these words as a question here. Here are other ways to translate this question:

Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? (New International Version)
-or-
Is it possible that we continue to commit sin in order that God will all the more give us his grace?
-or-
is it good if we continue to do sin just so that this grace/mercy of God will continue to be abundant toward us?

Paul expected that his readers would agree that it is wrong for anyone to think he should continue sinning to receive more grace. In some languages indicating that this thinking is wrong must be done another way. For example:

Is it right to say that we should continue to sin so that grace might increase?
-or-
It is wrong to say that we should continue to sin so that grace might increase.

6:1b

continue in sin: This phrase refers to continuing to sin, instead of trying to do the things that God wants believers to do. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

remain in sin (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
persist in sin (Revised English Bible)
-or-
do not abandon doing evil

6:1c

so that: Here this word introduces the purpose for continuing to sin.

grace: Here the word grace indicates that God does something kind or helpful. People do not deserve this help. See how you translated this word in 1:7 or 5:2.

may increase: Here the word increase refers to grace getting larger/more abundant. See how you translated this word in 5:20 (“increased,” “abounded”).

© 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.

7:10a–b

So I discovered that the very commandment that was meant to bring life actually brought death: The Greek begins with the word often translated “and.” The Berean Standard Bible translates this word as So. Here it indicates that Paul said something more about the commandment, life, and death. For example:

And the commandment… (Good News Translation)

7:10a

I discovered that: The Greek is literally “was found to/for me.” It indicates that as he lived he realized that trying to obey the commandment caused him to want to break it even more. It does not indicate that Paul was looking for the purpose of the commandment. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

it occurred to me that
-or-
proved in my experience (Revised English Bible)

7:10b

the very commandment: Here the word very indicates that the commandment connected to life is the same commandment connected to death. It emphasizes that it is the same commandment. For example:

the commandment which was intended to bring me life actually brought me death (God’s Word)
-or-
concerning the law…, it is the very law that…

that was meant to bring life: The Greek is literally “to/for life.” It indicates that the goal or intention of the commandment is life. Here are other ways to translate this Greek phrase:

that was for life (New American Bible, Revised Edition)
-or-
which was meant to be a direction to life (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
which should have led to life (Revised English Bible)
-or-
was given in order that people would know the path that leads to life

actually brought death: The Greek is literally “this (was) for death.” Instead of a goal of life, the commandment not to covet caused the goal to be death, because Paul wanted to break the commandment. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

it was for death
-or-
was a direction to death
-or-
to lead to death (Revised English Bible)
-or-
put me on the path that leads to death

© 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.

8:17a

And if we are children: Here the word “his” is implied before the word children. Here the word if introduces a situation that is true. If this first part is true, that supports the second part (“then we are heirs”) to also be true.

In some languages, using an if -clause would have a different meaning, or be confusing after just saying clearly that we are God’s adopted children. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:

⌊we are his⌋ ⌊adopted⌋ children, ⌊true?⌋ ⌊So⌋…
-or-

⌊Would you agree that⌋ ⌊we are his⌋ ⌊adopted⌋ children? ⌊So⌋…
-or-

⌊we are his⌋ ⌊adopted⌋ children, so…

then we are heirs: The Greek here is more literally “also heirs.” The Berean Standard Bible and many English versions add the word then to make the connection to “if children” clear. For example:

then we are also heirs

The word “his” is implied before the word heirs. In some languages it is more natural to add these implied words. For example:

then we are also ⌊his⌋ heirs

heirs: Here this word indicates that God has chosen things for us to receive once we get to the new Jerusalem. It does not imply that God will one day die. In some languages a different word or phrase must be used for the correct meaning. For example:

ones who will receive an inheritance
-or-
people who will receive blessings/gifts ⌊up in the future, renewed world⌋

8:17b explains that we are heirs of God.

8:17b

heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ: These words further describe what kind of heirs we are. Here are other ways to translate that connection:

that is, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ
-or-

furthermore ⌊we are⌋ heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ
-or-

it is like this: ⌊we are⌋ heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ

The Greek connecting words indicate that heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ are connected but different things. An English idiom that is sometimes used for the Greek connecting words is “on the one hand…on the other hand.”

heirs of God: Paul here explained whose heir we are. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

it is God who gives it
-or-
the blessings/gifts that God will give

co-heirs with Christ: This phrase indicates that we will share in some of the things that Jesus received when he went to heaven. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

⌊Jesus⌋ Christ will share his inheritance with us
-or-
Christ’s blessings that we will share

8:17c

if indeed we suffer with Him: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as if indeed introduces a possibility for the readers to consider and indicates emphasis. For example:

provided we suffer with him (English Standard Version)
-or-
if we suffer like Jesus Christ did

we suffer with Him: Jesus suffered, died, and went to heaven long before Paul wrote this. But Jesus lives in us (1 John 3:24), and our sufferings are connected to his sufferings (Philippians 3:10). In that way we suffer with Him.

suffer: This word refers to experiencing physical or emotional pain because of something happening to us.

8:17d

so that we may also be glorified with Him: This is a result clause. This result will occur at the end of this age and is certain, like a promise, if we suffer for Jesus’ sake. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

and the result will be that we will also be glorified with him
-or-
we will also share his glory (Good News Translation)

we may also be glorified with Him: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

⌊God⌋ may/will also glorify us together with him

be glorified with Him: These words refer to the greatness/splendor and blessings of God that he will give to us believers. The splendor and blessings are shared with Jesus. It may also refer to being highly honored. Here are other ways to translate this Greek word:

be made/allowed to share in his glory
-or-
we will also be included in his greatness (lit. highness)
-or-
we (incl.) will also be honored/made-great together with him

See how you translated the word “glory” in 1:23 or 6:4.

© 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.