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.

9:24a

including us, whom He has called: The Greek is literally “whom also/even he called us.” The word us then explains whom He has called, which describes the vessels of mercy. All three words or phrases refer to believers in Jesus. Here are other ways to translate these words:

whom he also called, namely, us
-or-
He also called those vessels/people ⌊to faith⌋. This refers to us

called: Here the word called means “chosen to be given a special benefit or purpose.” God invites people to believe in Jesus. Some of them have accepted and become believers in Jesus. See how you translated this word in 1:6 or 8:30.

9:24b

not only from the Jews, but also from the Gentiles: This describes the pronoun “us” here. Some believers are Jews and some are Gentiles. The words not only…but also emphasizes that God called Gentiles too.

from…from: The word from indicates that God called some Jews and some Gentiles.

Gentiles: This word refers to people who are not Jews. See how you translated this word in 1:5 or 3:29.

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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.

11:34a–b

This verse is a quote from Isaiah 40:13. If you indicate the location of quotes from the Old Testament with cross-references, you may want to do so here.

Some languages use a standard way to introduce Scripture quotes. For example:

For, ⌊as the Holy Book says,⌋ “Who…

Note that “For” is not a part of the words from Isaiah.

Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?: This verse has two questions connected with the word Or. In some languages it is more natural to punctuate them as a single question. For example:

For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?

11:34a

Who has known the mind of the Lord?: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes that no one knows what the Lord is thinking. Translate with that meaning. Here are some ways:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

who can know the Lord ’s thoughts? (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Who knows how the Lord thinks? (God’s Word)
-or-
Has anyone known the thoughts of the Lord(?) (Contemporary English Version)

• As a statement. For example:

No one knows the mind/thoughts of the Lord.

has known: The Greek tense on the verb indicates that Paul spoke in summary about knowing. In some languages the present tense would better indicate that meaning. For example:

knows (Good News Translation)

the Lord: The word Lord refers to someone who has authority over people. Here this phrase refers to God. In some languages it is more natural to indicate who this Lord is. For example:

the Lord ⌊God⌋

See how you translated the word Lord in 4:8 or 11:3.

11:34b

Or who has been His counselor?: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes that God has never needed the advice of someone. Translate with that meaning. Here are some ways:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Who has ever been his adviser? (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Who advises him?
-or-
Has anyone…given him advice? (Contemporary English Version)

• As a statement. For example:

No one has become his adviser.
-or-
No one is able to advise him.

has been His counselor: The Greek tense on the verb indicates that Paul spoke in summary about becoming God’s counselor. Translate with that meaning. For example:

became His counselor (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
is his counselor

counselor: This word refers to a person who gives advice. He tells someone else what he thinks is the best decision for him to make. 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.

13:9a–c

These commands use “you (sing.).” But God expected all of the people of Israel to obey them.

“Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments: These commandments occur in Exodus 20:13–15,17 and Deuteronomy 5:17–19,21. Some language translations always introduce Old Testament quotes with a phrase indicating that they are from there. For example:

⌊in the Scriptures⌋, “Do not commit adultery…

Some languages must add an “and” before the second, third, and fourth items in this list. For example:

“Do not commit adultery, ⌊and⌋ do not murder, ⌊and⌋ do not steal, ⌊and⌋ do not covet,” and any other commandment

This whole phrase is the subject of the verb phrase “are summed up” in 13:9d. So the Berean Standard Bible and many other English versions use commas or semi-colons, rather than full stops, to indicate that. In some languages it will be more clear to separate the list from verb phrase and then clearly indicate the connection in the translation. For example:

For ⌊God said⌋ ⌊in Scripture⌋, “Do not commit adultery. Do not murder. Do not steal. Do not covet.” ⌊Those commandments⌋ and any other commandment

13:9a

The Greek of 13:9a begins with a word that is often translated as “for.” The Berean Standard Bible does not translate this word. Here this word introduces a sentence that supports Paul saying that loving others fulfills the laws of Moses.

The commandments: The Berean Standard Bible and many English versions add the word commandments, as implied from the list of four commandments that follow.

commit adultery: This phrase refers to having sex with someone to whom you are not married.

In some languages people will want to use the polite expression to refer to this deed here. This might be an idiom. For example:

lie/sleep with someone who is not your wife or husband

See how you translated this phrase in 2:22.

13:9b

murder: This word refers to killing another person. It implies killing someone on purpose and against the law. See how you translate this word in 1:29.

steal:
This refers to taking other people’s possessions when they do not want you to. It usually implies taking them secretly. See how you translated this word in 2:21.

13:9c

covet: This word refers to desiring to possess for oneself something that belongs to someone else. See how you translated this word in 7:7.

any other commandments: This refers to any of the commands in the Old Testament directed to the Israelites, except the four that Paul already wrote.

General Comment on 13:9a–c

These words are a quotes from Exodus 20:13–15,17. If you indicate the location of quotes from the Old Testament with cross-references, you may want to do so here.

13:9d

are summed up: This phrase refers to stating the main point of all the things previously mentioned. The main point of the laws that Paul just stated is to love one’s neighbor as yourself. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

are all concentrated in
-or-
are included here in
-or-
come back to

This clause is passive. It is not important who does the summing up. Some languages do not have a passive construction. If that is true in your language, translate without a passive. See the above examples.

one decree: Here these words mean “a group of words.” Here it refers to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Here are other ways to translate this word:

saying (New American Bible, Revised Edition)
-or-
command (Good News Translation)

neighbor: This word refers to someone who lives near you. Here it does not have any qualifications, so refers to anyone who lives near you, or anyone who happens to be near you at the time. You should not translate this word as “friend” if that word excludes someone who lives near you but is not your friend.

as yourself: The words “you love” are implied after the word as here. For example:

as ⌊you love⌋ yourself

General Comment on 13:9d

These words are a quote of Leviticus 19:18. If you indicate the location of quotes from the Old Testament with cross-references, you may want to do so here.

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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.

15:4a

For: Here this word introduces an explanation of why he uses Scripture to support his teaching about pleasing others.

everything that was written in the past was written: There are two passive clauses here. In some languages active clauses must be used. For example:

whatever ⌊God⌋ had someone write in former days, he did that

everything that was written in the past: This phrase implies all of the Scriptures, what is now called the Old Testament. In some languages, a literal translation would imply all things written down, not just the Scriptures. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Explain the correct implied meaning in your translation. For example:

whatever was written ⌊in the Holy Book⌋ in former days

• Translate literally and explain the correct implied meaning in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

This refers to all of the Scriptures, what is now called the Old Testament.

for our instruction: Here the word for introduces the purpose of the things “written in former days.” For example:

to teach us (Good News Translation)

our instruction: This refers to the purpose for the words written in Scripture, which is to teach us.

15:4b

so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope: The words through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures are put in front of the words we might have hope to emphasize them. In some languages those words must be in their normal place. For example:

that we might have hope through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures

If possible, emphasize these words in a natural way in your language.

so that: Here this word introduces the purpose of “our instruction” (15:4a).

through endurance: Here the word through indicates that one of the ways to make ourselves hopeful is to endure. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

by endurance (New American Bible, Revised Edition)
-or-
if we endure

endurance: This word refers to continuing to do or think something despite problems or troubles in their lives. Here it probably refers to remaining strong in faith even though we are persecuted or have other troubles. Here are other ways to translate this word:

perseverance (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
enduring ⌊troubles⌋
-or-
continue on ⌊despite troubles⌋

See how you translated this word in 5:3, where the Berean Standard Bible translates it as “perseverance.”

encouragement: This word refers to helping someone have hope, courage, or confidence. Some languages use an idiom for this meaning. For example:

strengthen our insides

of the Scriptures: This phrase probably connects only to “encouragement.”

The word of indicates here that the Scriptures are the source of encouragement. For example:

from the Scriptures
-or-
which the Scriptures give us (God’s Word)

Scriptures: Here this would refer to the books of the Bible now called the Old Testament. But today we also get encouragement from the New Testament. You should use your key term that refers generally to the Bible. For example:

God’s Word
-or-
the Holy Book

hope: This word has the same meaning as it does in 5:4, with the object of the hope here generally God or his promises. See how you translated this word there.

© 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 16:3–15

16:3

Greet Prisca and Aquila: In 16:3–15, the people Paul named lived in Rome and were a part of the group of believers there. Paul used the word Greet to indicate that he greeted the people named here. The named people were likely all people whom Paul already knew. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

My greetings to Prisca and Aquila (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Give greetings ⌊of my respect⌋ to Prisca and Aquila

Prisca and Aquila: Prisca was the wife of Aquila (Acts 18:2).

Prisca: Paul used this form of the name. Luke (in Acts) used “Priscilla,” which means “little Prisca,” probably a nickname. Some English versions note the other form of the name in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

Luke (in Acts) called this woman “Priscilla,” a nickname that means “little Prisca.”

my fellow workers in Christ Jesus: This phrase indicates that Prisca and Aquila did the same work as Paul, evangelizing in various places and helping the believers there. Sometimes they worked together with Paul in the same place and sometimes they worked in some other place. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

my co-workers in Christ Jesus (New International Version (2011))
-or-
they do the same work in Christ Jesus as me

in Christ Jesus: Here the word in indicates that the work was for Jesus and his gospel and done by his power.

Christ Jesus: 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,

See how you translated this phrase in 1:1 or 15:17.

© 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.