SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 2020 – Page 24

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 12:17

Paragraph 12:17–21

12:17a

Do not repay anyone evil for evil: This clause indicates that the believer should not do something evil to someone because that person did something evil to him. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

Never pay back evil with evil (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Don’t pay people back with evil for the evil they do to you (God’s Word)

evil: The Greek word here it refers to harm that someone has done to you. Here are other ways to translate this word:

do wrong/harm
-or-
mistreat (Contemporary English Version)

It is different from the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as “evil” at 12:9b. But some languages will translate it with the same word as there.

12:17b

consider: The Greek word refers to thinking ahead about what you are going to do. Here are other ways to translate this Greek word:

give thought to (English Standard Version)
-or-
plan ahead to do

right: The Greek word here refers to what is beautiful or good. Here it refers to what is morally good. Here are other ways to translate this word:

noble (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
good (NET Bible)

in the eyes of everybody: Here the word everybody refers to all people, believers and non-believers. For example:

before all people (NET Bible)

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 14:14

14:14a

I am convinced and fully persuaded: The word I is not repeated in English for a natural translation. In some languages the word must be repeated for a natural translation. For example:

I know and I believe in my heart

convinced: The Greek word refers to understanding something.

fully persuaded: The Greek word here refers to being certain something is true. It implies that the person is certain based on his own thinking about it. Paul thought about what believers should call unclean and became convinced that they should not call anything unclean. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

am convinced (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
am certain

in the Lord Jesus: Here the word in indicates that Paul’s knowledge and certainty are connected to the Lord Jesus. In particular, that knowledge and certainty came from his relationship to Jesus.

14:14b

nothing is unclean in itself: Here the word nothing refers to food. There is no food that is unclean in itself. There is nothing in the characteristics of some foods that makes them unclean. For example:

no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat (New Living Translation (2004))

unclean: Here this word refers to something which is not fitting for use in serving or worshiping God. Here are other ways to translate this word:

ritually unclean (Good News Translation)
-or-
unacceptable (God’s Word)
-or-
impure (Revised English Bible)

14:14c

But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean: If a believer thinks that a kind of food would make them bad before God, he should not eat it. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean (New International Version)
-or-
it is unacceptable to a person who thinks it is (God’s Word)

unclean: Here this word has the same meaning as in 14:14b.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 15:23

15:23a–b

(Revised English Bible🙂 But now I have no further scope in these parts, and I have been longing for many years to visit you: The two Greek verbs that the Revised English Bible translates as I have are literally “having.” There is no verb phrase in this sentence that makes this sentence complete. There are several ways to interpret the Greek sentence structure here:

(1) Take both “having” verbs as “I have.” Greek sometimes uses an -ing ending for a verb with a normal ending. For example:

But now I have no new opportunities for work in this region. For many years I have wanted to visit you (God’s Word)

(Revised English Bible, NET Bible, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation (2004))

(2) Take the second “having” verb as “I have.” For example:

But now, with no further place for me in these regions, I desire, as I have for many years, to come to you (New Revised Standard Version)

(New Revised Standard Version)

(3) Keep both verbs as “having” and add “I plan.” For example:

But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to see you, 24 I plan to do so (New International Version)

(New International Version)

(4) Keep both verbs as “having” and pull “I hope” from later in 15:24. For example:

But now that I have finished my work in these regions and since I have been wanting for so many years to come to see you, 24 I hope to do so now (Good News Translation)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, English Standard Version, New Century Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because it is a fairly common process in Greek to take a verb with the -ing ending and drop the meaning of -ing. It seems better to treat both “having” verbs equally (interpretation 1) rather than differently (interpretation 2). And interpreting the verse here as having this process occurring seems better than adding words to the text (interpretation 3). And it is better than pulling “I hope” out of its “for” clause (interpretation 4).

15:23a

But now: This phrase indicates contrast to being hindered in the past. The word now refers to the time that Paul wrote the letter.

there are no further opportunities for me in these regions: This indicates that Paul had preached where no one had yet preached throughout the area between Jerusalem and Illyricum (15:19). He must now find new places. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

there is no more place for me to work in these regions (New International Version)
-or-
I have finished my work in these regions (Good News Translation)

there are no further opportunities for me: The word opportunities refers to having enough space in which to do something. There were no new areas between Jerusalem and Illyricum where Paul could preach where someone had not already preached. For example:

there is no more place for me (New International Version)

The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as opportunities has its figurative sense here, “a favorable circumstance for doing something” (BDAG, sense 4). Here are other ways to translate according to that meaning:

I no longer have any opportunity (New American Bible, Revised Edition)
-or-
there is nothing left for me to do (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
I have finished my work (Good News Translation)

these regions: This refers to the area between Jerusalem and Illyricum (15:19). In some languages the word “those” would be more natural to refer back to the regions Paul talked about in 15:19. For example:

those regions

regions: The singular Greek word refers to an area the size of a Roman province or smaller, but larger than a city and its surrounding area.

15:23b

I have longed: This Greek phrase is more literally “I have had a desire.” Paul had wanted to go to Rome for a long time.

for many years: Here the word many refers to probably twenty or less. It does imply a long time, not just one or two years. Do not use a word that indicates or implies much more than twenty years.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 16:22

16:22

I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord: The words who wrote down this letter further describe Tertius. In some languages it is more natural or more clear to translate without using who. For example:

I, Tertius, wrote down this letter, and I greet you in the Lord

I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter: This implies that Tertius wrote what Paul spoke/dictated.

I: In Greek this is emphatic. For example:

I myself, Tertius, who wrote this letter

greet you in the Lord: This indicates that Tertius greeted the believers in Rome as a fellow believer.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 1:23

1:23a

exchanged the glory of the immortal God: The word exchanged refers to replacing something with something else. Here it indicates that people stopped honoring God and instead honored idols shaped like a man, bird, animal, or creeping thing. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

changed from honoring the glorious/great and immortal God
-or-
They traded the glory of God who lives forever (New Century Version)
-or-
they abandoned…God who has far-from-ordinary glory/praiseworthiness and who is alive without ending

glory: The word glory refers literally to a very bright light. In this context it implies power, majesty, and greatness. Here are other ways to translate this word:

majesty
-or-
greatness

immortal: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as immortal means “not able to become bad or ruined or dead.” God lives forever and he will not become sick or die. Here are other ways to translate this word:

incorruptible (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
eternal (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
imperishable
-or-
not able to be ruined/destroyed

1:23b

images: This word refers to an object that someone makes to look like something else. Here it refers to idols that represent the false gods that people worship. For example:

idols (New Living Translation (2004))

of: Here this word refers to looking like something or someone else. These idols looked like a person, a bird, an animal, or a creeping thing. For example:

look like (New International Version)
-or-
resembling (English Standard Version)

mortal: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as mortal means “able to become bad or ruined or dead.” Here are other ways to translate this Greek word:

corruptible
-or-
perishable
-or-
able to be ruined/destroyed

man: Here the word man refers generally to people.

1:23c

birds: This word refers to creatures that have wings and (usually) fly. It does not refer to insects. Some languages do not have a general word for birds. If that is true in your language, you should:

• Describe them. For example:

things/creatures that fly
-or-
flying creatures/things

• Use a specific bird that can represent birds in general.

• Use a specific large or strong kind of bird, such as eagles or vultures.

animals: The Greek word is “four-footed creatures.” These are animals that have four legs and walk on the ground, but are not reptiles. Examples are horses, bears, pigs, elephants, and dogs.

reptiles: The Greek word refers to any animal that moves with its stomach close to the ground or on it. It includes snakes, lizards, salamanders, and frogs. Here are other ways to translate this word:

crawling things (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
things that crawl on their belly

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 2:23

2:23a

boast in the law: The Jews boasted that God gave his law to them and to no other nation/people-group. Having God’s law made them special. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

brag about the law (New International Version (1984))
-or-
boast about having God’s law (Good News Translation)

the law: This refers to the law that God gave to Moses. See how you translated it in 2:12 or 2:20.

2:23b

do you dishonor God by breaking the law?: There are two ways to interpret this clause:

(1) It states that this person has broken the law of Moses. It accuses him of doing that. For example:

you dishonor God by breaking it (New Living Translation (2004))

(English Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)

(2) It is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes that this person should not break the law of Moses. For example:

do you dishonor God by breaking the law? (New International Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, Good News Translation, New American Standard Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition, God’s Word, King James Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), but both interpretations are a rebuke for breaking the law. Translate with that meaning.

dishonor God: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as dishonor means “to disrespect” or “to insult.”

breaking the law: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as breaking means literally “to step across a boundary.” Here it refers to someone doing something that God told him not to do. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

you disobey it (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
they do not do according to the words which the law says
-or-
not following his commands

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 3:26

3:26a

He did this to demonstrate: The Greek is literally “for the display of.” It connects to “God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice” (3:25a). It introduces a second thing that God would show from that atonement. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

and to demonstrate
-or-
he did it to demonstrate (New International Version)
-or-
God also did that in order to show

You should translate this phrase in a similar way to how you translated “in order to demonstrate” in 3:25c.

His righteousness: This is the same Greek phrase as in 3:25c. It probably has the same meaning here. Translate it as you did in 3:25c.

at the present time: This phrase refers to the time that Paul wrote this. But it also refers generally to the time between Jesus ascending to heaven and his return. For example:

for the present age (New Jerusalem Bible)

3:26b

so as to: The words so as to introduces the purpose of God patiently waiting for Jesus to atone for people’s sins. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

in order to be
-or-
Thus it can-be-seen that

be just and to justify: The Greek words for be just and to justify have the same root, dikaio-. Here it indicates that the two words have related meanings, to be just means “to do what is right” and to justify means “to be a person who makes people right with someone.” English is able to use two words with the same root as well, just -. If possible translate using similar words for both Greek words.

be just: Here this word means “to do what is right.” God always does the right deed. Here are other ways to translate this word:

is righteous (Revised Standard Version)
-or-

⌊always⌋ does what is right
-or-
is a just God (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
is upright
-or-
is truly straight

to justify: The Greek is literally “the one putting right.” Here it means “declares people right before God.” When people believe in Jesus, God forgives them and considers them righteous. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

the one who puts right in his sight
-or-
he who makes right with himself
-or-
he declares righteous

The word “the one putting right” is the same word as “will be justified” in 3:20. See how you translated this word there.

the one who has faith in Jesus: The word faith means “to believe.” Some languages must use a verb for the meaning of faith. For example:

the one who believes in Jesus

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 5:2

5:2a

through whom: Here this phrase has the same meaning as “through our Lord Jesus Christ” in 5:1c. He repeats the meaning here to introduce more about what Jesus has done for us. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

By means of what he did
-or-
He has done that for us, and so

we have gained access: The Greek indicates that we gained access in the past and still have that access. God gave grace to us when we believed and continues to give us grace.

In some languages a simple past tense would indicate the correct meaning. For example:

we also obtained access

In some languages both the past and present situation must be explicit to indicate the correct meaning. For example:

we also obtained access and continue to have that access

gained access: This phrase refers to obtaining the right to something. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

obtained access (English Standard Version)
-or-

made it possible for God to show His favor to us
-or-
we become able to experience/have

by faith: There is a textual issue here:

(1) Some Greek manuscripts have this phrase.

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

(2) Some Greek manuscripts omit this phrase.

(Revised Standard Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition, God’s Word, Revised English Bible, New Century Version, Contemporary English Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) because the UBS5 supports it. But the scholars of the UBS5 did indicate they had difficulty deciding which option was best.

5:2b

into this grace: This phrase probably refers to the fact that God declared us righteous, of which Paul spoke in 4:25. In some languages it is more natural to use “that” instead of this here.

grace: Here the word grace indicates the kindness and help that God has given us. He has declared us righteous. People do not deserve this kindness from God. See how you translated this word in 1:7 or 4:16.

in which we stand: Here this phrase means “which we now experience.” Believers experience righteousness because of God being kind and helpful to them. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

in which we now live (Good News Translation)
-or-
which we are currently experiencing

5:2c

And: This word probably connects 5:2c to 5:1b. If possible, translate this in a way that indicates that it does not connect only to 5:2b. For example:

Also,

rejoice in: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rejoice is literally “boast.” Here it refers to having pride about the hope in one day sharing in God’s glory. For example:

boast in (New International Version (2011))
-or-
speak with pride about

In some languages boasting is a bad deed. (But in some languages it is only boasting about oneself that is bad.) If boasting is always considered bad in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:

speak happily about

the hope of the glory of God: This phrase indicates that believers confidently expect that God will share his glory with them. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

our hope of sharing the glory of God (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
we confidently…look forward to sharing God’s glory (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
our confidence that we will receive glory from God (God’s Word)

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 2020