SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 2020 – Page 28

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 2:3

2:3a

So when you, O man, pass judgment on others, yet do the same things: In some languages it is more natural to have the term of address and description first in the clause. For example:

O man, you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself

O man: This is the same phrase as that Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as “You” in 2:1. Translate this phrase as you did there.

2:3b

do you think you will escape God’s judgment?: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes that this man should not expect to escape the judgment of God. Translate this with that meaning. Here are some ways:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

do you think you will escape God’s condemnation? (New Jerusalem Bible)

• As a statement. For example:

You are wrong to suppose/expect that you will escape the judgment of God

• As a command. For example:

Do not suppose/expect that you will escape the judgment of God

think: Here the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as think refers to thinking something to be true. Paul warned this man not to have the opinion that God will not punish those who judge others as bad yet do the same evil deeds. Here are other ways to translate this word:

suppose (English Standard Version)
-or-
believe
-or-
expect

escape: This word refers to avoiding danger in some way. This man perhaps thinks that he can prevent God from punishing him. Here are other ways to translate this word:

avoid (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
run away from

God’s judgment: In some languages, the word judgment must be translated as a verb. For example:

God’s judging you
-or-
on the day when God judges you

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 3:6

3:6a

Certainly not!: These are the same Greek phrase as in 3:4a. Translate it as you did there.

But this phrase answers the question in 3:5c. It does not connect to 3:5d. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate Paul disagreed with what he said in 3:5d. If that is true in your language, you may want to repeat some of 3:5c here. For example:

By no means ⌊should we say that God is unrighteous⌋ !

3:6b

In that case: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as In that case introduces a different conclusion than what was said before. The meaning of 3:6a is “By no means ⌊should we say that God is unrighteous⌋,” and now the meaning of 3:6b is “for, ⌊if God was unrighteous,⌋ how could he judge the world ⌊justly⌋ ?” Translate this conjunction with that meaning. Here are other ways to translate this word:

Otherwise, (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
If that were so, (New International Version)
-or-
If God is not just, (Good News Translation)

how could God judge the world?: This is a rhetorical question. It expects the answer “if God was not righteous, he could not judge people justly.” Translate this clause with that meaning. Here are some ways to do that:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

how can he judge the world? (Good News Translation)
-or-
how will God judge the world? (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
how would he be qualified to judge the world? (New Living Translation (2004))

• As a statement. For example:

It would mean that God could not be the judge of the world. (New Jerusalem Bible)

how could God judge: Many scholars say that this question is about how, not ability. It asks, “If God is not righteous, by what standard would he use to judge?” For example:

how will God judge (New American Standard Bible)

The English words “can” or could have a similar meaning here.

the world: Here this phrase refers to all people whoever lived. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly refer only to the earth. If that is true in your language, translate this as:

all people

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 4:7

4:7a

Blessed are they whose lawless acts are forgiven: This clause moves the phrase Blessed are to the beginning for poetic effect. In some languages, doing that is not natural. If that is true in your language:

• Use a poetic structure that your language has.

• Use normal word order with a passive clause. For example:

Those whose lawless deeds are forgiven are blessed

• Use normal word order with an active clause. For example:

⌊God⌋ blesses those whose lawless deeds are forgiven

they whose lawless acts are forgiven: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause here. For example:

those whom ⌊God/he⌋ forgives their lawless acts

lawless acts: This phrase refers to acts that break the law. Here the word “law” can refer to God’s laws in the OT or more generally to laws where you live. Here are some ways to translate this word:

law-breaking acts
-or-
breaking the law

4:7b

whose sins are covered: The phrase “blessed are those” is implied from 4:7a. In some languages this phrase must be made explicit for the correct meaning. For example:

and ⌊blessed are those⌋ whose sins are covered

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

whom ⌊God⌋ covers their sins

sins: This word refers to doing something that God said is wrong to do, or not doing something that God said they should do. See how you translated this word in 3:9.

are covered: Here the word covered is a figure of speech. It indicates that God no longer considers those sins as a problem. They are out of his sight as if he had buried them in the ground. The meaning is similar to “forgiven.” Here are some ways to translate the figure of speech:

• Use a figure of speech. For example:

are put out of sight (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
are blotted out (Revised English Bible)

• Translate without using a figure of speech. For example:

are pardoned (Good News Translation)
-or-
are forgotten (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
he is no longer bringing-to-mind

General Comment on 4:7a–b

4:7b is similar in meaning to “whose lawless acts are forgiven” in 4:7a. Hebrew poetry (as here) repeats meaning to emphasize it. In some languages repeating meaning implies a different meaning, such as expressing anger. If that is true in your language, translate in a way that emphasizes the correct meaning. For example:

Blessed are those whose lawless acts and sins are indeed covered and forgiven

Also, in some languages “lawless acts” and “sins” would be translated by the same term. If that is true in your language, use only the one term. For example:

Blessed are those whose sins are indeed covered and forgiven

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 5:14

5:14a

Nevertheless: This word indicates that 5:14a contrasts with 5:13b. For example:

But (Good News Translation)

death reigned: This clause speaks of death as if it were a person. It indicates that all the people who lived between Adam and Moses died, because they all sinned. Some languages can translate the figure of speech literally and people will understand the correct meaning. For example:

death ruled (Good News Translation)

But some languages must translate the meaning of the figure of speech. For example:

death still had power over all who lived (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
everyone had to die (New Century Version)

5:14b

even over those who did not sin in the way that Adam transgressed: God told Adam to not eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam disobeyed God and later died as a result. Everyone else after Adam also died, even those who did not disobey God in the way Adam did. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam (New International Version)
-or-
even over those who did not sin in the same way that Adam did when he disobeyed God’s command (Good News Translation)

even over: Here the word even indicates that Paul included people who sinned in ways that were different than Adam’s sin. Here are other ways to translate this word:

including
-or-
as well as

sin: This word in Greek refers to doing something wrong or bad. It is a more general word than “transgression.”

transgressed: This word in Greek refers to breaking a law, rule, or command. See the examples above.

5:14c

He is a pattern of the One to come: The phrase He is a pattern of the One to come refers to Jesus. The word pattern indicates here that Adam did something that was like Jesus: they both did something that affected all people. But their deeds were very different. Adam introduced sin and death. Jesus introduced salvation. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

who was a type of the one who was to come (English Standard Version)
-or-
he is like a picture/shadow of the man/person who was to come ⌊later⌋
-or-
he is like the one who came later in one way

You should avoid translations that indicate that Adam was generally like or the same as Jesus.

He is a pattern: This clause tells the reader more about Adam. It does not separate this Adam from other Adams.

is a pattern: The Greek verb has the present tense ending and so means is. It indicates that this statement is true then and now. Consider how to translate that meaning.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 7:2

7:2a

For instance: These words introduce an example of the law binding a person (7:1b). For example:

For example, (New International Version)

a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives: Here the words bound by law refers to the law requiring the woman to remain married to her husband. She must behave as a woman married to a man. She is not free to marry another man. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

a married woman is tied to her husband by the law
-or-
a married woman is required by law to behave as married to her husband

This clause is passive. The law binds her to her husband. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

the law binds/ties a married woman to her husband
-or-
when a woman marries, the law binds her to her husband (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
the law says that she must/ought to be one with her husband

7:2b

she is released from the law of marriage: Here the word released indicates that the law no longer requires the woman to remain married to her husband. She is free to marry another man. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

she is untied from the law to be married to her husband
-or-
she is no longer required by the law of marriage to behave as married to him

This clause is passive. The law frees her from her marriage to her husband. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

the law of marriage unties her
-or-
the laws of marriage no longer apply to her (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
that law no longer has authority over her

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 8:9

Paragraph 8:9–11

8:9a

You: In the Greek the meaning of You is emphasized. For example:

as for you

however: There is contrast between “those controlled by the flesh” (8:8) and “you are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit.” For example:

But (New American Bible, Revised Edition)

But some languages will not see contrast here. For example:

And

are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit: In some languages it is more natural to put the negated part last. For example:

are in the Spirit and not in the flesh

by the flesh: Translate this phrase as you did in 8:8.

by the Spirit: The word by here indicates a focus upon and an allegiance to something. Here it indicates that believers live with a focus upon and an allegiance to the Spirit. In this case the person controlled by the Spirit is oriented toward the desires of the Spirit and allows himself to be led by him. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

have a relationship with the Holy Spirit
-or-
are connected to the Spirit

the Spirit: This refers to the Holy Spirit here.

8:9b

if the Spirit of God lives in you: Here the word if introduces a situation that is true. If this first part is true, that supports the then-clause (“You…are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit,” 8:9a).

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:

since the Spirit of God dwells in you (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
should the Spirit of God live in you
-or-
if ⌊you agree that⌋ the Spirit of God lives in you ⌊and I know that you do⌋

the Spirit of God lives in you: The word lives indicates that the Holy Spirit is always present in the life of a believer. He counsels the believer as to what to do. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

you have the Spirit of God living in you (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
the Holy Spirit remains in you
-or-
the Spirit of God dwells in your hearts/liver/insides

If you have translated 1 Corinthians 3:16, see how you translated this clause there.

8:9c

And: This Greek word indicates that the topic from 8:7 continues and there is new information about people who do not have the Holy Spirit living in them. There is possibly contrast between those who have the Holy Spirit (8:9b) and those who do not (8:9c). For example:

And (New International Version, Berean Standard Bible)
-or-
But (New Century Version)

if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ: This refers to people who do not believe in Jesus. The word have here refers to being in a relationship with the Spirit of Christ. It is similar in meaning to “the Spirit of God dwells in you,” but looks at that relationship from the side of the believer. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

the person who does not have the Spirit of Christ ⌊living in him⌋
-or-
the person in whom the Holy Spirit is not staying

the Spirit of Christ: This phrase also refers to the Holy Spirit. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly refer to a different spirit. If that is true in your language, indicate that this phrase refers again to the Holy Spirit. For example:

⌊that⌋ Spirit of ⌊Jesus⌋ Christ
-or-

⌊that⌋ Spirit, ⌊he/who is also the Spirit⌋ of Christ

If you have translated 1 Peter 1:11, see how you translated this phrase there.

he does not belong to Christ: The people who do not believe in Jesus, they do not have the Holy Spirit living in them and they are not Jesus’ people. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

he is not of him
-or-
he is not Cristo’s person

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 9:2

9:2

deep sorrow and unceasing anguish: The two Greek words here both refer to emotional/mental pain. Many languages have two words or phrases similar in meaning like that. For example:

I am exceedingly burdened (lit. heavied), also I am always sad (lit. my thoughts are pained)
-or-
my grief is very severe and my mind/inner-being cries-over-it

But in some languages it is more natural to use only one word or phrase. For example:

I see very much sadness

heart: Here this word refers to the part of a person in which thoughts and feelings occur. In some languages people use a different part of the body, such as the mind, throat, liver, or stomach, in this way. See how you translated this word in 1:21 or 8:27.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 10:1

Paragraph 10:1–4

10:1a

Brothers: Here this word refers to believers in Jesus, both men and women. The word indicates a close relationship between believers because God has made them his (adopted) children. It does not refer here to his fellow Israelites who did not believe in Jesus, as in 9:3. See how you translated this word in 1:13 or 8:12.

my heart’s desire: This phrase indicates that Paul was about to speak of something that he really wanted to happen. The word heart refers to the inner person, where thoughts and feelings occur. In some languages people use a different part of the body. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

the desire of my insides/liver
-or-
My real desire
-or-
I really want that

prayer to God: Some languages must use a verb here. For example:

I pray to God

for the Israelites:
The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Israelites is literally “them.” It refers to the Jews. Some English versions explain the word, as the Berean Standard Bible, perhaps because a new chapter has begun.

10:1b

is for their salvation: The Greek is literally “for salvation.” Paul wanted his fellow Jews to believe in Jesus and therefore God would save them from going to hell for their sins. For example:

that they may be saved (English Standard Version)

See how you translated salvation in 1:16 or “saved” in 5:9 or 8:24.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 2020