SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 2020 – Page 35

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 3:18

3:18

There is no fear of God before their eyes: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fear can also mean “reverence.” The meaning of “reverence” is probably implied along with the meaning of fear here. These people are not afraid of God and do not respect him either.

But many languages do not have a word that has both Greek meanings. If that is true in your language, translate the meaning of fear. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

They have no fear of God at all (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
They are not afraid of God ⌊and his judgment⌋
-or-
they also do not think that they should be afraid to sin against God

before their eyes: This is a figure of speech. What is in front of a person’s eyes that determines where he goes. So Paul indicated that the fear of God did not in any way determine how these people lived. See the above examples.

General Comment on 3:18

These words are similar to the words found in Psalm 36:1.

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 4:19

4:19a

Without weakening in his faith: This clause indicates that Abraham continued believing in God well. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

his faith did not decrease
-or-
Abraham did not stop believing
-or-
his faith was still strong
-or-
his believing ⌊in God⌋ did not fall/move

his: This word refers to Abraham here. In some languages 4:18d might imply that his here refers to God. If that is true in your language, use the name here. For example:

Abraham’s

4:19b

In this verse part, Paul speaks of Abraham’s body as if it were dead. The Berean Standard Bible translates the meaning of this metaphor with the phrase “the decrepitness of his body.” In order to comment directly on the metaphor, the notes use the English Standard Version in this verse part.

(English Standard Version🙂 when he considered his own body:
The word considered means “thought about.” For example:

he contemplated his own body (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
when he thought of his body (Good News Translation)

(English Standard Version🙂 which was as good as dead: There is a textual issue here:

(1) The Greek is having been dead. For example:

as good as dead (New International Version)

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

(2) The Greek is already having been dead. For example:

which was already as good as dead (New Revised Standard Version)

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

It is recommended that you follow option (1), because it is harder to find a reason for a copyist to omit it if it was originally there than finding a reason for a copyist to add it.

(English Standard Version🙂 which: This word introduces how Paul described Abraham’s body. In some languages a different word or phrase must be used for the correct meaning. This also may require a new sentence. For example:

It was as good as dead

(English Standard Version🙂 was as good as dead: The Greek is more literally “having been dead.” It is a figure of speech here. It indicates that Abraham was too old to produce child. Here are other ways to translate these words:

as dead (NET Bible)
-or-
it was no longer possible for him to have any children
-or-
which was too old to father a child
-or-
much past the age for having children (New Century Version)

4:19c

(since he was about a hundred years old): This clause is background information: additional information that is not a main part of what Paul was talking about. So the Berean Standard Bible and some other English versions put this clause in parentheses to indicate that. It explains “good as dead” in 4:19b. Here are other ways to punctuate this clause:

—since he was about a hundred years old— (New International Version)
-or-
because he was about a hundred years old, (Revised Standard Version)

In some languages, it is more natural to begin a sentence with background information. See General Comment at 4:19d.

he was about a hundred years old: This phrase refers to how many years Abraham had lived about the time that Sarah became pregnant. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

Abraham’s age was close to a hundred years
-or-
his years were about 100

4:19d

the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb: The Greek word which the Berean Standard Bible translates as lifelessness is literally “deadness.” Here it implies “unable to have children.” Paul used this word instead of the usual Greek word for lifelessness to connect it to “as good as dead” in 4:19b.

In some languages a literal translation would have the correct meaning. For example:

the deadness of Sarah’s womb (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
that Sarah’s womb was dead (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb (New Living Translation (2004))

But in some languages a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:

Sarah was unable to have children (God’s Word)
-or-
Sara his wife was barren
-or-
she could not give birth

Sarah’s womb: This phrase refers to the place where a baby lives and grows before the mother gives birth. Some languages have a polite way to refer to this place. For example:

Sarah’s tummy/stomach

Also see the examples above.

Sarah’s: Sarah was Abraham’s wife. In some languages people would not know that. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain that here. For example:

⌊his wife⌋ Sarah’s

General Comment on 4:19a–d

4:19b–d is background information to 4:19a. In some languages it is more natural to have the background information first. For example:

19b When he acknowledged his own body, which was as good as dead 19c (since he was about a hundred years old), 19d or when he acknowledged the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb, 19a he did not weaken in faith.
-or-

19b He acknowledged his own body as good as dead 19c because he was about a hundred years old, 19d and acknowledged Sarah’s womb also as good as dead, 19a but he did not weaken in faith.

General Comment on 4:18a–19d

People of some language groups are not familiar with the story of Abraham, and so the purpose of 4:18 may not be clear until reading 4:19. If that is true of people in your language, you may want to have the words of 4:19 first. For example:

19b When he acknowledged his own body, which was as good as dead 19c (since he was about a hundred years old), 19d or when he acknowledged the barrenness of Sarah’s womb, 19a he did not weaken in faith. 18a In hope he believed against hope, 18b that he should become the father of many nations, 18c as he had been told, 18d “So shall your offspring be.”

You will then need to mark these two verses as 18-19.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 6:5

Paragraph 6:5–7

6:5a–b

if we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection: Here, the word if introduces a situation that is true. If this first part is true, that supports the second part (we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection).

Here the word if does not indicate that we have been united with Him like this in His death might not be true. In some languages a literal translation would indicate this incorrect meaning. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning without using if. For example:

consider this : we have been united with him like this in his death, therefore we will also certainly be united with him in his resurrection
-or-

it is true that we have been united with him like this in his death, therefore we will also certainly be united with him in his resurrection
-or-
we have been united with him like this in his death, therefore we will also certainly be united with him in his resurrection

6:5a

For: This word introduces support for what Paul said in 6:4 and also an explanation of it. Some languages can omit this word and the connection is still clear.

we have been united with Him: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause here. For example:

⌊God⌋ has united us with him

united with Him: Here this phrase refers to symbolically/mystically sharing with Jesus in his experience of death. We are joined to Jesus in some way. We have not yet died physically like he did. But something about his death is true for us now as well. Here are other ways to translate this word:

joined (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
become one (Good News Translation)
-or-
connected

like this in His death: Here the word in indicates that His death was the situation in which God united us with Jesus. We share some of the characteristics of his death.

like this: Here the words like this indicate that the death that believers share is in many ways like the death of Jesus, but is not the same in all ways.

6:5b

we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection: The Berean Standard Bible adds the words united with Him. They are clearly implied from 6:5a. This clause is what Paul said is also true based on what he said in 6:5a. For example:

⌊then⌋ we will also certainly be united with him in his resurrection
-or-

in the same way we… (Good News Translation)
-or-

so we… (New Jerusalem Bible)

in His resurrection: The word resurrection refers to God making Jesus alive again after he was dead. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

in being raised from death like he was
-or-
when ⌊God⌋ raises us from the dead like ⌊he⌋ raised him/Jesus/Christ
-or-
when ⌊God⌋ causes us to live again after we die, like ⌊he⌋ did with him/Jesus

See how you translated the word resurrection in 1:4 or 4:24 (“raised from the dead”).

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 7:14

7:14a

In Greek, 7:14a begins with a word that is usually translated as “for.” This word introduces a sentence that supports 7:12–13. The law is good and it is also from the Holy Spirit. In some languages, it may be more natural to omit this world, as the Berean Standard Bible does.

the law is spiritual: Here the word spiritual indicates that God, through the Holy Spirit, gave the law. It contrasts with “unspiritual” in 7:14b. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

the law…comes from God’s Spirit
-or-
the Holy Spirit is the source of the law
-or-
the laws of God are the things of the/our spirit

7:14b

I am unspiritual: Here the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as unspiritual refers to being of the physical side of life. It often opposes what God wants. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

I am carnal (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
I am a creature of this world
-or-
I am merely a human (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
I am just a weak human

See how you translated the word “flesh” in 7:5.

7:14c

sold as a slave to sin: This clause further describes Paul (“I”). The words “I am” are implied from 7:14b. Some languages may need “and” in front of this clause. For example:

⌊and⌋ ⌊I am⌋ sold as a slave to sin

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

⌊and⌋ ⌊I am⌋ ⌊like⌋ ⌊a slave whom someone/they⌋ have sold to be under sin

This is a figure of speech. Because the word sold implies being sold as a slave, the Berean Standard Bible supplies the words as a slave. The word to indicates that Paul’s new master is sin. He is required to do as sin tells him. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

⌊and⌋ ⌊I am⌋ ⌊like⌋ a slave who has been sold to ⌊a new master,⌋ ⌊namely,⌋ sin

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 8:21

8:21a

that: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as that :

(1) It means that here. It introduces what the hope (8:20) is.

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, New Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)

(2) It means because here. It introduces the reason for the hope. For example:

because (Revised Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version, King James Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because that seems to fit the context best.

the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay: This clause speaks of creation as if it were a person who is a slave. It indicates that all things of this creation corrupt or decay. It cannot produce things that last forever.

Some languages cannot use this figure of speech. If that is true in your language, translate without the figure of speech. For example:

all that was created will be-set-free in-the-future from the power of decay and death
-or-
the creation itself will be changed so that the things of it will no longer corrupt/decay

the creation itself will be set free: This clause is passive. Some languages must translate with an active clause. For example:

⌊God⌋ will set creation itself free
-or-
the creation itself, ⌊God⌋ will set it free

the creation itself: The word itself emphasizes the words the creation.

will be set free: The Greek has the word that means “also” here. For example:

also will be set free (New American Standard Bible)

set free: Here these words refer to removing creation from being like a slave to corruption. Here are other ways to translate these words:

liberated (New International Version)
-or-
freed (New Jerusalem Bible)

bondage: The Greek word refers to being a slave to someone or something. A slave must do what the master says. Here the creation always follows the way of corruption and so all the things of this creation corrupt or decay. Here are other ways to translate this word:

slavery (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
being tied

decay: This Greek word refers to what happens to things when they go bad, for example, meat spoils and wood rots. Here are other ways to translate this word:

corruption (English Standard Version)
-or-
spoil

8:21b

and brought into: The Greek word here is literally just into. It indicates that when God frees creation from slavery to corruption, it will also enter into the freedom that exists in the future glory of God’s adopted children. Creation will be free from corruption and be eternal. Here are other ways to translate this word:

and obtain (English Standard Version)
-or-
and share in (New American Bible, Revised Edition)

the glorious freedom: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translated as the glorious freedom is literally “the freedom of glory.” Here scholars understand the Greek grammar of the word “of” in a number of ways. A few scholars and many English versions think it means “described by” (as in the Berean Standard Bible). Other scholars think it means “belonging to” or “is associated with.” That would be the usual way to understand the use of the word “of” as in the English Standard Version:

the freedom of the glory… (English Standard Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 9:14

Section 9:14–29

God always does what is right

In this section, Paul began by asking if God acts unjustly when he chooses some people and not others. Paul answered his own question with a strong “No!” All God’s choices depend on his mercy and not on anything about the people he chooses. God made Pharaoh the way he was when he wanted the Jews to leave Egypt.

Paul spoke to a possible complaint about no one ultimately being able to resist God’s will. He said that complaining to God about that is futile.

God shows his anger and power against people he has hardened. He does this to show how great his mercy is to other people. Both Jews and Gentiles are eligible to receive his mercy.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

God’s choices/will are/is sovereign/supreme
-or-
God chooses whom he wants for both Jews and Gentiles

Paragraph 9:14–18

9:14a

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?

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

Shall we say this?
-or-
What…are we to say? (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
what should we say about this? (New Century Version)

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

Maybe we might say this:

See how you translated this question in 6:1 or 7:7.

9:14b

Is God unjust?: Since God chose Jacob over Esau before they were even born, Paul felt it was possible that someone could accuse God of not being just. That is the issue he raised with this question, but he went on to answer it with the strong words: “Certainly not!”

The Greek is literally “Not unrighteousness with God?” It asks if God might have been unfair to Esau (or any other example like him). The Greek expects a “No, he is not unfair” for an answer. If possible, translate in a way that expects a no answer. (Not all the questions below expect a no answer in English, but they might in your language.) Here are other ways to translate this question:

Is there injustice on God’s part? (English Standard Version)
-or-
Is it possible that God might have been unfair?
-or-
Is it good to think that God was not right?
-or-
God is not unjust, is he?
-or-
It is wrong to think that God was not right!

Certainly not!: The Greek is literally “May it not be.” It indicates a very strong “no.” People are not to think that God was wrong about rejecting Esau. See how you translated this phrase in 3:4 or 7:13.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 10:13

10:13

for: This word introduces an explanation of how the Lord provides riches to all who call on him.

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved: This is a quote of Joel 2:32. If you indicate the location of quotes from the Old Testament with cross-references, you may want to do so here.

In some languages people prefer Old Testament quotes to be clearly introduced. For example:

as the Scripture says, “Anyone who calls on the Lord will be saved.” (New Century Version)

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

the Lord will save everyone who calls on his name

calls on the name of the Lord: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as calls is in the middle voice, as in 10:12c. But here the help for which the people are calling is for God to save them. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

ask the Lord for mercy
-or-
asks the Leader to be rescued

calls: The present tense here refers to any time. It does not indicate continuing action here.

the name of the Lord: The phrase the name of refers to the person and the kind of person he is. People know that the Lord can save, so they call on him. See the examples above.

the Lord: This is a quote from the Old Testament, so the Lord refers to God. Do not add “Jesus” or “Jesus Christ” (as implied information) here. Also, if possible, do not add “God” here either, because Paul implied that the Lord applies to Jesus in 10:14.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 11:24

11:24a

For: Here this word introduces a second reason or basis for Jews being grafted in, once they believe in Jesus.

if: Here the word if introduces a situation that is true. If this first part is true, that supports the second part (God will graft in Jews, if they believe in Jesus (11:24c)) to also be true.

In some languages, translating literally here would have a different meaning. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:

if ⌊it is true that⌋
-or-
you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, ⌊therefore⌋ how much more…

you were cut from: The clause you were cut is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

⌊God⌋ cut you from

you: This word is emphatic in the Greek. For example:

you yourself
-or-
as for you, if you…

a wild olive tree: The phrase indicates that the tree from which the person was cut was by nature a wild olive tree, as opposed to a cultivated one. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

the wild olive tree to which you belonged
-or-
your parent/own wild olive tree

11:24b

and contrary to nature were grafted into one that is cultivated: The phrase contrary to nature indicates that grafting of a branch from the wild olive tree into the cultivated olive is contrary to nature. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

grafted to a cultivated tree to which you did not belong
-or-
grafted to a cultivated olive tree that was not your own tree

were grafted: The word “you” is implied from 11:24a. This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

⌊God⌋ grafted ⌊you⌋

one that is cultivated: The word cultivated indicates that people planted this olive tree and took care of it. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

a domestic olive tree
-or-
the planted olive
-or-
the cared-for tree

11:24c–d

how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!: The phrase how much more indicates that it is more fitting for God to graft the natural branches back to the cultivated olive tree, than to graft wild olive branches to it. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

it is much more fitting/proper that these, the natural branches, will be grafted back into their own olive tree
-or-
it is right indeed for God to graft these, the natural branches, back into their own tree

will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

⌊God⌋ will graft these, the natural branches, into their own olive tree

these, the natural branches: The Greek is more literally “these (ones), the (ones) according-to nature.” The last part (“according-to nature”) here refers to the branches of the cultivated tree. The word these emphasizes that Paul was talking here about the branches of the cultivated olive tree. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

these branches, to the tree to which they belong
-or-
these ones, the branches of their parent/own ⌊cultivated⌋ tree

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 2020