7:3a–d

she is joined to another man…marries another man: The phrase joined to and the word marries translate the same Greek word. There are several ways to interpret this word in the two places:

(1) The word refers to marrying both times. For example:

married another man…remarries (New Living Translation (2004))

(New International Version, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New Living Translation (2004), NET Bible, God’s Word, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)

(2) The word refers to adultery the first time and marrying the second time. For example:

lives with another man…marries another man (Revised Standard Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New International Version (2011), Contemporary English Version, English Standard Version)

(3) The word refers to adultery both times. For example:

have relations with another man…has relations with another man (New Jerusalem Bible)

(New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the Greek word is unlikely to mean two different things in this verse (interpretation (2)) and 7:2 refers to a woman remarrying after her first husband dies, so 7:3d is most likely referring to remarrying also. Also, Paul was talking about when the law of marriage is in effect, so interpretation (1) fits that discussion best.

7:3a

So then: This Greek phrase introduces a result. Here are other ways to translate this word:

Accordingly (English Standard Version)
-or-
So (New Jerusalem Bible)

7:3b

she is called: Here the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as is called is more literally “bear/take a name/title.” Here are other ways to translate this clause:

she will bear the name/title of
-or-
she will have the label of

adulteress: This word refers to a woman who has sexual intercourse with a man who is not her husband. Here are other ways to translate this word:

she is committing-adultery
-or-
an adultery doing woman

General Comment on 7:3a–b

Here the if-clause (7:3a) comes after its consequence (7:3b). In some languages the if-clause may come second. For example:

Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive (English Standard Version)

7:3c

she is free from that law: The phrase that law refers to the law of marriage in 7:2b. Her husband has died, so the law no longer calls her married. She is free to marry someone else. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

the authority of that law over her also ceases-to-exist
-or-
she is no longer bound by what the law says about this

7:3d

and is not an adulteress, even if she marries another man: This clause is still connected to “if her husband dies.” In some languages this phrase must be repeated for the correct meaning. For example:

and if she marries another man ⌊after he has died,⌋ she is not an adulteress

marries: For the interpretation issue about this word, see the note at 7:3a–d above.

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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.

8:10a

But: There is contrast between “anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ” (8:9c) and “Christ is in you” here. For that reason many English versions translate the Greek word here as But.

if Christ is in you: Here the word if introduces a situation that is true. If this first part is true, that supports the second part (“your spirit is alive because of righteousness…your body is dead because of sin” 8:10c,b).

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:

Christ lives within you, so (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
should ⌊Jesus⌋ Christ be in you
-or-
if ⌊you agree that⌋ Christ is in you ⌊and I know that you do⌋, then ⌊you should also agree that⌋

Christ is in you: There is no verb in the Greek, but is is clearly implied (for natural English). Here are other ways to translate this clause:

Cristo remains in you
-or-
Christ lives in your hearts/insides

8:10b

your body is dead: There is no verb in the Greek here. Many English versions add is, in accord with adding “is” in 8:10a. But here the clause needs to be understood in a figurative sense, because Paul was speaking of believers who were still alive. They do not live according to human nature, so in that way their human nature (or body) is dead. Other English versions add a different word or phrase to avoid the figurative use of is. For example:

is subject to death (New International Version (2011))
-or-
your body will die (New Living Translation (2004))

body: This word refers to the physical body of a human being. Some languages must add a possessive pronoun. For example:

your bodies

because of sin: Sin leads to death (5:12 and 6:23). In some languages it is more natural to add a possessive pronoun to the word sin. In some languages it is more natural to make the word sin plural. For example:

because of your sins (Contemporary English Version)

8:10c

your spirit is alive: There are three ways to interpret this clause:

(1) It indicates that the Holy Spirit provides life to believers here. For example:

the Spirit is life for you (Good News Translation)

(New International Version (2011), Good News Translation, New Living Translation (2004), NET Bible, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)

(2) It indicates that the human spirit of believers is alive here. For example:

your spirits are alive (God’s Word)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version (1984), New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New American Standard Bible, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version)

(3) It indicates that the Holy Spirit is life in some general way. For example:

the Spirit is life (King James Version)

(King James Version, New Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because these verses are talking about the relationship of the Holy Spirit to believers.

is alive: Again, the Greek does not have a verb here. Many English versions add is, in accord with adding “is” in 8:10a and 8:10b. However, here the implied connection is probably that the Holy Spirit gives life, implying new life. For example:

gives life (New International Version (2011))

because of righteousness: God has declared believers to be righteous (3:21). The Holy Spirit then indwells them and gives them life (8:11).

© 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.

9:3a

For: Here this word introduces an explanation of what Paul said in 9:2.

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

(1) It means wish here.

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

(2) It means pray here. For example:

I could pray (New Jerusalem Bible)

(New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the context does not indicate or imply that this action is directed to God. Also, it might be appropriate for Paul to wish that he was accursed for the sake of the Jews, but it would not be appropriate for him to pray for God to make him accursed and cut off from Christ.

Here are other ways to translate this clause:

if it were possible, I would like
-or-
If I could save my fellow Jews I would do it even if it meant
-or-
If it were possible, I really would not refuse to

could wish: Here the word could indicates that Paul had a true desire to see the Jews saved but stopped short of actually wishing that to happen. See the above examples.

were cursed: Here these words refer to something that is marked for destruction. All people who reject Jesus as the Christ are cursed. Here are other ways to translate this word:

were under a curse
-or-
be placed under God’s curse (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
be put in ⌊eternal⌋ punishment

and cut off from Christ: The Berean Standard Bible and some English versions add the phrase and cut off. It explains the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as from. Here this word indicates separation from Christ forever. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

separated from Christ (New American Standard Bible)
-or-

⌊remove me⌋ from ⌊my life in⌋ Christ

9:3b

for the sake of my brothers, my own flesh and blood: This refers to the Jews who do not believe in Jesus. It refers to some benefit for these Jews related to the possibility of Paul being cut off from Christ. Paul explained clearly in 10:1, but did not say here what he might expect from a wish to be accursed for the sake of these Jews. You may want to explain in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

10:1 explains that Paul wanted very much for the Jews who do not believe in Jesus to believe in him.

for the sake of: This phrase refers to helping or causing advantage for someone. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

to help
-or-
for
-or-
to benefit

See how you translated the phrase “on behalf of” in 1:5.

my brothers, my own flesh and blood: Here the phrase my brothers refers to Jews, because Paul was a Jew. The phrase my own flesh and blood explains the phrase my brothers, because the word brothers is often used to refer to fellow Christians. Connect the second phrase to the first in a way that it explains the first phrase. For example:

my brothers, my kinsfolk by natural descent (Revised English Bible)
-or-
my fellow Jews who are related-to-me-by-blood
-or-
my fellow Jews, ⌊they are⌋ my true tribesmen

my own flesh and blood: This phrase refers to people of the same tribe or people group as Paul according to natural descent. The Jews and Paul all descended from Jacob, whose other name was Israel. This phrase makes it clear that Paul was talking specifically about people who were related to him by birth. See the above examples.

© 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.

10:2a

For: Here this word introduces the reason Paul prayed for the Jews.

I testify about: This phrase means “report what one saw.” The phrase is often used where the person is expected to be truthful and accurate. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

I bear…witness (English Standard Version)
-or-
I ⌊truthfully⌋ say about

See how you translated the phrase “attested” in 3:21.

them: Here the Greek grammar indicates that Paul spoke about them, rather than to them. Some English translations can be taken either way, but the Greek only indicates the first meaning.

10:2b

they are zealous for God: The word zealous refers to an eagerness to do something. The Jews were eager to follow God according to the Laws of Moses, and eager to speak for God in an argument, and eager to fight against those who oppose God. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

what enthusiasm they have for God (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
they really strive to follow/obey God

10:2c

but not on the basis of knowledge: This indicates that the things that the Jews did in their zeal did not agree with what God said in the Old Testament. The Jews read and should have known what God wanted them to do. Instead they followed their own thinking.

Some languages must repeat all of part of the meaning of “they have zeal for God” for a natural translation. For example:

but ⌊their zeal is⌋ not according to knowledge

knowledge: This refers to things about God that people can know. In some languages a literal translation would refer to knowledge in general. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain in your translation. For example:

knowledge ⌊of him⌋
-or-

⌊religious⌋ knowledge

© 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 11:13–15

11:13a

The Greek of 11:13a begins with a word that is often translated as “but” and “and.” The Berean Standard Bible has not translated this word. Here the word introduces another thing that Paul wanted to say. For example:

But (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
I am… (Good News Translation)

I am speaking to you Gentiles: In the Greek, the word you is emphasized. Here are some ways to translate the emphasis:

You Gentiles, I speak to you
-or-
It is to you Gentiles that I am speaking

I am speaking: This clause refers to what Paul had been saying and what he said next. See the above examples.

speaking: The Roman believers read this letter. So in some languages the word “writing” would be more natural here.

Gentiles: Paul implied here believers who are not Jews. In some languages a literal translation would indicate or imply people who do not believe in Jesus. If that is true in your language, indicate the correct meaning. For example:

Gentile ⌊believers⌋
-or-

⌊believers who are⌋ not Jews

11:13b

Inasmuch as: The Greek of 11:13b has a word that is often translated as “then” or “therefore” after the phrase Inasmuch as. In many languages it is more natural to have it in front. For example:

Then, inasmuch as

There are two ways to translate this Greek phrase:

(1) It bases his right to act in this way on the fact that he is an apostle to the Gentiles. For example:

as far as (New Jerusalem Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, English Standard Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)

(2) It bases his right to act on how much time Paul had been an apostle to the Gentiles. For example:

As long as (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the Greek lexicons do not support interpretation (2).

the apostle: The Greek does not have the word that the Berean Standard Bible has translated as the. There are two ways to interpret this:

(1) It indicates that the word an should be added in English. For example:

an apostle (English Standard Version)

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

(2) It implies that the word the should be added in English. For example:

the apostle (New International Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, King James Version, New Living Translation (2004), New American Bible, Revised Edition)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because it is unlikely that Paul claimed to be the only apostle to Gentiles, as interpretation (2) implies.

apostle: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as apostle means a “representative” or “messenger.” God chose Paul and sent him to tell the gospel about Jesus. See how you translated this word in 1:1.

to the Gentiles: This phrase indicates that Paul had a ministry as an apostle with people who were not Jews.

11:13c

magnify: The Greek word here is often translated “glorify.” Paul told others that his ministry is important. He boasted about it. Here are other ways to translate this word:

glorify (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
make much of (New International Version)
-or-
I go around telling to the Yuus the talk of what God has done amongst the non-Yuus through me

ministry: The Greek word here refers to the work of helping others. It refers to Paul being an apostle, not another work of his. Paul’s work as an apostle helped others. Here are other ways to translate this word:

work of service (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
this work of helping others

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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.

14:6a

observes: The Greek verb means “acknowledging the importance of something” (BDAG) or “to acknowledge the high status of (an) event” (L&N). Here are other ways to translate this word:

regards…as special (New International Version)
-or-
think highly of (Good News Translation)

a special day: This refers to the days that some believers think are more important than other days (14:5a). Your translation should refer to that day. For example:

that day
-or-
those ⌊special⌋ days

does so to the Lord:
This clause indicates that these believers honor the Lord by observing the days they think are special.

the Lord: This probably refers to Jesus. In some languages it is more natural to put a name to this title. For example:

the Lord ⌊Jesus⌋

14:6b–c

he who eats: This refers to the believer who eats all foods (14:2a). In some languages a literal translation here would refer to anyone who eats, that is, everyone. If that is true in your language, make the connection to 14:2 clear. For example:

The one who eats ⌊anything⌋
-or-
The one who eats ⌊all kinds of food⌋

You may want to translate here in the same way you translated “eat all things” in 14:2a.

14:6d–e

and: The Greek word here is usually translated and or “but.” The connection indicates that the two different things both occur. Use whatever is most natural in your language. For example:

while (English Standard Version)
-or-
but
-or-
Another person…

he who abstains: The Greek is literally “the one not eating.” It refers to the person who eats only vegetables (14:2b–3b). See how you translated this phrase in 14:3.

© 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.

15:15a

However: Here this word introduces that Paul wrote boldly. Some languages will not see contrast to Paul being satisfied with the believers in Rome. For example:

I have written… (New International Version (1984))
-or-
Here in this letter…

I have written you a bold reminder on some points: Some English versions place the phrase on some points in the front of the clause to emphasize it, but the Greek does not emphasize it. The Greek puts the word “rather/very-boldly” in the front of the clause to emphasize it. If possible, emphasize this word or phrase in your translation. For example:

very boldly I have written to you on some points

I have written you:
This refers to what Paul had written so far in this letter. In some languages a literal translation would refer to a previous letter. If that is true in your language, indicate that Paul spoke of this letter here. For example:

I have written to you ⌊in this letter⌋

a bold: The Greek word here is more literally “more-boldly.” It is not clear what is being compared here. Probably the part of the Greek word indicating “more” just means “much” or “very” here. The Greek does that sometimes. For example:

quite boldly (New International Version (2011))
-or-
rather boldly (New Revised Standard Version)

bold: This word refers to having courage and not being afraid to do or say something.

reminder: This phrase indicates that Paul wrote those things to remind the believers in Rome of them. For example:

to remind you (New American Bible, Revised Edition)

on some points: This refers to some of the topics in this letter. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

about certain subjects (Good News Translation)
-or-
I’ve written you a letter, parts of which are rather bold (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
I have…written…at times (Revised English Bible)
-or-
in some of what I have said in this letter

15:15b

because of: This phrase introduces the thing that is the reason why something happened. God’s gift of apostleship to Paul was the reason why he wrote so boldly to the believers in Rome.

the grace God has given me: Here the word grace refers to the strength and knowledge that God gave to Paul, enabling him to do his ministry. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

the gift I have from God (Revised English Bible)
-or-
my authority ⌊as an apostle⌋ that God freely gave to me

© 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.