SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 2020 – Page 4

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 8:8

8:8

The Greek begins with a word that is often translated “and” or “but.” Here it indicates that the topic from 8:7 continues and there is new information about pleasing God. For example, the New Jerusalem Bible begins this verse with:

and (New Jerusalem Bible)

Those controlled by the flesh: The phrase by the flesh indicates that these people’s whole life is oriented toward the needs and wants that govern their physical lives. They think and behave only according to it, and think it normal to think and behave that way. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

Those who obey their human nature (Good News Translation)
-or-
those who live according to the needs and desires of the body
-or-
whoever has the desires of the body rule their lives

See how you translated the phrase “according to the flesh” in 7:5.

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 9:1

Division 9:1–11:36

God has not rejected the Jews

In chapters 9–11 Paul spoke about the fact that most Jews had not accepted Jesus as their promised Messiah at that time. He explained how throughout their history God had always preserved a small portion of them as believers. He also talked about the possibility that their salvation was still close at hand in the gospel.

The fact that many did not believe did not mean that God completely rejected them. Also, it was important that the non-Jewish believers not look down on those Jews, or think too highly of themselves.

Paul described the unbelieving Jews as branches broken off a tree so that different branches, the non-Jewish believers, could be grafted in. But this grafting-in was all based on faith, not on any special qualities of those believers. God hardened the Jews’ hearts in part so that non-Jews would be able to come into the family. That will be true until the full number of non-Jews come in. And in that way all Israel will be saved.

Here are other possible headings for this division:

The plan of God for Jews and Gentiles (Stott)
-or-
God’s Justice and Israel’s Future (Witherington)
-or-
Israel and the Purposes of God (Kruse)

Section 9:1–5

Paul was very sad about the Jews

In this section, Paul said that he was very sad about his fellow Jews. He was not specific about the cause of his sadness in these verses, only that God had given them many advantages as Israelites. Paul implied that they did not follow through on those advantages, and that made him sad.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

The unbelief of Israel and God’s choices
-or-
God chooses only according to his plan regarding the Jews

Paragraph 9:1–5

9:1a–2a

In 9:1 Paul strongly indicated in three different ways that he spoke truthfully in 9:2–3. By using three ways, Paul wanted the believers in Rome to be very clear that he spoke the truth in those verses.

I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit. I have deep sorrow: The truth that Paul spoke of here is introduced with the new sentence in 9:2. In the Greek the word truth is first in the clause. This emphasizes it and makes it the topic. Then he said what particular truth he was thinking of in 9:2–3. The Berean Standard Bible uses a comma in 9:1 and a period with a new sentence in 9:2 to indicate the connection of the truth to 9:2–3. Here are other ways to translate this connection:

1 This truth, I speak in Christ, and I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit, ⌊is⌋ 2 that I have great sorrow
-or-

⌊Here is⌋ a truth I speak in Christ and I am not lying ⌊about⌋, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit. ⌊It is⌋ 2 that I have great sorrow
-or-
I am not lying, the Holy Spirit has spoken to me in support of my thought and mind ways [conscience], and I through Christ speak this truth here. 2 I have in my insides great unhappiness

9:1a

I speak the truth: The Greek present tense indicates that Paul wanted to reassure the believers in Rome that what he was about to say is true. The Greek present tense does not indicate that Paul would continue to speak for some time. Here is another way to translate this clause:

I am speaking the truth (English Standard Version)

in Christ: Here the word in refers to the relationship between Paul and Christ. Jesus is Paul’s lord and made him his apostle. So Paul spoke here based on that relationship and being his apostle.

This phrase connects to the verb “speak” or to “I speak the truth” as a whole. See the examples above.

9:1b

I am not lying: This clause also refers to the truth that Paul was about to speak in 9:2–3. It also reinforced to the believers in Rome that what he was about to say is true. For example:

I am not ⌊about to⌋ lie
-or-
I do not lie ⌊when I say it⌋

9:1c

as confirmed by my conscience: This phrase indicates that Paul’s conscience also told him that he was not lying. The word confirmed is used where one is expected to tell the truth accurately. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

my conscience testifies for me (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
tells me I am not lying (New Century Version)

conscience: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as conscience refers to the record of past deeds that a person has in his mind. Thinking of past wrong deeds can cause him to feel ashamed or guilty. See how you translated this word in 2:15.

in the Holy Spirit: Here the word in indicates that the Holy Spirit helped Paul’s conscience to bear truthful witness. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

through the Holy Spirit (New International Version (2011))
-or-
enlightened by the Holy Spirit (Revised English Bible)

the Holy Spirit: This phrase refers to God’s Spirit. The word Spirit is used in a similar way to when a person refers to his own spirit. The word Holy here means “clean” or “sacred.” But it also refers to “coming from God.” See how you translated this phrase in 5:5.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 9:33

9:33a

as it is written: This phrase introduces a quote from the Old Testament. Paul quoted what God said to the nation of Israel. See how you translated this phrase in 1:17 or 9:13.

9:33b–d

Paul used words from the book of Isaiah in the Old Testament (Isaiah 8:14 and 28:16). It is not an exact quote, but God spoke in 9:33b–c, so quote marks are needed in English. If you indicate the location of quotes from the Old Testament with cross-references, you may want to do so here.

9:33b

See: This word means “look.” It emphasizes the following clause. It is not a command to look at something. Here are other ways to translate this word:

Behold (English Standard Version)
-or-
Listen
-or-
Hey/Indeed

I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling: This is a metaphor. God put a stone in Zion that would cause the Jews to stumble. As 9:33c makes clear, Jesus is that stone. Jesus came as the Christ, but many Jews rejected him as the Christ. In that way they “stumbled.” But this is a quote from the Old Testament, so nothing should be put in the translation of this clause about Jesus.

In some languages a literal translation would indicate that God put an actual stone in Zion. If that is true in your language, use the word “like” here. For example:

I lay in Zion ⌊something like⌋ a stone of stumbling

I lay: Here the Greek word refers to putting something somewhere. For example:

I place (Good News Translation)

Zion: This is the name of the hill in Jerusalem southwest of the temple. For example:

on Sion/Zion Hill

In the Old Testament, Mount Zion was symbolic for God’s holy city, Jerusalem. In many languages people will not know that Zion represents Jerusalem here. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Translate literally and explain its symbolic meaning in a footnote. Here are example footnotes:

That is, Jerusalem.
-or-
Zion is symbolic for Jerusalem.

• Use the name Jerusalem instead of Zion in your translation. For example:

Jerusalem (New Living Translation (2004))

You may then want a footnote to give the Greek word. Here are example footnotes:

Literally “Zion.”
-or-
The Greek word here is Zion. Zion Hill is symbolic for Jerusalem.

stone: This word refers to a stone large enough to stumble over.

9:33c

In Greek, 9:33c starts with the word that is often translated as “and.” But the stone of 9:33b and the rock of 9:33c are metaphors and refer to the same person, the Messiah.

The English versions that translate the Greek with the word “and” probably imply poetic parallelism, where two phrases refer to the same thing. The New Revised Standard Version and some English versions make that clear by omitting the word “and” and inserting a comma. Another way to indicate that connection is to insert “that is.” For example:

…a stone of stumbling, 33c that is, a rock that will make them/people fall

(New Revised Standard Version🙂 a rock that will make them fall: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the New Revised Standard Version translates as make them fall :

(1) It means here cause to fall or trip. In this interpretation this rock refers to the same thing as the a stone of 9:33b and so the meaning here is the same or similar as “stumbling.” For example:

a stone that will make people stumble, a rock that will make them fall (Good News Translation)

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

(2) It means here cause to feel insulted or be angry at something someone does or says. The Jews expected the Christ to start a revolt against the Romans instead of die on a Roman cross like a criminal. For example:

a rock…that people trip over, a large rock that people find offensive (God’s Word)

(Berean Standard Bible, English Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, God’s Word)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). But if the major language version in your area follows interpretation (2), you may want to follow that.

The phrase a rock that will make them fall is a metaphor. If you added “like” before “a stone of stumbling,” you may want to add “like” here. For example:

⌊something like⌋ a rock that will make them fall

But if you added “like” before “a stone of stumbling,” you may not need to repeat “like” here.

rock: This is a different word in the Greek. It usually refers to bedrock, a large continuous rock often underneath soil and perhaps sticking out in places. Here it probably refers more generally to any large rock. For example:

large rock (God’s Word)
-or-
boulder

9:33d

and: Some languages will see “whoever believes in him” as contrasting to “I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling.” For example:

but (New Jerusalem Bible)

the one who believes in Him: A person who believes in someone is someone who agrees to what someone stands for, trusts him, relies on him, and is committed to him. See how your translated this word in 1:16 or 6:8.

Him: This refers to the stone of stumbling and the rock of offense. But the meaning of those metaphors is the Christ. Use a pronoun that refers to a man, as the Berean Standard Bible does.

will never be put to shame: There are several ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as be put to shame :

(1) It indicates that someone caused them to be ashamed. For example:

will never be disgraced (New Living Translation (2004))

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

(2) It indicates that the people themselves will feel shame, without any focus on who or what caused it. For example:

will not be ashamed (God’s Word)

(King James Version, God’s Word)

(3) It refers to being disappointed that things did not happen as one hoped. For example:

will not be disappointed (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, New American Standard Bible, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because many scholars support it.

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

⌊God⌋ will not shame him

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 11:11

Section 11:11–24

Do not be arrogant toward Jews who do not believe in Jesus

In this section, Paul asked his readers if God has rejected the Jews forever. He answered his own question, indicating that God has not. At that time many Jews rejected Jesus as the Christ/Messiah. As a result, God made the message about Jesus known to people who were not Jews. But God will one day include the Jews and save them through Jesus too.

Paul then spoke directly to the believers who were not Jews. He said that he boasted about his ministry to the non-Jews so as to make the Jews jealous of the results of his ministry among the Gentiles. Then maybe some would be curious and begin believing in Jesus. When God accepts their faith in Jesus, it will be like they rose from the dead.

Paul then used some metaphors to illustrate his point that God has not rejected forever the Jews who, at that time, did not believe in Jesus as the Christ. He showed that if some Jews were holy, then all were, in the same way that a part of a batch of dough represents the whole batch. And the branches of a tree that is holy are themselves holy, even if they have been broken off to allow branches from a different tree to be joined into the trunk. He used the picture of the branches of that different tree to represent the believers who were not Jews.

He reminded the believers who were not Jews of God’s kindness toward them. He told them to always be mindful of that kindness rather than being proud of themselves. He warned them that God is able to do to them as he did to the Jews who do not believe in Jesus, if they became proud of themselves.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

Do not look down on Jews who have not accepted Jesus as the Christ
-or-
Many Gentiles believing in Jesus will make the Jews want that blessing too

Paragraph 11:11–12

11:11a

I ask then: Here the word then means “therefore.”

did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery?: This is a rhetorical question that Paul himself answered in 11:11b. Translate it as a question.

stumble…fall: These two clauses are figures of speech. Here stumble refers to having difficulty believing that Jesus is the Christ, and fall refers to the consequences of destruction as a result of the Jews rejecting Jesus as the Christ.

In many languages the meaning here will be clear. But in some languages a literal translation would have a different meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

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

This indicates that the Jews sinned when they rejected Jesus but God has not abandoned them.

• Explain the meaning in your translation. For example:

did they stumble ⌊in sin⌋ so as to fall ⌊away⌋ ⌊completely⌋ ⌊from God’s promises⌋
-or-
did they fall ⌊in sin⌋ so as to be unable to stand again ⌊and God accept them⌋

so as to: Here this introduces the result. It is not purpose here.

11:11b

Certainly not!: The Greek is literally “May it not be.” It indicates a very strong “no.” They did not fall. See how you translated this phrase in 3:4 or 11:1.

11:11c

However: The Greek word here is often translated “but.” Here it indicates contrast to the implied statement “they stumbled.” It does not contrast to “By no means.” In some languages what contrasts in 11:11c must be made clear. For example:

⌊They stumbled⌋ but

because of their trespass: Here the word trespass refers to doing something wrong or bad against God. Here are other ways to translate this word:

they sinned (Good News Translation)
-or-
their failure (New Jerusalem Bible)

It is implied here that the Jews trespassed by rejecting Jesus as the Christ/Messiah. In some languages a literal translation would refer to any trespass. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

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

This refers to the Jews rejecting Jesus as their Messiah.

• Explain in your translation. For example:

their trespass ⌊against God⌋
-or-
their sin ⌊of rejecting Jesus⌋

salvation has come to the Gentiles: There is no verb in the Greek. The Berean Standard Bible and many English versions have added the words has come to make the English natural. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

their failure has brought salvation for the gentiles (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
so God made salvation available to the Gentiles (New Living Translation (2004))

salvation: This word refers to being rescued from something harmful or dangerous. In Scripture it generally refers to rescue from God’s anger at the final judgment. Here are other ways to translate this word:

to save (Good News Translation)
-or-
to save/rescue ⌊people⌋ ⌊from his anger⌋

See how you translated salvation in 1:16 or “saved” in 10:10.

Gentiles: This word refers to people who are not Jews. See how you translated this word in 1:5 or 9:30.

11:11d

to make Israel jealous: This is a purpose for salvation coming to the Gentiles. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

in order to stir them to envy (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
to make Israel envious (New International Version)

Israel: The Greek is literally “them.” It continues to refer to the Jews who do not believe in Jesus.

jealous: Here this word refers to being resentful of what someone else has. It implies here that the Jews resent that Gentiles have attained the kingdom of God. Here are other ways to translate this word:

envious (New International Version)
-or-
they indeed also want to be saved

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 11:22

Paragraph 11:22–24

11:22a

Take notice, therefore: In Greek, the connecting word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as therefore occurs after the first word of this sentence. In many languages, this word must be first. For example:

Then take notice

Take notice: The Greek word is the command, “Look.” It introduces what Paul wanted the readers to pay attention to. Here are other ways to translate this word:

See
-or-
Listen
-or-
Consider (New International Version)
-or-
you see that (New Century Version)

See how you translated this in 9:33 (“See”).

kindness: This word refers to doing good to someone because you want to. The intent of kindness is to help the person, rather than require him to repay the kindness in some way. God does many good things for people. See how you translated this word in 2:4.

severity: The Greek word refers to following a law or rule strictly. It indicates that no mercy is given. Here are other ways to translate this word:

harshness (NET Bible)
-or-
God is…very strict (New Century Version)

11:22b

those who fell: Here Paul used the word fell figuratively to refer to Jews who followed the Jewish religion but did not believe Jesus was God’s Messiah (11:20b). For example:

those who fell ⌊in their faith⌋

In some languages the word fell cannot be used in this way. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:

those who stop believing in him
-or-
the ones who turn-their-backs-on/reject him

11:22c

kindness to you: Here the word kindness refers to salvation and other things that God gives to someone when he believes in Jesus. For example:

he gave to you the favor because you believed

you: This word is singular and continues to refer to a non-Jewish believer.

11:22d

if: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as if introduces what must happen for God to continue to be kind to Gentile believers. Here are other ways to translate this word:

provided (English Standard Version)
-or-
as long as (New Jerusalem Bible)

you continue in His kindness: This clause indicates that the Gentile believer must live according to God’s kindness to him, that is, he must continue to believe in Jesus as the Christ/Messiah. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

you remain in his kindness (New American Bible, Revised Edition)
-or-
you persevere in it (New Jerusalem Bible)

11:22e

Otherwise: This word introduces what will happen if the Gentile believer does not continue in God’s kindness. Here are other ways to translate this word:

But if you do not, (Good News Translation)
-or-
But if you don’t continue,
-or-
But if you turn away from his kindness,

you also will be cut off: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

⌊God⌋ will cut you off also

cut off: This continues the metaphor about the branches and the tree. In 11:20, the natural branches were broken off, but here the grafted-in branches could be cut off.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 12:18

12:18a

If it is possible: This phrase indicates that it is not always possible to be at peace with other people. Someone might be an enemy to you no matter what you do or say. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

If possible (English Standard Version)
-or-
As much as possible (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Whenever you can

on your part: This phrase refers to what you say and what you do. You should not, on purpose, break the peace with those words and deeds. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

as far as it depends on you (English Standard Version)
-or-
to the utmost of your ability (New Jerusalem Bible)

12:18b

live at peace: This phrase refers to living in a way that you are at peace with others, that is, no fighting or angry arguments.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 14:15

14:15a

The Greek of 14:15a begins with a word that is often translated as “for.” This word introduces an explanation of 14:13b–c. But with 14:14 occurring in between, some English versions omit this word, as the Berean Standard Bible does.

brother: Here this word refers to another believer, either man or woman. Here are other ways to translate this word:

another believer (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
others (Good News Translation)

is distressed: This word refers to being sad and distressed about something. It does not refer here to being sad because someone has died.

14:15b

you are no longer acting in love: Here the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as acting is literally “walking/living.” It is a figure of speech that refers to all that a person does, thinks, and says. Here are some ways to translate this clause:

• Use the figure of speech, if it has the correct meaning. For example:

you are no longer walking according to ⌊the behavior of⌋ loving ⌊others⌋

• Translate the meaning without the figure of speech, as the Berean Standard Bible does. For example:

your conduct is no longer in accord with love (New American Bible, Revised Edition)
-or-
you are no longer living your life according to love
-or-
you are no longer loving others as you live ⌊on this earth⌋

you are no longer acting: The words no longer indicate that earlier the person was walking in love but now is not doing that. The present tense indicates that this is how the person lives at this time. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

you have stopped acting
-or-
you stopped living your life
-or-
you have stopped loving others as you live ⌊on this earth⌋

in love: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in is literally “according to.” The phrase refers to loving others. See the examples above.

14:15c

Do not by your eating destroy your brother, for whom Christ died: In the Greek of 14:15c, the phrase by your eating is in the front of the clause to emphasize it (see the English Standard Version). If possible, emphasize this phrase in a natural way in your language.

by your eating: This refers to food that some believers think it is not right for believers to eat. In particular, some Jewish believers in Jesus still followed the Jewish rules about food. So there were many foods in Rome that they believed it was not right to eat. But Roman believers did not follow the Jewish rules about food and ate those foods. Paul just said it was okay to eat such foods, but we must think of the Jewish believers because it would be a sin for them to eat those foods. Paul probably wrote about the weekly meal the believers ate together at their worship time. So all believers would see all the various kinds of food that everyone brought.

Some of this information may be needed to make the meaning clear in your translation. For example:

By what you eat ⌊in front of other believers⌋

destroy: Here this refers to ruining a believer’s faith so that he falls at the final judgment of God. Here are other ways to translate this word:

cause the ruin of (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
be the ruin of (Revised English Bible)
-or-
destroy the faith of

your brother, for whom Christ died: This indicates that Jesus died to save this believer. In some languages the purpose of dying would make the meaning more clear. For example:

your brother, for whom Christ died ⌊so that he could save him⌋

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 15:24

15:24a

Following interpretation (1) on 15:23a–b, Translator’s Notes uses the Revised English Bible translation in the Display and the Notes for this verse part. This keeps the order of phrases following the Greek order and keeps the usual sense of the Greek word that the Revised English Bible translates as “for.”

(Revised English Bible🙂 on my way to Spain:
The Greek words that the Revised English Bible translates as on my way here mean “when” or “as soon as.” They indicate that Paul planned to go to Spain, but did not know yet exactly when. For example:

when I go to Spain (New International Version)

(Revised English Bible🙂 to Spain: Spain is west of Rome, and its nearest point from Rome is 800–1,000 kilometers (500–600 miles) away, depending on the route the ship took. This was at least a five day journey by ship.

(Revised English Bible🙂 Spain: This name refers here to a group of several Roman provinces that today is the land of the nations of Spain and Portugal. The old meaning does not exactly match the meaning today, so you may want to:

• Explain in your translation the old meaning. For example:

⌊the province of⌋ Spain

• Explain only in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

This name refers to the Roman province that today is the land of the nations of Spain and Portugal.

(Revised English Bible🙂 for: Here this word introduces an explanation of something about Paul’s journey to Spain.

(Revised English Bible🙂 I hope to see you in passing: The Greek word that the Revised English Bible translates as in passing is more literally “go/travel through.” Here it indicates that Paul would travel to Rome but quickly continue on to Spain. Paul, in 15:24c, explained that he would remain only a short time in Rome. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

I hope to visit you while passing through (New International Version)
-or-
I hope to see you while traveling through (TLV)

15:24b

after: Paul hoped that after he stayed with them a little while they would help him travel to Spain.

I have enjoyed your company: This refers to being happy with his visit with the believers in Rome. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

I have enjoyed being with you (New American Bible, Revised Edition)
-or-
I have enjoyed visiting you (Good News Translation)

15:24c

you can equip me for my journey: This clause indicates that Paul hoped that the believers in Rome would help him with the cost of going to Spain from Rome. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

you can provide for my journey (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
I hope you can help me on my trip (New Century Version)

General Comment on 15:24b–c

In the Greek, Paul mentions being helped on his journey (15:24c) before enjoying their company (15:24b). However, since enjoying their company would occur before being helped on his journey, the Berean Standard Bible has reversed these clauses. In some languages it is acceptable to follow the Greek and have 15:24c first. For example:

24c and to be helped on my journey there by you, 24b once I have enjoyed your company for a while (English Standard Version)

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 2020