SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 2020 – Page 51

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 11:3

11:3a

The quote in this verse is from 1 Kings 19:10, 14. If you indicate the location of quotes from the Old Testament with cross-references, you may want to do so here.

Lord: The word Lord refers to someone who has authority over people. This is a quote from the Old Testament, so this word refers to God. Do not add “Jesus” or “Jesus Christ” (as implied information) here. See how you translated this word in 4:8 or 10:16.

Your prophets: Elijah was also among the Lord God’s prophets, so in some languages it will be more clear to indicate that. For example:

the ⌊other⌋ prophets of yours

A “prophet” is a person who speaks on behalf of God. God’s message may be in words or visions. He then tells the people God’s message. It may reveal something about a past, present, or future event, or it may reveal someone’s thoughts, motives, or attitudes. It is not like a sermon, prepared by the preacher’s study of the Bible, but God may inspire a preacher with a prophecy during a sermon. The person speaks the prophecy to the people or writes it down for their use. Here are other ways to translate the word prophets :

• Translate the meaning. For example:

spokespeople for you
-or-
those who speak/bring your message/words
-or-
your message-speakers

• If the translated meaning of prophets is unclear, use the major language word. For example:

porofets

It is good to use a general term that does not focus only on foretelling the future. Although prophets did foretell the future, they also gave people other messages from God. They especially told them to stop doing what is wrong and to obey God. See how you translated this word in 1:2.

11:3b

and torn down Your altars: Although the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible often translates as and is not in the Greek of 11:3b, many languages must have an and at the beginning of this clause to connect it properly to 11:3a, as the Berean Standard Bible does. Here is another way to translate this:

⌊and⌋ they have demolished your altars

torn down: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as torn down refers to forcefully taking something apart so it cannot be used again. Here are other ways to translate this word:

destroyed (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
demolished (English Standard Version)

altars: An “altar” is a platform on which people offer sacrifices to God. Below is an artist’s idea of what the small altar at the temple in Jerusalem looked like.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 11:35

11:35a–b

These words are from Job 41:11a, but it is not an exact quote. However, some English versions put quote marks around Romans 11:35. If you indicate the location of quotes from the Old Testament with cross-references, you may want to do so here.

Who has first given to God, that God should repay him?: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes that no one, by giving something to God, has forced God to give him something in return. Translate with that meaning. Here are some ways:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Who has ever given him anything, so that he had to pay it back? (Good News Translation)
-or-
Has anyone first given a gift to him/God so that he/God must give a gift in return?

• As a statement. For example:

No one has first given a gift to him so that he had to repay him.
-or-
No one gave something to him/God, thus requiring him/God to give something in return

11:35a

Who: This word introduces another quote from Scripture. Some languages use a standard way to introduce Scripture quotes. For example:

⌊As the Holy Book also says,⌋ “Who…

has first given to God: The Greek word here means “gave (something) beforehand.” Here are other ways to translate this Greek word:

has given to God first
-or-
gave a gift to him so that he must repay ⌊that giving⌋

11:35b

that: This is the Greek word usually translated as “and.” The context implies that a result follows here. Some languages can use “and” and imply that meaning. For example:

and

God should repay him: The Greek is more literally “it will be repaid to him.” It implies that God must give something in return for the gift given to him. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

he might be repaid (English Standard Version)
-or-
to receive a gift in return (New Revised Standard Version)

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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 13:10

13:10a

Love: This is a noun. It speaks of love in general. Some languages must use a different way to translate this noun. For example:

Loving ⌊others⌋
-or-
To love is to do no wrong…
-or-
When you love ⌊others⌋, you do no wrong

does no wrong: Here the word wrong refers to deeds that are morally wrong. For example, hurting others or stealing is morally wrong. It does not refer to mistakes here (for example, he folded the paper wrong). See how you translated this phrase (“do wrong”) in 13:4b. Remember that the word no is included here.

13:10b

the fulfillment of the law: Here the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fulfillment refers to accomplishing what the law demands for us to do, as in the word “fulfilled” in 13:8. See how you translated that word there.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 15:5

Paragraph 15:5–6

15:5a

may…God…grant you: Here Paul prayed that God might enable the believers in Rome to live in unity. Here are other ways to translate these words:

May…God…give to you
-or-
I ⌊now⌋ ask…God…to give to you
-or-
I am praying that…God…will cause you

grant you: Here the word you refers to the person receiving what is given. It does not refer to the thing given. For example:

grant to you

grant: The Greek word here is usually translated “give.” The word grant has that meaning here.

the God who gives endurance and encouragement: This phrase indicates that God is the source of endurance and encouragement for believers. It connects to “endurance” and “encouragement” in 15:4 but here refers generally to any kind of endurance and encouragement. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

the God of endurance and encouragement (English Standard Version)
-or-
God, the source of all perseverance and all encouragement (Revised English Bible)

This description of God occurs in the middle of Paul asking him to do something. In some languages it is more natural to separate those two things. For example:

God is the one who makes us patiently endure and encouraged. I pray that he will…
-or-
The ability to endure troubles and ⌊the ability⌋ to be encouraged come from God. And I pray that he will…

15:5b

harmony with one another: The Greek is more literally “to think the same thing among one another.” Here it refers to living in unity and thinking that other believers are good people. Paul wrote about differences of opinion in chapter 14 that were causing problems among the believers. Here he implied that those differences were not important compared to serving God with one purpose, helping and encouraging each other. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

to be of the same mind with one another (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
the same attitude of mind toward each other (New International Version (2011))
-or-
unity with one another (NET Bible)

one another: This refers to all the believers in Rome. Your translation should not limit it to the “strong” group or the “weak” group.

15:5c

in Christ Jesus: This phrase indicates that Jesus wants believers to live in unity. What Paul said in 15:5b agrees with that. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

according to Christ Jesus (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
the way Christ Jesus wants (New Century Version)

Christ Jesus: The order of the words Christ Jesus emphasizes that Jesus is the Christ/Messiah. However, in some languages the order Christ Jesus is not natural. See how you translated this phrase in 8:34.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 16:4

16:4a

who have risked their lives for me: Here this clause further describes Prisca and Aquila. It does not separate this Prisca and Aquila from other couples with the same names. For the correct meaning in some languages, translators must avoid the word who. For example:

and they risked their lives for my life
-or-
They risked their lives for my life

have risked their lives for me: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as risked their lives is literally “risked their necks.” The phrase is a figure of speech that refers to putting oneself in danger of being killed. We do not know what situation this refers to. But Prisca and Aquila put themselves at risk of losing their own lives in order to save Paul from someone or something trying to kill him. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

risked their own necks to save my life (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
risked their lives for me (New International Version)
-or-
they risked dying to rescue me from dying

16:4b

Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them: The word them refers to Prisca and Aquila. It may be more natural in some languages for the translator to avoid the word them here. For example:

Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to Prisca and Aquila.

The phrases Not only I and but all the churches of the Gentiles indicate that Paul gave thanks and these churches gave thanks as well. They also emphasize that Paul was not the only person to give thanks. Here are other ways to translate these words:

I am thankful to them, and so are all the Gentile churches (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
I thank them. And that’s not all, all groups of believers who are not Jews thank them also.

the churches: See how you translated the word “church” in 16:1.

Gentiles: The word Gentiles refers to non-Jewish people. See how you translated this word in 1:13 or 15:27.

are grateful: This refers to saying words of appreciation to someone. For example:

say thanks
-or-
thank

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 1:5

1:5a

Paul talked about the gospel in 1:2a–1:4c. In 1:5a he again discussed more about himself and his work for Jesus. But he connected his next words to “Jesus Christ our Lord” with “through Him.” In the Greek, the sentence continues. However, the Berean Standard Bible begins a new sentence here. In some languages, a new sentence here would be more natural or more clear. For example:

Through him we have received… (New American Bible, Revised Edition)

Through Him and on behalf of His name: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Through Him is literally “through whom.” This clause further describes Jesus. It does not separate this Jesus from other men named Jesus. For the correct meaning in some languages, translators must avoid the word “whom.” The word Through indicates that Paul received grace and apostleship by means of Jesus. God enabled Jesus to give Paul grace and apostleship. Here are other ways to translate this word:

by the authority given to him he gave to us
-or-

⌊God⌋ enabled him to give us
-or-

⌊God⌋ gave power to Jesus and so he/Jesus was kind to us and gave us the work of being apostles

on behalf of His name: This phrase refers to helping, causing advantage for, or honoring the one named. The apostles taught others about Jesus, spread the news of Jesus, and did good deeds in his name.

In some languages it is more natural to say “him” instead of His name here. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

for the honor of his name (God’s Word)
-or-
for him (New Century Version)
-or-
to benefit him

This phrase connects to the end of the clause (1:5c). For example:

…5c of winning the obedience of faith among all the nations 5a for the honour of his name (New Jerusalem Bible)

1:5b

we received: In English, the word received implies someone gave what was received. The English word “take” does not imply that someone gave it. It is implied here that God graciously gave Paul and others apostleship.

Many languages have the same word for both “receive” and “take.” In some of those languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that God did not graciously give apostleship but Paul just took it. If that is true in your language, you should use “give” here. For example:

have been given
-or-

⌊he⌋ has given

we: Sometimes in NT letters, the writer referred to himself with we instead of “I.” There are two ways to interpret the word we here:

(1) Paul referred to himself and others. For example:

we (NET Bible)

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

(2) Paul referred to himself. For example:

I (Revised English Bible)

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

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because Paul consistently used the first person singular to refer to his apostolic mission in the rest of Romans, but he used we here instead. So, he probably had a reason not to use “I” here.

grace and apostleship: There are two ways to interpret the phrase grace and apostleship :

(1) This is a figure of speech that means gracious apostleship. In kindness, God made Paul and others apostles. For example:

the privilege of being an apostle (Good News Translation)

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

(2) This is not a figure of speech, but refers to two things, grace and apostleship. For example:

grace and apostleship (Revised Standard Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, English Standard Version, King James Version, NET Bible, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because Paul was establishing his apostleship in these verses and not speaking generally of God’s grace to us. Here are other ways to translate this phrase according to interpretation (1):

the ⌊free⌋ gift of apostleship
-or-
the grace that enabled us to be apostles
-or-
the privilege and authority as apostles (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
he was kind, giving us the work of apostles

grace: This word refers to kindness that is given to people without requiring anything in return. This kindness is not given because they have done anything to deserve it. See the examples above.

apostleship: The word apostleship refers to the work that an apostle does. For example:

to be an/his apostle
-or-
becoming his ⌊special⌋ representative

See how you translated “apostle” in 1:1.

1:5c

to call…to…obedience: The word to introduces the purpose of being an apostle: to call the Gentiles to obey the gospel of Jesus. The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to call…to…obedience is literally “unto/to obedience.” Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

for the obedience of those among the Gentiles
-or-
so that the people among the Gentiles would obey
-or-
to lead people…to…obey (Good News Translation)

all those among the Gentiles: This phrase connects to the phrase “the obedience of faith.” For example:

the obedience of faith among all the nations for the honour of his name (New Jerusalem Bible)

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

(1) It refers to all people groups, excluding the Jews. For example:

all the Gentiles (New International Version)

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

(2) It means all people groups, including the Jews. For example:

all the nations (Revised Standard Version)

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

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because 1:6 has “in whom you (plur.) ” in the Greek, which seems to indicate only some of those in “To all those in Rome” (1:7).

Gentiles: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Gentiles refers to ethnic groups or people groups rather than to political states or countries. Here are other ways to translate this word:

tribes
-or-
peoples
-or-
peoples of one language/culture

the obedience that comes from faith: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the obedience that comes from faith is literally “the obedience of faith.” There are three main ways to interpret the words “the obedience of faith” here:

(1) It indicates that faith is a basis for the obedience. Faith produces obedience. People obey because they believe. For example:

the obedience that comes from faith (New International Version)

(New International Version, Berean Standard Bible)

(2) It indicates that a person obeys all the teachings connected to faith. For example:

obedience to the faith (King James Version)

(King James Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(3) It means and faith. For example:

believe and obey (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)

The Revised Standard Version, the New Jerusalem Bible, and a number of English versions translate the Greek as “the obedience of faith.” Both the Greek and that English translation are ambiguous, possibly meaning either interpretation (1) or (2). A number of scholars say that Paul meant several things here.

So if you can translate in a way that allows interpretation (1) or (2), you should do so. However, if you must make a choice, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Here are other ways to translate this phrase according to interpretation (1):

the obedience produced by faith
-or-
obedience based on faith
-or-
people obey ⌊Christ⌋ because they believe ⌊the message about him⌋
-or-
believing obedience
-or-
faith’s obedience

obedience: This word means “doing as told, directed, or asked.” In some languages a verb is required or more natural here. For example:

obey ⌊him⌋
-or-
follow ⌊him⌋

faith: To have faith in a person refers to believing in him, who he is, and who he claims to be.

In some languages a verb is required or more natural here. For example:

believe ⌊the gospel⌋
-or-
believing it

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 2:5

Paragraph 2:5–11

2:5a

But: There is contrast between God’s kindness leading to repentance (2:4b) and this man not wanting to repent.

But the scholars who translated some English versions did not see contrast here and did not translate the Greek conjunction. For example:

Your stubborn refusal to repent… (New Jerusalem Bible)

because of: This man’s hard and unrepentant heart is the basis for God being angry with him. Here are other ways to translate this word:

according to
-or-
In (Revised English Bible)
-or-
you have a hard and stubborn heart, and so (Good News Translation)

your hard and unrepentant heart: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as hard means “stubbornness” here. The man was stubborn in that he refused to change his way of thinking or behaving.

The word unrepentant indicates that the man did not want to repent. He did not feel sorry about his sins and did not want to stop doing them.

Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

you are stubborn and refuse to change (New Century Version)
-or-
you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
you are stubborn and don’t want to change the way you think (God’s Word)
-or-
your heads are hard, you do not want to abandon your sins

It is possible that this phrase is a figure of speech that means “you stubbornly refuse to repent.” For example:

your obstinate refusal to repent (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
you refuse to repent because your minds are hard

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. In other languages people use a non-figurative word or phrase. For example:

insides/liver
-or-
mind

2:5b

you are storing up wrath against yourself: The phrase storing up is a metaphor. Here it indicates that God continues to be ready to punish this person because he continues to refuse to repent. In some languages a literal translation would have the wrong meaning. If that is true in your language, translate the meaning of the metaphor. For example:

you are causing God to be more and more angry with you
-or-
you are adding to the anger that God will have against you (God’s Word)

wrath against yourself: Here the word wrath refers to God’s anger. God is angry with this person because of his hard and impenitent heart. In some languages it is more clear to explain whose anger this is. For example:

⌊God’s⌋ wrath for/against you

for the day of wrath: This phrase refers to God’s judgment day. It will occur in the future. God is angry with wrongdoers who have refused to repent and will punish them.

This phrase is explained in 2:5c. If the meaning of this phrase is still not clear with reading 2:5c, you may want to:

• Explain it in the text. For example:

on the day of wrath ⌊and judgment⌋ ⌊of all people⌋

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

This refers to God’s judgment day. It will occur in the future. God will be angry with wrongdoers who have refused to repent.

2:5c

God’s righteous judgment will be revealed: The phrase will be revealed indicates that everyone will see God’s righteous judgment. This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause here. For example:

On that day everyone will see God’s right judgments. (New Century Version)

God’s righteous judgment: This phrase refers to God rightly judging people. He will look at what a person has done and thought and then rightly reward them or punish them. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

God’s just verdicts (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
God will judge people fairly according to their deeds and thoughts

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 3:8

3:8a–c

Why not say,…“Let us do evil that good may result”?: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Why not say is literally just the word not. There are several ways to interpret what is implied for the correct meaning:

(1) The word Why is implied from 3:7b and the word say is implied from 3:8b. For example:

Why not say…“Let us do evil that good may result”? (NET Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, NET Bible)

(2) Only the word Why is implied from 3:7b. For example:

And why not do evil that good may come? (Revised Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, Revised English Bible)

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

This is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes that people should not say “Let us do evil that good may result.” Translate this with that meaning. Here are some ways:

• As a rhetorical question, as in the Berean Standard Bible. But such a question in some languages might expect a “yes, let’s do that” for an answer. If that is true in your language, indicate that the saying is wrong to think or say. For example:

is it right to say,…“Let us do evil that good may result”? ⌊No!⌋

• As a statement. For example:

it is wrong to say,…“Let us do evil that good may result.”

• As a command. For example:

Do not say,…“Let us do evil that good may result.”

3:8b

as some slanderously claim that we say: The Greek is literally “as we are slanderously charged and some affirm us to say.” For example:

as we are being slanderously reported as saying and as some claim that we say (New International Version (1984))

In some languages it is more natural to combine these two clauses into one clause. For example:

as some slanderously charge us with saying (English Standard Version)
-or-
some people even slander us by claiming that we say (New Living Translation (2004))

some slanderously claim that we say: Here the word slanderously refers to saying things that are not true in order to cause hurt. Here the slander may be directed at hurting Paul or the gospel of Jesus. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

slander us by claiming that (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
claim for the purpose of ruining our name/reputation
-or-
trying to give us a bad name, ⌊falsely⌋ say

3:8c

Let us do evil that good may result: This clause says that people should do evil because then God would show more grace to them or, more generally, more good things would happen. They should not. This is wrong thinking. (See the note on 3:8a–c.) Here are other ways to translate these words:

Let us do evil so that good may come of it (NET Bible)
-or-
Let us do bad deeds so that good things may happen to us

The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as that good may result indicates that doing evil would lead to a good outcome. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

so that good will appear
-or-
in order that the result will be good

3:8d

Their condemnation is deserved: The word condemnation refers to the verdict or sentence that a judge gives to a guilty person. Here it probably refers to God condemning them. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

such people are justly condemned (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-

⌊God⌋ is right to judge those people as guilty/wrong

Their: The Greek word is literally “whose.” It probably refers to the people saying or thinking “if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner?” or “Let us do evil so that good may come of it.”

deserved: This word means “right.” Paul said it is right for God to say that these people are guilty and will be punished.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 2020