3:28a

For:
This conjunction introduces an explanation of what Paul said earlier.

maintain: Here this word means “consider to be true.” Paul said here that Christians are convinced that God justified them because they believed in Jesus and not because of what they have done. Here are other ways to translate this word:

consider (NET Bible)
-or-
believe

a man is justified by faith: This clause indicates that when someone believes in Jesus, God declares that that person is righteous.

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

⌊God⌋ justifies someone when he believes ⌊in Jesus⌋

a man: Here the phrase a man refers to any person. For example:

a person (New Jerusalem Bible)

is justified: The words is justified indicates that God declares that a person is acceptable to him. When people believe in Jesus, God declares them to be right with him. See how you translated this word in 2:13 (where the Berean Standard Bible translates it as “declared righteous”) or 3:24.

faith: This word refers to believing in Jesus as Lord and Savior. In some languages a verb must be used. For example:

believing ⌊in Jesus⌋

3:28b

apart from works of the law: This phrase means “without regard to doing what the law of Moses requires people to do.” God does not justify people because they follow the law of Moses. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

not by doing what the Law tells him to do (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
not through obeying the law (New Century Version)
-or-
without any regard to following the law ⌊of Moses⌋

See how you translated works of the law in 3:20.

© 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.

5:4a

character: This Greek word refers to a good result of being tested. Here it refers to things like moral strength, the will to do as one promised, or the intention to be kind when one is suffering. Here are other ways to translate this word:

strength of character (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
proven character (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
our behavior is strong to follow good ways
-or-
standing/living straight
-or-
maturity

5:4b

hope: This word has the same meaning as it does in 5:2c. But the object of the hope here is probably more general than it is there. In some languages what is hoped for must be made explicit. If that is true in your language, refer to God or his promises. For example:

hope ⌊in God⌋
-or-
hope ⌊to receive what God has promised⌋

© 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.

Section 6:15–23

Become as slaves to righteousness

In this section, Paul told the believers in Rome that they must not sin even if they are not under the Laws of Moses. He told them that if they obey sin then they are slaves to sin. Instead, they must become slaves of righteousness, that is, doing things that God says are right to do. This command includes all parts of their lives.

Paul further explained that when they were always obeying the desires of sin, they were free from doing things that God says are right to do. He reminded them that they were now ashamed of those sins and the consequences. The final consequence of those sins is death. God had set them free from a life of sin and they had become like slaves of God. The consequences of that is becoming holy and receiving eternal life. For sinning earns a person death, but when that person believes in Jesus, God gives him eternal life.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

We must be slaves of God doing righteous deeds
-or-
We must always do what God says is right ⌊to do⌋
-or-
We are servants of straight/upright behavior

Paragraph 6:15–19

6:15a

What then?: This is a rhetorical question. Paul used this question to introduce the next question. It also indicates a connection to what Paul just said with the Greek word often translated “therefore.” Here are other ways to translate this question:

So what should we do? (New Century Version)
-or-
So, what then shall we say/think?

In some languages a question is not natural here. If that is true in your language, translate it as a statement. For example:

Well then, (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Therefore, think about this:

6:15b–c

Shall we sin because we are not under law, but under grace? Certainly not!: The question is rhetorical. By asking it, Paul wanted the readers to think about what the answer might be. He also answered it himself here. Here are some ways to translate this:

• As a rhetorical question and its answer. For example:

Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! (New International Version)
-or-
We are not under law but under grace, and so should we sin? Of course not!

• As a statement. For example:

We are certainly not to sin because we are under grace, not under law.
-or-
We are under grace, not under law, but we are certainly not to sin because of that.

6:15b

we are not under law: This clause refers to believers not being under the authority of the laws of Moses. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

we are not under ⌊the authority of⌋ the laws ⌊of Moses⌋
-or-
the laws ⌊of Moses⌋ do not sit over us

See how you translated under law in 6:14.

under grace: The words “we are” are implied here. Believers are under the authority of grace. The grace of God affects our lives in all ways. Here are other ways to translate these words:

⌊we are⌋ under ⌊the authority of⌋ ⌊the⌋ grace ⌊of God⌋
-or-

⌊the⌋ grace ⌊of God⌋ ⌊sits⌋ over ⌊us⌋

See how you translated under grace in 6:14.

6:15c

Certainly not!: The Greek is literally “May it not be.” It indicates a very strong “no.” Here are other ways to translate this clause:

Not at all!
-or-
By no means! (English Standard Version)
-or-
No, indeed!

See how you translated these words in 3:4 or 6:2. Note that “certainly” in the As a statement examples in 6:15b–c translate the words Certainly not! here. If you used “certainly” there, do not translate these words here.

© 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.

7:24a

What a wretched man I am!: The Greek is literally “I (a) miserable/wretched man,” with the word “miserable/wretched” first to emphasize it. Here Paul considered himself very unhappy and distressed about the terrible situation he was in (wanting to do right but always sinning). Here are other ways to translate this clause:

I am such a miserable man!
-or-
A man of unhappiness/distress, that is me.

7:24b

Who will rescue me from this body of death?: Here the word rescue means “deliver.” This question is a rhetorical question. Paul wanted his readers to think about the answer before he told them the answer in 7:25a. Translate this clause in that meaning. Here are some ways:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Who will rescue me from this body of death? (New International Version)
-or-
Who will rescue me from this body doomed to death? (New Jerusalem Bible)

• As a statement. For example:

There is only one person who will rescue me from this body destined to die.

this body of death: 7:23 says that the law of sin dwelt in the parts of Paul’s body. 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death. So in that way Paul here referred to his body as connected to death. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

this body that is subject to death (New International Version (2011))
-or-
this body that brings me death

Also see the ways this phrase was translated in the previous note.

© 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.

Section 8:31–39

Nothing can separate us from God’s love

In this section, Paul asked a number of rhetorical questions. In asking them he expected the believers in Rome to agree with him in these ways: God is for us and no one has greater power than him when they stand against us. God has made us right with him, so no one can accuse us of wrongdoing that God has not already forgiven. Jesus died for our sins and rose again, so no one can say we are worthy of God punishing us. Nothing of this earth or of the demons and spirits can separate us from God’s love. With God’s power we can overcome all those things.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

God’s love for us because of Jesus Christ
-or-
The love of God will not abandon/leave us

Paragraph 8:31–34

8:31a

What then shall we say in response to these things?: The word then introduces what Paul concluded from what he said in 8:18–30, or possibly chapters 6–8, or even the whole letter to this point. The question “What shall we say?” also introduces what Paul concluded. In some languages it is more natural to have the word then first. For example:

Therefore, what shall we say to these things?

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

How shall we respond to these/those things?
-or-
what will we say about those things ⌊that God did⌋ ?

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

Let us think about what to say about those things.
-or-
Here is something we can say about those things:

shall we say: The Greek tense is the future tense (“will we say”). Here it indicates what someone might say. See the examples above.

these things: Some scholars see this phrase referring to 5:1–8:30, and some see it referring to all of the letter of Romans to this point. Translate in a way that allows for this phrase to include many verses back. For example:

⌊all⌋ those things

8:31b

If God is for us: Here the word If introduces a situation that is true. If this first part is true, that supports the second part (“who can be against us?”).

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:

God is for us, so
-or-

⌊you would agree that⌋ God is for us, ⌊so⌋

God is for us: The Berean Standard Bible and many English versions add the word is here for natural English.

who can be against us: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes that no one can be against us, in the sense of no one can stop God from being for us or defeat God’s efforts for us. Translate this clause with that meaning. Here are some ways:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

who can ever be against us? (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
who will come against us and gain victory over us?

• As a statement. For example:

no one can defeat us (New Century Version)
-or-
it does not matter who opposes us

can be: There is no verb in the Greek. The Berean Standard Bible and some English versions add the words can be. Some English versions add the same word they added in “if God…for us.” For example:

is (Revised Standard Version)

Here the word can indicates ability. People or Satan may stand against us, but no one can block God’s plan for us.

© 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.

9:24a

including us, whom He has called: The Greek is literally “whom also/even he called us.” The word us then explains whom He has called, which describes the vessels of mercy. All three words or phrases refer to believers in Jesus. Here are other ways to translate these words:

whom he also called, namely, us
-or-
He also called those vessels/people ⌊to faith⌋. This refers to us

called: Here the word called means “chosen to be given a special benefit or purpose.” God invites people to believe in Jesus. Some of them have accepted and become believers in Jesus. See how you translated this word in 1:6 or 8:30.

9:24b

not only from the Jews, but also from the Gentiles: This describes the pronoun “us” here. Some believers are Jews and some are Gentiles. The words not only…but also emphasizes that God called Gentiles too.

from…from: The word from indicates that God called some Jews and some Gentiles.

Gentiles: This word refers to people who are not Jews. See how you translated this word in 1:5 or 3:29.

© 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.

11:34a–b

This verse is a quote from Isaiah 40:13. If you indicate the location of quotes from the Old Testament with cross-references, you may want to do so here.

Some languages use a standard way to introduce Scripture quotes. For example:

For, ⌊as the Holy Book says,⌋ “Who…

Note that “For” is not a part of the words from Isaiah.

Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?: This verse has two questions connected with the word Or. In some languages it is more natural to punctuate them as a single question. For example:

For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?

11:34a

Who has known the mind of the Lord?: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes that no one knows what the Lord is thinking. Translate with that meaning. Here are some ways:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

who can know the Lord ’s thoughts? (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Who knows how the Lord thinks? (God’s Word)
-or-
Has anyone known the thoughts of the Lord(?) (Contemporary English Version)

• As a statement. For example:

No one knows the mind/thoughts of the Lord.

has known: The Greek tense on the verb indicates that Paul spoke in summary about knowing. In some languages the present tense would better indicate that meaning. For example:

knows (Good News Translation)

the Lord: The word Lord refers to someone who has authority over people. Here this phrase refers to God. In some languages it is more natural to indicate who this Lord is. For example:

the Lord ⌊God⌋

See how you translated the word Lord in 4:8 or 11:3.

11:34b

Or who has been His counselor?: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes that God has never needed the advice of someone. Translate with that meaning. Here are some ways:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Who has ever been his adviser? (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Who advises him?
-or-
Has anyone…given him advice? (Contemporary English Version)

• As a statement. For example:

No one has become his adviser.
-or-
No one is able to advise him.

has been His counselor: The Greek tense on the verb indicates that Paul spoke in summary about becoming God’s counselor. Translate with that meaning. For example:

became His counselor (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
is his counselor

counselor: This word refers to a person who gives advice. He tells someone else what he thinks is the best decision for him to make. See the examples above.

© 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.