Honorary "rare" construct denoting God ("give")

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the usage of an honorific construction where the morpheme rare (られ) is affixed on the verb as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. This is particularly done with verbs that have God as the agent to show a deep sense of reverence. Here, atae-rare-ru (与えられる) or “give” is used.

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Romans 1:18

God’s wrath (2.5, 8; 3.5; 4.15; 5.9; 9.22; 12.19; 13.4, 5) does not refer simply to God’s feelings (as might be suggested by Moffatt, An American Translation*, Jerusalem Bible “God’s anger”), but to his action in judging and punishing men for their sins (see New English Bible “divine retribution”). The close connection between God’s activity of putting men right with himself and God’s wrath is expressed through Paul by the use of the same verb in describing both of them: is revealed.

It is not easy to find an appropriate term for God’s wrath. The literal translation of wrath may suggest far too much—“God’s rage” or “God’s anger.” There is certainly a semantic component of anger in the biblical expression of wrath, but it is important to try to find some term which will avoid wrong connotations and at the same time focus upon God’s act of judging. Some translations actually employ “God’s judgment because of his anger” in an effort to represent both semantic components of wrath. In many languages one cannot speak of “wrath … coming down” since neither an emotion nor an event of judging can come down from heaven upon all the sin and evil of men. Hence a rather considerable restructuring of the semantic components of this first clause is usually necessary. An appropriate equivalent in some languages is “God has revealed how, in his anger, he will judge all the sin and evil of men.” On the other hand, in some languages one cannot speak of judging sin and evil, because one can only judge people who are sinful and evil. Therefore one must say: “God has revealed how he will judge men for all the sin and evil which they have done.”

Coming down from heaven (literally “from heaven”) means that God himself sends his wrath down as judgment upon men’s sins. Sin and evil, when taken together, are comprehensive terms. The first refers to wrong action against God, that is “impiety,” “irreverence,” or “godless action” (Romans 11.26; 2 Timothy 2.16; Titus 2.12; Jude 15, 18; see also the adjective in Romans 4.5; 5.6; 1 Timothy 1.9; 1 Peter 4.18; 2 Peter 2.5; 3.7; Jude 4, 15). The second describes wrong action against men, and so may be taken as “injustice,” “wrongdoing,” or “wickedness.” The New English Bible combines these terms, and so translates “godless wickedness.” When one can find in a receptor language terms which distinguish wrong in terms of actions toward God and those toward men, this is excellent. However, a far more general classification of evil is (1) the sin which is in men’s hearts and (2) the sin which expresses itself in overt deeds. Since this distinction is not far removed from the distinction between sin and evil of the Greek text, it may be possible to translate sin and evil as “all the sin in their hearts and all the evil they have done.”

Evil ways translates the same word rendered “evil” above. Truth refers to the truth about God, and the contrast is clear: God’s wrath is revealed on those who keep the truth about him from being revealed. In many languages one cannot speak of “evil ways” doing something. Moreover, the passive expression being known must often be rendered as active. Therefore, this final clause of verse 18 may be recast as “who by the evil which they do prevent people from knowing the truth about God.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1973. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 1:18

Division 1:18–3:20

All people sin so God is right to judge them

In this division, Paul wrote about people sinning, God’s anger against sin, God judging all people according to what they have done, and no person being righteous before God.

Here are other possible headings for this division:

All people have sinned against God and therefore God is right to punish them
-or-
The Unrighteousness of All Mankind (New International Version)
-or-
God is right to be angry with all people

Section 1:18–32

God is angry with people because they sin

In this section, Paul said that it is clear that God is angry about the bad things that people do. God has shown all people who he is, but they have rejected him. So they became fools and worshiped things instead of God. And so God put them under the control of sinful desires even more.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

The reason why God is angry with people
-or-
God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness (English Standard Version)
-or-
People do what is not right in God’s sight and so God is angry

Paragraph 1:18–20

1:18a

This verse begins with a word that is usually translated as “for.” The Berean Standard Bible does not translate this word. It probably introduces support for the gospel being the power of God for salvation to all who believe (1:16). But it is also possible that it introduces support for God’s righteousness being revealed from faith to faith (1:17). It probably introduces the whole section (1:18–3:20) rather than just this verse.

The wrath of God: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as wrath here means “strong indignation directed at wrongdoing” (BDAG, sense 2, page 720). Here it is God’s anger against people’s sins.

is being revealed: This phrase translates the same Greek word as in 1:17. If possible, translate in the same way here.

from heaven: These words emphasize that God himself is revealing his wrath.

heaven: Here the word heaven refers to the place where God lives.

1:18b–c

men who suppress the truth by their wickedness: There are two ways to interpret how this clause connects to “men/people”:

(1) Only some people suppress the truth. In English this is indicated by not having a comma after “men/people.”

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

(2) All people suppress the truth. In English this is indicated by having a comma after “men/people.” For example:

people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness (New International Version (2011))

(New International Version (2011), English Standard Version, King James Version, New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because Paul was speaking about certain attitudes and behavior, not all attitudes and behavior.

1:18b

all the godlessness and wickedness of men: The word men refers here generally to people. The whole phrase refers to deeds and thinking that are ungodly and unrighteous. For example:

all godlessness of people and their wickedness ⌊too⌋
-or-
all godless and wicked deeds and thinking of people

godlessness: This word refers to doing or saying things that show no reverence or respect for God. Here are other ways to translate this word:

impiety
-or-
doing or saying things that dishonor/disrespect God

wickedness: This word refers to doing things that are not right to do. Here are other ways to translate this word:

unrighteousness (English Standard Version)
-or-
injustice (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
evil (Good News Translation)

1:18c

This clause tells the reader more about people. It does not separate some people from other people. Translate this clause so that it tells more about all people. One way to do that is to start a new sentence here. For example:

They suppress the truth by their wickedness.

suppress the truth: Here the word suppress refers to preventing others from knowing the truth. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

prevent the truth from being known (Good News Translation)
-or-
hold back the truth (New Jerusalem Bible)

the truth: Here this word refers to what is true about God, Jesus and the gospel. Some languages only have an adjective meaning “true” and so must add a noun. For example:

the true ⌊talk⌋

their wickedness: People’s unrighteous deeds is the way that they suppress the truth. If possible, translate the word wickedness in the same way as in 1:18b.

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