Translation commentary on Romans 14:17

The phrase God’s Kingdom or (“the Kingdom of God”) is used only here in the book of Romans. Elsewhere in Paul’s letters it is used in 1 Corinthians 4.20; 6.9, 10; 15.24, 50; Galatians 5.21; Ephesians 5.5; Colossians 4.11; and 2 Thessalonians 1.5. See also Colossians 1.13. The primary meaning of this phrase is always “the rule of God.” That is, the emphasis is always upon the actual kingship or sovereignty of God rather than upon the territory over which he rules. This verse might then be translated: “God’s rule in our lives is not related to matters of eating and drinking, but is concerned with righteousness, peace, and joy that the Holy Spirit gives.” These qualities of righteousness, peace, and joy describe the believer in terms of his relation to other believers.

It is not at all easy to translate God’s Kingdom is not a matter of eating and drinking. In the first place, a matter of is highly generic in meaning and rarely has a close equivalent in languages with entirely different structures. In fact, it may be necessary to radically restructure the form of the first clause of verse 17—for example, “whether one eats one thing and not another or drinks one thing and not another, this is not what God’s rule is all about; rather, it is about righteousness, and peace, and joy.” In other languages one may need to say: “When one speaks of God’s ruling one does not talk about rules concerning eating and drinking, but one talks about righteousness, and peace, and joy.”

In this context righteousness may well be translated as “doing what God requires” or “doing what God says is good.” Peace may be understood as “being at peace with God” in the sense of having been reconciled, and joy may be “happiness of heart” or “inner happiness.”

That the Holy Spirit gives (literally “in the Holy Spirit”; see Revised Standard Version) is to be connected with all three of these qualities, and not merely with that of joy. Most commentators understand this phrase in the sense in which the Good News Translation renders it, and many translations make this explicit (New English Bible “inspired by the Holy Spirit”; New American Bible “that is given by the Holy Spirit”; Jerusalem Bible “brought by the Holy Spirit”). In a number of languages that the Holy Spirit gives is best translated as a causative—for example, “these are what the Holy Spirit causes” or even “we experience these by means of the Holy Spirit.”

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 14:17

14:17a

For: Here this word introduces the reason for not destroying a fellow believer or letting people speak evil of your freedom in what you eat (14:15–16).

the kingdom of God: This phrase refers to God’s rule over his people. It does not refer to a land or country that he rules over. It also refers to the relationship that he has with his people. He leads, protects, and cares for them. They trust him and obey him as their king. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

God’s rule/reign
-or-
God’s kingship
-or-
the way God rules his people
-or-
the way God cares for his people as their king

a matter of eating and drinking: This phrase indicates that the important topics in the kingdom of God are not about eating or not eating certain foods or about drinking or not drinking certain beverages. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

about eating and drinking (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
In the kingdom of God, eating and drinking are not important. (New Century Version)

14:17b

but of righteousness: The words “a matter” are implied from 14:17a but not repeated here. In some languages it is more natural to repeat these words. For example:

but a matter of righteousness

righteousness: Here this word refers to deeds and thoughts that God says are right to do or think. See how you translated this word in 6:13.

peace: Here this word refers to well-being and being free from troubles.

joy: This word refers to a continuing experience of being happy or glad.

in the Holy Spirit: This phrase connects to righteousness, peace, and joy, not just joy. If possible, make that clear.

in: Here this word refers to being righteous and having peace and joy because the power of the Holy Spirit enables us to do or have those things. Here are other ways to translate this word:

in ⌊the power of⌋
-or-
brought by the Holy Spirit (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
which the Holy Spirit gives (Good News Translation)

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 or 9:1.

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Commentaire sur la traduction de la lettre aux Romains 14.17

Car le Règne de Dieu n’est pas affaire de nourriture ou de boisson est litt. « car le royaume de Dieu n’est pas manger et boire, mais… » L’expression le Règne de Dieu ou « le Royaume de Dieu » (Bible en français courant) n’est employée qu’ici dans la lettre aux Romains. Dans d’autres lettres de Paul, elle se trouve en 1 Cor 4.20 ; 6.9,10 ; 15.50 ; Gal 5.21 ; Éph 5.5 ; Col 4.11 et 2 Thess 1.5. Dans ce contexte, son sens premier est bien le Règne de Dieu (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, La Bible du Semeur, Nouvelle Bible Segond, Bible de Jérusalem), plutôt que « le Royaume de Dieu » (Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie, Segond Révisée, Osty-Trinquet), dans le sens où elle concerne la souveraineté de Dieu et non le territoire sur lequel il régnerait. Le sens semble donc être « Le Règne de Dieu sur nos vies ne concerne pas des questions de nourriture ou de boisson, mais… » Paul définira par la suite en quoi consiste ce Règne.

n’est pas affaire de nourriture ou de boisson : les traducteurs devront rendre ces mots (litt. « …n’est pas nourriture et boisson ») d’une manière naturelle dans leur langue. On pourrait dire « Le Règne de Dieu ne concerne pas/ne consiste pas en… » Dans certaines langues on devra dire : « Dans le règne/royaume de Dieu, on ne s’occupe pas de manger et boire ». On pourrait parler de « manger » et de boissons à la forme nominale ou de « manger » et « boire », avec des formes verbales.

il est justice, paix et joie dans l’Esprit Saint : ces mots définissent le comportement des croyants dans leurs relations avec les autres croyants. La proposition commence par une conjonction importante, ἀλλά alla, qui exprime le contraste fort entre ce qui précède et ce qui est nommé ici. Manger et boire sont des activités banales et peu importantes. Le chrétien, par contre, doit se préoccuper de ce qui procure et établit la justice, la paix et la joie dans la communauté des croyants et partout. Plusieurs versions omettent la conjonction, mais il vaut mieux l’exprimer. Voir la Nouvelle Bible Segond.

Dans beaucoup de langues, une traduction plus ou moins littérale des mots abstraits justice, paix et joie exprimera une vérité très puissante.

Pour paix, certains y voient une évocation de la paix avec Dieu. Mais, en accord avec le reste du passage, cela peut tout aussi bien renvoyer à la paix entre les uns et les autres dans la communauté, rendue possible par l’œuvre du Saint-Esprit. Selon Godet (II, p. 526), il s’agira « d’une bonne harmonie entre tous les membres de l’Église ».

L’idée de joie pourrait être exprimée par une expression idiomatique dans la langue, par exemple, « un cœur heureux » ou « un bonheur intérieur ».

dans l’Esprit Saint : il faut noter qu’il est parfois question en grec de l’Esprit Saint, comme ici, et parfois du « Saint-Esprit », mais les deux formes se valent. Le Saint-Esprit est en relation avec les trois qualités qui précèdent, et non seulement avec la joie. La préposition est bien rendue par dans (Bible de Jérusalem, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible), mais plusieurs d’autres optent pour « par l’Esprit Saint » (La Bible du Semeur), « au moyen de l’Esprit Saint » (Dios Habla Hoy), « données par l’Esprit Saint » (Parole de Vie), « qui viennent du Saint Esprit » (Parola del Signore).

Source: Margot, Jean-Claude & Zogbo, Lynell. La lettre aux Romains – Manuel de traduction – Commentaire linguistique et exégétique de la Bible. Alliance biblique universelle, 2021.