Japanese benefactives (nashitogete)

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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 choice of a benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.

Here, nashitogete (成し遂げて) or “accomplish” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).” (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Romans 15:19

The word signs is used in Romans only here and in 4.11. The word translated miracles taken by itself would most naturally refer to a happening that evokes awe. However, signs and miracles is a set phrase which occurs frequently in biblical literature (some nine times in the book of Acts), and it is not possible to establish any significant difference between the two words.

In the Greek text, the expression of power occurs with both signs and miracles and with the Spirit, but in some languages there is simply no abstract expression of “power.” One can, however, reproduce something of the meaning of power by indicating the intensity or strength of some particular event. For that reason in some languages one may translate as “by means of powerful signs and miracles, and by means of what the Spirit did in a powerful way.”

In Greek the sentence beginning with and so is continued up to the end of verse 21.

In traveling all the way from Jerusalem to Illyricum is literally “from Jerusalem and around as far as Illyricum.” There is some ambiguity connected with the word “around.” It may be taken with Jerusalem and mean “from Jerusalem and its vicinity.” However, most commentators take it to mean “from Jerusalem (and in territories) around to Illyricum.” Illyricum (also known as Dalmatia) was a Roman province northwest of Macedonia, lying on the Adriatic Sea across from Italy.

Moreover, Paul’s words are ambiguous from another viewpoint. It is impossible to decide, on the basis of the Greek, whether he is saying that he actually went into the territory of Illyricum or just went as far as its southern and eastern boundary. In light of what is known elsewhere about Paul’s ministry, it is possible that he does not state that he actually went into Illyricum, but rather that he reached as far as that territory.

In traveling all the way from Jerusalem to Illyricum may be rendered as “every place I visited, from the city of Jerusalem to the country of Illyricum” or “during all the time that I was going from place to place, from Jerusalem to Illyricum.”

I have proclaimed fully the Good News is rendered by some translators as “I have completed the preaching of the good news” (An American Translation*). What Paul means by this is “I have preached the Good News everywhere.” The genitive expression “the Good News of Christ” means the Good News about Christ.

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 15:19

15:19a

by the power of signs and wonders: This indicates that Paul’s work as an apostle was supported by signs and wonders. God enabled Paul to do signs and wonders, which showed that God had made him an apostle and these signs and wonders were also a part of this work. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

in the power of signs and wonders (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
and also by using amazing signs and miracles

signs and wonders: Both signs and wonders refer to miracles. See the definitions of both below. Both terms tell us something that Paul wanted us to know about these miracles. These miracles both had a symbolic meaning and amazed people.

In some languages a literal translation would wrongly refer to two different kinds of things. If that is true in your language, indicate that both terms describe miracles. For example:

miracles that were signs and that amazed people
-or-
the signs which were amazing things done by God

signs: This refers to miracles that have a symbolic meaning. They suggest or point to something other than themselves. These miracles showed that the God about whom Paul preached was powerful and empowered Paul, and the message about Jesus that Paul preached was true. Here are other ways to translate this word:

great signs
-or-
omens/portents
-or-
miracles that showed ⌊that my message was from God⌋

wonders: This word refers to miracles that amaze people. Here are other ways to translate this word:

marvels
-or-
amazing miracles

by the power of the Spirit of God: This phrase indicates that the power of the Spirit of God enabled Paul to say and do the things he did, his “word and deed” of 15:18c. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

in the power of the Spirit of God
-or-
through the power of the Spirit of God

the Spirit of God: There is a textual issue here.

(1) The words are spirit of-god, as the Berean Standard Bible translates.

(Berean Standard Bible, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, English Standard Version, New International Version (2011), New Revised Standard Version, King James Version, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, NET Bible)

(2) The word is spirit. For example:

the Spirit (New American Standard Bible)

(New International Version (1984), New American Standard Bible)

(3) The words are spirit of-holy. For example:

the Holy Spirit (Revised Standard Version)

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

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the UBS5 supports it, although they indicate that they had difficulty deciding which option was most likely correct.

Either way, this phrase refers to the Holy Spirit. Some languages may need to make that clear. For example:

God’s Holy Spirit
-or-
the Holy Spirit (Revised Standard Version)

15:19b

So: This introduces a result of Paul’s work as an apostle (15:18b–19a).

from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum: This refers in general to the regions between Jerusalem and Illyricum that Paul and other apostles had visited at that time. The words all the way around indicate that the area is not a straight figure. Below is the author’s general idea of the included regions.