τοῦτο οὖν ἐπιτελέσας καὶ σφραγισάμενος αὐτοῖς τὸν καρπὸν τοῦτον, ἀπελεύσομαι δι᾽ ὑμῶν εἰς Σπανίαν·
28So, when I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will set out by way of you to Spain,
The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that is typically translated in English as “serve,” “minister,” “walk with,” or “service” is translated in Igede as myị ẹrụ or “agree with message (of the one you’re serving).” (source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)
In Quetzaltepec Mixe, “serve” is translated as “obey.” (Source: Robert Bascom)
Following are a number of back-translations of Romans 15:28:
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 formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).
(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )
This task (New American Bible “my task”; Moffatt, New English Bible “this business”; An American Translation* “this matter”) is literally “this” (Revised Standard Version, Jerusalem Bible).
And have turned over to them the full amount of money that has been raised for them is literally “and sealed to them this fruit” (see RSV footnote and King James Version). The phrase “this fruit” can easily be understood in the sense of the money that has been raised for them (Jerusalem Bible “what has been raised”; Moffatt “the proceeds of the collection”; An American Translation* “this contribution”). The use of the verb “to seal” in this context is admittedly difficult. Perhaps it is best understood from the practice of sealing sacks of grain. If a sack of grain were sealed, the recipient was assured that the grain he received was the full amount that had been placed in the sack. For that reason the Good News Translation renders this verb as have turned over to them the full amount.
And have turned over to them the full amount of money that has been raised for them, may be interpreted as an explanation of this task—for example, “When I have finished this task, namely, turning over to them the full amount of money which has been raised for them.” Full amount of money may be “all the money.”
I shall leave for Spain and visit you on my way there is literally “I shall go through you to Spain.” The Jerusalem Bible renders this as “I shall set out for Spain and visit you on the way.” This clause may also be rendered as “I will begin my journey to Spain but stop to see you on the way” or “… stop to stay with you for a time on the way.”
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 .
15:28a
So after: In many languages the word So must be first in the clause. For example:
Therefore, when (New American Standard Bible)
this service: Here this word refers to taking the money to the poor believers in Jerusalem (15:25–26). For example:
this task (New International Version)
In some languages “that” or “those things” would indicate the correct reference.
15:28b
have safely delivered: The Greek word here is literally “having sealed.” It indicates that the full amount of the money was given to the believers in Jerusalem. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
officially turned over (God’s Word)
-or-
in full
this bounty: The Greek is literally “this fruit.” It refers to the money that Greek churches are sending to the poor believers in Jerusalem. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
this harvest (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
this contribution (New American Bible, Revised Edition)
-or-
this money (New Living Translation (2004))
15:28c
I will set off to Spain by way of you: It is implied here that Paul would leave Jerusalem to go to Spain. The phrase by way of you indicates that Paul planned to stop in Rome on his way to Spain. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
I will go to Spain and visit you on the way (New International Version)
-or-
I shall visit you on the way to Spain (New Jerusalem Bible)
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Quand donc j’aurai terminé cette affaire est litt. « ayant donc achevé ceci ». La conjonction grecque traduite par donc (οὖν oun) n’est pas traduite dans certaines versions, mais pourrait bien y figurer. Paul a expliqué ses empêchements et maintenant il exprime sa décision de se rendre à Rome.
termine cette affaire et leur aurai remis officiellement le produit de cette collecte : Paul dit qu’il va d’abord s’occuper de ses responsabilités, en terminant « ceci », c’est-à-dire, cette affaire, « ce service » (La Bible du Semeur), « cette tâche », ou « ce devoir ».
L’expression remis officiellement rend le verbe grec « sceller » dont la signification exacte dans ce contexte est difficile à déterminer. Selon Bénétreau, « Le sceau atteste l’authenticité d’un document ou encore, dans le domaine commercial, il constitue la marque d’origine et la garantie pour un produit » et il ajoute « L’apôtre prend toutes les précautions… [il] donne au geste un caractère officiel » (II, p. 253). De son côté, Godet déclare : « Ce mot indique [ici] la remise officielle et en bonne forme de la somme collectée… aux destinataires » (II, p. 577). C’est dans ce sens que la Traduction œcuménique de la Bible et Bible de Jérusalem ont et leur aurai remis officiellement, interprétation qui se justifie donc. Voir aussi « et que je leur aurai remis tout l’argent (que j’ai collecté pour eux) » (Good News Bible).
Le produit (litt. « ce fruit ») est en fait l’argent que Paul a pu recueillir pour les chrétiens de Jérusalem. La Traduction œcuménique de la Bible rend ceci explicite en parlant du produit de cette collecte. Paul a peut-être voulu éviter de parler d’argent, mais dans certaines langues, il sera plus compréhensible de dire « quand j’aurai remis l’argent à la communauté de Jérusalem » (Parole de Vie).
La proposition et leur aurai remis… précise probablement ce que Paul entend par cette affaire, ce qui donnerait, par exemple : « Quand j’aurai achevé cette affaire, c’est-à-dire quand je leur aurai remis tout l’argent que j’ai collecté pour eux » ou « …toute la somme d’argent qui a été récoltée pour eux », « …que d’autres communautés ont récoltée pour eux ».
j’irai en Espagne en passant chez vous : une formulation possible sera « je partirai pour l’Espagne et je vous rendrai visite en cours de route » ou « je commencerai mon voyage vers l’Espagne en passant tout d’abord chez vous pour vous voir ». La Bible en français courant est plus simple et peut aussi servir de modèle « je partirai pour l’Espagne et passerai chez vous ».
Source: Margot, Jean-Claude & Zogbo, Lynell. La lettre aux Romains – Manuel de traduction – Commentaire linguistique et exégétique de la Bible. Alliance biblique universelle, 2021.
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