SIL Translator’s Notes on Romans 15:8

15:8a

For: Here this word introduces a reason for welcoming other believers.

I tell you that Christ has become a servant: The words I tell you indicate that the words that follow are important. The word that introduces what Paul wanted to tell them.

a servant of the circumcised: The Greek is more literally “a servant of the circumcision.” There are two ways to interpret the Greek word ending that often means of :

(1) It indicates that Jesus served the circumcised, that is, the Jews. For example:

serve the circumcised (New Jerusalem Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition, King James Version, English Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004), NET Bible, Contemporary English Version, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)

(2) It indicates that Jesus served others on behalf of the circumcised. For example:

life of service was on behalf of the Jews (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, God’s Word)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because it fits better with showing God’s truthfulness (15:8b) and confirming the promises to the Jewish ancestors (15:8c).

a servant: The work of a servant was to help another person with his needs and wants. This other person tells him what he needs or wants, and the servant helps him with that need or want.

Jesus was a servant by doing things for the Jews that showed God’s truthfulness (15:8b). He did not take orders from the Jews as a servant usually would. Consider if your usual word or phrase for servant is fitting in this context.

the circumcised: Here this phrase refers to the Jews. In some languages a literal translation may not clearly indicate that. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Explain in the text. For example:

the circumcised, ⌊that is, the Jews⌋

• Translate literally and explain the meaning in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

This refers to the Jews.

circumcised: The word circumcised refers to cutting off the loose skin at the end of a boy’s or man’s penis. See how you translated this word in 2:25 or 4:12.

15:8b

God’s truth: There are several ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as truth. Here are the two main ones:

(1) It means the characteristic or habit of speaking the truth. God always speaks the truth. For example:

the truthfulness of God (New Jerusalem Bible)

(Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition)

(2) It means truth. The words of God are true. For example:

God’s truth (New International Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, New Revised Standard Version, God’s Word, NET Bible)

(3) It means being true to one’s promises. For example:

God is faithful (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the BDAG supports it. The BDAG does not list interpretation (3) as a sense of this Greek word.

General Comment on 15:8b

The Greek is translated as a purpose clause. Jesus fulfilled this purpose during his time on earth. In some languages purpose clauses are always unfulfilled. If that is true in your language, indicate that Jesus fulfilled this purpose. For example:

and showed God’s truthfulness
-or-
and showed that what God says is true

Often fulfilled purpose clauses are translated as result clauses. But here it was not only Christ becoming a servant that showed God’s truthfulness but also his deeds as that servant. So the above examples only imply the result connection. Consider what the best connection is in your language.

15:8c

to: This phrase introduces a second purpose clause. The first purpose clause, to show that God is truthful (15:8b), is a general statement. This purpose clause, to confirm God’s promises, is a part of that more general statement.

Jesus fulfilled this purpose of confirming the promises during his time on earth. In some languages purpose clauses are always unfulfilled. If that is true in your language, indicate that Jesus fulfilled this purpose. For example:

and confirmed…

confirm: There are several ways to interpret the Greek word here. Here are the two main ones:

(1) It means to cause something to be known as certain (L&N). The English word confirm indicates that meaning here.

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, English Standard Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, NET Bible)

(2) It means to cause something that was promised to happen. For example:

make…come true (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, God’s Word, Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the BDAG and L&N both support it.

the promises made: This is a passive clause. In some languages an active clause must be used. For example:

the promises ⌊that God⌋ made

patriarchs: Here this word refers to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Here are other ways to translate this word:

forefathers
-or-
Jewish ancestors (New Century Version)

See how you translated this word in 9:5 or 11:28 (“patriarchs”).

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Commentaire sur la traduction de la lettre aux Romains 15.8

Je l’affirme en effet est littéralement « en effet/car je dis », avec la conjonction γάρ gar. On pourrait suivre d’autres modèles : « En effet, je vous l’affirme » (Bible en français courant), « Je vous le dis » (Parole de Vie), « Car je dis que… » (Nouvelle Bible Segond).

c’est au nom de la fidélité de Dieu que Christ s’est fait serviteur des circoncis est litt. « le Christ a été serviteur de la circoncision à cause de la vérité de Dieu ». La Traduction œcuménique de la Bible intervertit les éléments du texte grec et insère l’expression c’est au nom de. Les différentes versions reformulent cette phrase de plusieurs manières. La Nouvelle Bible Segond dit, par exemple, « …le Christ est devenu serviteur des circoncis pour la vérité de Dieu ». La Parole de Vie inverse les propositions pour dire « Dieu est fidèle. C’est pourquoi Christ est devenu… »

Le mot grec rendu par fidélité (ἀλήθεια alêtheia) peut signifier aussi « vérité » (Nouvelle Bible Segond). Mais, dans l’AT, le mot hébreu correspondant a souvent le sens de « fidélité », et il est probable que Paul l’emploie ici dans ce sens. La préposition ὑπέρ huper veut dire « par rapport à » ou à cause de. Dans ce genre de contexte, l’idée d’être « fidèle » sous-entend que la personne, ou ici Dieu, « fait ce qu’elle a promis de faire ». On pourrait dire « Christ a fait ainsi afin de montrer que Dieu accomplit ce qu’il promet ».

s’est fait serviteur des circoncis : le texte dit qu’il « est devenu » ou s’est fait « serviteur de la circoncision ». Comme en Rom 2.16, cette expression renvoie aux gens, ainsi « serviteur des circoncis » (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Bible en français courant), c’est-à-dire, « le serviteur des Juifs » (Parole de Vie). Christ lui-même est né Juif, et ses parents juifs ont suivi les commandements de la loi juive, en faisant circoncire leur fils. Comme serviteur des circoncis, Jésus est venu d’abord sauver son propre peuple, c’est-à-dire les Juifs (Jean 8.32s), ainsi que le monde (Jean 3.23). C’est pourquoi la Good News Bible propose qu’il « est venu pour aider les Juifs ». On pourrait aussi dire qu’il « est venu pour les Juifs » ou « pour faire du bien aux Juifs ».

pour accomplir les promesses faites aux pères : cette proposition commence par la préposition εἰς eis, « en vue de », « afin de », exprimant un but. Le but de Christ était d’accomplir les promesses de Dieu faites aux Juifs à travers ses prophètes. Pour promesses, voir Rom 4.13. Les pères renvoient aux « ancêtres » (Bible en français courant, La Bible du Semeur, Parole de Vie) ou aux « patriarches » (Bible de Jérusalem). Voir Rom 9.5. Cette proposition précise le sens de cette fidélité de Dieu mentionnée plus haut. La Bible en français courant restructure la fin du verset en disant « pour accomplir les promesses que Dieu a faites à leurs ancêtres et montrer ainsi que Dieu est fidèle ».

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