Translation commentary on Romans 4:16

This verse is closely related to verse 14 and is introduced in Greek by a phrase rendered “that is why” in several translations (Moffatt, An American Translation*, Revised Standard Version, Jerusalem Bible). However, it is possible that the English reader may fail to see that this verse relates back to verse 14, and so the Good News Translation makes the relation explicit: the promise was based on faith (as a rendering of Paul’s words “this is why on the basis of faith”). The New English Bible is very close to the Good News Bible: “the promise was made on the ground of faith.”

This introductory clause the promise was based on faith may need to be somewhat more explicit in some languages—for example, “God made his promise because Abraham trusted him” or “God’s promise rested on Abraham’s believing.”

In the second clause of this sentence, in order that the promise should be guaranteed as God’s free gift…, the words rendered God’s free gift are in the stressed position in the Greek sentence structure. God’s free gift is literally “grace,” and it has been rendered in a variety of ways: “a free gift” (Jerusalem Bible), “a matter of sheer grace” (New English Bible), “God’s favor” (An American Translation*), and “God’s gift” (Twentieth Century New Testament). To all of Abraham’s descendants is literally “to all the seed” (see v. 13 above).

It is by no means easy to relate the promise and God’s free gift. In some instances this may be done by saying: “what God had promised would be shown clearly to be God’s gift” or “what God promised would be clearly what God had given freely to all of Abraham’s offspring.”

The last clause of this sentence is translated in a number of different ways, but the meaning is clear. It is important that the translator realize that the words those who believe as Abraham did refer, not to the content of what Abraham believed, but to the fact that Abraham did believe God.

This similarity of faith may be expressed more effectively in some instances by using a verb for “trust”—for example, “who trusted God as Abraham trusted him.”

Spiritual father is literally “father” (see v. 11 above). It may be of some value for the translator to see the contrasts in this verse and the previous verse: verse 15 speaks of law, disobeying the law, and of God’s wrath; verse 16 speaks of God’s promise, man’s faith, and God’s free gift.

The first person plural us in the phrase father of us all must, of course, be rendered as inclusive for those languages which do make a distinction between the inclusive and exclusive first person plural, since us in this context must include both Jews and Gentiles.

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 4:16

Paragraph 4:16–17

4:16a

Therefore: This word introduces a conclusion about what Paul wrote in 4:13–15. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

And so (Good News Translation)
-or-
For this reason (NET Bible)

the promise comes by faith: The Greek is more literally “of faith.” There is an implied subject and verb. In English the implied subject is translated the promise and refers to God’s promise, as in 4:13a. The promise was given to Abraham because of his faith. Here are some other ways to translate this:

people receive God’s promise by having faith (New Century Version)
-or-
the promise is received by faith (New Living Translation (2004))

the promise: The word promise refers back to the same promise of 4:13–14. In some languages it is more clear to refer back to it. For example:

that promise

4:16b

so that it may rest on grace: Faith was the basis for God making the promise to Abraham. The purpose was so that he might give it according to grace. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

so that the promise may rest on grace (English Standard Version)
-or-
and the purpose is that the promise may rest on grace

This purpose has become true already. In some languages it must be translated as result for the correct meaning. For example:

so that the promise rests on grace

may rest on grace: The Greek is literally “(it may be) according to grace.” God promised to give Abraham and his descendants the world because he wanted to, not because he needed to. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

it will be based on his grace
-or-
it would be clear that his grace…is the origin, not their own deeds
-or-
this might be possible by means of his kindness
-or-
It is given as a free gift (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
it can be a gift (God’s Word)

grace: Here the word grace indicates that God did something kind. He wants to help people. People do not deserve this help. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

as a free gift (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
his great kindness (Contemporary English Version)

4:16c

and: Here the word and indicates that 4:16c expresses a second purpose (after the first one in 4:16b). In some languages it is more clear to introduce the clause again. For example:

and ⌊in order that it⌋

guaranteed: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as guaranteed means “valid, sure, legally secure.” God will certainly give the world to Abraham and those who have faith like his. Here are other ways to translate this word:

secure (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
certain (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
assured (Contemporary English Version)

4:16d–e

not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham: Paul had two groups of Abraham’s spiritual children in mind, those who are of the law (Jewish believers) and those who are of the faith of Abraham (non-Jewish believers).

The phrases not only and but also emphasizes the second group. Some Jews thought that a person had to become a Jew first (by following the Law of Moses) for God to accept him or her. But Paul emphasized here that God accepts everyone who has the same faith as Abraham, even if they do not follow the law of Moses. Consider how to translate that emphasis.

4:16d

those who are of the law: The Greek is literally “the (one) of the law.” It is similar to “those who live by the law” in 4:14a. The word of indicates that this person is connected to the law of Moses. It refers to the Jews. Translate it in a similar way to the phrase in 4:14a.

This phrase refers generally to Jews. The singular emphasizes that this statement is true for each person. In some languages it is more natural to use the plural in a general reference. For example:

to the adherent of the law (English Standard Version)
-or-
people who have/possess the laws ⌊of Moses⌋

The context implies that these people also believe in God. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly imply they do not believe. If that is true in your language, add the implied information. For example:

the adherent of the law ⌊who believes⌋
-or-
someone who has the law ⌊of Moses⌋ ⌊and believes in God⌋

4:16e

those who are of the faith of Abraham: This phrase refers to those who believe in God as Abraham did. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

anyone who lives with faith like that of Abraham (New Century Version)
-or-
all who are Abraham’s descendants because they have faith, just as he did (Contemporary English Version)

4:16f

He is the father of us all: This clause tells the reader more about Abraham. In some languages a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, consider how to translate the correct meaning. One way to do that is to start a new sentence here, as the Berean Standard Bible does.

the father of us all: The word father is a figure of speech here, similar to its use in 4:11–12. God chose to bless the world through Abraham. That choice was based upon Abraham’s faith in God. In that way he became the father (or ancestor) for all those who later believe, because he was the first one to do so. So the meaning of father here is broader than just in terms of a father to child kind of descent.

In some languages translating father literally would imply a literal ancestor. If that is true in your language, indicate that it has a figurative meaning. For example:

⌊like⌋ the father of us all
-or-
whom ⌊God made to be thought of as⌋ the father of us all
-or-
as-if the ancestor of us all
-or-
whom we consider as father of us all ⌊in faith⌋
-or-
the spiritual father of us all (Good News Translation)

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Commentaire sur la traduction de la lettre aux Romains 4.16

4.16-25

Rom 4.15 est en quelque sorte une parenthèse. En Rom 4.16, Paul revient au thème principal de son argumentation, à savoir que la promesse de Dieu et la foi du croyant vont de pair, étant fondées sur la grâce de Dieu ( Rom 4.16). Paul se réfère une fois de plus à l’exemple d’Abraham pour renforcer ses affirmations ( Rom 4.17). Il applique ensuite ce qui est dit d’Abraham à la vie des croyants en général ( Rom 4.23).

Aussi est-ce par la foi qu’on devient héritier : ce verset est en rapport étroit avec Rom 4.14. Il est introduit en grec par l’expression διά τοῦτο dia touto signifiant « C’est pourquoi » ou « Voilà pourquoi » (La Bible du Semeur, Osty-Trinquet), « Pour cette raison », (Parole de Vie). Elle est rendue dans d’autres versions par Aussi, « Ainsi » (Bible en français courant) et « Donc » (Segond Révisée, Nouvelle Bible Segond). Pour mettre en relief la relation entre ce verset et Rom 4.14, on pourrait dire explicitement comme dans la Bible en français courant : « Ainsi, la promesse a été faite à cause de la foi » qui introduit déjà l’idée de la promesse qui apparaît plus loin dans le verset. Pour héritier, voir Rom 4.14.

afin que ce soit par grâce et que la promesse demeure valable… est litt. « afin que selon grâce en vue de la promesse être valable », ce qui demande à être exprimé d’une manière naturelle dans la langue cible. Les mots afin que ce soit par grâce sont mis en évidence au début de cette proposition. Le terme grâce a été rendu de diverses façons : « don gratuit » (Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie), « un don de la grâce » (La Bible du Semeur), « une affaire de pure grâce » (Revised English Bible). Par ailleurs, il n’est pas du tout facile d’établir la relation entre grâce et promesse… valable. Une solution pourrait être : « ce que Dieu a promis apparaîtra clairement comme un don gratuit ». Pour promesse, voir Rom 4.13. L’adjectif βέβαιος bebaios, qui ne se trouve qu’une fois dans ce livre, indique que quelque chose est fiable ou bien fondé.

pour toute la descendance d’Abraham : voir Rom 4.13.

non seulement pour ceux qui se réclament de la loi, mais aussi pour ceux qui se réclament de la foi d’Abraham : cette phrase rejoint en structure celle de Rom 4.12, reliant deux propositions, non seulement… mais aussi. Paul oppose ceux qui veulent se fier à la loi, et ceux qui, par contre, croient en Dieu. La première proposition dit litt. « non celui de la loi seulement » qui veut dire « non pas seulement pour ceux qui obéissent à la loi… » (Bible en français courant), « non seulement pour ceux qui sont soumis à la loi… » (Parole de Vie). La deuxième proposition est litt. « mais aussi celui de la foi d’Abraham », autrement dit, « mais aussi pour ceux qui croient comme Abraham a cru » ou encore plus explicitement, « ceux qui ont confiance en Dieu comme Abraham a eu confiance en Dieu ».

notre père à tous : notre est inclusif. En effet, à tous inclut dans ce contexte les Juifs et les non-Juifs. Pour père, voir Rom 4.11.

La Bible en français courant et la Good News Bible relient ces derniers mots à ce qui suit ( Rom 4.17) : « Abraham est notre père à tous, sup 17sup* comme le déclare l’Écriture… », une interprétation possible du texte.

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