Translation commentary on Romans 5:10

This verse contains two parallel clauses, and so is similar in form to the structure of 4.25. The verse begins with an “if” clause, which in Greek is understood to be a condition true to fact, and so may be translated as a statement: We were God’s enemies. The actual content of this verse is very parallel to the content of the previous verse. (1) He made us his friends is parallel to we are now put right with God. (2) Through the death of his Son is parallel to by his death of verse 9. Although in the earlier verse Paul literally said “by his blood,” the thought is parallel to, and the meaning corresponds to, through the death of his Son. (3) Will we be saved carries the same force of will we be saved … from God’s wrath. Saved in this verse also relates to the eschatological future in the same way that saved did in verse 9. (4) By Christ’s life (literally “by his life”) is equivalent in meaning to by him in the previous verse.

The meaning of now that we are God’s friends (Revised Standard Version “we were reconciled to God”) may best be understood in light of the previous statement, we were God’s enemies. The picture is that of men rebelling against God, their king, and finally being brought into peaceful terms with him. Paul uses this same verb in 1 Corinthians 7.11 to describe the reconciliation that takes place between a husband and wife who have separated. Elsewhere in the New Testament this verb is used only of the peaceful relation established between God and men through the work of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5.18, 19, 20), and the related noun is used in the same way (Romans 5.11; 11.15; 2 Corinthians 5.18, 19). “To be made friends with God” carries the same meaning as “to be put right with God” of the previous verse; Paul is merely using two metaphors from different areas of life to describe what happens in the divine-human relation when men experience God’s forgiveness.

We were God’s enemies may be rendered as “we were angry with God,” “we hated God,” or “we would have nothing to do with God.” And through the death of his Son may be rendered as “this happened because his Son died” or “by means of his Son’s dying (we became God’s friends).”

Now that we are God’s friends indicates reconciliation, as indicated above, and expressions for reconciliation involve a wide difference of form due to the diverse cultural contexts in which reconciliation takes place—for example, “he caused us to snap fingers with him again,” “he caused us to sit with him again,” or “he caused us to eat with him again.”

As in verse 9, the expression how much more may be rendered as “it is obvious then” or “it will surely be that.”

It is not at all easy to indicate the means of our being saved by Christ’s life. There is an obvious contrast with a statement concerning Christ’s death earlier in the verse, but the parallelism involves merely the mention of Christ in verse 9. If this final clause must be put into an active form, one can probably best translate as “he will surely save us,” but this does not do justice to the Greek term for “life.” In some languages this can perhaps be best expressed by “he will save us because he is alive.”

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 5:10

5:10a

For: Here this word introduces a sentence that has similar phrases to 5:9 but says something a little different. For the correct meaning in some languages, it is better to omit this word, as some English versions do.

if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son: Here the word if introduces a situation that is true. If this first part is true, that supports the second part (“how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life”) to also be true.

Here the word if does not indicate that when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him might not be true. In some languages a literal translation would indicate this incorrect meaning. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning without using if. For example:

consider this: when we were enemies, we were reconciled to him by the death of his Son, therefore
-or-
it is true that when we were enemies, we were reconciled to him by the death of his Son, therefore
-or-
when we were enemies we were reconciled to him by the death of his Son, therefore

we were enemies of God: The Greek is more literally “being enemies,” but it clearly implies here that we were hostile toward God and so enemies against him. Some languages will need to make that clear here, as the Berean Standard Bible does. For example:

we were enemies ⌊with/against God⌋

we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

⌊he⌋ reconciled us to God by his death
-or-
the death of his Son restored our relationship with God (God’s Word)
-or-
Christ reconciled us to God by dying for us (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

reconciled: This word means “end anger and re-establish a good relationship.” Jesus, by his death, made the way to end God’s anger against our sins and restored our relationship with him.

through the death of His Son: Jesus dying made the way for us to be reconciled to God, because he took the punishment for our sins. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

by the death of his Son (English Standard Version)
-or-
because his Son died for us (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
because of His son allowing Himself to be killed
-or-
because of his Child/Son having died because of us (incl.)

the death of His Son: The noun death describes an event. Some languages must use a verb. See the examples above.

His Son: This phrase refers to Jesus. See how you translated it in 1:3.

5:10b

how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!: The comparison (how much more) emphasizes that shall /will we be saved is true, just as we have been reconciled is true. See how you translated the words how much more in 5:9.

having been reconciled: This clause in Greek is literally “we/us having been reconciled.” The context implies that we are still reconciled at the present time.

The clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

he reconciled us ⌊to God⌋
-or-
he reconciled us ⌊and God⌋

shall we be saved through His life!: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

his life will save us

This clause refers to what Christ does for us in the present and will do in the future, because he always lives to intercede for us (Hebrews 7:24–25). The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as through is often translated as “in.” The word “in” implies that we share in Christ’s life.

Paul used the word life here to contrast to “death” in 5:10a. You should keep that meaning in your translation here. But the noun life describes an event. Some languages must use a verb. For example:

he will save us because he lives

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Commentaire sur la traduction de la lettre aux Romains 5.10

Dans ce verset, Paul utilise encore une fois l’expression πολλῷ μᾶλλον pollô mallon, à plus forte raison, reliant deux propositions. La structure et son contenu s’approchent de Rom 4.25 et du verset précédent : nous avons été réconciliés est parallèle à « nous sommes justifiés », par la mort de son Fils est parallèle à « par son sang », serons-nous sauvés est parallèle à « …sauvés de la colère de Dieu », et par sa vie à « par lui ». Ainsi Paul est en train de souligner ces vérités. Pour à plus forte raison, voir Rom 5.9.

Si en effet, quand nous étions ennemis : une des différences entre Rom 5.9 et Rom 5.10 est la formulation de Rom 5.10 où Paul utilise une proposition conditionnelle, litt. « Si en effet étant ennemis », commençant par les conjonctions εἰ γὰρ ei gar (« Car si », Nouvelle Bible Segond). Le début de ce verset se divise en une condition et une conséquence et les traducteurs devraient décider comment structurer celui-ci. La conjonction διά dia exprime l’emphase, en effet, bien que beaucoup de versions l’omettent. La Parole de Vie ne marque pas la proposition par si, mais exprime la conjonction par oui : « Oui, quand nous étions les ennemis de Dieu ».

quand nous étions ennemis rend un participe présent « étant ennemis ». Il s’agit d’une condition réelle, car cette proposition exprime une vérité. C’est pourquoi plusieurs versions préfèrent la rendre comme une affirmation : « Nous étions les ennemis de Dieu » (Bible en français courant), ou « Alors que nous étions ses ennemis, Dieu… » Le verbe ici est litt. « haïr » Les traducteurs devront trouver une expression convenable, « ceux qui haïssaient Dieu/ne voulaient rien à faire avec Dieu ». Paul admet ce fait et dans certaines langues, on pourrait dire « nous savons » ou « nous admettons (tous) que… »

nous avons été réconciliés avec lui : ceci représente une conséquence de ce qui vient d’être admis. Nous admettons que nous étions ennemis, mais nous constatons maintenant que nous avons été réconciliés. Il s’agit d’un passif aoriste, mais dans beaucoup de traductions, il vaut mieux rendre la phrase à l’actif, « il [Dieu] nous a réconciliés avec lui » (Bible en français courant). La version en anglais Good News Bible propose « il a fait de nous ses amis », par contraste avec « ennemis de Dieu » qui précède. Mais si la langue cible a une expression pour le verbe clé réconcilier, il vaut mieux l’utiliser ici. En 1 Cor 7.11, Paul emploie le même mot pour parler de la réconciliation entre époux, mais partout ailleurs, il l’utilise en rapport avec les relations de paix rétablies entre Dieu et les humains grâce à l’œuvre de Jésus-Christ (2 Cor 5.18,19,20). Pour le nom de la même racine, voir Rom 5.11 ; Rom 11.15 ; 2 Cor 5.18,19. Il peut aussi employer des expressions idiomatiques : « il nous a fait de nouveau nous asseoir/manger avec lui » ou « nous sommes devenus les amis de Dieu ».

par la mort de son Fils : il s’agit encore une fois du moyen de notre réconciliation et de notre salut. Plus haut, Paul parle du sang et ici de la mort et il sera bon de garder ces différences dans la traduction. Il y aura un autre parallèle et contraste encore plus frappant plus loin, entre par la mort et par sa vie.

à plus forte raison : voir Rom 5.9.

réconciliés : il s’agit ici d’un participe à la première personne du singulier. On pourrait dire plus explicitement, « maintenant que nous sommes réconciliés avec lui » (Bible en français courant).

serons-nous sauvés par sa vie : il faut noter le contraste frappant entre par la mort de son Fils et par sa vie. Encore une fois, le verbe est à la forme passive, et les traducteurs pourront changer la proposition à la forme active : « Dieu va aussi nous sauver » (Parole de Vie).

par sa vie renvoie à la vie de Jésus-Christ, et spécifiquement à sa résurrection. La Bible en français courant rend explicite « par la vie de son Fils » (Bible en français courant). On pourrait aussi dire « grâce à la vie de son Fils (Jésus-Christ) ».

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