Translation commentary on Romans 8:11

In the clause he who raised Christ from death, the pronoun refers to God (see New English Bible “then the God who raised Christ Jesus from the dead”). It seems best to take this verse as an eschatological reference; that is, God’s Spirit, which is presently living in the believers, will be the means by which God will give life to their mortal bodies at the end of time.

For some languages there is something of a problem in the repetition of the reference to the resurrection of Jesus, who raised Jesus from death and he who raised Christ from death. There is clearly no distinction in the implied reference to God as the agent, and the names Jesus and Christ are only stylistic variants. However, in some languages this double reference can be rather confusing. Some translators, therefore, have attempted to reproduce the same essential meaning by using in the second instance an expression such as “this same God.” In the original the repetition was for the sake of special emphasis, and this emphasis can be preserved by making the repetition clearly emphatic.

The phrase mortal bodies may be translated as “bodies which will die.” The phrase give life to your mortal bodies may then be rendered as “cause to live your bodies which will die.” The final phrase by the presence of his Spirit in you may be translated in some instances as a separate clause: “he will do this by means of his Spirit which lives in you” or “his Spirit which lives in you will do this.”

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 8:11

8:11a

And: This Greek word indicates that the topic from 8:10 continues and there is new information about the Holy Spirit and believers. There is possibly contrast between the Holy Spirit giving new life (8:10c) and God also giving life to the believer’s body in the future (8:11c). For example:

And (New International Version, Berean Standard Bible)
-or-
But (New American Standard Bible)

if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you: Here the word if introduces a situation that is true. If this first part is true, that supports the then-clause (“He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you” 8:11b–d).

In some languages, using an if -clause would have a different meaning. If that is true in your language, translate the correct meaning. For example:

the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, so
-or-
should the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwell in you
-or-
if ⌊you agree that⌋ the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, ⌊and I know that you do⌋, then ⌊you should also agree that⌋

The word Spirit refers to the Holy Spirit. The word Him refers to God. In some languages, if you translate Him as “God,” you will also need to translate the word who in another way. For example:

God raised Jesus from the dead, and if his Spirit dwells in you,
-or-
God raised Jesus from the dead, and should that Spirit of God dwell in you,
-or-
God raised Jesus from the dead, if ⌊you agree that⌋ his ⌊Holy⌋ Spirit dwells in you, ⌊and I know that you do⌋, then ⌊you should also agree that⌋

raised…from the dead: This phrase refers to God making Jesus alive again after he died and was put in the tomb. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

raised…from death (Good News Translation)
-or-
brought…back to life (God’s Word)

8:11b

He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead: Paul repeated what he has said about God raising Jesus for emphasis. In some languages it is not natural to repeat these words. If that is true in your language, indicate the emphasis in a natural way. For example:

that one
-or-
this same God

Christ Jesus: There is a textual issue here:

(1) Some Greek manuscripts have Christ, and the New International Version and other English versions follow those.

(New International Version, Good News Translation, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New Revised Standard Version, King James Version, God’s Word, NET Bible, New Century Version)

(2) Some Greek manuscripts have Christ Jesus, as in the Berean Standard Bible.

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, New Living Translation (2004), Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the Greek NT 5 has decided it is the best reading.

The order of the words Christ Jesus emphasizes that Jesus is the Christ/Messiah. If you choose the reading Christ Jesus, it is not natural in some languages to have Christ before Jesus. See how you translated this phrase in 8:1.

8:11c

will also give life to your mortal bodies: Many scholars think that the words will…give life refer to when God resurrects believers. It probably does not refer to the new life that we have as believers here on earth.

your mortal bodies: The word mortal indicates that earthly bodies die. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

your bodies that will die
-or-
your bodies will die
-or-
your bodies that die

See how you translated the word mortal in 6:12.

8:11d

through His Spirit: There is a textual issue here about the Greek phrase:

(1) It means through his Spirit here, as in the Berean Standard Bible.

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

(2) It means because of his Spirit here. For example:

because of his Spirit (New International Version (2011))

(NIV2011)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the Greek NT 5 has decided it was the best reading.

through: Here this word indicates that God will give the task of giving life to believers to the Holy Spirit and he (the Holy Spirit) will do it.

His Spirit, who lives in you: The words who lives in you further describe the Holy Spirit. It does not separate this Holy Spirit from other spirits. For the correct meaning in some languages, translators must avoid the word who. For example:

his Spirit, he dwells in you

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