English: unfoldingWord® Translation Notes

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Romans

Romans front

Introduction to Romans

Part 1: General Introduction

Outline of the Book of Romans
  1. Introduction (1:1-15)
  2. Righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ (1:16-17)
  3. All mankind is condemned because of sin (1:18-3:20)
  4. Righteousness through Jesus Christ by faith in him (3:21-4:25)
  5. The fruits of the Spirit (5:1-11)
  6. Adam and Christ compared (5:12-21)
  7. Becoming like Christ in this life (6:1-8:39)
  8. God’s plan for Israel (9:1-11:36)
  9. Practical advice for living as Christians (12:1-15:13)
  10. Conclusion and greetings (15:14-16:27)
Who wrote the Book of Romans?

The Apostle Paul wrote the Book of Romans. Paul was from the city of Tarsus. He had been known as Saul in his early life. Before becoming a Christian, Paul was a Pharisee. He persecuted Christians. After he became a Christian, he traveled several times throughout the Roman Empire telling people about Jesus.

Paul probably wrote this letter while he was staying in the city of Corinth during his third trip through the Roman Empire.

What is the Book of Romans about?

Paul wrote this letter to the Christians in Rome. Paul wanted to get them ready to receive him when he visited them. He said his purpose was to “bring about the obedience of faith” (16:26).

In this letter Paul most fully described the gospel of Jesus Christ. He explained that both Jews and non-Jews have sinned, and God will forgive them and declare them righteous only if they believe in Jesus (chapters 1-11). Then he gave them practical advice for how believers should live (chapters 12-16),

How should the title of this book be translated?

Translators may choose to call this book by its traditional title, “Romans.” Or they may choose a clearer title, such as “Paul’s Letter to the Church in Rome,” or “A Letter to the Christians in Rome.” (See: How to Translate Names)

Part 2: Important Religious and Cultural Concepts

What are the titles used to refer to Jesus?

In Romans, Paul described Jesus Christ by many titles and descriptions: Jesus Christ (1:1), the Seed of David (1:3), the Son of God (1:4), the Lord Jesus Christ (1:7), Christ Jesus (3:24), Propitiation (3:25), Jesus (3:26), Jesus our Lord (4:24), Lord of Hosts (9:29), a Stumbling Stone and Rock of Offence (9:33), the End of the Law (10:4), the Deliverer (11:26), Lord of the Dead and the Living (14:9), and the Root of Jesse (15:12).

How should theological terms in Romans be translated?

Paul uses many theological terms that are not used in the four gospels. As early Christians learned more about the meaning of Jesus Christ and his message, they needed words and expressions for new ideas. Some examples of these words are “justification” (5:1), “works of the law” (3:20), “reconcile” (5:10), “propitiation” (3:25), “sanctification” (6:19), and “the old man” (6:6).

The “key terms” dictionary can help translators understand many of these terms. (See: Abstract Nouns)

Terms such as those given above are difficult to explain. It is often hard or impossible for translators to find equivalent terms in their own languages. It can help to know that word equivalents of these terms are not necessary. Instead, translators can develop short expressions to communicate these ideas. For example, the term “gospel” can be translated as “the good news about Jesus Christ.”

Translators should also remember that some of these terms have more than one meaning. The meaning will depend on how the author is using the word in that particular passage. For example, “righteousness” sometimes means that a person obeys God’s law. At other times, “righteousness” means that Jesus Christ has perfectly obeyed God’s law for us.

What did Paul mean by “a remnant” of Israel (11:5)?

The idea of a “remnant” is important both in the Old Testament and for Paul. Most of the Israelites were either killed or scattered among other people when the Assyrians and then the Babylonians conquered their land. Only a relatively few Jews survived. They were known as “the remnant.”

In 11:1-9, Paul speaks of another remnant. This remnant is the Jews whom God saved because they believed in Jesus. (See: remnant)

Part 3: Important Translation Issues

What did Paul mean by being “in Christ”?

The phrase “in Christ” and similar phrases occur in 3:24; 6:11, 23; 8:1,2,39; 9:1; 12:5,17; 15:17; and 16:3,7,9,10. Paul used these kinds of phrases as a metaphor to express that Christian believers belong to Jesus Christ. Belonging to Christ means the believer is saved and is made a friend with God. The believer is also promised to live with God forever. However, this idea can be difficult to represent in many languages.

These phrases also have specific meanings that depend on how Paul used them in a particular passage. For example, in 3:24 (“the redemption that is in Christ Jesus”), Paul referred to our being redeemed “because” of Jesus Christ. In 8:9 (“you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit”), Paul spoke of believers submitting “to” the Holy Spirit. In 9:1 (“I tell the truth in Christ”), Paul meant that he is telling the truth that “is in agreement with” Jesus Christ.

Nevertheless, the basic idea of our being united with Jesus Christ (and with the Holy Spirit) is seen in these passages as well. Therefore, the translator has a choice in many passages that use “in.” He will often decide to represent the more immediate sense of “in,” such as, “by means of,” “in the manner of,” or “in regard to.” But, if possible, the translator should choose a word or phrase that reprents the immediate sense and the sense of “in union with.” (See: in Christ, in Jesus, in the Lord, in him)

How are the ideas of “holy,” “saints” or “holy ones,” and “sanctify” represented in Romans in the ULT?

The scriptures use such words to indicate any one of various ideas. For this reason, it is often difficult for translators to represent them well in their versions. In translating into English, the ULT uses the following principles: * Sometimes the meaning in a passage implies moral holiness. Especially important for understanding the gospel is the fact that God considers Christians to be sinless because they are united to Jesus Christ. Another related fact is that God is perfect and faultless. A third fact is that Christians are to conduct themselves in a blameless and faultless manner in life. In these cases, the ULT uses “holy,” “holy God,” “holy ones” or “holy people.” (See: 1:7) * Sometimes the meaning in a passage indicates a simple reference to Christians without implying any particular role filled by them. In cases where some other English versions have “saints” or “holy ones,” the ULT uses “believers.” (See: 8:27; 12:13; 15:25, 26, 31; 16:2, 15) * Sometimes the meaning in a passage indicates the idea of someone or something set apart for God alone. In these cases, the ULT uses “set apart,” “dedicated to,” “consecrated,” or “reserved for.” (See: 15:16)

The UST will often be helpful as translators think about how to represent these ideas in their own versions.

What are the major issues in the text of the Book of Romans?

For the following verses, modern version of the Bible differ from older versions. The ULT includes the modern reading and puts the older reading in a footnote.

  • “he [God] works all things together for good” (8:28). Some older versions read, “All things work together for good.”
  • “But if it is by grace, it is no longer by works. Otherwise grace would no longer be grace” (11:6). Some older versions read: “But if it is by works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”

The following verse is not in the best ancient copies of the Bible. Translators are advised not to include this verse. However, if in the translators’ region there are older Bible versions that have this verse, the translators can include it. If it is translated, it should be put inside square brackets ([]) to indicate that it is probably not original to the Book of Romans.

  • “May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” (16:24).

(See: Textual Variants)

Romans 1

Romans 01 General Notes

Structure and formatting

The first verse is a type of introduction. People in the ancient Mediterranean region often started their letters this way. Sometimes this is called a “salutation.”

Special concepts in this chapter

The gospel

This chapter refers to the contents of the Book of Romans as “the gospel” (Romans 1:2). Romans is not a gospel like Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Instead, chapters 1-8 present the biblical gospel: All have sinned. Jesus died for our sins. He was raised again that we might have new life in him.

Fruit

This chapter uses the imagery of fruit. The image of fruit usually refers to a person’s faith producing good works in their life. In this chapter, it refers to the results of Paul’s work among the Roman Christians. (See: fruit, fruitful, unfruitful and faith and righteous, righteousness, unrighteous, unrighteousness, upright, uprightness)

Universal Condemnation and the Wrath of God

This chapter explains that everyone is without excuse. We all know about the true God, Yahweh, from his creation all around us. Because of our sin and our sinful nature, every person justly deserves the wrath of God. This wrath was satisfied by Jesus dying on a cross for those who believe in him. (See: believe, believer, belief, unbeliever, unbelief and sin, sinful, sinner, sinning)

Important figures of speech in this chapter

“God gave them over”

Many scholars view the phrases “God gave them over” and “God gave them up” as theologically significant. For this reason, it is important to translate these phrases with God playing a passive role in the action. God simply allows men to pursue their own desires, he does not force them. (See: Active or Passive)

Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter

Difficult phrases and concepts

This chapter has many difficult ideas in it. How Paul writes makes many of the phrases in this chapter difficult to translate. The translator may need to use the UST to understand the meaning of the phrases. And it may be necessary to more freely translate these phrases. Some of the difficult phrases include: “obedience of faith,” “whom I serve in my spirit,” “from faith to faith” and “exchanged the glory of the imperishable God for the likenesses of an image of perishable man.”

Romans 1:1

Παῦλος

Your language may have a particular way of introducing the author of a letter. You may also need to tell in this same verse who the people are to whom Paul wrote the letter (Romans 1:7). Alternate translation: “I, Paul, wrote this letter” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

κλητὸς ἀπόστολος, ἀφωρισμένος εἰς εὐαγγέλιον Θεοῦ

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “God called me to be an apostle and chose me to tell people about the gospel” (See: Active or Passive)

κλητὸς

This means that God has appointed or chosen people to be his children, to be his servants and proclaimers of his message of salvation through Jesus.

Romans 1:2

ὃ προεπηγγείλατο διὰ τῶν προφητῶν αὐτοῦ ἐν Γραφαῖς ἁγίαις

God promised his people that he would set up his kingdom. He told the prophets to write these promises in the Scriptures.

Romans 1:3

περὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ

This refers to “the gospel of God,” the good news that God promised to send his Son into the world.

τοῦ Υἱοῦ

This is an important title for Jesus, the Son of God. (See: Translating Son and Father)

τοῦ γενομένου ἐκ σπέρματος Δαυεὶδ κατὰ σάρκα

Here the word “flesh” refers to the physical body. Alternate translation: “who is a descendant of David according to the physical nature” or “who was born into the family of David” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 1:4

Paul talks here about his obligation to preach.

τοῦ ὁρισθέντος Υἱοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν δυνάμει

The word “he” refers to Jesus Christ. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “God declared him with power to be the Son of God” (See: Active or Passive)

ἐξ ἀναστάσεως νεκρῶν

“by raising him from among the people who are dead.” This expression speaks of all dead people together in the underworld, and coming alive again is spoken of as resurrection from among them.

Πνεῦμα ἁγιωσύνης

This refers to the Holy Spirit.

Romans 1:5

ἐλάβομεν χάριν καὶ ἀποστολὴν

God has given Paul the gift of being an apostle. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “God caused me to be an apostle. This is a special privilege” (See: Active or Passive)

εἰς ὑπακοὴν πίστεως ἐν πᾶσιν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν ὑπὲρ τοῦ ὀνόματος αὐτοῦ

Paul uses the word “name” as a metonym to refer to Jesus. Alternate translation: “in order to teach all nations to obey because of their faith in him” (See: Metonymy)

Romans 1:7

πᾶσιν τοῖς οὖσιν ἐν Ῥώμῃ, ἀγαπητοῖς Θεοῦ, κλητοῖς ἁγίοις

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “I am writing this letter to all of you in Rome whom God loves and has chosen to become his people” (See: Active or Passive)

χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “May God give you grace and peace” or “May God bless you and give you inner peace” (See: Active or Passive)

Θεοῦ Πατρὸς ἡμῶν

The word “Father” is an important title for God. (See: Translating Son and Father)

Romans 1:8

ὅλῳ τῷ κόσμῳ

the world Paul and his readers knew and could travel in, which was the Roman Empire

Romans 1:9

μάρτυς γάρ μού ἐστιν ὁ Θεός

Paul emphasizes that he earnestly prays for them and that God has seen him praying. The word “for” is often left untranslated.

ἐν τῷ πνεύματί μου

A person’s spirit is the part of him that can know God and believe in him.

τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ τοῦ Υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ

The good news (gospel) of the Bible is that the Son of God has given himself as the Savior of the world.

Υἱοῦ

This is an important title for Jesus, the Son of God. (See: Translating Son and Father)

μνείαν ὑμῶν ποιοῦμαι

“I talk to God about you”

Romans 1:10

πάντοτε ἐπὶ τῶν προσευχῶν μου, δεόμενος εἴ…ποτὲ εὐοδωθήσομαι…ἐλθεῖν πρὸς ὑμᾶς.

“Every time I pray, I ask God that…I may succeed…in coming to visit you”

εἴ πως

“in whatever way God allows”

ποτὲ

“eventually” or “finally”

ἐν τῷ θελήματι τοῦ Θεοῦ

“because God desires it”

Romans 1:11

Paul continues his opening statements to the people in Rome by stating his desire to see them in person.

ἐπιποθῶ γὰρ ἰδεῖν ὑμᾶς

“Because I really want to see you”

τι…χάρισμα…πνευματικὸν, εἰς τὸ στηριχθῆναι ὑμᾶς

Paul wants to strengthen the Roman Christians spiritually. Alternate translation: “some gift that will help you to grow spiritually” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 1:12

τοῦτο δέ ἐστιν συνπαρακληθῆναι ἐν ὑμῖν, διὰ τῆς ἐν ἀλλήλοις πίστεως, ὑμῶν τε καὶ ἐμοῦ

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “I mean that I want us to encourage each other by sharing our experiences of faith in Jesus” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 1:13

οὐ θέλω…ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν

Paul is emphasizing that he wanted them to have this information. You can translate this double negative in a positive form. Alternate translation: “I want you to know” (See: Double Negatives)

ἀδελφοί

Here this means fellow Christians, including both men and women.

καὶ ἐκωλύθην ἄχρι τοῦ δεῦρο

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “something has always prevented me” (See: Active or Passive)

ἵνα τινὰ καρπὸν σχῶ καὶ ἐν ὑμῖν

The word “harvest” is a metaphor that represents people in Rome whom Paul wants to believe the gospel. Alternate translation: “that more people among you might trust in Jesus” (See: Metaphor)

τοῖς λοιποῖς ἔθνεσιν

the Gentiles in the other regions where he had gone

Romans 1:14

τε…ὀφειλέτης εἰμί

Using the metaphor “debtor,” Paul speaks of his duty to serve God as if he owed God a financial debt. Alternate translation: “I must take the gospel to” (See: Metaphor)

Romans 1:16

οὐ…ἐπαισχύνομαι τὸ εὐαγγέλιον

You can translate this in a positive form. Alternate translation: “I trust completely in the gospel” (See: Litotes)

δύναμις…Θεοῦ ἐστιν εἰς σωτηρίαν παντὶ τῷ πιστεύοντι

Here “believes” means that one puts his trust in Christ. Alternate translation: “it is through the gospel that God powerfully saves those who put their trust in Christ” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ἰουδαίῳ τε πρῶτον καὶ Ἕλληνι

“for Jewish people and also for Greek people”

τε πρῶτον

Here “first” means coming before all others in order of time.

Romans 1:17

γὰρ…ἐν αὐτῷ

Here “it” refers to the gospel. Paul explains why he completely trusts in the gospel.

δικαιοσύνη…Θεοῦ…ἀποκαλύπτεται, ἐκ πίστεως εἰς πίστιν

Paul speaks about the gospel message as if it were an object that God could physically show to people. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “God has told us that it is by faith from beginning to end that people become righteous” (See: Active or Passive)

καθὼς γέγραπται

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “as someone has written in the Scriptures” (See: Active or Passive)

ὁ…δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται.

Here “righteous” refers to those who trust in God. Alternate translation: “It is people who trust in God that he considers right with him, and they will live forever” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 1:18

Paul reveals God’s great anger against sinful man.

ἀποκαλύπτεται γὰρ ὀργὴ Θεοῦ

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “For God shows how angry he is” (See: Active or Passive)

γὰρ

Paul uses the word “for” to show he is about to tell why people know that what he has said in Romans 1:17 is true.

ἀποκαλύπτεται…ὀργὴ Θεοῦ ἀπ’ οὐρανοῦ, ἐπὶ πᾶσαν ἀσέβειαν καὶ ἀδικίαν ἀνθρώπων

The words “ungodliness” and “unrighteousness” are abstract nouns that can be expressed using the adjectives “ungodly,” which describes the people, and “unrighteous,” which describes their deeds. These nouns are metonyms for the people with whom God is angry. You can translate this in active form. Alternate translation: “God reveals from heaven how angry he is with people because they are ungodly and do unrighteous deeds” (See: Abstract Nouns and Metonymy)

τὴν ἀλήθειαν…κατεχόντων

Here “truth” refers to true information about God. Alternate translation: “hide the true information about God” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 1:19

τὸ γνωστὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ, φανερόν ἐστιν ἐν αὐτοῖς

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “they can know about God because of what they can plainly see” (See: Active or Passive)

ὁ Θεὸς γὰρ αὐτοῖς ἐφανέρωσεν

Here “enlightened them” means God has shown them the truth about him. Alternate translation: “Because God has shown everyone what he is like” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 1:20

τὰ γὰρ ἀόρατα αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ κτίσεως κόσμου, τοῖς ποιήμασιν νοούμενα, καθορᾶται

Paul speaks of people understanding God’s invisible qualities as if people have seen those qualities. This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: “For people have clearly understood God’s invisible qualities, namely his eternal power and divine nature” (See: Metaphor and Active or Passive)

θειότης

“all the qualities and characteristics of God” or “the things about God that make him God”

κόσμου

This refers to the heavens and the earth, as well as everything in them.

τοῖς ποιήμασιν

This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: “because of the things that God has made” or “because people have seen the things that God has made” (See: Active or Passive)

τὸ εἶναι αὐτοὺς ἀναπολογήτους

“these people can never say that they did not know”

Romans 1:21

ἐματαιώθησαν ἐν τοῖς διαλογισμοῖς αὐτῶν

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “began to think foolish things” (See: Active or Passive)

ἐσκοτίσθη ἡ ἀσύνετος αὐτῶν καρδία

Here “darkness” is a metaphor that represents the people’s lack of understanding. Here “hearts” is a metonym for a person’s mind or inner being. Alternate translation: “they became unable to understand what God wanted them to know” (See: Metaphor and Metonymy)

Romans 1:22

φάσκοντες εἶναι σοφοὶ, ἐμωράνθησαν

“While they were claiming that they were wise, they became foolish”

φάσκοντες

the people in Romans 1:18

Romans 1:23

ἤλλαξαν τὴν δόξαν τοῦ ἀφθάρτου Θεοῦ

“traded the truth that God is glorious and will never die” or “stopped believing that God is glorious and will never die”

ἐν ὁμοιώματι εἰκόνος

“and instead chose to worship idols that looked like”

φθαρτοῦ ἀνθρώπου

“some human being that will die”

πετεινῶν, καὶ τετραπόδων, καὶ ἑρπετῶν

“or that looked like birds, four-footed beasts, or creeping things”

Romans 1:24

διὸ

“Because what I have just said is true”

παρέδωκεν αὐτοὺς ὁ Θεὸς ἐν

“God allowed them to indulge in”

αὐτοὺς…αὐτῶν…αὐτοῖς;

These words refer to the “mankind” of Romans 1:18.

ταῖς ἐπιθυμίαις τῶν καρδιῶν αὐτῶν εἰς ἀκαθαρσίαν

Here “lusts of their hearts” is a synecdoche that represents the evil things they wanted to do. Alternate translation: “the morally impure things they desired greatly” (See: Synecdoche)

τοῦ ἀτιμάζεσθαι τὰ σώματα αὐτῶν ἐν αὐτοῖς

This is a euphemism that means they committed immoral sexual acts. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “and they committed sexually immoral and degrading acts” (See: Euphemism and Active or Passive)

Romans 1:25

οἵτινες

This word refers to the “mankind” of Romans 1:18.

ἐσεβάσθησαν καὶ ἐλάτρευσαν τῇ κτίσει

Here “creation” refers to what God created. Alternate translation: “They worshiped things that God created” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

παρὰ

“rather than”

Romans 1:26

διὰ τοῦτο

“Because of idolatry and sexual sin”

παρέδωκεν αὐτοὺς ὁ Θεὸς εἰς

“God allowed them to indulge in”

πάθη ἀτιμίας

“shameful sexual desires”

αἵ τε γὰρ θήλειαι αὐτῶν

“because their women”

μετήλλαξαν τὴν φυσικὴν χρῆσιν εἰς τὴν παρὰ φύσιν

The idea of relations “that were unnatural” is a euphemism for immoral sexuality. Alternate translation: “started practicing sexuality in a way God did not design” (See: Euphemism)

Romans 1:27

καὶ…ἄρσενες ἀφέντες τὴν φυσικὴν χρῆσιν τῆς θηλείας

Here “natural relations” is a euphemism for sexual relationships. Alternate translation: “many men stopped having natural sexual desire for women” (See: Euphemism)

ἐξεκαύθησαν ἐν τῇ ὀρέξει αὐτῶν εἰς ἀλλήλους

“experienced strong sexual desire for other men”

τὴν ἀσχημοσύνην κατεργαζόμενοι

“committed acts for which they should have been ashamed, but they were not ashamed”

ἄρσεσιν…καὶ τὴν ἀντιμισθίαν ἣν ἔδει τῆς πλάνης αὐτῶν, ἐν ἑαυτοῖς ἀπολαμβάνοντες

“men, and God has punished them justly for the error they committed”

πλάνης

moral wrong, not a mistake about facts

Romans 1:28

καὶ καθὼς οὐκ ἐδοκίμασαν, τὸν Θεὸν ἔχειν ἐν ἐπιγνώσει

“They did not think it was necessary to know God”

αὐτοὺς

These words refer to the “mankind” of Romans 1:18.

παρέδωκεν αὐτοὺς ὁ Θεὸς εἰς ἀδόκιμον νοῦν

Here “a depraved mind” means a mind that thinks only about immoral things. Alternate translation: “God allowed their minds, which they had filled with worthless and immoral thoughts, to completely control them” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

μὴ καθήκοντα

“disgraceful” or “sinful”

Romans 1:29

πεπληρωμένους

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “They have in them a strong desire for” or “They strongly desire to do deeds of” (See: Active or Passive)

μεστοὺς φθόνου, φόνου, ἔριδος, δόλου, κακοηθείας

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “Many are constantly envying other people…Many constantly desire to murder people…to cause arguments and quarrels among people…to deceive others…to speak hatefully about others” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 1:30

καταλάλους

A slanderer says false things about another person in order to damage that person’s reputation.

ἐφευρετὰς κακῶν

“thinking of new ways to do evil things to others”

Romans 1:32

οἵτινες τὸ δικαίωμα τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐπιγνόντες

“They know how God wants them to live”

ὅτι οἱ τὰ τοιαῦτα πράσσοντες

Here “practice” refers to continually or habitually doing things that are evil. Alternate translation: “and that those who keep on doing wicked things” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἄξιοι θανάτου εἰσίν

“deserve to die”

αὐτὰ

“these kinds of evil things”

τοῖς πράσσουσιν

Here the verb “do” refers to continuing to do things that are evil. Alternate translation: “who keep on doing evil things” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 2

Romans 02 General Notes

Structure and formatting

This chapter shifts its audience from Roman Christians to those who “judge” other people and do not believe in Jesus. (See: judge, judgment and believe, believer, belief, unbeliever, unbelief)

“Therefore you are without excuse”

This phrase looks back at Chapter 1. In some ways, it actually concludes what Chapter 1 teaches. This phrase explains why everyone in the world must worship the true God.

Special concepts in this chapter

“Doers of the Law”

Those who try to obey the law will not be justified by trying to obey it. Those who are justified by believing in Jesus show that their faith is real by obeying God’s commands. (See: just, justice, unjust, injustice, justify, justification and law, law of Moses, law of Yahweh, law of God)

Important figures of speech in this chapter

Rhetorical Questions

Paul uses several rhetorical questions in this chapter. It appears the intent of these rhetorical questions is to make the reader see their sin so they will trust in Jesus. (See: Rhetorical Question, guilt, guilty and sin, sinful, sinner, sinning and faith)

Hypothetical Situation

In context, “he will give eternal life” in verse 7 is a hypothetical statement. If a person could live a perfect life, they would earn eternal life as a reward. But only Jesus was able to live a perfect life.

Paul gives another hypothetical situation in verses 17-29. Here he explains that even those who earnestly try to obey the law of Moses are guilty of violating the law. In English, this is about those who follow the “letter” of the law but cannot follow the “spirit” or general principles of the law. (See: Hypothetical Situations)

Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter

“You who judge”

At times, this could be translated in a simpler way. But it is translated in this relatively awkward way because when Paul refers to “people who judge” he is also saying that everyone judges. It is possible to translate this as “those who judge (and everyone judges).”

Romans 2:1

Paul has affirmed all men are sinners and continues to remind them that all people are wicked.

διὸ ἀναπολόγητος εἶ

The word “therefore” marks a new section of the letter. It also makes a concluding statement based on what Paul has said in Romans 1:1-32. Alternate translation: “Since God will punish those who continually sin, he will certainly not excuse your sins” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

εἶ

Paul is writing here as if he were addressing a Jewish person who is arguing with him. Paul is doing this to teach his audience that God will punish everyone who continually sins, whether Jew or Gentile. (See: Apostrophe)

εἶ

Here the pronoun “you” is singular. (See: Forms of You)

ὦ ἄνθρωπε, πᾶς ὁ κρίνων

Paul uses the word “person” here to scold anyone who might think he can act like God and judge others. Alternate translation: “You are just a human being, yet you judge others and say they deserve God’s punishment” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἐν ᾧ γὰρ κρίνεις τὸν ἕτερον, σεαυτὸν κατακρίνεις

“But you are only judging yourself because you do the same wicked deeds as they do”

Romans 2:2

οἴδαμεν δὲ

Here the pronoun “we” may include Christian believers and also Jews who are not Christians. (See: Inclusive and Exclusive “We”)

τὸ κρίμα τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐστιν κατὰ ἀλήθειαν ἐπὶ τοὺς

Here Paul speaks of “God’s judgment” as if it were alive and could “fall” on people. Alternate translation: “God will judge those people truly and fairly” (See: Personification)

τοὺς τὰ τοιαῦτα πράσσοντας

“the people who do those wicked deeds”

Romans 2:3

λογίζῃ δὲ τοῦτο

“So consider this” or “Therefore, consider this”

λογίζῃ…τοῦτο

“think about what I am going to tell you”

ἄνθρωπε

Use the general word for a human being “whoever you are”

ὦ ἄνθρωπε, ὁ κρίνων τοὺς τὰ τοιαῦτα πράσσοντας, καὶ ποιῶν αὐτά

“you who say someone deserves God’s punishment while you do the same wicked deeds”

ὅτι σὺ ἐκφεύξῃ τὸ κρίμα τοῦ Θεοῦ

This remark appears in the form of a question to add emphasis. You can also translate this question as a strong negative statement. Alternate translation: “You will certainly not escape God’s judgment!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Romans 2:4

ἢ τοῦ πλούτου τῆς χρηστότητος αὐτοῦ, καὶ τῆς ἀνοχῆς, καὶ τῆς μακροθυμίας καταφρονεῖς, ἀγνοῶν ὅτι τὸ χρηστὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ, εἰς μετάνοιάν σε ἄγει?

This remark appears in the form of a question to add emphasis. You can also translate this as a strong statement. Alternate translation: “You should not act like it does not matter that God is good and that he patiently waits a long time before he punishes people, so that his goodness will cause them to repent!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

τοῦ πλούτου τῆς χρηστότητος αὐτοῦ, καὶ τῆς ἀνοχῆς, καὶ τῆς μακροθυμίας καταφρονεῖς

“consider the riches…patience unimportant” or “consider…not good”

ἀγνοῶν ὅτι τὸ χρηστὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ, εἰς μετάνοιάν σε ἄγει?

This remark appears in the form of a question to add emphasis. You can also translate this as a strong statement. Alternate translation: “You must know that God shows you he is good so that you might repent!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Romans 2:5

Paul continues to remind the people that all people are wicked.

κατὰ δὲ τὴν σκληρότητά σου καὶ ἀμετανόητον καρδίαν

Paul uses a metaphor to compare a person who refuses to obey God to something hard, like a stone. He also uses the metonym “heart” to represent the person’s mind or inner being. Alternate translation: “It is because you refuse to listen and repent” (See: Metaphor and Metonymy)

τὴν σκληρότητά…καὶ ἀμετανόητον καρδίαν

This is a doublet that you can combine as “unrepentant heart.” (See: Doublet)

θησαυρίζεις σεαυτῷ ὀργὴν

The phrase “storing up” implies a metaphor that usually refers to a person gathering his treasures and putting them in a safe place. Paul says, instead of treasures, that the person is gathering God’s punishment. The longer they go without repenting, the more severe the punishment. Alternate translation: “you are making your punishment worse” (See: Metaphor)

ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ὀργῆς…ἀποκαλύψεως δικαιοκρισίας τοῦ Θεοῦ

Both of these phrases refer to the same day. Alternate translation: “when God shows everyone that he is angry and that he judges all people fairly” (See: Doublet)

Romans 2:6

ἀποδώσει

“give a fair reward or punishment”

ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ

“each person according to what that person has done”

Romans 2:7

ζητοῦσιν

This means that they act in a way that will lead to a positive decision from God on judgment day.

δόξαν καὶ τιμὴν καὶ ἀφθαρσίαν

They want God to praise and honor them, and they want to never die.

ἀφθαρσίαν

This refers to physical, not moral, decay.

Romans 2:8

Though this section is speaking to the non-religious wicked person, Paul sums it up by stating both non-Jews and Jews are wicked before God.

ἐριθείας

“selfish” or “only concerned with what makes themselves happy”

ἀπειθοῦσι τῇ ἀληθείᾳ, πειθομένοις δὲ τῇ ἀδικίᾳ

These two phrases mean basically the same thing. The second intensifies the first. (See: Parallelism)

ὀργὴ καὶ θυμός

The words “wrath” and “fierce anger” mean basically the same thing and emphasize God’s anger. Alternate translation: “God will show his terrible anger” (See: Doublet)

ὀργὴ

Here the word “wrath” is a metonym that refers to God’s severe punishment of wicked people. (See: Metonymy)

Romans 2:9

θλῖψις καὶ στενοχωρία, ἐπὶ

The words “tribulation” and “distress” mean basically the same thing here and emphasize how bad God’s punishment will be. Alternate translation: “awful punishments will happen to” (See: Doublet)

ἐπὶ πᾶσαν ψυχὴν ἀνθρώπου

Here, Paul uses the word “soul” as a synecdoche that refers to the whole person. Alternate translation: “upon every person” (See: Synecdoche)

τοῦ κατεργαζομένου τὸ κακόν

“has continually done evil things”

Ἰουδαίου τε πρῶτον καὶ Ἕλληνος

“God will judge the Jewish people first, and then those who are not Jewish people”

πρῶτον

Possible meanings are (1) “first in order of time” or (2) “most certainly”

Romans 2:10

δόξα δὲ, καὶ τιμὴ, καὶ εἰρήνη, παντὶ

“But God will give praise, honor, and peace”

τῷ ἐργαζομένῳ τὸ ἀγαθόν

“continually does what is good”

Ἰουδαίῳ τε πρῶτον καὶ Ἕλληνι

“God will reward the Jewish people first, and then those who are not Jewish people”

πρῶτον

You should translate this the same way you did in Romans 2:9.

Romans 2:11

οὐ γάρ ἐστιν προσωπολημψία παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ

You can translate this in a positive form. Alternate translation: “For God treats all people the same” (See: Litotes)

Romans 2:12

ὅσοι γὰρ…ἥμαρτον

“For those who have sinned”

ἀνόμως…ἀνόμως καὶ ἀπολοῦνται

Paul repeats “without the law” to emphasize that it does not matter if people do not know the law of Moses. If they sin, God will judge them. Alternate translation: “without knowing the law of Moses will certainly still die spiritually” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ὅσοι…ἥμαρτον

“all those who have sinned”

ἐν νόμῳ…διὰ νόμου κριθήσονται

God will judge sinful people according to his law. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “and who do know the law of Moses, God will judge them according to that law” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information and Active or Passive)

Romans 2:13

Paul continues to let the reader know that perfect obedience to God’s law is required even for those who never had God’s law.

γὰρ

Verses 14 and 15 interrupt Paul’s main argument to give the reader extra information. If you have a way to mark an interruption like this in your language, you can use it here.

οὐ…οἱ ἀκροαταὶ νόμου

Here “the law” refers to the law of Moses. Alternate translation: “it is not those who only hear the law of Moses” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

δίκαιοι παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ

“whom God considers righteous”

ἀλλ’ οἱ ποιηταὶ νόμου

“but it is those who obey the law of Moses”

δικαιωθήσονται

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “whom God will accept” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 2:14

ἔθνη τὰ μὴ νόμον ἔχοντα,…ἑαυτοῖς εἰσιν νόμος;

The phrase “law to themselves” is an idiom that means that these people naturally obey God’s laws. Alternate translation: “have God’s laws already inside them” (See: Idiom)

νόμον…μὴ ἔχοντες

Here “the law” refers to the law of Moses.” Alternate translation: “they do not actually have the laws that God gave to Moses” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 2:15

οἵτινες ἐνδείκνυνται

“By naturally obeying the law they show”

τὸ ἔργον τοῦ νόμου, γραπτὸν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν

Here “hearts” is a metonym for the person’s thoughts or inner person. The phrase “written in their hearts” is a metaphor for knowing something in their mind. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “that God has written on their hearts what the law requires them to do” or “that they know the actions that God wants them to do according to his law” (See: Metonymy and Metaphor and Active or Passive)

συνμαρτυρούσης αὐτῶν…καὶ μεταξὺ ἀλλήλων, τῶν λογισμῶν κατηγορούντων ἢ καὶ ἀπολογουμένων

Here “bears witness” refers to the knowledge they gain from the law that God has written in their hearts. Alternate translation: “tells them if they are disobeying or obeying God’s law” (See: Idiom)

Romans 2:16

ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ὅτε κρίνει ὁ Θεὸς

This finishes Paul’s thought from Romans 2:13. “This will happen when God judges”

Romans 2:17

Here begins Paul’s discussion that the law the Jews possess actually condemns them because they do not obey it.

εἰ…σὺ Ἰουδαῖος ἐπονομάζῃ

“since you call yourself a Jew”

ἐπαναπαύῃ νόμῳ,

The phrase “rest upon the law” represents believing that they can become righteous by obeying the law. Alternate translation: “rely on the law of Moses” (See: Metaphor)

Romans 2:18

γινώσκεις τὸ θέλημα

“and know God’s will”

κατηχούμενος ἐκ τοῦ νόμου

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “because people have taught you what is right from the law” or “because you have learned from the law” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 2:19

πέποιθάς τε σεαυτὸν ὁδηγὸν εἶναι τυφλῶν, φῶς τῶν ἐν σκότει

Here “the blind” and “those who walk in darkness” represent people who do not understand the law. Alternate translation: “that because you teach the law, you yourself are like a guide to blind people, and you are like a light to people who are lost in the dark” (See: Parallelism and Metaphor)

Romans 2:20

παιδευτὴν ἀφρόνων

“you correct those who do wrong”

διδάσκαλον νηπίων

Here Paul compares those who do not know anything about the law to very small children. Alternate translation: “and you teach those who do not know the law” (See: Metaphor)

ἔχοντα τὴν μόρφωσιν τῆς γνώσεως καὶ τῆς ἀληθείας ἐν τῷ νόμῳ

The knowledge of the truth that is in the law comes from God. Alternate translation: “because you are sure you understand the truth that God has given in the law” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 2:21

ὁ…διδάσκων ἕτερον, σεαυτὸν οὐ διδάσκεις

Paul is using a question to scold his listeners. You can translate this as a strong statement. Alternate translation: “You teach others, but you do not teach yourself!” or “You teach others, but you do not do what you teach!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

ὁ κηρύσσων μὴ κλέπτειν, κλέπτεις

Paul is using a question to scold his listeners. You can translate this as a strong statement. Alternate translation: “You tell people not to steal, but you steal!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Romans 2:22

ὁ λέγων μὴ μοιχεύειν, μοιχεύεις

Paul is using a question to scold his listeners. You can translate this as a strong statement. Alternate translation: “You tell people not to commit adultery, but you commit adultery!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

ὁ βδελυσσόμενος τὰ εἴδωλα, ἱεροσυλεῖς

Paul is using a question to scold his listener. You can translate this as a strong statement. Alternate translation: “You say you hate idols, but you rob temples!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

ἱεροσυλεῖς

Possible meanings are (1) “steal items from local pagan temples to sell and make a profit” or (2) “do not send to the Jerusalem temple all the money that is due to God.”

Romans 2:23

ὃς ἐν νόμῳ καυχᾶσαι διὰ τῆς παραβάσεως τοῦ νόμου, τὸν Θεὸν ἀτιμάζεις

Paul uses a question to scold his listener. You can translate this as a strong statement. Alternate translation: “It is wicked that you claim to be proud of the law, while at the same time you disobey it and bring shame to God!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Romans 2:24

τὸ…ὄνομα τοῦ Θεοῦ…βλασφημεῖται ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “many Gentiles blaspheme the name of God” (See: Active or Passive)

ὄνομα τοῦ Θεοῦ

The word “name” is a metonym that refers to the entirety of God, not just his name. (See: Metonymy)

Romans 2:25

Paul continues to show that God, by his law, condemns even the Jews who have God’s law.

περιτομὴ μὲν γὰρ ὠφελεῖ

“I say all of this because being circumcised does benefit you”

ἐὰν…παραβάτης νόμου ᾖς

“if you do not obey the commandments found in the law”

ἡ περιτομή σου, ἀκροβυστία γέγονεν

“it is as though you were no longer circumcised”

Romans 2:26

ἡ ἀκροβυστία

“the person who is not circumcised”

τὰ δικαιώματα τοῦ νόμου φυλάσσῃ

“obeys what God commands in the law”

οὐχ ἡ ἀκροβυστία αὐτοῦ εἰς περιτομὴν λογισθήσεται

This is the first of two questions Paul asks here to emphasize that circumcision is not what makes one right before God. You can translate this question as a statement in an active form. Alternate translation: “God will consider him as circumcised.” (See: Rhetorical Question and Active or Passive)

Romans 2:27

καὶ κρινεῖ ἡ ἐκ φύσεως ἀκροβυστία, τὸν νόμον τελοῦσα

This is the second of two questions that Paul asks here (the first is in Romans 2:26 (./26.md)) to emphasize that circumcision is not what makes one right before God. You can translate this questions as a statement in an active form. Alternate translation: “The one who is not physically circumcised will condemn you…the law.” (See: Rhetorical Question and Active or Passive)

Romans 2:28

ἐν τῷ φανερῷ

This refers to Jewish rituals, such as circumcision, which people can see.

ἐν τῷ φανερῷ ἐν σαρκὶ

This refers to the physical change to a man’s body when someone circumcises him.

σαρκὶ

This is a synecdoche for the whole body. Alternate translation: “body” (See: Synecdoche)

Romans 2:29

ὁ ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ Ἰουδαῖος; καὶ περιτομὴ καρδίας

These two phrases have similar meanings. The first phrase, “he is a Jew who is one inwardly,” explains the second phrase, “circumcision is that of the heart.” (See: Parallelism)

ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ

This refers to the values and motivations of the person whom God has transformed.

καρδίας

Here “heart” is a metonym for the inner person. (See: Metonymy)

ἐν Πνεύματι, οὐ γράμματι

Here “letter” is a synecdoche that refers to written Scripture. Alternate translation: “through the work of the Holy Spirit, not because you know the Scriptures” (See: Synecdoche)

ἐν Πνεύματι

This refers to the internal, spiritual part of a person that “God’s Spirit” changes .

Romans 3

Romans 03 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with verses 4 and 10-18 of this chapter, which are words from the Old Testament.

Special concepts in this chapter

Chapter 3 answers the question, “What advantage does being a Jew have over being a Gentile?” (See: law, law of Moses, law of Yahweh, law of God and save, saved, safe, salvation)

“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”

Because God is holy, anyone with him in heaven must be perfect. Any sin at all will condemn a person. (See: heaven, sky, heavens, heavenly and condemn, condemned, condemnation)

The purpose of the law of Moses

Obeying the law cannot make a person right with God. Obeying God’s law is a way a person shows they believe in God. People have always been justified only by faith. (See: just, justice, unjust, injustice, justify, justification and faith)

Important figures of speech in this chapter

Rhetorical Questions

Paul frequently uses rhetorical questions in this chapter. It appears the intent of these rhetorical questions is to make the reader see their sin so they will trust in Jesus. (See: Rhetorical Question and guilt, guilty)

Romans 3:1

Paul proclaims the advantage that Jews have because God gave them his law.

τί οὖν τὸ περισσὸν τοῦ Ἰουδαίου, ἢ τίς ἡ ὠφέλια τῆς περιτομῆς

Paul presents ideas that people might have after they hear what he wrote in chapter 2. He does this in order to respond to them in verse 2. Alternate translation: “Some people might say, ‘Then what advantage does the Jew have? And what is the benefit of circumcision?’” or “Some people might say, ‘If that is true, then the Jews do not have any advantage, and there is no benefit in being circumcised.’” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information and Rhetorical Question)

Romans 3:2

πολὺ κατὰ πάντα τρόπον

Paul now responds to the concerns brought up in verse 1. Here “It” refers to being a member of the Jewish people. Alternate translation: “But there is great advantage to being a Jew” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

πρῶτον μὲν

Possible meanings are (1) “First in order of time” or (2) “Most certainly” or (3) “Most importantly.”

ἐπιστεύθησαν τὰ λόγια τοῦ Θεοῦ

Here “revelation” refers to God’s words and promises. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “God gave his words that contain his promises to the Jews” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 3:3

τί γάρ εἰ ἠπίστησάν τινες? μὴ ἡ ἀπιστία αὐτῶν, τὴν πίστιν τοῦ Θεοῦ καταργήσει

Paul uses these questions to make people think. Alternate translation: “Some Jews have not been faithful to God. Should we conclude from this that God will not fulfill his promise?” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Romans 3:4

μὴ γένοιτο

This expression strongly denies that this could happen. You may have an expression in your language that you could use here. “That is not possible!” or “Certainly not!”

γινέσθω δὲ

“We should say this instead, let”

γινέσθω…ὁ Θεὸς ἀληθής

God will always be true and will keep his promises. Alternate translation: “God always does what he has promised” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

πᾶς δὲ ἄνθρωπος ψεύστης

The words “every” and “liar” are exaggerations here to add emphasis that God alone is always true to his promises. Alternate translation: “even if every man were a liar” (See: Hyperbole)

καθὼς γέγραπται

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “The Scriptures themselves agree with what I am saying” (See: Active or Passive)

ὅπως ἂν δικαιωθῇς ἐν τοῖς λόγοις σου, καὶ νικήσεις ἐν τῷ κρίνεσθαί σε

These two phrases have very similar meanings. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “Everyone must acknowledge that what you say is true, and you will always win your case when anyone accuses you” (See: Parallelism and Active or Passive)

Romans 3:5

εἰ δὲ ἡ ἀδικία ἡμῶν, Θεοῦ δικαιοσύνην συνίστησιν, τί ἐροῦμεν? μὴ ἄδικος ὁ Θεὸς, ὁ ἐπιφέρων τὴν ὀργήν

Paul uses these questions to present what some people were arguing and to get his readers to think about whether or not this argument is true. Alternate translation: “Some people say that since our unrighteousness shows God’s righteousness, then God is unrighteous when he punishes us” (See: Rhetorical Question)

ὁ ἐπιφέρων τὴν ὀργήν

Here “wrath” is a metonym for punishment. Alternate translation: “to bring his punishment upon us” or “to punish us” (See: Metonymy)

(κατὰ ἄνθρωπον λέγω.)

“I am saying here what some people say” or “This is what some people say”

Romans 3:6

μὴ γένοιτο

“We must never say that God is unrighteous”

ἐπεὶ πῶς κρινεῖ ὁ Θεὸς τὸν κόσμον

Paul uses this question to show that the arguments against the gospel are not valid, since the Jews believe that God will judge all people. Alternate translation: “We all know that God will in fact judge the world!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

τὸν κόσμον

The “world” is a metonym for the people who live in the world. Alternate translation: “anyone in the world” (See: Metonymy)

Romans 3:7

εἰ δὲ ἡ ἀλήθεια τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν τῷ ἐμῷ ψεύσματι ἐπερίσσευσεν εἰς τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, τί ἔτι κἀγὼ ὡς ἁμαρτωλὸς κρίνομαι

Here Paul imagines someone continuing to reject the Christian gospel. That adversary argues, because his sin shows the righteousness of God, then God should not declare that he is a sinner on judgment day if, for example, he tells lies. (See: Rhetorical Question)

Romans 3:8

καὶ μὴ καθὼς βλασφημούμεθα, καὶ καθώς φασίν τινες ἡμᾶς λέγειν, ὅτι ποιήσωμεν τὰ κακὰ, ἵνα ἔλθῃ τὰ ἀγαθά

Here Paul raises a question of his own, to show how ridiculous the argument of his imaginary adversary is. Alternate translation: “I might as well be saying…come!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

καθὼς βλασφημούμεθα

“some lie to tell others that this is what we are saying”

ὧν τὸ κρίμα ἔνδικόν ἐστιν

It will be only fair when God condemns these enemies of Paul, for telling lies about what Paul has been teaching.

Romans 3:9

Paul sums up that all are guilty of sin, none are righteous, and no one seeks God.

τί οὖν? προεχόμεθα

Paul asks these questions to emphasize his point. Alternate translation: “We Jews should not try to imagine we are going to escape God’s judgment, just because we are Jewish!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

οὐ πάντως

These words are stronger than a simple “no,” but not as strong as “absolutely not!”

Romans 3:10

καθὼς γέγραπται

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “This is as the prophets have written in the Scriptures” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 3:11

οὐκ ἔστιν ὁ συνίων

There is no one who understands what is right. Alternate translation: “No one really understands what is right” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

οὐκ ἔστιν ὁ ἐκζητῶν τὸν Θεόν

Here the phrase “seeks after God” means to have a relationship with God. Alternate translation: “No one sincerely tries to have a right relationship with God” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 3:12

πάντες ἐξέκλιναν

This is an idiom that means the people do not even want to think about God. They want to avoid him. Alternate translation: “They have all turned away from God” (See: Idiom)

ἅμα ἠχρεώθησαν

Since no one does what is good, they are useless to God. Alternate translation: “Everyone has become useless to God” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 3:13

αὐτῶν…αὐτῶν

The word “their” refers to the “Jews and Greeks” of Romans 3:9.

τάφος ἀνεῳγμένος ὁ λάρυγξ αὐτῶν

The word “throat” is a metonym for everything that people say that is unrighteous and disgusting. Here “open grave” is a metaphor that refers to the stench of the evil words of the people. (See: Metonymy and Metaphor)

ταῖς γλώσσαις αὐτῶν ἐδολιοῦσαν

The word “tongues” is a metonym for the false words that people speak. Alternate translation: “People speak lies” (See: Metonymy)

ἰὸς ἀσπίδων ὑπὸ τὰ χείλη αὐτῶν

Here “poison of snakes” is a metaphor that is used to represent the great harm of the evil words that the people speak. The word “lips” refers to the words of the people. Alternate translation: “Their evil words injure people just like the poison of a venomous snake” (See: Metaphor and Metonymy)

Romans 3:14

ὧν τὸ στόμα ἀρᾶς καὶ πικρίας γέμει

Here “mouths” is a metonym that represents the evil words of the people. The word “full” exaggerates how often people speak bitterly and curse. Alternate translation: “They often speak curses and cruel words” (See: Metonymy and Hyperbole)

Romans 3:15

ὀξεῖς οἱ πόδες αὐτῶν, ἐκχέαι αἷμα

Here “feet” is a synecdoche that represents the people themselves. The word “blood” is a metaphor that refers to killing people. Alternate translation: “They are in a hurry to harm and murder people” (See: Synecdoche and Metaphor)

οἱ πόδες αὐτῶν

The word “their” refers to the Jews and Greeks in Romans 3:9.

Romans 3:16

ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτῶν

The word “their” refers to the Jews and Greeks in Romans 3:9.

σύντριμμα καὶ ταλαιπωρία ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτῶν

Here “destruction and suffering” are metonyms that represent the harm that these people cause others to suffer. Alternate translation: “They try to destroy others and cause them to suffer” (See: Metonymy)

Romans 3:17

ἔγνωσαν

These words refer to the Jews and Greeks in Romans 3:9.

ὁδὸν εἰρήνης

“how to live at peace with others.” A “way” is a road or path.

Romans 3:18

αὐτῶν

This word refers to the Jews and Greeks in Romans 3:9.

οὐκ ἔστιν φόβος Θεοῦ ἀπέναντι τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτῶν

Here “fear” is a metonym that represents respect for God and willingness to honor him. Alternate translation: “Everyone refuses to give God the respect he deserves” (See: Synecdoche)

Romans 3:19

ὅσα ὁ νόμος λέγει, τοῖς…λαλεῖ

Paul speaks of the law here as if it were alive and had its own voice. Alternate translation: “everything that the law says people should do is for” or “all the commands that Moses wrote in the law are for” (See: Personification)

τοῖς ἐν τῷ νόμῳ

“those who must obey the law”

ἵνα πᾶν στόμα φραγῇ

Here “mouth” is a synecdoche that means the words people speak. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “so that no people will be able to say anything valid to defend themselves” (See: Synecdoche and Active or Passive)

ὑπόδικος γένηται πᾶς ὁ κόσμος τῷ Θεῷ

Here “world” is a synecdoche that represents all the people who live in the world. Alternate translation: “that God can declare everyone in the world guilty” (See: Synecdoche)

Romans 3:20

σὰρξ

Here “flesh” refers to all human beings.

γὰρ

Possible meanings are (1) “Therefore” or (2) “This is because”

διὰ…νόμου ἐπίγνωσις ἁμαρτίας

“when someone knows God’s law, he realizes that he has sinned”

Romans 3:21

The word “but” here shows Paul has completed his introduction and is now beginning to make his main point.

νυνὶ

The word “now” refers to the time since Jesus came to the earth.

χωρὶς νόμου, δικαιοσύνη Θεοῦ πεφανέρωται

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “God has made known a way to be right with him without obeying the law” (See: Active or Passive)

μαρτυρουμένη ὑπὸ τοῦ νόμου καὶ τῶν προφητῶν

The words “the Law and the Prophets” refer to the parts of scripture that Moses and the prophets wrote in the Jewish scriptures. Paul describes them here as if they were people testifying in court. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “What Moses and the prophets wrote confirms this” (See: Personification and Active or Passive)

Romans 3:22

δικαιοσύνη…Θεοῦ διὰ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ

Here “righteousness” means being right with God. Alternate translation: “being right with God through trusting Jesus Christ” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

οὐ γάρ ἐστιν διαστολή

Paul implies that God accepts all people in the same way. Alternate translation: “There is no difference at all between the Jews and the Gentiles” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 3:23

ὑστεροῦνται τῆς δόξης τοῦ Θεοῦ

Here the “glory of God” is a metonym that refers to the image of God and his nature. Alternate translation: “have failed to be like God” (See: Metonymy)

Romans 3:24

δικαιούμενοι δωρεὰν τῇ αὐτοῦ χάριτι, διὰ τῆς ἀπολυτρώσεως τῆς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ

Here “justified” refers to being made right with God. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “God makes them right with himself as a free gift, because Christ Jesus sets them free” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information and Active or Passive)

δικαιούμενοι δωρεὰν

This means that they are justified without having to earn or merit being justified. God freely justifies them. Alternate translation: “they are made right with God without earning it”

Romans 3:25

ἐν τῷ αὐτοῦ αἵματι

This is a metonym for the death of Jesus as a sacrifice for sins. Alternate translation: “in his death as a sacrifice for sins” (See: Metonymy)

πάρεσιν

Possible meanings are (1) ignoring or (2) forgiving.

Romans 3:26

πρὸς τὴν ἔνδειξιν τῆς δικαιοσύνης αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ νῦν καιρῷ

“He did this to show how God makes people right with himself”

εἰς τὸ εἶναι αὐτὸν δίκαιον καὶ δικαιοῦντα τὸν ἐκ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ

“By this he shows that he is both just and the one who declares everyone righteous who has faith in Jesus”

Romans 3:27

ποῦ οὖν ἡ καύχησις? ἐξεκλείσθη

Paul asks this question to show that there is no reason for people to boast about obeying the law. Alternate translation: “So there is no way that we can boast that God favors us because we obeyed those laws. Boasting is excluded” (See: Rhetorical Question)

διὰ ποίου νόμου? τῶν ἔργων? οὐχί, ἀλλὰ διὰ νόμου πίστεως

Paul asks and answers these rhetorical questions to emphasize that each point he is making is certainly true. You can translate this by including the words that Paul implies, and by using an active form. Alternate translation: “On what grounds should we exclude boasting? Should we exclude it because of our good works? No, rather, we should exclude it because of faith” (See: Rhetorical Question and Ellipsis and Active or Passive)

Romans 3:28

δικαιοῦσθαι πίστει ἄνθρωπον

Here “faith” is an abstract noun that refers to the person believing in God. The “person” here is any person. This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: “God justifies any person who believes in God” or “when God justifies a person, he does so because the person believes in God” (See: Abstract Nouns and Active or Passive)

χωρὶς ἔργων νόμου

“even if he has done no works of the law”

Romans 3:29

ἢ Ἰουδαίων ὁ Θεὸς μόνον

Paul asks this question for emphasis. Alternate translation: “You who are Jews certainly should not think that you are the only ones whom God will accept!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

οὐχὶ καὶ ἐθνῶν? ναὶ, καὶ ἐθνῶν

Paul asks this question to emphasize his point. Alternate translation: “He will also accept non-Jews, that is, Gentiles” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Romans 3:30

ὃς δικαιώσει περιτομὴν ἐκ πίστεως, καὶ ἀκροβυστίαν διὰ τῆς πίστεως

Here “circumcision” is a metonym that refers to Jews and “uncircumcision” is a metonym that refers to non-Jews. Alternate translation: “God will make both Jews and non-Jews right with himself through their faith in Christ” (See: Metonymy)

Romans 3:31

Paul confirms the law though faith.

νόμον οὖν καταργοῦμεν διὰ τῆς πίστεως

Paul asks a question that one of his readers might have. Alternate translation: “Someone might say that we can ignore the law because we have faith.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

μὴ γένοιτο

This expression gives the strongest possible negative answer to the preceding rhetorical question. You may have a similar express in your language that you could use here. Alternate translation: “This is certainly not true” or “Certainly not” (See: Rhetorical Question)

νόμον ἱστάνομεν

“we obey the law”

καταργοῦμεν

This pronoun refers to Paul, other believers, and the readers. (See: Inclusive and Exclusive “We”)

Romans 4

Romans 04 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with verses 7-8 of this chapter, which are words from the Old Testament.

Special concepts in this chapter

The purpose of the law of Moses

Paul builds upon material from chapter 3. He explains how Abraham, the father of Israel, was justified. Even Abraham could not be justified by what he did. Obeying the law of Moses does not make a person right with God. Obeying God’s commands is a way a person shows they believe in God. People have always been justified only by faith. (See: just, justice, unjust, injustice, justify, justification and law, law of Moses, law of Yahweh, law of God and faith)

Circumcision

Circumcision was important to the Israelites. It identified a person as a descendant of Abraham. It was also a sign of the covenant between Abraham and Yahweh. However, no person was justified only by being circumcised. (See: circumcise, circumcised, circumcision, uncircumcised, uncircumcision and covenant)

Important figures of speech in this chapter

Rhetorical Questions

Paul uses rhetorical questions in this chapter. It appears the intent of these rhetorical questions is to make the reader see their sin so they will trust in Jesus. (See: Rhetorical Question and guilt, guilty and sin, sinful, sinner, sinning)

Romans 4:1

Paul confirms that even in the past believers were made right with God by faith and not by the law.

τί οὖν ἐροῦμεν, εὑρηκέναι Ἀβραὰμ τὸν προπάτορα ἡμῶν κατὰ σάρκα

Paul uses the question to catch the attention of the reader and to start talking about something new. Alternate translation: “This is what Abraham our physical ancestor found” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Romans 4:3

τί γὰρ ἡ Γραφὴ λέγει

Paul uses this question to add emphasis. He speaks of the Scriptures as if they were alive and could talk. Alternate translation: “For we can read in the scripture” (See: Rhetorical Question and Personification)

ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ εἰς δικαιοσύνην

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “God considered Abraham as a righteous person” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 4:4

ὁ μισθὸς οὐ λογίζεται κατὰ χάριν

This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: “no one counts what the employer pays him as a gift from the employer” (See: Active or Passive)

ἀλλὰ κατὰ ὀφείλημα

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “but as what his employer owes him” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 4:5

ἐπὶ τὸν δικαιοῦντα

“in God, who justifies”

λογίζεται ἡ πίστις αὐτοῦ εἰς δικαιοσύνην

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “God considers that person’s faith as righteousness” or “God considers that person righteous because of his faith” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 4:6

καθάπερ καὶ Δαυεὶδ λέγει τὸν μακαρισμὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ᾧ ὁ Θεὸς λογίζεται δικαιοσύνην χωρὶς ἔργων

“David also wrote about how God blesses the man whom God makes righteous without works”

Romans 4:7

ὧν ἀφέθησαν αἱ ἀνομίαι…ὧν ἐπεκαλύφθησαν αἱ ἁμαρτίαι;

The same concept is stated in two different ways. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “the Lord has forgiven those who have broken the law…whose sins the Lord has covered” (See: Parallelism and Active or Passive)

Romans 4:9

ὁ μακαρισμὸς οὖν οὗτος ἐπὶ τὴν περιτομὴν, ἢ καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν ἀκροβυστίαν

This remark appears in the form of a question to add emphasis. Alternate translation: “Does God bless only those who are circumcised, or also those who are not circumcised?” (See: Rhetorical Question)

τὴν περιτομὴν

This is a metonym that refers to the Jewish people. Alternate translation: “the Jews” (See: Metonymy)

τὴν ἀκροβυστίαν

This is a metonym that refers to the people who are not Jews. Alternate translation: “the Gentiles” (See: Metonymy)

ἐλογίσθη τῷ Ἀβραὰμ ἡ πίστις εἰς δικαιοσύνην

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “God considered the faith of Abraham as righteousness” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 4:10

πῶς οὖν ἐλογίσθη? ἐν περιτομῇ ὄντι, ἢ ἐν ἀκροβυστίᾳ

Paul asks these questions to add emphasis to his remarks. Alternate translation: “When did God consider Abraham to be righteous? Was it before his circumcision, or after it?” (See: Rhetorical Question)

οὐκ ἐν περιτομῇ, ἀλλ’ ἐν ἀκροβυστίᾳ

“It happened before he was circumcised, not after he was circumcised”

Romans 4:11

σφραγῖδα τῆς δικαιοσύνης τῆς πίστεως τῆς ἐν τῇ ἀκροβυστίᾳ

Here “righteousness of the faith” means that God considered him to be righteous. Alternate translation: “a visible sign that God considered him righteous because he had believed in God before he was circumcised” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

δι’ ἀκροβυστίας

“even if they are not circumcised”

εἰς τὸ λογισθῆναι αὐτοῖς τὴν δικαιοσύνην

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “This means that God will consider them righteous” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 4:12

καὶ πατέρα περιτομῆς

Here “the circumcision” refers to those who are true believers in God, both Jews and Gentiles.

τοῖς στοιχοῦσιν τοῖς ἴχνεσιν τῆς…πίστεως, τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν Ἀβραάμ

Here “follow in the steps of faith” is an idiom that means to follow someone’s example of follow. Alternate translation: “who follow our father Abraham’s example of faith” or “who have faith as our father Abraham did” (See: Idiom)

Romans 4:13

ἀλλὰ διὰ δικαιοσύνης πίστεως

The words “the promise came” are understood from the first phrase. You can translate this by adding these implied words. Alternate translation: “but the promise came through faith, which God considers as righteousness” (See: Ellipsis)

Romans 4:14

κληρονόμοι

The people to whom God has made promises are spoken of as if they were to inherit property and wealth from a family member. (See: Metaphor)

εἰ…οἱ ἐκ νόμου κληρονόμοι

Here “live by the law” refers to obeying the law. Alternate translation: “if those who obey the law are the ones who will inherit the earth” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

κεκένωται ἡ πίστις καὶ κατήργηται ἡ ἐπαγγελία

“faith has no value, and the promise is meaningless”

Romans 4:15

οὐδὲ παράβασις

This can be restated to remove the abstract noun “trespass.” Alternate translation: “no one can break the law” or “it is impossible to disobey the law” (See: Abstract Nouns)

Romans 4:16

διὰ τοῦτο

“So”

ἐκ πίστεως

The word “it” refers to receiving what God had promised. Alternate translation: “it is by faith that we receive the promise” or “we receive the promise by faith”

ἵνα κατὰ χάριν…τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν

Here “the promise may rest on grace” represents God giving what he promised because of his grace. Alternate translation: “so that what he promised might be a free gift” or “so that his promise would be because of his grace” (See: Metaphor)

τῷ ἐκ τοῦ νόμου

This refers to the Jewish people, who were obligated to obey the law of Moses.

τῷ ἐκ πίστεως Ἀβραάμ

This refers to those who have faith as Abraham did before he was circumcised. Alternate translation: “those who believe as Abraham did”

πατὴρ πάντων ἡμῶν

Here the word “us” refers to Paul and includes all Jewish and non-Jewish believers in Christ. Abraham is the physical ancestor of the Jewish people, but he is also the spiritual father of those who have faith. (See: Inclusive and Exclusive “We”)

Romans 4:17

καθὼς γέγραπται

Where it is written can be made explicit. You can also translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “as someone has written in the Scriptures” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information and Active or Passive)

τέθεικά σε

Here the word “you” is singular and refers to Abraham. (See: Forms of You)

κατέναντι οὗ ἐπίστευσεν Θεοῦ, τοῦ ζῳοποιοῦντος τοὺς νεκροὺς

Here “of him whom he trusted” refers to God. Alternate translation: “Abraham was in the presence of God whom he trusted, who gives life to those who have died” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

καλοῦντος τὰ μὴ ὄντα ὡς ὄντα

“created everything from nothing”

Romans 4:18

ὃς παρ’ ἐλπίδα, ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι ἐπίστευσεν

This idiom means that Abraham trusted God even though it did not seem that he could have a son. Alternate translation: “Even though it seemed impossible for him to have descendants, he believe God” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

κατὰ τὸ εἰρημένον

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “just as God said to Abraham” (See: Active or Passive)

οὕτως ἔσται τὸ σπέρμα σου

The full promise God gave to Abraham can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “You will have more descendants than you can count” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 4:19

καὶ μὴ ἀσθενήσας τῇ πίστει

You can translate this in a positive form. Alternate translation: “He remained strong in his faith, although” (See: Litotes)

Romans 4:20

οὐ διεκρίθη τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ

You can translate this double negative in a positive form. Alternate translation: “kept on acting in faith” (See: Double Negatives)

ἐνεδυναμώθη τῇ πίστει

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “he became stronger in his faith” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 4:21

καὶ πληροφορηθεὶς

“Abraham was completely sure”

δυνατός ἐστιν καὶ ποιῆσαι

“God was able to do”

Romans 4:22

διὸ καὶ ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ εἰς δικαιοσύνην

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “Therefore God counted Abraham’s belief as righteousness” or “Therefore God considered Abraham righteous because Abraham believed him” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 4:23

ἐγράφη δὲ

“Now” is used here to connect Abraham’s being made right by faith to present-day believer’s being made right by faith in Christ’s death and resurrection.

δι’ αὐτὸν μόνον

“for Abraham only”

ὅτι ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “that God counted righteousness to him” or “God considered him righteous” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 4:24

δι’ ἡμᾶς

The word “us” refers to Paul and includes all believers in Christ. (See: Inclusive and Exclusive “We”)

καὶ δι’ ἡμᾶς, οἷς μέλλει λογίζεσθαι, τοῖς πιστεύουσιν

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “It was also for our benefit, because God will consider us righteous also if we believe” (See: Active or Passive)

τὸν ἐγείραντα Ἰησοῦν, τὸν Κύριον ἡμῶν, ἐκ νεκρῶν

“Raised…from the dead” here is an idiom for “caused to live again.” Alternate translation: “him who caused Jesus our Lord to live again” (See: Idiom)

Romans 4:25

ὃς παρεδόθη διὰ τὰ παραπτώματα ἡμῶν, καὶ ἠγέρθη διὰ τὴν δικαίωσιν ἡμῶν

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “whom God gave over to enemies for our trespasses and whom God brought back to life so he could make us right with him” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 5

Romans 05 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Many scholars view verses 12-17 as some of the most important, but difficult, verses in Scripture to understand. Some of their richness and meaning has likely been lost while being translated from how the original Greek was constructed.

Special concepts in this chapter

Results of justification

How Paul explains the results of our being justified is an important part of this chapter. These results include having peace with God, having access to God, being confident about our future, being able to rejoice when suffering, being eternally saved, and being reconciled with God. (See: just, justice, unjust, injustice, justify, justification)

“All sinned”

Scholars are divided over what Paul meant in verse 12: “And death spread to all people, because all sinned.” Some believe that all of mankind was present in the “seed of Adam.” So, as Adam is the father of all mankind, all of mankind was present when Adam sinned. Others believe that Adam served as a representative head for mankind. So when he sinned, all of mankind “fell” as a result. Whether people today played an active or passive role in Adam’s original sin is one way these views differ. Other passages will help one decide. (See: seed, semen and sin, sinful, sinner, sinning and Active or Passive)

The second Adam

Adam was the first man and the first “son” of God. He was created by God. He brought sin and death into the world by eating the forbidden fruit. Paul describes Jesus as the “second Adam” in this chapter and the true son of God. He brings life and overcame sin and death by dying on the cross. (See: Son of God, the Son and die, dead, deadly, death,)

Romans 5:1

Paul begins to tell many different things that happen when God makes believers right with him.

δικαιωθέντες οὖν

“Because we are justified”

…ἡμῶν

All occurrences of “we” and “our” refer to all believers and should be inclusive. (See: Inclusive and Exclusive “We”)

διὰ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν, Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ

“because of our Lord Jesus Christ”

τοῦ Κυρίου

Here “Lord” means that Jesus is God.

Romans 5:2

δι’ οὗ καὶ τὴν προσαγωγὴν ἐσχήκαμεν, τῇ πίστει εἰς τὴν χάριν ταύτην, ἐν ᾗ ἑστήκαμεν

Here “by faith” refers to our trust in Jesus, which allows us to stand before God. Alternate translation: “Because we trust in Jesus, God allows us to come into his presence”

Romans 5:3

οὐ μόνον δέ

The word “this” refers to the ideas described in Romans 5:1-2.

καυχώμεθα…

These words refer to all believers and should be inclusive. (See: Inclusive and Exclusive “We”)

Romans 5:4

ἐλπίδα

This is the certainty that God will fulfill all his promises for those who trust in Christ.

Romans 5:5

ἡμῶν…ἡμῖν

These words refer to all believers and should be inclusive. (See: Inclusive and Exclusive “We”)

ἡ…ἐλπὶς οὐ καταισχύνει

Paul uses personification here as he speaks of “confidence” as if it were alive. Alternate translation: “we are very confident that we will receive the things that we wait for” (See: Personification)

ὅτι ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐκκέχυται ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἡμῶν

Here “hearts” represents a person’s thoughts, feelings, or inner person. The phrase “the love of God has been poured into our hearts” is a metaphor for God showing love to his people. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “because he has loved us greatly” or “because God has shown us how much he loves us” (See: Metonymy and Metaphor and Active or Passive)

Romans 5:6

ἡμῶν

The word “we” here refers to all believers and so should be inclusive. (See: Inclusive and Exclusive “We”)

Romans 5:7

μόλις γὰρ ὑπὲρ δικαίου τις ἀποθανεῖται

“It is hard to find someone who is willing to die, even for a righteous man”

ὑπὲρ γὰρ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ, τάχα τις καὶ τολμᾷ ἀποθανεῖν

“But you might find someone who is willing to die for such a good person”

Romans 5:8

συνίστησιν

You can translate this verb in past tense using “demonstrated” or “showed.”

ἡμῶν…ἡμῶν

All occurrences of “us” and “we” refer to all believers and should be inclusive. (See: Inclusive and Exclusive “We”)

Romans 5:9

πολλῷ οὖν μᾶλλον δικαιωθέντες νῦν ἐν τῷ αἵματι αὐτοῦ

Here “justified” means that God puts us in a right relationship with himself. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “How much more will God do for us now that he has made us right with himself because of the death of Jesus on the cross” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information and Active or Passive)

τῷ αἵματι

This is a metonym for the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross. (See: Metonymy)

σωθησόμεθα

This means that through Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross, God has forgiven us and rescued us from being punished in hell for our sin.

τῆς ὀργῆς

Here “wrath” is a metonym that refers to God’s punishment of those who have sinned against him. Alternate translation: “God’s punishment” (See: Metonymy)

Romans 5:10

ὄντες

All occurrences of “we” refer to all believers and should be inclusive. (See: Inclusive and Exclusive “We”)

Υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ, πολλῷ μᾶλλον καταλλαγέντες, σωθησόμεθα ἐν τῇ ζωῇ αὐτοῦ

“God’s Son…the life of God’s Son”

κατηλλάγημεν τῷ Θεῷ διὰ τοῦ θανάτου τοῦ Υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ

The death of the Son of the God has provided eternal forgiveness and made us friends with God, for all who believe in Jesus. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “God allowed us to have a peaceful relationship with him because his son died for us” (See: Active or Passive)

τοῦ Υἱοῦ

This is an important title for Jesus, the Son of God. (See: Translating Son and Father)

καταλλαγέντες

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “now that God has made us his friends again” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 5:12

Paul explains why death happened even before God gave the law to Moses.

δι’ ἑνὸς ἀνθρώπου ἡ ἁμαρτία εἰς τὸν κόσμον εἰσῆλθεν, καὶ διὰ τῆς ἁμαρτίας ὁ θάνατος

Paul describes sin as a dangerous thing that came into the world through the actions of “one man,” Adam. This sin then became an opening through which death, pictured here as another dangerous thing, also came into the world. (See: Personification)

Romans 5:13

ἄχρι γὰρ νόμου, ἁμαρτία ἦν ἐν κόσμῳ

This means that the people sinned before God gave the law. Alternate translation: “People in the world sinned before God gave his law to Moses” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἁμαρτία δὲ οὐκ ἐλλογεῖται, μὴ ὄντος νόμου

This means that God did not charge the people with sinning before he gave the law. Alternate translation: “but God recorded no sin against the law before he gave the law” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 5:14

ἀλλὰ…ὁ θάνατος

“Even though what I have just said is true, death” or “There was no written law from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, but death” (Romans 5:13).

ἐβασίλευσεν ὁ θάνατος ἀπὸ Ἀδὰμ μέχρι Μωϋσέως

Paul is speaking of death as if it were a king who ruled. Alternate translation: “people continued to die from the time of Adam until the time of Moses as a consequence of their sin” (See: Personification and Metaphor)

καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς μὴ ἁμαρτήσαντας ἐπὶ τῷ ὁμοιώματι τῆς παραβάσεως Ἀδάμ

“even people whose sins were different from Adam’s continue to die”

ὅς ἐστιν τύπος τοῦ μέλλοντος

Adam was a pattern of Christ, who appeared much later. He had much in common with him.

Romans 5:15

εἰ γὰρ τῷ τοῦ ἑνὸς παραπτώματι, οἱ πολλοὶ ἀπέθανον

Here “one” refers to Adam. Alternate translation: “For if by one man’s sin, many died” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

πολλῷ μᾶλλον ἡ χάρις τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ ἡ δωρεὰ ἐν χάριτι, τῇ τοῦ ἑνὸς ἀνθρώπου, Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, εἰς τοὺς πολλοὺς ἐπερίσσευσεν

Here “grace” refers to God’s free gift that he made available to everyone through Jesus Christ. Alternate translation: “even more through the man Jesus Christ, who died for us all, did God kindly offer us this gift of everlasting life, although we do not deserve it” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 5:16

καὶ οὐχ ὡς δι’ ἑνὸς ἁμαρτήσαντος, τὸ δώρημα

Here “the gift” refers to God’s freely erasing the record of our sins. Alternate translation: “The gift is not like the result of Adam’s sin” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

τὸ…γὰρ κρίμα ἐξ ἑνὸς, εἰς κατάκριμα, τὸ δὲ χάρισμα ἐκ πολλῶν παραπτωμάτων, εἰς δικαίωμα

Here Paul gives two reasons why “the gift is not like the result of Adam’s sin.” The “judgment of condemnation” implies that we all deserve God’s punishment for our sins. Alternate translation: “Because on the one hand, God declared that all people deserve to be punished because of the sin of one man, but on the other hand” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

τὸ…χάρισμα ἐκ πολλῶν παραπτωμάτων, εἰς δικαίωμα

This refers to how God makes us right with him even when we do not deserve it. Alternate translation: “God’s kind gift to put us right with himself” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἐκ πολλῶν παραπτωμάτων

“after the sins of many”

Romans 5:17

τοῦ ἑνὸς παραπτώματι

This refers to the sin of Adam.

ὁ θάνατος ἐβασίλευσεν

Here Paul speaks of “death” as a king who ruled. The “rule” of death causes everyone to die. Alternate translation: “everyone died” (See: Personification and Metaphor)

Romans 5:18

ὡς δι’ ἑνὸς παραπτώματος

“through the one sin committed by Adam” or “because of Adam’s sin”

εἰς πάντας ἀνθρώπους εἰς κατάκριμα

Here “condemnation” refers to God’s punishment. Alternate translation: “all people deserve God’s punishment for sin” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

δι’ ἑνὸς δικαιώματος

the sacrifice of Jesus Christ

εἰς πάντας ἀνθρώπους…δικαίωσιν ζωῆς

Here “justification” refers to God’s ability to make people right with him. Alternate translation: “God’s offer to make all people right with him” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 5:19

τῆς παρακοῆς τοῦ ἑνὸς ἀνθρώπου

the disobedience of Adam

ἁμαρτωλοὶ κατεστάθησαν οἱ πολλοί

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “many people sinned” (See: Active or Passive)

τῆς ὑπακοῆς τοῦ ἑνὸς

the obedience of Jesus

δίκαιοι κατασταθήσονται οἱ πολλοί

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “God will make many people right with him” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 5:20

νόμος…παρεισῆλθεν

Here Paul speaks of the law as if it were a person. Alternate translation: “God gave his law to Moses” (See: Personification)

ἐπλεόνασεν ἡ ἁμαρτία

“sin increased”

ὑπερεπερίσσευσεν ἡ χάρις

Here “grace” refers to God’s undeserved blessings. Alternate translation: “God continued to act even more kindly toward them, in a way that they did not deserve” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 5:21

ὥσπερ ἐβασίλευσεν ἡ ἁμαρτία ἐν τῷ θανάτῳ

Here Paul speaks of “sin” as if it were a king that ruled. Alternate translation: “as sin resulted in death” (See: Personification and Metaphor)

οὕτως καὶ ἡ χάρις βασιλεύσῃ διὰ δικαιοσύνης, εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν

Paul speaks of “grace” here as if it were a king that ruled. Alternate translation: “grace gave people everlasting life through the righteousness of Jesus Christ our Lord” (See: Personification and Metaphor)

οὕτως…ἡ χάρις βασιλεύσῃ διὰ δικαιοσύνης

Paul speaks of “grace” here as if it were a king that ruled. The word “righteousness” refers to God’s ability to make people right with him. Alternate translation: “so God might give his free gift to people to make them right with him” (See: Personification and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν

Paul includes himself, his readers, and all believers. (See: Inclusive and Exclusive “We”)

Romans 6

Romans 06 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Paul begins this chapter by answering how someone might hypothetically object to what he taught in Chapter 5. (See: Hypothetical Situations)

Special concepts in this chapter

Against the Law

In this chapter, Paul refutes the teaching that Christians can live however they want after they are saved. Scholars call this “antinomianism” or being “against the law.” To motivate godly living, Paul recalls the great price Jesus paid for a Christian to be saved. (See: save, saved, safe, salvation and godly, godliness, ungodly, godless, ungodliness, godlessness)

Servants of sin

Before believing in Jesus, sin enslaves people. God frees Christians from serving sin. They are able to choose to serve Christ in their lives. Paul explains that when Christians choose to sin, they willingly choose to sin. (See: faith and sin, sinful, sinner, sinning)

Fruit

This chapter uses the imagery of fruit. The image of fruit usually refers to a person’s faith producing good works in their life. (See: fruit, fruitful, unfruitful and righteous, righteousness, unrighteous, unrighteousness, upright, uprightness)

Important figures of speech in this chapter

Rhetorical Questions

Paul uses rhetorical questions in this chapter. It appears the intent of these rhetorical questions is to make the reader see their sin so they will trust in Jesus. (See: Rhetorical Question and guilt, guilty and sin, sinful, sinner, sinning)

Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter

Death

Paul uses “death” many different ways in this chapter: physical death, spiritual death, sin reigning in the heart of man, and to end something. He contrasts sin and death with the new life provided by Christ and the new way Christians are supposed to live after they are saved. (See: die, dead, deadly, death,)

Romans 6:1

Under grace, Paul tells those who believe in Jesus to live a new life as though dead to sin and alive to God.

τί οὖν ἐροῦμεν? ἐπιμένωμεν τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ, ἵνα ἡ χάρις πλεονάσῃ

Paul asks these rhetorical questions to get the attention of his readers. Alternate translation: “So, what should we say about all of this? We certainly should not keep on sinning so that God will give us more and more grace! (See: Rhetorical Question)

ἐροῦμεν

The pronoun “we” refers to Paul, his readers, and other people. (See: Inclusive and Exclusive “We”)

Romans 6:2

οἵτινες ἀπεθάνομεν τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ, πῶς ἔτι ζήσομεν ἐν αὐτῇ

Here “died to sin” means that those who follow Jesus are now like dead people who cannot be affected by sin. Paul uses this rhetorical question to add emphasis. Alternate translation: “We are now like dead people on whom sin has no effect! So we certainly should not keep on sinning!” (See: Metaphor and Rhetorical Question)

Romans 6:3

ἢ ἀγνοεῖτε, ὅτι ὅσοι ἐβαπτίσθημεν εἰς Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν, εἰς τὸν θάνατον αὐτοῦ ἐβαπτίσθημεν?

Paul uses this question to add emphasis. Alternate translation: “Remember, when someone baptized us to show that we have a relationship with Christ, this also shows that we died with Christ on the cross! (See: Rhetorical Question)

Romans 6:4

συνετάφημεν οὖν αὐτῷ διὰ τοῦ βαπτίσματος εἰς τὸν θάνατον

Here Paul speaks of a believer’s baptism in water as if it were a death and burial. Alternate translation: “When someone baptized us, it is just like that person buried us with Christ in the tomb” (See: Metaphor)

ὥσπερ ἠγέρθη Χριστὸς ἐκ νεκρῶν διὰ τῆς δόξης τοῦ Πατρός, οὕτως καὶ ἡμεῖς ἐν καινότητι ζωῆς περιπατήσωμεν

To raise from the dead is an idiom for causing a person to live again. This compares a believer’s new spiritual life to Jesus coming back to life physically. The believer’s new spiritual life enables that person to obey God. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “just as the Father brought Jesus back to life after he died, we might have new spiritual life and obey God” (See: Simile and Active or Passive and Idiom)

ἐκ νεκρῶν

From among all those who have died. This expression describes all dead people together in the underworld. To be raised from among them speaks of becoming alive again.

Romans 6:5

σύμφυτοι γεγόναμεν τῷ ὁμοιώματι τοῦ θανάτου αὐτοῦ, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῆς ἀναστάσεως ἐσόμεθα

Paul compares our union with Christ to death. Those who are joined with Christ in death will share in his resurrection. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “died with him…come back to life with him” (See: Metaphor and Active or Passive)

Romans 6:6

ὁ παλαιὸς ἡμῶν ἄνθρωπος συνεσταυρώθη

The “old man” is a metaphor that refers to the person before he believes in Jesus. Paul describes our old sinful person as dying on the cross with Jesus when we believe in Jesus. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “our sinful person died on the cross with Jesus” (See: Metaphor and Active or Passive)

ὁ παλαιὸς…ἄνθρωπος

This means the person who once was, but who does not exist now.

τὸ σῶμα τῆς ἁμαρτίας

This is a metonym that refers to the whole sinful person. Alternate translation: “our sinful nature” (See: Metonymy)

καταργηθῇ

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “might die” (See: Active or Passive)

μηκέτι δουλεύειν ἡμᾶς τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “sin should no longer enslave us” or “we should no longer be slaves to sin” (See: Active or Passive)

μηκέτι δουλεύειν ἡμᾶς τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ

Slavery to sin is a metaphor meaning having such a strong desire to sin that one is unable to stop himself from sinning. It is as if sin controls the person. Alternate translation: “we should no longer be controlled by sin” (See: Metaphor)

Romans 6:7

ὁ γὰρ ἀποθανὼν, δεδικαίωται ἀπὸ τῆς ἁμαρτίας.

Here “righteous” refers to God’s ability to make people right with him. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “When God declares a person right with him, that person is no longer controlled by sin” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information and Active or Passive)

Romans 6:8

ἀπεθάνομεν σὺν Χριστῷ

Here “died” refers to the fact that believers are no longer controlled by sin. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 6:9

εἰδότες ὅτι Χριστὸς ἐγερθεὶς ἐκ νεκρῶν

Here to raise up is an idiom for causing someone who has died to become alive again. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “We know since God brought Christ back to life after he died” (See: Active or Passive and Idiom)

ἐκ νεκρῶν

From among all those who have died. This expression describes all dead people together in the underworld. To be raised from among them is to become alive again.

θάνατος αὐτοῦ οὐκέτι κυριεύει

Here “death” is described as a king or ruler that has power over people. Alternate translation: “He can never die again” (See: Personification)

Romans 6:10

ὃ γὰρ ἀπέθανεν, τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ ἀπέθανεν ἐφάπαξ

The phrase “once for all” means to finish something completely. You can make this full meaning explicit in your translation. Alternate translation: “For when he died he broke the power of sin completely” (See: Idiom and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 6:11

οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς, λογίζεσθε

“For this reason consider”

λογίζεσθε ἑαυτοὺς

“think of yourselves as” or “see yourselves as”

νεκροὺς μὲν τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ

Just as one cannot force a corpse to do anything, sin has no power to force believers to dishonor God. Alternate translation: “as if you were dead to the power of sin” (See: Metaphor)

νεκροὺς μὲν τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ, ζῶντας δὲ τῷ Θεῷ

“dead to the power of sin, but living to honor God”

ζῶντας…τῷ Θεῷ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ

“living to honor God through the power Christ Jesus gives you”

Romans 6:12

Paul reminds us that grace rules over us, not the law; we are not sin’s slaves, but God’s slaves.

μὴ…βασιλευέτω ἡ ἁμαρτία ἐν τῷ θνητῷ ὑμῶν σώματι

Paul speaks of people sinning as if sin was there master or king that controlled them. Alternate translation: “Do not let sinful desires control you” (See: Personification)

ἐν τῷ θνητῷ ὑμῶν σώματι

This phrase refers to the physical part of a person, which will die. Alternate translation: “you” (See: Synecdoche)

εἰς τὸ ὑπακούειν ταῖς ἐπιθυμίαις αὐτοῦ

Paul speaks of a person having evil desires as if it sin were a master that had evil desires. (See: Personification)

Romans 6:13

μηδὲ παριστάνετε τὰ μέλη ὑμῶν, ὅπλα ἀδικίας τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ

The picture is of the sinner offering the “parts of his body” to his master or king. One’s “body parts” are a synecdoche for the whole person. Alternate translation: “Do not offer yourselves to sin so that you do what is not right” (See: Synecdoche)

ἀλλὰ παραστήσατε ἑαυτοὺς τῷ Θεῷ, ὡσεὶ ἐκ νεκρῶν ζῶντας

Here “now living” refers to the believer’s new spiritual life. Alternate translation: “But offer yourselves to God, because he has given you new spiritual life” or “But offer yourselves to God, as those who had died and are now alive” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

καὶ τὰ μέλη ὑμῶν, ὅπλα δικαιοσύνης τῷ Θεῷ

Here “parts of your body” is a synecdoche that refers to the whole person. Alternate translation: “let God use you for what is pleasing to him” (See: Synecdoche)

Romans 6:14

ἁμαρτία…ὑμῶν οὐ κυριεύσει,

Paul speaks of “sin” here as if it were a king who rules over people. Alternate translation: “Do not let sinful desires control what you do” or “Do not allow yourselves to do the sinful things you want to do” (See: Personification)

οὐ γάρ ἐστε ὑπὸ νόμον

To be “under law” means to be subject to its limitations and weaknesses. You can make the full meaning explicit in your translation. Alternate translation: “For you are no longer bound to the law of Moses, which could not give you the power to stop sinning” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἀλλὰ ὑπὸ χάριν

To be “under grace” means that God’s free gift provides the power to keep from sinning. You can make the full meaning explicit in your translation. Alternate translation: “but you are bound to God’s grace, which does give you the power to stop sinning” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 6:15

τί οὖν? ἁμαρτήσωμεν ὅτι οὐκ ἐσμὲν ὑπὸ νόμον, ἀλλὰ ὑπὸ χάριν? μὴ γένοιτο

Paul is using a question to emphasize that living under grace is not a reason to sin. Alternate translation: “However, just because we are bound to grace instead of the law of Moses certainly does not mean we are allowed to sin” (See: Rhetorical Question)

μὴ γένοιτο

“We would never want that to happen!” or “May God help me not to do that!” This expression shows an extremely strong desire that this does not take place. You may have a similar expression in your language that you could use here. See how you translated it in Romans 3:31.

Romans 6:16

οὐκ οἴδατε, ὅτι ᾧ παριστάνετε ἑαυτοὺς δούλους εἰς ὑπακοήν, δοῦλοί ἐστε ᾧ ὑπακούετε

Paul uses a question to scold anyone who may think God’s grace is a reason to keep sinning. You can translate this as a strong statement. Alternate translation: “You should know that you are slaves to the master you choose to obey!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

ἤτοι ἁμαρτίας…ἢ ὑπακοῆς

Here, Paul speaks of “sin” and “obedience” as if they were masters that a slave would obey. Alternate translation: “whether you are like slaves to sin…or like slaves to obedience” or “You are either a slave to sin…or you are a slave to obedience” (See: Personification)

εἰς θάνατον…εἰς δικαιοσύνην

“which results in death…which results in righteousness”

Romans 6:17

χάρις δὲ τῷ Θεῷ

“But I thank God!”

ὅτι ἦτε δοῦλοι τῆς ἁμαρτίας

Slavery of sin is a metaphor meaning having such a strong desire to sin that one is unable to stop himself from sinning. It is as if sin controls the person. Alternate translation: “you were like slaves of sin” or “you were controlled by sin” (See: Metaphor)

ὑπηκούσατε δὲ ἐκ καρδίας

Here the word “heart” refers to having sincere or honest motives for doing something. Alternate translation: “but you truly obeyed” (See: Metonymy)

εἰς ὃν παρεδόθητε τύπον διδαχῆς

Here “pattern” refers to the way of living that leads to righteousness. The believers change their old way of living to match this new way of living that Christian leaders teach to them. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “the teaching that Christian leaders gave you” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 6:18

ἐλευθερωθέντες δὲ ἀπὸ τῆς ἁμαρτίας

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “Christ has freed you from sin” (See: Active or Passive)

ἐλευθερωθέντες δὲ ἀπὸ τῆς ἁμαρτίας

Here “free from sin” is a metaphor for no longer having a strong desire to sin and being able to stop oneself from sinning. Alternate translation: “Your strong desire to sin has been taken away” or “you have been made free from sin’s control over you”

ἐδουλώθητε τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ

Slavery of righteousness is a metaphor meaning having a strong desire to do what is right. It is as if righteousness controls the person. Alternate translation: “you have been made like slaves of righteousness” or “you are now controlled by righteousness” (See: Metaphor)

ἐδουλώθητε τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “Christ has made you slaves of righteousness” or “Christ has changed you so that now you are controlled by righteousness”

Romans 6:19

ἀνθρώπινον λέγω

Paul may have expected his readers to wonder why he was speaking of slavery and freedom. Here he is saying that he is using these ideas from their everyday experience to help them understand that people are controlled either by sin or by righteousness. Alternate translation: “I am speaking about this in human terms” or “I am using examples from everyday life”

διὰ τὴν ἀσθένειαν τῆς σαρκὸς ὑμῶν

Often Paul uses the word “flesh” as the opposite of “spirit.” Alternate translation: “because you do not fully understand spiritual things” (See: Metonymy)

παρεστήσατε τὰ μέλη ὑμῶν δοῦλα τῇ ἀκαθαρσίᾳ, καὶ τῇ ἀνομίᾳ

Here, “body parts” refers to the whole person. Alternate translation: “offered yourselves as slaves to everything that is evil and not pleasing to God” (See: Synecdoche)

παραστήσατε τὰ μέλη ὑμῶν, δοῦλα τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ εἰς ἁγιασμόν

Here “body parts” refers to the whole person. Alternate translation: “offer yourselves as slaves to what is right before God so that he might set you apart and give you the power to serve him” (See: Synecdoche)

Romans 6:20

ἐλεύθεροι ἦτε τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ

Here “free from righteousness” is a metaphor for not having to do what is righteous. The people were living as though they thought that they did not have to do what was right. Alternate translation: “it was as though you were free from righteousness” or “you behaved as though you did not have to do what was right” or (See: Metaphor and Irony)

Romans 6:21

τίνα οὖν καρπὸν εἴχετε τότε, ἐφ’ οἷς νῦν ἐπαισχύνεσθε

“Fruit” here is a metaphor for “result” or “outcome.” Paul is using a question to emphasize that sinning results in nothing good. Alternate translation: “Nothing good came from those things that now cause you shame” or “You gained nothing by doing those things that now cause you shame” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Romans 6:22

νυνὶ δέ, ἐλευθερωθέντες ἀπὸ τῆς ἁμαρτίας, δουλωθέντες δὲ τῷ Θεῷ

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “But now that you have become free from sin and have become God’s slaves” or “But now that God has freed you from sin and made you his slaves” (See: Active or Passive)

νυνὶ δέ, ἐλευθερωθέντες ἀπὸ τῆς ἁμαρτίας

Being “free from sin” is a metaphor for being able not to sin. Alternate translation: “But now that God has made you able not to sin” (See: Metaphor)

δουλωθέντες δὲ τῷ Θεῷ

Being “enslaved” to God is a metaphor for being able to serve and obey God. Alternate translation: “and God has made you able to serve him” (See: Metaphor)

ἔχετε τὸν καρπὸν ὑμῶν εἰς ἁγιασμόν

Here “fruit” is a metaphor for “result” or “benefit.” Alternate translation: “the benefit is your sanctification” or “the benefit is that you live in a holy way” (See: Metaphor)

τὸ δὲ τέλος ζωὴν αἰώνιον

“The result of all of this is that you will live forever with God”

Romans 6:23

τὰ γὰρ ὀψώνια τῆς ἁμαρτίας θάνατος

The word “wages” refers to a payment given to someone for their work. “For if you serve sin, you will receive spiritual death as payment” or “For if you continue sinning, God will punish you with spiritual death”

τὸ δὲ χάρισμα τοῦ Θεοῦ ζωὴ αἰώνιος ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, τῷ Κυρίῳ ἡμῶν

“but God gives eternal life to those who belong to Christ Jesus our Lord”

Romans 7

Romans 07 General Notes

Structure and formatting

“Or do you not know”

Paul uses this phrase to discuss a new topic, while connecting what follows with the previous teaching.

Special concepts in this chapter

“We have been released from the law”

Paul explains that the law of Moses is no longer in effect. While this is true, the timeless principles behind the law reflect the character of God. (See: law, law of Moses, law of Yahweh, law of God)

Important figures of speech in this chapter

Marriage

Scripture commonly uses marriage as a metaphor. Here Paul uses it to describe how the church relates to the law of Moses and now to Christ. (See: Metaphor)

Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter

Flesh

This is a complex issue. “Flesh” is possibly a metaphor for our sinful nature. Paul is not teaching that our physical bodies are sinful. Paul appears to be teaching that as long as Christians are alive (“in the flesh”), we will continue to sin. But our new nature will be fighting against our old nature. (See: flesh and sin, sinful, sinner, sinning)

Romans 7:1

Paul explains how the law controls those who want to live under the law.

ἢ ἀγνοεῖτε, ἀδελφοί (γινώσκουσιν γὰρ νόμον λαλῶ), ὅτι ὁ νόμος κυριεύει τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐφ’ ὅσον χρόνον ζῇ?

Paul asks this question to add emphasis. Alternate translation: “So you certainly know that people have to obey laws only while they are alive” (See: Rhetorical Question)

ἀδελφοί

Here this means fellow Christians, including both men and women.

Romans 7:2

This verse begins a description of what Paul means by “the law controls a person for as long as he lives” (Romans 7:1).

ἡ…ὕπανδρος γυνὴ τῷ…ἀνδρὶ δέδεται νόμῳ

Here “bound by law to the husband” is a metaphor for a woman being united to her husband according to the law of marriage. Alternate translation: “according to the law, the married woman is united to the husband” (See: Metaphor)

ἡ…ὕπανδρος γυνὴ

This refers to any woman who is married.

Romans 7:3

This verse ends a description of what Paul means by “the law controls a person for as long as he lives” (Romans 7:1).

μοιχαλὶς χρηματίσει

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “God will consider her an adulteress” or “people will call her an adulteress” (See: Active or Passive)

ἐλευθέρα ἐστὶν ἀπὸ τοῦ νόμου

Here being free from the law means not having to obey the law. In this case, the woman does not have to obey the law that says that a married woman cannot marry another man. Alternate translation: “she does not have to obey that law”

Romans 7:4

ὥστε, ἀδελφοί μου

This relates back to Romans 7:1.

ἀδελφοί

Here this means fellow Christians, including both men and women.

καὶ ὑμεῖς ἐθανατώθητε τῷ νόμῳ διὰ τοῦ σώματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “you also died to the law when through Christ you died on the cross” (See: Active or Passive)

τῷ ἐκ νεκρῶν ἐγερθέντι

“Raised” here is an idiom for “caused to live again.” This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: “to him who was caused to live again” or “to him whom God raised from the dead” or “to him whom God caused to live again” (See: Idiom)

καρποφορήσωμεν τῷ Θεῷ

Here “fruit” is a metaphor for actions that please God. Alternate translation: “we might be able to do things pleasing to God” (See: Metaphor)

Romans 7:5

εἰς τὸ καρποφορῆσαι τῷ θανάτῳ

Here “fruit” is a metaphor for a “result of one’s actions” or “outcome of one’s actions.” Alternate translation: “which resulted in spiritual-death” or “the outcome of which was our own spiritual death” (See: Metaphor)

Romans 7:6

Paul reminds us that God does not make us holy by the law.

κατηργήθημεν ἀπὸ τοῦ νόμου

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “God has released us from the law” (See: Active or Passive)

κατηργήθημεν

This pronoun refers to Paul and the believers. (See: Inclusive and Exclusive “We”)

ἐν ᾧ κατειχόμεθα

This refers to the law. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “to the law which held us” (See: Active or Passive)

γράμματος

This refers to the law of Moses. Alternate translation: “the law of Moses” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 7:7

τί οὖν ἐροῦμεν

Paul is introducing a new topic. (See: Rhetorical Question)

μὴ γένοιτο

“Of course that is not true!” This expression gives the strongest possible negative answer to the preceding rhetorical question. You may have a similar expression in your language that you could use here. See how you translated this in Romans 9:14.

τὴν ἁμαρτίαν οὐκ ἔγνων, εἰ μὴ διὰ νόμου

Paul is speaking of sin as if it were a person who can act. (See: Personification)

ἁμαρτία

“my desire to sin”

Romans 7:8

ἀφορμὴν δὲ λαβοῦσα ἡ ἁμαρτία διὰ τῆς ἐντολῆς, κατειργάσατο ἐν ἐμοὶ πᾶσαν ἐπιθυμίαν;

Paul continues comparing sin to a person who can act. (See: Personification)

ἐπιθυμίαν

This word includes both the desire to have what belongs to other people and wrong sexual desire.

χωρὶς…νόμου, ἁμαρτία νεκρά

“if there were no law, there would be no breaking of the law, so there would be no sin”

Romans 7:9

ἡ ἁμαρτία ἀνέζησεν

This can mean (1) “I realized that I was sinning” or (2) “I strongly desired to sin” (See: Personification)

Romans 7:10

εὑρέθη μοι ἡ ἐντολὴ, ἡ εἰς ζωὴν, αὕτη εἰς θάνατον.

Paul speaks of God’s condemnation as if it resulted primarily in physical death. Alternate translation: “God gave me the commandment so I would live, but it killed me instead” (See: Metaphor)

Romans 7:11

ἡ γὰρ ἁμαρτία ἀφορμὴν λαβοῦσα διὰ τῆς ἐντολῆς, ἐξηπάτησέν με καὶ δι’ αὐτῆς ἀπέκτεινεν

As in Romans 7:7-8, Paul is describing sin as a person who can do 3 things: take the opportunity, deceive, and kill. Alternate translation: “Because I wanted to sin, I deceived myself into thinking that I could sin and obey the commandment at the same time, but God punished me for disobeying the commandment by separating me from him” (See: Personification)

ἡ…ἁμαρτία

“my desire to sin”

ἀφορμὴν λαβοῦσα διὰ τῆς ἐντολῆς

Paul is comparing sin to a person who can act. See how you translated this in Romans 7:8. (See: Personification)

ἀπέκτεινεν

Paul speaks of God’s condemnation on sinners as if it resulted primarily in physical death. Alternate translation: “it separated me from God” (See: Metaphor)

Romans 7:12

ἅγιος

Morally perfect, without sin

Romans 7:13

Paul talks about the struggle inside his inner man between sin in his inner man and his mind with the law of God—between sin and good.

οὖν

Paul is introducing a new topic.

τὸ…ἀγαθὸν ἐμοὶ ἐγένετο θάνατος

Paul uses this question to add emphasis. (See: Rhetorical Question)

τὸ…ἀγαθὸν

This refers to God’s law.

ἐμοὶ ἐγένετο θάνατος

“cause me to die”

μὴ γένοιτο

This expression gives the strongest possible negative answer to the preceding rhetorical question. You may have a similar expression in your language that you could use here. Alternate translation: “Of course that is not true” (See: Rhetorical Question)

ἡ ἁμαρτία…μοι κατεργαζομένη θάνατον;

Paul is viewing sin as though it were a person who could act. (See: Personification)

μοι κατεργαζομένη θάνατον

“separated me from God”

διὰ τῆς ἐντολῆς

“because I disobeyed the commandment”

Romans 7:15

Paul talks about the struggle inside his inner man between his flesh and the law of God—between sin and good.

ὃ γὰρ κατεργάζομαι, οὐ γινώσκω

“I am not sure why I do some of the things that I do”

ὃ γὰρ κατεργάζομαι

“because what I do”

οὐ…ὃ θέλω, τοῦτο πράσσω,

The words “I do not do” are an exaggeration to emphasize that Paul does not do what he wants to do as often as he would like or that he does what he does not want to do too often. Alternate translation: “I do not always do what I want to do” (See: Hyperbole)

ὃ μισῶ, τοῦτο ποιῶ.

The words “I do,” which implies that he always does what he hates to do, are an exaggeration to emphasize that Paul does what he does not want to do too often. Alternate translation: “the things that I know are not good are the things that I sometimes do” (See: Hyperbole)

Romans 7:16

εἰ δὲ…ποιῶ

“However, if I do”

σύνφημι τῷ νόμῳ

“I know God’s law is good”

Romans 7:17

ἡ ἐνοικοῦσα ἐν ἐμοὶ ἁμαρτία

Paul describes sin as a living being that has the power to influence him. (See: Personification)

Romans 7:18

τῇ σαρκί μου

Here “flesh” is a metonym for the sinful nature. Alternate translation: “my sinful nature” (See: Metonymy)

Romans 7:19

ἀγαθόν

“the good deeds” or “the good actions”

κακὸν

“the evil deeds” or “the evil actions”

Romans 7:20

ἀλλὰ ἡ οἰκοῦσα ἐν ἐμοὶ ἁμαρτία

Paul speaks of “sin” as if it were alive and living inside him. (See: Personification)

Romans 7:21

ὅτι ἐμοὶ τὸ κακὸν παράκειται

Paul speaks of “evil” here as if it were alive and living inside him. (See: Personification)

Romans 7:22

τὸν ἔσω ἄνθρωπον

This is the newly-revived spirit of a person who trusts in Christ. (See: Metaphor)

Romans 7:23

βλέπω δὲ ἕτερον νόμον ἐν τοῖς μέλεσίν μου, ἀντιστρατευόμενον τῷ νόμῳ τοῦ νοός μου, καὶ αἰχμαλωτίζοντά με

“I am able only to do what my old nature tells me to do, not to live the new way the Spirit shows me”

νόμῳ

This is the new spiritually alive nature.

ἕτερον νόμον ἐν τοῖς μέλεσίν μου

This is the old nature, the way people are when they are born.

τῷ νόμῳ τῆς ἁμαρτίας, τῷ ὄντι ἐν τοῖς μέλεσίν μου

“my sinful nature”

Romans 7:24

τίς με ῥύσεται ἐκ τοῦ σώματος τοῦ θανάτου τούτου

Paul uses this question to express great emotion. If your language has a way of showing great emotion through an exclamation or a question, use it here. Alternate translation: “I want someone to set me free from the control of what my body desires!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

με ῥύσεται

“rescue me”

τοῦ σώματος τοῦ θανάτου τούτου

This is a metaphor that means a body that will experience physical death. (See: Metaphor)

Romans 7:25

χάρις τῷ Θεῷ διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν

This is the answer to the question in 7:24.

ἄρα οὖν αὐτὸς ἐγὼ, τῷ μὲν νοῒ δουλεύω νόμῳ Θεοῦ; τῇ δὲ σαρκὶ, νόμῳ ἁμαρτίας

The mind and flesh are used here to show how they compare to serve either God’s law or the principle of sin. With the mind or intellect one can choose to please and obey God and with the flesh or physical nature to serve sin. Alternate translation: “My mind chooses to please God, but my flesh chooses to obey sin” (See: Metaphor)

Romans 8

Romans 08 General Notes

Structure and formatting

The first verse of this chapter is a transitional sentence. Paul concludes his teaching of Chapter 7 and leads into the words of Chapter 8.

Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with verse 36. Paul quotes these words from the Old Testament.

Special concepts in this chapter

Indwelling of the Spirit

The Holy Spirit is said to live inside a person or inside their heart. If the Spirit is present, this signifies that a person is saved. (See: save, saved, safe, salvation)

“These are sons of God”

Jesus is the Son of God in a unique way. God also adopts Christians to be his children. (See: Son of God, the Son and adoption, adopt, adopted)

Predestination

Many scholars believe Paul in this chapter teaches on a subject known as “predestination.” This is related to the biblical concept of “predestine.” Some take this to indicate that God has, from before the foundation of the world, chosen some to be eternally saved. Christians have different views on what the Bible teaches on this subject. So translators need to take extra care when translating this chapter, especially with regards to elements of causation. (See: predestine, predestined and save, saved, safe, salvation)

Important figures of speech in this chapter

Metaphor

Paul poetically presents his teaching in verses 38 and 39 in the form of an extended metaphor. He explains that nothing can separate a person from the love of God in Jesus. (See: Metaphor)

Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter

No condemnation

This phrase must be translated carefully to avoid doctrinal confusion. People are still guilty of their sin. God disapproves of acting sinfully, even after believing in Jesus. God still punishes the sins of believers, but Jesus has paid the punishment for their sin. This is what Paul expresses here. The word “condemn” has several possible meanings. Here Paul emphasizes that people who believe in Jesus are no longer punished eternally for their sin by being “condemned to hell.” (See: guilt, guilty and faith and condemn, condemned, condemnation)

Flesh

This is a complex issue. “Flesh” is possibly a metaphor for our sinful nature. Paul is not teaching that our physical bodies are sinful. Paul appears to be teaching that as long as Christians are alive (“in the flesh”), we will continue to sin. But our new nature will be fighting against our old nature. (See: flesh)

Romans 8:1

Paul gives the answer to the struggle he has with sin and good.

οὐδὲν ἄρα νῦν κατάκριμα τοῖς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ

Here “condemnation” refers to punishing people. Alternate translation: “God will not condemn and punish those who are joined to Christ Jesus” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἄρα

“for that reason” or “because what I have just told you is true”

Romans 8:2

ὁ…νόμος τοῦ Πνεύματος τῆς ζωῆς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ

This refers to God’s Spirit. Alternate translation: “God’s Spirit in Christ Jesus” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἠλευθέρωσέν σε ἀπὸ τοῦ νόμου τῆς ἁμαρτίας καὶ τοῦ θανάτου

Being free from the law of sin and death is a metaphor for not being controlled by the law of sin and death. Alternate translation: “has caused the law of sin and death to no longer control you” (See: Metaphor)

τοῦ νόμου τῆς ἁμαρτίας καὶ τοῦ θανάτου

Possible meanings are that this refers to (1) the law, which provokes people to sin, and their sin causes them to die. Alternate translation: “the law which causes sin and death” or (2) the principle that people sin and die.

Romans 8:3

τὸ γὰρ ἀδύνατον τοῦ νόμου, ἐν ᾧ ἠσθένει διὰ τῆς σαρκός, ὁ Θεὸς

Here the law is described as a person who could not break the power of sin. Alternate translation: “For the law did not have the power to stop us from sinning, because the power of sin within us was too strong. But God did stop us from sinning” (See: Personification)

διὰ τῆς σαρκός

“because of people’s sinful nature”

τὸν ἑαυτοῦ Υἱὸν πέμψας, ἐν ὁμοιώματι σαρκὸς ἁμαρτίας, καὶ περὶ ἁμαρτίας, κατέκρινε τὴν ἁμαρτίαν

The Son of God forever satisfied God’s holy anger against our sin by giving his own body and human life as the eternal sacrifice for sin.

Υἱὸν

This is an important title for Jesus, the Son of God. (See: Translating Son and Father)

ἐν ὁμοιώματι σαρκὸς ἁμαρτίας

“who looked like any other sinful human being”

καὶ περὶ ἁμαρτίας

“so that he could die as a sacrifice for our sins”

κατέκρινε τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ἐν τῇ σαρκί

“God broke the power of sin through the body of his Son”

Romans 8:4

τὸ δικαίωμα τοῦ νόμου πληρωθῇ ἐν ἡμῖν

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “we might fulfill what the law requires” (See: Active or Passive)

τοῖς μὴ κατὰ σάρκα περιπατοῦσιν

Walking on a path is a metaphor for how a person lives his life. The flesh is an idiom for sinful human nature. Alternate translation: “we who do not obey our sinful desires” (See: Metaphor or Idiom)

ἀλλὰ κατὰ Πνεῦμα

“but who obey the Holy Spirit”

Romans 8:6

Paul continues to contrast the flesh with the Spirit we now have.

τὸ…φρόνημα τῆς σαρκὸς…τὸ δὲ φρόνημα τοῦ Πνεύματος

Here Paul speaks of both the “flesh” and the “spirit” as if they were living persons. Alternate translation: “the way sinful people think…the way people who listen to the Holy Spirit think” (See: Personification)

θάνατος

Here this means the separation of a person from God.

Romans 8:8

οἱ…ἐν σαρκὶ ὄντες

This refers to people who do what their sinful nature tells them to do.

Romans 8:9

ἐν σαρκὶ

“acting according to your sinful natures.” See how “the flesh” was translated in Romans 8:5.

ἐν Πνεύματι

“acting according to the Holy Spirit”

Πνεύματι,…Πνεῦμα Θεοῦ…Πνεῦμα Χριστοῦ

These all refer to the Holy Spirit.

εἴπερ

This phrase does not mean Paul doubts that some of them have God’s Spirit. Paul wants them to realize that they all have God’s Spirit. Alternate translation: “since” or “because”

Romans 8:10

εἰ…Χριστὸς ἐν ὑμῖν

How Christ lives in a person could be made explicit. Alternate translation: “If Christ lives in you through the Holy Spirit” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

τὸ μὲν σῶμα νεκρὸν διὰ ἁμαρτίαν

Possible meanings are (1) a person is spiritually dead to the power of sin or (2) the physical body will still die because of sin. (See: Idiom)

τὸ…Πνεῦμα ζωὴ διὰ δικαιοσύνην

Possible meanings are (1) a person is spiritually alive because God has given him power to do what is right or (2) God will bring the person back to life after he dies because God is righteous and gives believers eternal life. (See: Idiom)

Romans 8:11

εἰ δὲ τὸ Πνεῦμα τοῦ ἐγείραντος τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐκ νεκρῶν οἰκεῖ ἐν ὑμῖν, ὁ ἐγείρας ἐκ νεκρῶν Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν ζῳοποιήσει καὶ τὰ θνητὰ σώματα ὑμῶν, διὰ τοῦ ἐνοικοῦντος αὐτοῦ Πνεῦμα ἐν ὑμῖν.

Paul assumes that the Holy Spirit lives in his readers. Alternate translation: “Since the Spirit…lives in you”

τοῦ ἐγείραντος

“of God, who raised”

ἐγείραντος τὸν Ἰησοῦν

Here to raise is an idiom for causing someone who has died to become alive again. Alternate translation: “caused Jesus to live again” (See: Idiom)

τὰ θνητὰ σώματα

“physical bodies” or “bodies, which will die someday”

Romans 8:12

ἄρα οὖν

“Because what I have just told you is true”

ἀδελφοί

Here this means fellow Christians, including both men and women.

ὀφειλέται ἐσμέν

Paul is speaking of obedience as if it were paying back a debt. Alternate translation: “we need to obey” (See: Metaphor)

οὐ τῇ σαρκὶ, τοῦ κατὰ σάρκα ζῆν

Again Paul speaks of obedience as if it were paying back a debt. You can include the implied word “debtors.” Alternate translation: “but we are not debtors to the flesh, and we do not have to obey our sinful desires” (See: Ellipsis and Metaphor)

Romans 8:13

εἰ γὰρ κατὰ σάρκα ζῆτε

“Because if you live only to please your sinful desires”

μέλλετε ἀποθνῄσκειν

“you will certainly be separated from God”

εἰ δὲ Πνεύματι τὰς πράξεις τοῦ σώματος θανατοῦτε

Paul speaks of the “old man,” crucified with Christ, as the person who is responsible for his sinful desires. Alternate translation: “but if by the power of the Holy Spirit you stop obeying your sinful desires” (See: Metaphor)

Romans 8:14

ὅσοι γὰρ Πνεύματι Θεοῦ ἄγονται

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “For all the people whom the Spirit of God leads” (See: Active or Passive)

υἱοί Θεοῦ

Here this means all believers in Jesus and is often translated as “children of God.”

Romans 8:15

ἐν ᾧ κράζομεν

“who causes us to cry out”

Ἀββά, ὁ Πατήρ

“Abba” is “Father” in the Aramaic language. (See: Translate Unknowns and How to Translate Names)

Romans 8:17

κληρονόμοι μὲν Θεοῦ

Paul speaks of the Christian believers as if they will inherit property and wealth from a family member. Alternate translation: “we also will one day receive what God has promised us” (See: Metaphor)

συνκληρονόμοι…Χριστοῦ

Paul speaks of the Christian believers as if they will inherit property and wealth from a family member. God will give to us what he gives to Christ. Alternate translation: “we will also receive what God has promised us and Christ together” (See: Metaphor)

ἵνα καὶ συνδοξασθῶμεν

God will honor Christian believers when he honors Christ. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “that God may glorify us along with him” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 8:18

Paul reminds us as believers that our bodies will be changed at the redemption of our bodies in this section which ends in Romans 8:25.

γὰρ

This emphasizes “I consider.” It does not mean “because.”

λογίζομαι…ὅτι οὐκ ἄξια τὰ παθήματα τοῦ νῦν καιροῦ, πρὸς

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “I cannot compare the sufferings of this present time with” (See: Active or Passive)

ἀποκαλυφθῆναι

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “God will reveal” or “God will make known” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 8:19

ἡ…ἀποκαραδοκία τῆς κτίσεως, τὴν…ἀπεκδέχεται

Paul describes everything that God created as a person who eagerly waits for something. (See: Personification)

τὴν ἀποκάλυψιν τῶν υἱῶν τοῦ Θεοῦ

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “for the time when God will reveal his children” (See: Active or Passive)

υἱῶν τοῦ Θεοῦ

Here this means all believers in Jesus. You can also translate this as “children of God.”

Romans 8:20

τῇ γὰρ ματαιότητι, ἡ κτίσις ὑπετάγη

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “For God caused what he had created to be unable to achieve what he intended” (See: Active or Passive)

οὐχ ἑκοῦσα, ἀλλὰ διὰ τὸν ὑποτάξαντα

Here Paul describes “creation” as a person who can desire. Alternate translation: “not because this is what the created things wanted, but because it is what God wanted” (See: Personification)

Romans 8:21

αὐτὴ ἡ κτίσις ἐλευθερωθήσεται

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “God will save creation” (See: Active or Passive)

ἀπὸ τῆς δουλείας τῆς φθορᾶς

Here being in slavery to decay is a metaphor for being certain to decay. Alternate translation: “from being like a slave to decay” (See: Metaphor)

εἰς τὴν ἐλευθερίαν τῆς δόξης τῶν τέκνων τοῦ Θεοῦ

“Freedom” here is in contrast with slavery to decay. It is a metaphor meaning that the creation will not decay. Alternate translation: “that it will become gloriously free from decay like the children of God” (See: Metaphor)

Romans 8:22

οἴδαμεν γὰρ ὅτι πᾶσα ἡ κτίσις συνστενάζει καὶ συνωδίνει ἄχρι τοῦ νῦν

The creation is compared to a woman groaning while giving birth to a baby. Alternate translation: “For we know that everything that God created wants to be free and groans for it like a woman giving birth” (See: Metaphor)

Romans 8:23

υἱοθεσίαν ἀπεκδεχόμενοι, τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν τοῦ σώματος ἡμῶν

Here “our adoption” means when we become full members of God’s family, as adopted children. The word “redemption” means when God saves us. Alternate translation: “waiting for when we are fully members of God’s family and he saves our bodies from decay and death” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information and Metaphor)

Romans 8:24

τῇ γὰρ ἐλπίδι ἐσώθημεν

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “For God saved us because we hoped in him” (See: Active or Passive)

ἐλπὶς δὲ βλεπομένη, οὐκ ἔστιν ἐλπίς; ὃ γὰρ βλέπει τις, ἐλπίζει

Paul uses a question to help his audience understand what “hope” is. Alternate translation: “But if we are confidently waiting, that means we do not yet have what we want. No one can confidently wait if he already has what he wants” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Romans 8:26

Though Paul has been emphasizing that there is a struggle in believers between the flesh and the Spirit, he affirms that the Spirit is aiding us.

στεναγμοῖς ἀλαλήτοις

“groanings that we cannot express in words”

Romans 8:27

ὁ…ἐραυνῶν τὰς καρδίας

Here “He” refers to God. Here “hearts” is a metonym for a person’s thoughts and emotions. The phrase “searches the hearts” is a metaphor for examining thoughts and emotions. Alternate translation: “God, who knows all our thoughts and feelings” (See: Metonymy and Metaphor)

Romans 8:28

Paul reminds the believers that nothing can separate them from God’s love.

τοῖς…κλητοῖς οὖσιν

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “for those whom God chose” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 8:29

οὓς προέγνω

“those whom he knew before he even created them”

καὶ προώρισεν

“he also made it their destiny” or “he also planned in advance”

συμμόρφους τῆς εἰκόνος τοῦ Υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ

God planned from before the beginning of creation to grow those who believe in Jesus, the Son of God, into persons who are like Jesus. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “that he would change them to be like his Son” (See: Active or Passive)

Υἱοῦ

This is an important title for Jesus, the Son of God. (See: Translating Son and Father)

εἰς τὸ εἶναι αὐτὸν πρωτότοκον

“so that his Son would be the firstborn”

ἐν πολλοῖς ἀδελφοῖς

Here “brothers” refers to all believers, both male and female. Alternate translation: “among many brothers and sisters who belong to the family of God” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 8:30

οὓς…προώρισεν

“Those whom God made plans for in advance”

τούτους καὶ ἐδικαίωσεν

Here “justified” is in the past tense to emphasize that this will certainly happen. Alternate translation: “these he also put right with himself” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

τούτους καὶ ἐδόξασεν

The word “glorified” is in the past tense to emphasize that this will certainly happen. Alternate translation: “these he will also glorify” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 8:31

τί οὖν ἐροῦμεν πρὸς ταῦτα? εἰ ὁ Θεὸς ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν, τίς καθ’ ἡμῶν

Paul uses questions to emphasize the main point of what he said previously. Alternate translation: “This is what we should know from all of this: since God is helping us, no one can defeat us” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Romans 8:32

ὅς γε τοῦ ἰδίου Υἱοῦ οὐκ ἐφείσατο

God the Father sent the Son of God, Jesus Christ, to the cross as the holy, infinite sacrifice necessary to satisfy God’s infinite, holy nature against the sin of humanity. Here “Son” is an important title for Jesus, the Son of God. (See: Translating Son and Father)

ἀλλὰ…παρέδωκεν αὐτόν

“but put him under the control of his enemies”

πῶς οὐχὶ καὶ σὺν αὐτῷ, τὰ πάντα ἡμῖν χαρίσεται

Paul is using a question for emphasis. Alternate translation: “he will certainly and freely give us all things!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

τὰ πάντα ἡμῖν χαρίσεται

“kindly give us all things”

Romans 8:33

τίς ἐγκαλέσει κατὰ ἐκλεκτῶν Θεοῦ? Θεὸς ὁ δικαιῶν

Paul uses a question for emphasis. Alternate translation: “No one can accuse us before God because he is the one who makes us right with him” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Romans 8:34

τίς ὁ κατακρινῶν

Paul uses a question for emphasis. He does not expect an answer. Alternate translation: “No one will condemn us!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

ὅς, καί ἐστιν ἐν δεξιᾷ τοῦ Θεοῦ

To be at the “right hand of God” is a symbolic action of receiving great honor and authority from God. Alternate translation: “who is at the place of honor beside God” (See: Symbolic Action)

Romans 8:35

τίς ἡμᾶς χωρίσει ἀπὸ τῆς ἀγάπης τοῦ Χριστοῦ

Paul uses this question to teach that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. Alternate translation: “No one will ever separate us from the love of Christ!” or “Nothing will ever separate us from the love of Christ!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

θλῖψις, ἢ στενοχωρία, ἢ διωγμὸς, ἢ λιμὸς, ἢ γυμνότης, ἢ κίνδυνος, ἢ μάχαιρα

The words “shall separate us from the love of Christ” are understood from the previous question. Alternate translation: “Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or hunger, or nakedness, or danger, or sword separate us from the love of Christ?”(See: Ellipsis)

θλῖψις, ἢ στενοχωρία, ἢ διωγμὸς, ἢ λιμὸς, ἢ γυμνότης, ἢ κίνδυνος, ἢ μάχαιρα

Paul uses this question to emphasize that even these things cannot separate us from the love of Christ. Alternate translation: “Even tribulation, distress, persecution, hunger, nakedness, danger, and sword cannot separate us from the love of Christ.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

θλῖψις, ἢ στενοχωρία, ἢ διωγμὸς, ἢ λιμὸς, ἢ γυμνότης, ἢ κίνδυνος, ἢ μάχαιρα

The abstract nouns can be expressed with verb phrases. Here “sword” is a metonym that represents being killed violently. Alternate translation: “Even if people cause us trouble, hurt us, take away our clothes and food, or kill us, they cannot separate us from the love of Christ.” (See: Abstract Nouns and Metonymy)

θλῖψις, ἢ στενοχωρία

These words both mean the same thing. (See: Doublet)

Romans 8:36

ὅτι ἕνεκεν σοῦ

Here “your” is singular and refers to God. Alternate translation: “For you” (See: Forms of You)

θανατούμεθα ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν

Here “we” refers to the one who wrote this part of Scripture, but not his audience, who was God. The phrase “all day long” is an exaggeration to emphasize how much danger they are in. Paul uses this part of Scripture to show that all who belong to God should expect difficult times. This can be translated in an active form. Alternate translation: “our enemies continually seek to kill us” (See: Inclusive and Exclusive “We” and Hyperbole and Active or Passive)

ἐλογίσθημεν ὡς πρόβατα σφαγῆς

Here Paul compares to livestock those whom people kill because they are loyal to God. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “Our lives have no more value to them than the sheep they kill” (See: Simile and Active or Passive)

Romans 8:37

ὑπερνικῶμεν

“we have complete victory”

διὰ τοῦ ἀγαπήσαντος ἡμᾶς

You can make explicit the kind of love that Jesus showed. Alternate translation: “because of Jesus, who loved us so much he was willing to die for us” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 8:38

πέπεισμαι

“I am convinced” or “I am confident”

ἀρχαὶ

Possible meanings are (1) demons or (2) human kings and rulers.

οὔτε δυνάμεις

Possible meanings are (1) spiritual beings with power or (2) human beings with power.

Romans 9

Romans 09 General Notes

Structure and formatting

In this chapter, Paul changes what he is teaching about. In Chapters 9-11, he focuses on the nation of Israel.

Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with verses 25-29 and 33 of this chapter. Paul quotes all of these words from the Old Testament.

Special concepts in this chapter

Flesh

Paul uses the word “flesh” in this chapter only to refer to Israelites, people physically descending from Abraham through Jacob, who God named Israel. (See: flesh)

In other chapters, Paul uses the word “brother” to mean fellow Christians. However, in this chapter, he uses “my brothers” to mean his kinsmen the Israelites.

Paul refers to those who believe in Jesus as “children of God” and “children of the promise.”

Predestination

Many scholars believe Paul in this chapter teaches extensively on a subject known as “predestination.” This is related to the biblical concept of “predestine.” Some take this to indicate that God has, from before the foundation of the world, chosen some people to eternally save. Christians have different views on what the Bible teaches on this subject. So translators need to take extra care when translating this chapter. (See: predestine, predestined and save, saved, safe, salvation)

Important figures of speech in this chapter
Stone of stumbling

Paul explains that while some Gentiles accepted Jesus as their savior by believing in him, most Jews were trying to earn their salvation and so rejected Jesus. Paul, quoting the Old Testament, describes Jesus as a stone that the Jews stumble over when walking. This “stone of stumbling” causes them to “fall.” (See: Metaphor)

Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter

“It is not everyone in Israel who truly belongs to Israel”

Paul uses the word “Israel” in this verse with two different meanings. The first “Israel” means the physical descendants of Abraham through Jacob. The second “Israel” means those who are God’s people through faith. The UST reflects this.

Romans 9:1

Paul tells of his personal desire that the people of the nation of Israel will be saved. Then he emphasizes the different ways in which God has prepared them to believe.

ἀλήθειαν λέγω ἐν Χριστῷ, οὐ ψεύδομαι

These two expressions mean basically the same thing. Paul uses them to emphasize that he is telling the truth. (See: Doublet)

συνμαρτυρούσης μοι τῆς συνειδήσεώς μου ἐν Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ

“the Holy Spirit controls my conscience and confirms what I say”

Romans 9:2

ὅτι λύπη μοί ἐστιν μεγάλη, καὶ ἀδιάλειπτος ὀδύνη τῇ καρδίᾳ μου

Here “unceasing pain in my heart” is an idiom that Paul uses to share his emotional distress. Alternate translation: “I tell you that I grieve very greatly and deeply” (See: Idiom)

λύπη…μεγάλη, καὶ ἀδιάλειπτος ὀδύνη

These two expressions mean basically the same thing. Paul uses them together to emphasize how great his emotions are. (See: Doublet)

Romans 9:3

ηὐχόμην γὰρ ἀνάθεμα εἶναι αὐτὸς, ἐγὼ ἀπὸ τοῦ Χριστοῦ ὑπὲρ τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου, τῶν συγγενῶν μου, κατὰ σάρκα

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “I personally would be willing to let God curse me and, keep me apart from Christ forever if that would help my fellow Israelites, my own people group, to believe in Christ” (See: Active or Passive)

τῶν ἀδελφῶν

Here this means fellow Christians, including both men and women.

Romans 9:4

οἵτινές εἰσιν Ἰσραηλεῖται

“They, like me, are Israelites. God chose them to be Jacob’s descendants”

ὧν ἡ υἱοθεσία

Here Paul uses the metaphor of “adoption” to indicate that the Israelites are like God’s children. Alternate translation: “They have God as their father” (See: Metaphor)

Romans 9:6

Paul emphasizes that those who are born in the family of Israel can really only be a true part of Israel through faith.

οὐχ οἷον δὲ, ὅτι ἐκπέπτωκεν ὁ λόγος τοῦ Θεοῦ

“But God has not failed to keep his promises” or “God has kept his promises”

οὐ γὰρ πάντες οἱ ἐξ Ἰσραήλ οὗτοι, Ἰσραήλ

God did not make his promises to all the physical descendants of Israel (or Jacob), but to his spiritual descendants, that is, those who trust in Jesus.

Romans 9:7

οὐδ’ ὅτι εἰσὶν σπέρμα Ἀβραάμ πάντες τέκνα

“Nor are they all children of God just because they are Abraham’s descendants”

Romans 9:8

οὐ τὰ τέκνα τῆς σαρκὸς,

Here “children of the flesh” is a metonym that refers to the physical descendants of Abraham. Alternate translation: “not all of Abraham’s descendants” (See: Metonymy)

ταῦτα τέκνα τοῦ Θεοῦ

This is a metaphor that refers to people who are spiritual descendants, those who have faith in Jesus. (See: Metaphor)

τὰ τέκνα τῆς ἐπαγγελίας

This refers to people who will inherit the promises that God gave to Abraham.

Romans 9:9

ἐπαγγελίας…ὁ λόγος οὗτος

“these are the words God used when he made the promise”

ἔσται τῇ Σάρρᾳ υἱός

You can translate this in an active form to express that God will give a son to Sarah. Alternate translation: “I will give Sarah a son” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 9:10

τοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν

Paul refers to Isaac as “our father” because Isaac was the ancestor of Paul and of the Jewish believers in Rome. (See: Inclusive and Exclusive “We”)

κοίτην, ἔχουσα

“had become pregnant”

Romans 9:11

μήπω γὰρ γεννηθέντων, μηδὲ πραξάντων τι ἀγαθὸν ἢ φαῦλον

“before the children were born and before they had done anything, whether good or bad”

ἵνα ἡ κατ’ ἐκλογὴν πρόθεσις τοῦ Θεοῦ μένῃ

“so that what God wants to happen according to His choice will happen”

μήπω γὰρ γεννηθέντων

“before the children were born”

μηδὲ πραξάντων τι ἀγαθὸν ἢ φαῦλον

“not because of anything they had done”

Romans 9:12

It may be necessary in your language to place this verse between verse 10 and verse 11: “our father Isaac, it was said to her, ‘The older will serve the younger.’ Now the children were not yet born and had not yet done anything good or bad, but so that the purpose of God according to choice might stand—not because of actions, but because of him who calls. It is just”

ἐκ τοῦ

because of God

ἐρρέθη αὐτῇ, ὅτι ὁ μείζων δουλεύσει τῷ ἐλάσσονι

“God said to Rebecca, ‘The older son will serve the younger son’”

Romans 9:13

τὸν Ἰακὼβ ἠγάπησα, τὸν δὲ Ἠσαῦ ἐμίσησα

The word “hated” is an exaggeration. God loved Jacob much more than he loved Esau. He did not literally hate Esau. (See: Hyperbole)

Romans 9:14

τί οὖν ἐροῦμεν

Paul is using the question to get the attention of his readers. (See: Rhetorical Question)

μὴ γένοιτο

“That is not possible!” or “Certainly not!” This expression strongly denies that this could happen. You may have a similar expression in your language that you could use here.

Romans 9:15

τῷ Μωϋσεῖ γὰρ λέγει

Paul speaks about God’s talking with Moses as if it is being done in the present time. Alternate translation: “For God said to Moses” (See: Metaphor)

Romans 9:16

οὐ τοῦ θέλοντος, οὐδὲ τοῦ τρέχοντος

“it is not because of what people want or because they try hard”

οὐδὲ τοῦ τρέχοντος

Paul speaks of a person who does good things in order to gain God’s favor as if that person were running a race. (See: Metaphor)

Romans 9:17

λέγει γὰρ ἡ Γραφὴ

Here the scripture is personified as if God were talking to Pharaoh. Alternate translation: “The scripture records that God said” (See: Personification)

ἐξήγειρά…ἐνδείξωμαι…μου

God is referring to himself.

σε

singular (See: Forms of You)

ἐξήγειρά σε

“Raised” here is an idiom for “to cause something to be what it is.” Alternate translation: “I made you the powerful man that you are” (See: Idiom)

ὅπως διαγγελῇ τὸ ὄνομά μου

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “that people might proclaim my name” (See: Active or Passive)

τὸ ὄνομά μου

This metonym refers either (1) to God in all of his being. Alternate translation: “who I am” or (2) To his reputation. Alternate translation: “how great I am” (See: Metonymy)

ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ

“wherever there are people” (See: Hyperbole)

Romans 9:18

ὃν δὲ θέλει, σκληρύνει

God makes stubborn whoever he wishes to make stubborn.

Romans 9:19

ἐρεῖς μοι οὖν

Paul is talking to the critics of his teaching as though he were only talking to one person. You may need to use the plural here. (See: Forms of You)

τί οὖν ἔτι μέμφεται? τῷ γὰρ βουλήματι αὐτοῦ, τίς ἀνθέστηκεν

These rhetorical questions are complaints against God. You can translate them as strong statements. Alternate translation: “He should not find fault with us. No one has ever been able to withstand his will.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

μέμφεται…αὐτοῦ

The words “he” and “his” here refer to God.

τῷ…βουλήματι αὐτοῦ…ἀνθέστηκεν

“has…stopped him from doing what he wanted to do”

Romans 9:20

μὴ ἐρεῖ τὸ πλάσμα, τῷ πλάσαντι, τί με ἐποίησας οὕτως

Paul uses the potter’s right to make any kind of container he wants from the clay as a metaphor for the creator’s right to do whatever he wants with his creation. Paul asks questions to emphasize his point. This can be translated as a strong statement. Alternate translation: “What a person has molded should never say to the one who molds it, ‘Why…way?’” (See: Metaphor and Rhetorical Question)

τί με ἐποίησας οὕτως

This question is a rebuke and can be translated as a strong statement. Alternate translation: “You should not have made me this way!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Romans 9:21

ἢ οὐκ ἔχει ἐξουσίαν ὁ κεραμεὺς τοῦ πηλοῦ, ἐκ τοῦ αὐτοῦ φυράματος ποιῆσαι ὃ μὲν εἰς τιμὴν σκεῦος, ὃ δὲ εἰς ἀτιμίαν

This rhetorical question is a rebuke. Alternate translation: “The potter certainlly has the right…for daily use.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Romans 9:22

σκεύη ὀργῆς

Paul speaks of people as if they were containers. Alternate translation: “people who deserve wrath” (See: Metaphor)

Romans 9:23

γνωρίσῃ…αὐτοῦ

The words “he” and “his” here refer to God.

σκεύη ἐλέους

Paul speaks of people as if they were containers. Alternate translation: “people who deserve mercy” (See: Metaphor)

τὸν πλοῦτον τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ

Paul compares God’s wonderful actions here to great “riches.” Alternate translation: “his glory, which is of great value, upon” (See: Metaphor)

ἃ προητοίμασεν εἰς δόξαν

Here “glory” refers to life in heaven with God. Alternate translation: “whom he prepared ahead of time in order that they might live with him” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 9:24

καὶ…ἡμᾶς

The word “us” here refers to Paul and fellow believers. (See: Inclusive and Exclusive “We”)

ἐκάλεσεν

Here “called” means God has appointed or chosen people to be his children, to be his servants and proclaimers of his message of salvation through Jesus.

Romans 9:25

In this section Paul explains how Israel’s unbelief as a nation was told ahead of time by the prophet Hosea.

ὡς καὶ ἐν τῷ Ὡσηὲ λέγει

Here “he” refers to God. Alternate translation: “As God says also in the book that Hosea wrote” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

τῷ Ὡσηὲ

Hosea was a prophet. (See: How to Translate Names)

καλέσω τὸν οὐ λαόν μου, λαόν μου

“I will choose for my people those who were not my people”

τὴν οὐκ ἠγαπημένην, ἠγαπημένην

Here “her” refers to Hosea’s wife, Gomer, who represents the nation of Israel. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “I will choose her whom I did not love to be one whom I love” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 9:26

υἱοὶ Θεοῦ ζῶντος

The word “living” may refer to the fact that God is the only true God, and not like the false idols. Alternate translation: “children of the true God”

Romans 9:27

κράζει

“calls out”

ὡς ἡ ἄμμος τῆς θαλάσσης

Here Paul compares the number of the people of Israel to the number of grains of sand in the sea. Alternate translation: “too many to count” (See: Simile)

σωθήσεται

Paul uses the word “saved” in a spiritual sense. If God saves a person, it means that through believing in Jesus’ death on the cross, God has forgiven him and rescued him from being punished for his sin. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “God will save” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 9:28

λόγον…ποιήσει Κύριος ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς

Here “sentence” refers to how he has decided to punish people. Alternate translation: “the Lord will punish people on the earth according to how he has said”

Romans 9:29

ἡμῖν…ν ἐγενήθημεν

Here the words “us” and “we” refer to Isaiah and those to whom he spoke. (See: Inclusive and Exclusive “We”)

ὡς Σόδομα ἂν ἐγενήθημεν, καὶ ὡς Γόμορρα ἂν ὡμοιώθημεν

God killed all of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah because of their sin. Alternate translation: “we all would have been destroyed like the people of Sodom and Gomorrah” or “God would have destroyed all of us, like he destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gommorah” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 9:30

τί οὖν ἐροῦμεν

Paul uses this question to get the attention of his readers. Alternate translation: “This is what we must say” (See: Rhetorical Question)

ὅτι ἔθνη

“We will say that the Gentiles”

τὰ μὴ διώκοντα δικαιοσύνην

“who were not trying to please God”

δικαιοσύνην…τὴν ἐκ πίστεως

Here “by faith” refers to placing one’s trust in Christ. You can make this explicit in your translation. Alternate translation: “because God made them right with him when they trusted in Christ” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 9:31

οὐκ ἔφθασεν

This means that the Israelites could not please God by trying to keep the law. You can make this explicit in your translation. Alternate translation: “were not able to please God by keeping the law because they could not keep it” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 9:32

διὰ τί

This is an ellipsis. You can include the implied words in your translation. Paul asks this question to get the attention of his readers. Alternate translation: “Why could they not attain righteousness?” (See: Ellipsis and Rhetorical Question)

ὡς ἐξ ἔργων

This refers to things that people do to try to please God. You can make this explicit in your translation. Alternate translation: “by trying to do things that would please God” or “by keeping the Law” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 9:33

καθὼς γέγραπται

You can indicate that Isaiah wrote this. You can also translate it in an active form. Alternate translation: “as Isaiah the prophet wrote” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information and Active or Passive)

ἐν Σιὼν

Here Zion is a metonym that represents Israel. Alternate translation: “in Israel” (See: Metonymy)

λίθον προσκόμματος, καὶ πέτραν σκανδάλου

Both of these phrases mean basically the same thing and are metaphors that refer to Jesus and his death on the cross. It was as if the people stumbled over a stone because they were disgusted when they considered Jesus’ death on the cross. (See: Doublet and Metaphor)

πιστεύων ἐπ’ αὐτῷ

Because the stone stands for a person, you may need to translate “believes in him.”

Romans 10

Romans 10 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Some translations set prose quotations from the Old Testament farther to the right on the page than the rest of the text. The ULT does this with the quoted words in verse 8.

Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with verses 18-20 of this chapter, which are words from the Old Testament.

Special concepts in this chapter

God’s righteousness

Paul teaches here that while many Jews earnestly tried to be righteous, they did not succeed. We cannot earn God’s righteousness. God gives us Jesus’ righteousness when we believe in him. (See: righteous, righteousness, unrighteous, unrighteousness, upright, uprightness and faith)

Important figures of speech in this chapter

Rhetorical questions

Paul uses many rhetorical questions in this chapter. He does this to convince his readers that God does not save only the Hebrew people, so Christians must be ready to go and share the gospel with the whole world. (See: Rhetorical Question and save, saved, safe, salvation)

Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter

“I will provoke you to jealousy by what is not a nation”

Paul uses this prophecy to explain that God will use the church to make the Hebrew people jealous. This is so they will seek God and believe the gospel. (See: prophet, prophecy, prophesy, seer, prophetess and jealous, jealousy and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 10:1

Paul continues stating his desire for Israel to believe but emphasizes that both those who are Jews as well as everyone else can only be saved by faith in Jesus.

ἀδελφοί

Here this means fellow Christians, including both men and women.

ἡ μὲν εὐδοκία τῆς ἐμῆς καρδίας

Here “heart” is a metonym for a person’s emotions or inner being. Alternate translation: “my greatest desire” (See: Metonymy)

ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν εἰς σωτηρίαν

“is that God will save the Jews”

Romans 10:2

μαρτυρῶ…αὐτοῖς

“I declare truthfully about them”

Romans 10:3

ἀγνοοῦντες γὰρ τὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ δικαιοσύνην

Here “righteousness refers to the way God puts people right with himself. You can make this explicit in the translation. Alternate translation: “For they do not know how God puts people right with himself” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ τοῦ Θεοῦ οὐχ ὑπετάγησαν

“They did not accept God’s way of putting people right with himself”

Romans 10:4

τέλος γὰρ νόμου Χριστὸς

“For Christ completely fulfilled the law”

εἰς δικαιοσύνην παντὶ τῷ πιστεύοντι

Here “believes” means “trusts.” Alternate translation: “in order that he may make everyone who trusts in him right before God” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 10:5

τὴν δικαιοσύνην τὴν ἐκ νόμου

Paul speaks of “righteousness” as if it were alive and able to move. Alternate translation: “how the law makes a person right before God” (See: Personification)

ὅτι ὁ ποιήσας αὐτὰ ἄνθρωπος, ζήσεται ἐν αὐτῇ

In order to be made right with God through the law, a person would have to keep the law perfectly, which is not possible. Alternate translation: “The person who perfectly obeys the law will live because the law will make him right before God” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ζήσεται

The words “will live” can refer to (1) eternal life or (2) mortal life in fellowship with God.

Romans 10:6

ἡ δὲ ἐκ πίστεως δικαιοσύνη οὕτως λέγει

Here “righteousness” is described as a person who can speak. Alternate translation: “But Moses writes this about how faith makes a person right before God” (See: Personification)

μὴ εἴπῃς ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου

Moses was addressing the people as if he were speaking to only one person. Here “heart” is a metonym for a person’s mind or inner being. Alternate translation: “Do not say to yourself” (See: Forms of You and Metonymy)

τίς ἀναβήσεται εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν

Moses uses a question to teach his audience. His previous instruction of, “Do not say” requires a negative answer to this question. You can translate this question as a statement. Alternate translation: “No one is able to go up to heaven” (See: Rhetorical Question)

τοῦτ’ ἔστιν Χριστὸν καταγαγεῖν

“in order that they might have Christ come down to earth”

Romans 10:7

τίς καταβήσεται εἰς τὴν Ἄβυσσον

Moses uses a question to teach his audience. His previous instruction of, “Do not say” requires a negative answer to this question. You can translate this as a statement. Alternate translation: “No person can go down and enter the place where the spirits of dead persons are” (See: Rhetorical Question)

ἐκ νεκρῶν

From among all those who have died. This expression describes all dead people together in the underworld. To be brought up from among them is to become alive again.

νεκρῶν

This word speaks of physical death.

Romans 10:8

ἀλλὰ τί λέγει

The word “it” refers to “the righteousness” of Romans 10:6. Here Paul describes “righteousness” as a person who can speak. Paul uses a question to emphasize the answer he is about to give. Alternate translation: “But this is what Moses says” (See: Personification and Rhetorical Question)

ἐγγύς σου τὸ ῥῆμά ἐστιν

Paul speaks of God’s message as if it were a person who can move. Alternate translation: “You have heard the message” (See: Personification)

τὸ ῥῆμά ἐστιν, ἐν τῷ στόματί σου

The word “mouth” is a metonym that refers to what a person says. Alternate translation: “You know how to speak…God’s message” (See: Metonymy)

τὸ ῥῆμά ἐστιν,…ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου

The phrase “in your heart” is metonym that refers to what a person thinks and believes. Alternate translation: “You know what…God’s message means” (See: Metonymy)

τὸ ῥῆμα τῆς πίστεως

“God’s message that tells us that we must believe in him”

Romans 10:9

ἐὰν ὁμολογήσῃς ἐν τῷ στόματί σου, Κύριον Ἰησοῦν

“if you confess that Jesus is Lord”

πιστεύσῃς ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου

Here “heart” is a metonym for a person’s mind or inner person. Alternate translation: “believe in your mind” or “truly believe” (See: Metonymy)

αὐτὸν ἤγειρεν ἐκ νεκρῶν

“Raised” here is an idiom for “caused to live again.” Alternate translation: “caused him to live again” (See: Idiom)

σωθήσῃ

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “God will save you” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 10:10

καρδίᾳ γὰρ πιστεύεται εἰς δικαιοσύνην, στόματι δὲ ὁμολογεῖται εἰς σωτηρίαν

Here “heart” is a metonym that represents the mind or will. Alternate translation: “For it is with the mind that a person trusts and is right before God, and it is with the mouth that a person confesses and God saves him” (See: Metonymy)

στόματι

Here “mouth” is a synecdoche that represents a person’s capacity to speak. (See: Synecdoche)

Romans 10:11

λέγει γὰρ ἡ Γραφή

Paul speaks of the Scripture as if it were alive and had a voice. You can make explicit who wrote the Scripture that Paul uses here. Alternate translation: “For Isaiah wrote in the Scriptures” (See: Personification and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων ἐπ’ αὐτῷ οὐ καταισχυνθήσεται

This is equivalent to: “Everyone who does not believe will be shamed.” The negative is used here for emphasis. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “God will honor everyone who believes in him” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 10:12

οὐ γάρ ἐστιν διαστολὴ Ἰουδαίου τε καὶ Ἕλληνος

Paul implies that God will treat all people the same. You can make this explicit in your translation. Alternate translation: “In this way, God treats the Jews and the non-Jews the same” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

πλουτῶν εἰς πάντας τοὺς ἐπικαλουμένους αὐτόν

Here “he is rich” means that God blesses richly. You can make this explicit in your translation. Alternate translation: “he richly blesses all who trust in him” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 10:13

πᾶς γὰρ ὃς ἂν ἐπικαλέσηται τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου, σωθήσεται

Here the word “name” is a metonym for Jesus. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “The Lord will save everyone who trusts in him” (See: Metonymy and Active or Passive)

Romans 10:14

πῶς οὖν ἐπικαλέσωνται εἰς ὃν οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν

Paul uses a question to emphasize the importance of taking the good news of Christ to those who have not heard. The word “they” refers to those who do not yet belong to God. Alternate translation: “Those who do not believe in God cannot call on him!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

πῶς…πιστεύσωσιν οὗ οὐκ ἤκουσαν

Paul uses another question for the same reason. Alternate translation: “And they cannot believe in him if they have not heard his message!” or “And they cannot believe in him if they have not heard the message about him!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

πιστεύσωσιν

Here this means to acknowledge that what that person has said is true.

πῶς…ἀκούσωσιν χωρὶς κηρύσσοντος

Paul uses another question for the same reason. Alternate translation: “And they cannot hear the message if someone does not tell them!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Romans 10:15

ὡς ὡραῖοι οἱ πόδες τῶν εὐαγγελιζομένων τὰ ἀγαθά!

Paul uses “feet” to represent those who travel and bring the message to those who have not heard it. Alternate translation: “It is wonderful when messengers come and tell us the good news” (See: Metonymy)

Romans 10:16

οὐ πάντες ὑπήκουσαν

Here “they” refers to the Jews. “not all of the Jews obeyed”

Κύριε, τίς ἐπίστευσεν τῇ ἀκοῇ ἡμῶν

Paul is using this question to emphasize that Isaiah prophesied in the Scriptures that many Jews would not believe in Jesus. You can translate this as a statement. Alternate translation: “Lord, so many of them do not believe our message” (See: Rhetorical Question)

τῇ ἀκοῇ ἡμῶν

Here, “our” refers to God and Isaiah.

Romans 10:17

ἡ πίστις ἐξ ἀκοῆς

Here “faith” refers to “believing in Christ”

ἡ…ἀκοὴ διὰ ῥήματος Χριστοῦ

“hearing by listening to the message about Christ”

Romans 10:18

ἀλλὰ λέγω, μὴ οὐκ ἤκουσαν? μενοῦνγε

Paul uses a question for emphasis. You can translate this as a statement. Alternate translation: “But, I say the Jews certainly have heard the message about Christ” (See: Rhetorical Question and Direct and Indirect Quotations)

εἰς πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν, ἐξῆλθεν ὁ φθόγγος αὐτῶν; καὶ εἰς τὰ πέρατα τῆς οἰκουμένης, τὰ ῥήματα αὐτῶν

Both of these statements mean basically the same thing and Paul uses them for emphasis. The word “their” refers to the sun, moon, and stars. Here they are described as human messengers that tell people about God. This refers to how their existence shows God’s power and glory. You can make explicit that Paul is quoting Scripture here. Alternate translation: “As the Scriptures record, ‘The sun, moon, and the stars are proof of God’s power and glory, and everyone in the world sees them and knows the truth about God.’” (See: Parallelism and Personification and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 10:19

ἀλλὰ λέγω, μὴ Ἰσραὴλ οὐκ ἔγνω

Paul uses a question for emphasis. The word “Israel” is a metonym for the people who lived in the nation of Israel. Alternate translation: “Again I tell you the people of Israel did know the message” (See: Rhetorical Question and Metonymy)

πρῶτος Μωϋσῆς λέγει, ἐγὼ παραζηλώσω ὑμᾶς,…παροργιῶ ὑμᾶς.

This means that Moses wrote down what God said. “I” refers to God, and “you” refers to the Israelites. Alternate translation: “First Moses says that God will provoke you…God will stir you up” (See: Forms of You and Direct and Indirect Quotations)

ἐπ’ οὐκ ἔθνει

“by those you do not consider to be a real nation” or “by people who do not belong to any nation”

ἐπ’ ἔθνει ἀσυνέτῳ

Here “without understanding” means that the people do not know God. Alternate translation: “By a nation with people who do not know me or my commands” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

παροργιῶ ὑμᾶς

“I will make you angry” or “I will cause you to become angry”

ὑμᾶς

This refers to the nation of Israel. (See: Forms of You)

Romans 10:20

Here the words “I,” “me,” and “my” refer to God.

Ἠσαΐας δὲ ἀποτολμᾷ καὶ λέγει

This means the prophet Isaiah wrote what God had said.

εὑρέθην ἐν τοῖς ἐμὲ μὴ ζητοῦσιν

Prophets often speak of things in the future as if they have already happened. This emphasizes that the prophecy will certainly come true. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “Even though the Gentile people will not look for me, they will find me” (See: Active or Passive)

ἐμφανὴς ἐγενόμην

“I made myself known”

λέγει

“He” refers to God, who is speaking through Isaiah.

Romans 10:21

ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν

This phrase is used to emphasize God’s continual effort. “continually”

ἐξεπέτασα τὰς χεῖράς μου πρὸς λαὸν ἀπειθοῦντα καὶ ἀντιλέγοντα

“I tried to welcome you and to help you, but you refused my help and continued to disobey”

Romans 11

Romans 11 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with verses 9-10, 26-27, and 34-35, which are words from the Old Testament.

Special concepts in this chapter

Grafting

Paul uses the image of “grafting” to refer to the place of the Gentiles and Jews in the plans of God. Making one plant to be permanently part of another plant is called “grafting.” Paul uses the picture of God grafting the Gentiles as a wild branch into his saving plans. But God has not forgotten about the Jews, who are spoken of as the natural plant. God will also save Jews who believe in Jesus.

Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter

“Did God reject his people? May it never be”

Whether Israel (the physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) has a future in the plans of God, or if they have been replaced in the plans of God by the church, is a major theological issue in Chapters 9-11. This phrase is an important part of this section of Romans. It seems to indicate that Israel remains distinct from the church. Not all scholars arrive at this conclusion. Despite their currently rejecting Jesus as their Messiah, Israel has not exhausted the grace and mercy of God. (See: Christ, Messiah and grace, gracious and mercy, merciful)

Romans 11:1

Though Israel as a nation has rejected God, God wants them to understand salvation comes by grace without works.

λέγω οὖν

“I, Paul, say then”

μὴ ἀπώσατο ὁ Θεὸς τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ

Paul asks this question so that he can answer the questions of other Jews who are upset that God has included the Gentiles among his people, while the hearts of the Jewish people have been hardened. (See: Rhetorical Question)

μὴ γένοιτο

“That is not possible!” or “Certainly not!” This expression strongly denies that this could happen. You may have a similar expression in your language that you could use here. See how you translated this in Romans 9:14.

φυλῆς Βενιαμείν

This refers to the tribe descended from Benjamin, one of the 12 tribes into which God divided the people of Israel.

Romans 11:2

ὃν προέγνω

“whom he knew ahead of time”

οὐκ οἴδατε ἐν Ἠλείᾳ τί λέγει ἡ Γραφή, ὡς ἐντυγχάνει τῷ Θεῷ κατὰ τοῦ Ἰσραήλ

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “Surely you know what the Scriptures record about when Elijah pleaded with God against Israel” (See: Rhetorical Question)

τί λέγει ἡ Γραφή

Paul is referring to the Scriptures as if they were able to speak. (See: Personification)

Romans 11:3

ἀπέκτειναν

“They” refers to the people of Israel.

κἀγὼ ὑπελείφθην μόνος

The pronoun “I” here refers to Elijah.

ζητοῦσιν τὴν ψυχήν μου

“desiring to kill me”

Romans 11:4

ἀλλὰ τί λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ χρηματισμός

Paul is using this question to bring the reader to his next point. Alternate translation: “How does God answer him?” (See: Rhetorical Question)

αὐτῷ

The pronoun “him” refers to Elijah.

ἑπτακισχιλίους ἄνδρας

“7,000 men” (See: Numbers)

Romans 11:5

λῖμμα

Here this means a small part of people whom God chose to receive his grace.

Romans 11:6

εἰ δὲ χάριτι

Paul continues to explain how God’s mercy works. Alternate translation: “But since God’s mercy works by grace” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 11:7

τί οὖν

“What should we conclude?” Paul asks this question to move his reader to his next point. You can translate this as a statement. Alternate translation: “This is what we need to remember” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Romans 11:8

ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Θεὸς πνεῦμα κατανύξεως, ὀφθαλμοὺς τοῦ μὴ βλέπειν, καὶ ὦτα τοῦ μὴ ἀκούειν

This is a metaphor about the fact that the people are spiritually dull. They are not able to hear or receive spiritual truth. (See: Metaphor)

πνεῦμα κατανύξεως

Here this means “having the characteristics of,” such as the “spirit of wisdom.”

ὀφθαλμοὺς τοῦ μὴ βλέπειν

The concept of seeing with one’s eyes was considered to be equivalent to gaining understanding.

ὦτα τοῦ μὴ ἀκούειν

The concept of hearing with the ears was considered to be equivalent to obedience.

Romans 11:9

γενηθήτω ἡ τράπεζα αὐτῶν εἰς παγίδα, καὶ εἰς θήραν

“Table” here is a metonym that represents feasting, and “net” and “trap” are metaphors that represent punishment. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “Please, God, make their feasts like a trap that catches them” (See: Metonymy and Metaphor and Active or Passive)

σκάνδαλον

A “stumbling block” is anything that causes a person to trip so that he falls down. Here it represents something that tempts a person to sin. Alternate translation: “something that tempts them to sin” (See: Metaphor)

ἀνταπόδομα αὐτοῖς

“something that allows you to take revenge on them”

Romans 11:10

τὸν νῶτον αὐτῶν διὰ παντὸς σύνκαμψον

Here “bend their back” is a metonym for forcing slaves to carry heavy loads on their backs. This is a metaphor for making them suffer. Alternate translation: “make them suffer like people carrying heavy loads” (See: Metonymy and Metaphor)

Romans 11:11

With Israel as a nation rejecting God, Paul warns the Gentiles to be careful they do not make the same mistake.

μὴ ἔπταισαν ἵνα πέσωσιν

Paul uses this question to add emphasis. Alternate translation: “Has God rejected them forever because they sinned?” (See: Rhetorical Question)

μὴ γένοιτο

“That is not possible!” or “Certainly not!” This expression strongly denies that this could happen. You may have a similar expression in your language that you could use here. See how you translated this in Romans 9:14.

παραζηλῶσαι

See how you translated this phrase in Romans 10:19.

Romans 11:12

εἰ…τὸ παράπτωμα αὐτῶν, πλοῦτος κόσμου, καὶ τὸ ἥττημα αὐτῶν, πλοῦτος ἐθνῶν

Both of these phrases mean basically the same thing. If you need to, you can combine them in your translation. Alternate translation: “when the Jews failed spiritually, the result was that God abundantly blessed the non-Jews” (See: Doublet)

πλοῦτος κόσμου

Because the Jews rejected Christ, God richly blessed the Gentiles by giving them the opportunity to receive Christ.

κόσμου

Here the “world” is a metonym that refers to the people who live in the world, especially the Gentiles.

Romans 11:14

παραζηλώσω

See how you translated this phrase in Romans 10:19.

μου τὴν σάρκα

This refers to “my fellow Jews.”

καὶ σώσω τινὰς ἐξ αὐτῶν

God will save those who believe. Alternate translation: “Perhaps some will believe and God will save them” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 11:15

εἰ γὰρ ἡ ἀποβολὴ αὐτῶν καταλλαγὴ κόσμου

“For if because God rejected them, he will reconcile the rest of the world to himself”

ἡ ἀποβολὴ αὐτῶν

The pronoun “their” refers to Jewish unbelievers.

κόσμου

Here “the world” is a metonym for the people who live in the world. Alternate translation: “the people in the world” (See: Metonymy)

τίς ἡ πρόσλημψις εἰ μὴ ζωὴ ἐκ νεκρῶν

Paul asks this question to emphasize that when God accepts the Jews, it will be a wonderful thing. You can translate it in an active form. Alternate translation: “how will it be when God accepts them? It will be like they have come back to life from among the dead!” or “then when God accepts them, it will be like they have died and become alive again!” (See: Rhetorical Question and Active or Passive)

νεκρῶν

These words speak of all dead people together in the underworld.

Romans 11:16

εἰ δὲ ἡ ἀπαρχὴ ἁγία, καὶ τὸ φύραμα;

Paul is speaking of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Israelites’ ancestors, as if they were the first grain or “firstfruits” to be harvested. He is also speaking of the Israelites who are descendants of those men as if they were a “lump of dough” that they made from the grain. Alternate translation: “If Abraham is counted as the first of what has been offered to God, all of our ancestors who followed should also be counted as God’s possession” (See: Metaphor)

εἰ ἡ ῥίζα ἁγία, καὶ οἱ κλάδοι

Paul is speaking of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Israelites’ ancestors, as if they were the root of a tree, and the Israelites who are descendants of those men, as if they were the tree’s “branches.” (See: Metaphor)

ἁγία

The people always dedicated to God the first crops that they harvested. Here “firstfruits” stands for the first people to believe in Christ. (See: Metaphor)

Romans 11:17

σὺ δὲ ἀγριέλαιος ὢν

The pronoun “you,” and the phrase “a wild olive branch,” refer to the Gentile people who have accepted salvation through Jesus. (See: Forms of You and Metaphor)

εἰ δέ τινες τῶν κλάδων ἐξεκλάσθησαν

Here Paul refers to the Jews who rejected Jesus as “broken branches.” You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “But if someone broke off some of the branches” (See: Metaphor and Active or Passive)

ἐνεκεντρίσθης ἐν αὐτοῖς

Here Paul speaks of the Gentile Christians as if they were “grafted branches.” You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “God attached you to the tree among the remaining branches” (See: Metaphor and Active or Passive)

τῆς ῥίζης τῆς πιότητος τῆς ἐλαίας ἐγένου

Here “the rich root” is a metaphor that refers to the promises of God. (See: Metaphor)

Romans 11:18

μὴ κατακαυχῶ τῶν κλάδων

Here “the branches” is a metaphor that stands for the Jewish people. Alternate translation: “do not say you are better than the Jewish people God has rejected” (See: Metaphor)

οὐ σὺ τὴν ῥίζαν βαστάζεις, ἀλλὰ ἡ ῥίζα σέ

Again Paul implies that the Gentile believers are branches. God saves them only because of the covenant promises that he made to the Jews. (See: Metaphor)

Romans 11:19

ἐξεκλάσθησαν κλάδοι

Here “branches” refers to the Jews who rejected Jesus and whom God has now rejected. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “God broke branches off” (See: Metaphor and Active or Passive)

ἐγὼ ἐνκεντρισθῶ

Paul uses this phrase to refer to the Gentile believers whom God has accepted. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “he might attach me in” (See: Metaphor and Active or Passive)

Romans 11:20

…ἐξεκλάσθησαν

The pronouns “their” and “they” refer to the Jewish people who did not believe.

σὺ δὲ τῇ πίστει ἕστηκας

Paul speaks of the Gentile believers remaining faithful as if they were standing firm and no one could move them. Alternate translation: “but you remain because of your faith” (See: Metaphor)

Romans 11:21

εἰ γὰρ ὁ Θεὸς τῶν κατὰ φύσιν κλάδων οὐκ ἐφείσατο, οὐδὲ σοῦ φείσεται

Here the “natural branches” refers to the Jewish people who rejected Jesus. Alternate translation: “Since God did not spare those unbelieving Jews, who grew up like a tree’s natural branches that came from the root, then know, if you do not believe, he will not spare you either (See: Metaphor)

Romans 11:22

χρηστότητα καὶ ἀποτομίαν Θεοῦ

Paul is reminding the Gentile believers that although God may act very kindly toward them, he will not hesitate to judge and punish them.

ἐπὶ μὲν τοὺς πεσόντας, ἀποτομία; ἐπὶ…σὲ, χρηστότης Θεοῦ

This can be restated to remove the abstract nouns “severity” and “kindness.” Alternate translation: “God dealt harshly with the Jews who fell…but God acts kindly toward you” (See: Abstract Nouns)

τοὺς πεσόντας

Doing what is wrong is spoken of as if it is falling down. Alternate translation: “the Jews who have done wrong” or “the Jews who have refused to trust in Christ” (See: Metaphor)

ἐὰν ἐπιμένῃς τῇ χρηστότητι

This can be restated to remove the abstract noun “kindness.” Alternate translation: “if you continue doing what is right so that he continues being kind to you” (See: Abstract Nouns)

ἐπεὶ καὶ σὺ ἐκκοπήσῃ

Paul again uses the metaphor of a branch, which God can “cut off” if he needs to. Here “cut off” is a metaphor for rejecting someone. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “Otherwise God will cut you off” or “Otherwise God will reject you” (See: Metaphor and Active or Passive)

Romans 11:23

ἐὰν μὴ ἐπιμένωσι τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ

The phrase “do not continue in their unbelief” is a double negative. You can translate this in a positive form. Alternate translation: “if the Jews start believing in Christ” (See: Double Negatives)

ἐνκεντρισθήσονται

Paul speaks of the Jews as if they were branches that could be grafted back into a tree if they start to believe in Jesus. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “God will graft them back in” (See: Metaphor and Active or Passive)

ἐνκεντρίσαι

This is a common process where the end of a live branch of one tree is inserted into another tree so that the new branch will continue to grow in that tree.

κἀκεῖνοι…αὐτούς

All occurrences of “they” or “them” refer to the Jews.

Romans 11:24

εἰ γὰρ σὺ ἐκ τῆς κατὰ φύσιν ἐξεκόπης ἀγριελαίου, καὶ παρὰ φύσιν ἐνεκεντρίσθης εἰς καλλιέλαιον, πόσῳ μᾶλλον οὗτοι, οἱ κατὰ φύσιν ἐνκεντρισθήσονται τῇ ἰδίᾳ ἐλαίᾳ

Paul continues speaking of the Gentile believers and Jews as if they were branches of a tree. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “For if God had cut you out of what is by nature a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature had grafted you into a good olive tree, how much more will he graft these Jews, who are the natural branches, into their own olive tree?” (See: Metaphor and Active or Passive)

οἱ κατὰ φύσιν

Paul is speaking of the Jews and Gentiles as if they were branches. The “natural branches” represent the Jews, and the “grafted branches” represent the Gentile believers. (See: Metaphor)

Romans 11:25

οὐ…θέλω ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν

Here Paul uses a double negative. You can translate this in a positive form. Alternate translation: “I very much want you to be aware” (See: Double Negatives)

ἀδελφοί

Here “brothers” means fellow Christians, including both men and women.

θέλω

The pronoun “I” refers to Paul.

ὑμᾶς…ἦτε…ἑαυτοῖς

The pronouns “you” and “your” refer to the Gentile believers.

ἵνα μὴ ἦτε παρ’ ἑαυτοῖς φρόνιμοι

Paul does not want the Gentile believers to think they are wiser than the Jewish unbelievers. Alternate translation: “so that you will not think you are wiser than you are” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

πώρωσις ἀπὸ μέρους τῷ Ἰσραὴλ γέγονεν

Paul speaks of “hardening” or stubbornness as if it were a hardening of physical organs in the body. Some Jews have refused to accept salvation through Jesus. Alternate translation: “many people of Israel continue to be stubborn” (See: Metaphor)

ἄχρι οὗ τὸ πλήρωμα τῶν ἐθνῶν εἰσέλθῃ

The word “until” here implies that some Jews will believe after God has finished bringing the Gentiles into the church.

Romans 11:26

Paul says that a deliverer will come out of Israel to the glory of God.

καὶ οὕτως πᾶς Ἰσραὴλ σωθήσεται

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “Thus God will save all Israel” (See: Active or Passive)

καθὼς γέγραπται

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “just as the scriptures record” (See: Active or Passive)

ἐκ Σιὼν

Here “Zion” is used as a metonym for the place where God dwells. Alternate translation: “From where God is among the Jews” (See: Metonymy)

ὁ ῥυόμενος

“the one who brings his people to safety”

ἀποστρέψει ἀσεβείας

Paul speaks of ungodliness as if it were an object that someone could remove, perhaps like someone removes a garment. (See: Metaphor)

ἀπὸ Ἰακώβ

Here “Jacob” is used as a metonym for Israel. Alternate translation: “from the Israelite people” (See: Metonymy)

Romans 11:27

ἀφέλωμαι τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν

Here Paul speaks of sins as if they were objects that someone could take away. Alternate translation: “I will remove the burden of their sins” (See: Metaphor)

Romans 11:28

κατὰ μὲν τὸ εὐαγγέλιον

You can make explicit why Paul mentions the gospel. Alternate translation: “Because the Jews rejected the gospel” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἐχθροὶ δι’ ὑμᾶς

You can make explicit whose enemies they are, and how this was for the Gentiles’ sake. Alternate translation: “they are God’s enemies for your sake” or “God has treated them as enemies in order that you also might hear the gospel” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

κατὰ…τὴν ἐκλογὴν

You can make explicit why Paul mentions election. Alternate translation: “because God has elected the Jews” or “because God has chosen the Jews” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἀγαπητοὶ διὰ τοὺς πατέρας

You can make explicit who loves the Jews and why Paul mentions their forefathers. You can also translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “God still loves them because of what he promised to do for their ancestors” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information and Active or Passive)

Romans 11:29

ἀμεταμέλητα γὰρ τὰ χαρίσματα καὶ ἡ κλῆσις τοῦ Θεοῦ

Paul speaks of the spiritual and material blessings that God promised to give his people as if they were gifts. The call of God refers to the fact that God called the Jews to be his people. Alternate translation: “For God never changed his mind about what he has promised to give them, and about how he has called them to be his people” (See: Metaphor and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 11:30

ὑμεῖς ποτε ἠπειθήσατε

“you did not obey in the past”

ἠλεήθητε τῇ τούτων ἀπειθείᾳ

Here mercy means God’s undeserved blessings. Alternate translation: “because the Jews have rejected Jesus, you have received blessings that you did not deserve” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ὑμεῖς

This refers to Gentile believers, and is plural. (See: Forms of You)

Romans 11:32

συνέκλεισεν…ὁ Θεὸς τοὺς πάντας εἰς ἀπείθειαν

God has treated people who disobey him like prisoners who are unable to escape from prison. Alternate translation: “God has made prisoners of those who disobey him. Now they cannot stop disobeying God” (See: Metaphor)

Romans 11:33

ὦ βάθος πλούτου, καὶ σοφίας καὶ γνώσεως Θεοῦ

Here “wisdom” and “knowledge” mean basically the same thing. Alternate translation: “How amazing are the many benefits of both God’s wisdom and knowledge!” (See: Doublet)

ὡς ἀνεξεραύνητα τὰ κρίματα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀνεξιχνίαστοι αἱ ὁδοὶ αὐτοῦ

“We are completely unable to understand the things that he has decided and find out the ways in which he acts toward us”

Romans 11:34

τίς γὰρ ἔγνω νοῦν Κυρίου, ἢ τίς σύμβουλος αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο

Paul uses this question to emphasize that no one is as wise as the Lord. You can translate this as a statement. Alternate translation: “No one has ever known the mind of the Lord, and no one has become his advisor.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

νοῦν Κυρίου

Here “mind” is a metonym for knowing things or thinking about things. Alternate translation: “all that the Lord knows” or “what the Lord thinks about” (See: Metonymy)

Romans 11:35

ἢ τίς προέδωκεν αὐτῷ, καὶ ἀνταποδοθήσεται αὐτῷ

Paul uses this question to emphasize his point. Alternate translation: “No one has ever given anything to God that he did not first receive from God” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Romans 11:36

ἐξ αὐτοῦ, καὶ δι’ αὐτοῦ, καὶ εἰς αὐτὸν, τὰ πάντα. αὐτῷ

Here, all occurrences of “him” refers to God. (See: Forms of You and Pronouns – When to Use Them)

αὐτῷ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας

This expresses Paul’s desire for all people to honor God. You can make this explicit in your translation. Alternate translation: “May all people honor him forever” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 12

Romans 12 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with the words of verse 20, which are from the Old Testament.

Many scholars believe Paul uses the word “therefore” in Romans 12:1 to refer back to all of Chapters 1-11. Having carefully explained the Christian gospel, Paul now explains how Christians should live in light of these great truths. Chapters 12-16 focus on living out one’s Christian faith. Paul uses many different commands in these chapters to give these practical instructions. (See: faith)

Special concepts in this chapter

Christian living

Under the law of Moses, people were required to offer temple sacrifices of animals or grain. Now Christians are required to live their lives as a type of sacrifice to God. Physical sacrifices are no longer required. (See: law, law of Moses, law of Yahweh, law of God)

Important figures of speech in this chapter

Body of Christ

The body of Christ is an important metaphor or image used in Scripture to refer to the church. Each church member plays a unique and important function. Christians need each other. (See: body and Metaphor)

Romans 12:1

Paul tells what the life of a believer should be and how believers should serve.

παρακαλῶ οὖν ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί, διὰ τῶν οἰκτιρμῶν τοῦ Θεοῦ

Here “brothers” refers to fellow believers, both male and female. Alternate translation: “Fellow believers, because of the great mercy that God has given you I very much want you” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

παραστῆσαι τὰ σώματα ὑμῶν θυσίαν ζῶσαν

Here Paul uses the word “bodies” to refer to the whole person. Paul is comparing a believer in Christ who completely obeys God to the animals that the Jews killed and then offered to God. Alternate translation: “to offer yourselves completely to God while you are alive as if you were a dead sacrifice on a temple altar” (See: Synecdoche and Metaphor)

ἁγίαν, εὐάρεστον, τῷ Θεῷ

Possible meanings are (1) “a sacrifice that you give to God alone and that pleases him” or (2) “acceptable to God because it is morally pure” (See: Doublet)

τὴν λογικὴν λατρείαν ὑμῶν

“This is the right way to worship God”

Romans 12:2

μὴ συνσχηματίζεσθε τῷ αἰῶνι τούτῳ

Possible meanings are (1) “Do not behave as the world behaves” or (2) “Do not think the way the world does.” (See: Metaphor)

μὴ συνσχηματίζεσθε τῷ αἰῶνι τούτῳ

Possible meanings are (1) “Do not let the world tell you what to do and think” or (2) “Do not allow yourself to act and do what the world does.” (See: Active or Passive)

τῷ αἰῶνι τούτῳ

This refers to unbelievers who live in the world. (See: Metonymy)

ἀλλὰ μεταμορφοῦσθε τῇ ἀνακαινώσει τοῦ νοός

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “but let God change the way you think and behave” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 12:3

διὰ τῆς χάριτος τῆς δοθείσης μοι

Here “grace” refers to God’s choosing Paul to be an apostle and leader of the church. You can make this explicit in your translation. You can also translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “because God freely chose me to be an apostle” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information and Active or Passive)

παντὶ τῷ ὄντι ἐν ὑμῖν, μὴ ὑπερφρονεῖν παρ’ ὃ δεῖ φρονεῖν

“that no one among you should think they are better than other people”

ἀλλὰ φρονεῖν εἰς τὸ σωφρονεῖν

“But you should be wise in how you think about yourselves”

ἑκάστῳ ὡς ὁ Θεὸς ἐμέρισεν μέτρον πίστεως

Paul implies here that believers have different abilities that correspond to their faith in God. Alternate translation: “since God has given each of you different abilities because of your trust in him” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 12:4

γὰρ

Paul uses this word to show that he will now explain why some Christians should not think they are better than others.

ἐν ἑνὶ σώματι, πολλὰ μέλη ἔχομεν

Paul refers to all the believers in Christ as if they were different parts of the human body. He does this to illustrate that although believers may serve Christ in different ways, each person belongs to Christ and serves in an important way. (See: Metaphor)

μέλη

These are such things as eyes, stomachs, and hands.

Romans 12:5

τὸ δὲ καθ’ εἷς ἀλλήλων μέλη

Paul speaks of the believers as if God had physically joined them together like the parts of the human body. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “God has joined each believer together with all other believers” (See: Metaphor and Active or Passive)

Romans 12:6

ἔχοντες δὲ χαρίσματα κατὰ τὴν χάριν τὴν δοθεῖσαν ἡμῖν διάφορα

Paul speaks of believers’ different abilities as being free gifts from God. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “God has freely given each of us the ability to do different things for him” (See: Metaphor)

κατὰ τὴν ἀναλογίαν τῆς πίστεως

Possible meanings are (1) “let him speak prophecies that do not go beyond the amount of faith God has given us” or (2) “let him speak prophecies that agree with the teachings of our faith.”

Romans 12:8

ὁ μεταδιδοὺς

Here “giving” refers to giving money and other things to people. You can make this meaning explicit in your translation. Alternate translation: “If one has the gift of giving money or other goods to people in need” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 12:9

ἡ ἀγάπη ἀνυπόκριτος

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “You must love people sincerely and truly” (See: Active or Passive)

ἡ ἀγάπη

The word Paul uses here refers to the kind of love that comes from God and focuses on the good of others, even when it does not benefit oneself.

ἡ ἀγάπη

This is another word that means brotherly love or love for a friend or family member. This is natural human love between friends or relatives.

Romans 12:10

τῇ φιλαδελφίᾳ…φιλόστοργοι

Here Paul begins a list of nine items, each of the form “Concerning…be” to tell the believers what kind of people they should be. You may need to translate some of the items as “Concerning…do.” The list continues to Romans 12:13.

τῇ φιλαδελφίᾳ

“As for how you love your fellow believers”

φιλόστοργοι

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “show affection” (See: Active or Passive)

τῇ τιμῇ ἀλλήλους προηγούμενοι

“Honor and respect one another” or “Honor your fellow believers by respecting them”

Romans 12:11

τῇ σπουδῇ μὴ ὀκνηροί, τῷ πνεύματι ζέοντες, τῷ Κυρίῳ δουλεύοντες

“Do not be lazy in your duty, but be eager to follow the Spirit and to serve the Lord”

Romans 12:12

τῇ θλίψει ὑπομένοντες

“Wait patiently whenever you have troubles”

Romans 12:13

ταῖς χρείαις τῶν ἁγίων κοινωνοῦντες

This is the last item in the list that began in Romans 12:9. “When fellow Christians are in trouble, help them with what they need”

τὴν φιλοξενίαν διώκοντες

“Always welcome them into your home when they need a place to stay”

Romans 12:16

τὸ αὐτὸ εἰς ἀλλήλους φρονοῦντες

This is an idiom that means to live in unity. Alternate translation: “Agree with one another” or “Live in unity with each other” (See: Idiom)

μὴ τὰ ὑψηλὰ φρονοῦντες

“Do not think that you are more important than others”

τοῖς ταπεινοῖς συναπαγόμενοι

“welcome people who do not seem important”

μὴ γίνεσθε φρόνιμοι παρ’ ἑαυτοῖς

“Do not think of yourselves as having more wisdom than everyone else”

Romans 12:17

μηδενὶ κακὸν ἀντὶ κακοῦ ἀποδιδόντες

“Do not do evil things to someone who has done evil things to you”

προνοούμενοι καλὰ ἐνώπιον πάντων ἀνθρώπων

“Do things that everyone considers to be good”

Romans 12:18

τὸ ἐξ ὑμῶν, μετὰ πάντων ἀνθρώπων εἰρηνεύοντες

“do whatever you can to live in peace with everyone”

Romans 12:19

δότε τόπον τῇ ὀργῇ

Here “wrath” is a metonym for God’s punishment. Alternate translation: “allow God to punish them” (See: Metonymy)

γέγραπται γάρ

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “For someone has written” (See: Active or Passive)

ἐμοὶ ἐκδίκησις; ἐγὼ ἀνταποδώσω

These two phrases mean basically the same thing and emphasize that God will avenge his people. Alternate translation: “I will certainly avenge you” (See: Parallelism)

Romans 12:20

ὁ ἐχθρός σου, ψώμιζε αὐτόν;…πότιζε αὐτόν; τοῦτο γὰρ ποιῶν,…σωρεύσεις

All forms of “you” and “your” are addressed as to one person. (See: Forms of You)

ἀλλὰ ἐὰν πεινᾷ ὁ ἐχθρός σου, ψώμιζε αὐτόν; ἐὰν διψᾷ, πότιζε αὐτόν; τοῦτο γὰρ ποιῶν, ἄνθρακας πυρὸς σωρεύσεις ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ.

In 12:20 Paul quotes another part of Scripture. Alternate translation: “But the Scripture also says, ‘If your enemy is hungry…his head’”

ψώμιζε αὐτόν

“give him some food”

ἄνθρακας πυρὸς σωρεύσεις ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ

Paul speaks of the blessings that the enemies will receive as if someone were pouring hot coals on their heads. Possible meanings are (1) “make the person who harmed you feel badly about how he has mistreated you” or (2) “give God a reason to judge your enemy more harshly.” (See: Metaphor)

Romans 12:21

μὴ νικῶ ὑπὸ τοῦ κακοῦ, ἀλλὰ νίκα ἐν τῷ ἀγαθῷ τὸ κακόν

Paul describes “evil” as though it were a person. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “Do not let those who are evil defeat you, but defeat those who are evil by doing what is good” (See: Personification and Active or Passive)

μὴ νικῶ ὑπὸ τοῦ κακοῦ, ἀλλὰ νίκα…τὸ κακόν

These verbs are addressed as to one person and so are singular. (See: Forms of You)

Romans 13

Romans 13 General Notes

Structure and formatting

In the first part of this chapter, Paul teaches Christians to obey rulers who govern them. At that time, ungodly Roman rulers governed the land. (See: godly, godliness, ungodly, godless, ungodliness, godlessness)

Special concepts in this chapter

Ungodly rulers

When Paul teaches about obeying rulers, some readers will find this difficult to understand, especially in places where rulers persecute the church. Christians must obey their rulers as well as obey God, unless the rulers do not allow Christians to do something God explicitly commands them to do. There are times when a believer must submit to these rulers and suffer at their hands. Christians understand that this world is temporary and they will ultimately be with God forever. (See: eternity, everlasting, eternal, forever)

Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter

Flesh

This is a complex issue. “Flesh” is possibly a metaphor for our sinful nature. Paul is not teaching that our physical bodies are sinful. Paul appears to be teaching that as long as Christians are alive (“in the flesh”), we will continue to sin. But our new nature will be fighting against our old nature. (See: flesh and sin, sinful, sinner, sinning)

Romans 13:1

Paul tells believers how to live under their rulers.

πᾶσα ψυχὴ…ὑποτασσέσθω

Here “soul” is a synecdoche for the whole person. “Every Christian should obey” or “Everyone should obey” (See: Synecdoche)

ἐξουσίαις ὑπερεχούσαις

“government officials”

γὰρ

because

οὐ…ἔστιν ἐξουσία, εἰ μὴ ὑπὸ Θεοῦ

“all authority comes from God”

αἱ δὲ οὖσαι ὑπὸ Θεοῦ τεταγμέναι εἰσίν

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “And the people who are in authority are there because God put them there” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 13:2

τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ

“that government authority” or “the authority that God placed in power”

οἱ…ἀνθεστηκότες, ἑαυτοῖς κρίμα λήμψονται

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “God will judge those who oppose government authority” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 13:3

γὰρ

Paul uses this word to begin his explanation of Romans 13:2 and to tell about what will result if the government condemns a person.

οἱ…ἄρχοντες οὐκ εἰσὶν φόβος

Rulers do not make good people afraid.

τῷ ἀγαθῷ ἔργῳ,…τῷ κακῷ

People are identified with their “good deeds” or “evil deeds.”

θέλεις δὲ μὴ φοβεῖσθαι τὴν ἐξουσίαν

Paul uses this question to get people to think about what they need to do in order not to be afraid of rulers. Alternate translation: “Let me tell you how you can be unafraid of the ruler.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

ἕξεις ἔπαινον ἐξ αὐτῆς

The government will say good things about people who do what is good.

Romans 13:4

οὐ…εἰκῇ τὴν μάχαιραν φορεῖ

You can translate this in a positive form. Alternate translation: “he carries the sword for a very good reason” or “he has the power to punish people, and he will punish people” (See: Litotes)

τὴν μάχαιραν φορεῖ

Roman governors carried a short sword as a symbol of their authority. (See: Metonymy)

ἔκδικος εἰς ὀργὴν

Here “wrath” represents the punishment people receive when they do evil deeds. Alternate translation: “a person who punishes people as an expression of the government’s anger against evil” (See: Metonymy)

Romans 13:5

οὐ μόνον διὰ τὴν ὀργὴν, ἀλλὰ καὶ διὰ τὴν συνείδησιν

“not only so the government will not punish you, but also so you will have a clear conscience before God”

Romans 13:6

διὰ τοῦτο

“Because the government punishes evildoers”

τελεῖτε

Paul is addressing the believers here, so this is plural. (See: Forms of You)

γὰρ…εἰσιν

“This is why you should pay taxes: authorities”

προσκαρτεροῦντες

“administer” or “work on”

Romans 13:7

ἀπόδοτε πᾶσι

Paul is addressing the believers here, so this is plural. (See: Forms of You)

τῷ τὸν φόρον, τὸν φόρον; τῷ τὸ τέλος, τὸ τέλος; τῷ τὸν φόβον, τὸν φόβον; τῷ τὴν τιμὴν, τὴν τιμήν

The word “Pay” is understood from the previous sentence. Alternate translation: “Pay tax to whom tax is due and toll to whom toll is due. Pay fear to whom fear is due and honor to him to whom honor is due” (See: Ellipsis)

τῷ τὸν…φόβον, τὸν φόβον; τῷ τὴν τιμὴν, τὴν τιμήν

Here paying fear and honor is a metaphor for fearing and honoring those who deserve to be feared and honored. Alternate translation: “Fear those who deserve to be feared, and honor those who deserved to be honored” or “Respect those whom you ought to respect, and honor those whom you ought to honor” (See: Metaphor)

τὸ τέλος

This is a kind of tax.

Romans 13:8

Paul tells believers how to act toward neighbors.

μηδενὶ μηδὲν ὀφείλετε, εἰ μὴ τὸ ἀλλήλους ἀγαπᾶν

This is a double negative. You can translate it in a positive form. Alternate translation: “Pay all you owe to everyone, and love one another” (See: Double Negatives)

ὀφείλετε

This verb is plural and applies to all the Roman Christians. (See: Forms of You)

εἰ μὴ τὸ ἀλλήλους ἀγαπᾶν

This is the one debt that can remain as shown in the note above.

ἀγαπᾶν

This refers to the kind of love that comes from God and focuses on the good of others, even when it does not benefit oneself.

Romans 13:9

ἐπιθυμήσεις

to desire to have or possess something that another person possesses.

Romans 13:10

ἡ ἀγάπη τῷ πλησίον κακὸν οὐκ ἐργάζεται

This phrase portrays love as a person who is being kind to other people. Alternate translation: “People who love their neighbors do not harm them” (See: Personification)

Romans 13:11

εἰδότες τὸν καιρόν, ὅτι ὥρα ἤδη ὑμᾶς ἐξ ὕπνου ἐγερθῆναι

Paul speaks of the need for the Roman believers to change their behavior as if they needed to wake up from being asleep. (See: Metaphor)

Romans 13:12

ἡ νὺξ προέκοψεν

Paul speaks of the time when people do evil deeds as night. Alternate translation: “The sinful time is almost over” or “It is as though the night is almost finished” (See: Metaphor)

ἡ…ἡμέρα ἤγγικεν

Paul speaks of the time when people do what is right as the day. Alternate translation: “the time of righteousness will begin soon” or “it is as though it will soon be day” (See: Metaphor)

ἀποθώμεθα οὖν τὰ ἔργα τοῦ σκότους

Paul speaks of “works of darkness” as if they are clothing that a person puts aside. Here to “put aside” means to stop doing something. Here “darkness” is a metaphor for evil. Alternate translation: “Let us therefore stop doing the evil things that people do in the dark” (See: Metaphor)

ἐνδυσώμεθα…τὰ ὅπλα τοῦ φωτός

Here “light” is a metaphor for what is good and right. Paul speaks of doing what is right as if it were putting on armor to protect one’s self. Alternate translation: “let us start doing what is right. Doing this will protect us from what is evil like armor protects a solider” (See: Metaphor)

Romans 13:13

περιπατήσωμεν

Paul includes his readers and other believers with himself. (See: Inclusive and Exclusive “We”)

ὡς ἐν ἡμέρᾳ εὐσχημόνως περιπατήσωμεν

Paul speaks of living as true believers as if one were walking while it is day. Alternate translation: “Let us walk in a visible way knowing that everyone can see us” (See: Metaphor)

κοίταις καὶ ἀσελγείαις

These concepts mean basically the same thing. You can combine them in your translation. Alternate translation: “sexually immoral acts” (See: Doublet)

ἔριδι

This refers to plotting against and arguing with other people.

ζήλῳ

This refers to negative feelings against another person’s success or advantage over others.

Romans 13:14

ἐνδύσασθε τὸν Κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν

Paul speaks of accepting the moral nature of Christ as if he were our outer clothing that people can see. (See: Metaphor)

ἐνδύσασθε

If your language has a plural form for commands, use it here.

τῆς σαρκὸς πρόνοιαν μὴ ποιεῖσθε

Here the “flesh” refers to the self-directed nature of people who oppose God. This is the sinful nature of human beings. Alternate translation: “do not allow your old evil heart any opportunity at all for doing wicked things” (See: Metonymy)

Romans 14

Romans 14 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with verse 11 of this chapter, which Paul quotes from the Old Testament.

Special concepts in this chapter

Weak in faith

Paul teaches that Christians can have real faith and at the same time be “weak in faith” in a given situation. This describes Christians whose faith is immature, not strong, or misunderstood. (See: faith)

Dietary restrictions

Many religions in the ancient Near East restricted what was eaten. Christians have freedom to eat what they want. But they need to use this freedom wisely, in a way that honors the Lord and does not cause others to sin. (See: sin, sinful, sinner, sinning)

The judgment seat of God

The judgment seat of God or Christ represents a time when all people, including Christians, will be held accountable for the way they lived their lives.

Romans 14:1

Paul encourages believers to remember that they are answerable to God.

ἀσθενοῦντα τῇ πίστει

This refers to those who felt guilty over eating and drinking certain things.

μὴ εἰς διακρίσεις διαλογισμῶν

“and do not condemn them for their opinions”

Romans 14:2

ὃς μὲν πιστεύει φαγεῖν πάντα

Here “faith” refers to doing what a person believes God is telling him to do.

ὁ…ἀσθενῶν λάχανα ἐσθίει

This describes a person who believes God does not want him to eat meat.

Romans 14:4

σὺ τίς εἶ, ὁ κρίνων ἀλλότριον οἰκέτην

Paul is using a question to scold those who are judging others. You can translate this as a statement. Alternate translation: “You are not God, and you are not allowed to judge one of his servants!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

σὺ…ὁ κρίνων

The form of “you” here is singular. (See: Forms of You)

τῷ ἰδίῳ κυρίῳ στήκει ἢ πίπτει

Paul speaks of God as if he were a master who owned servants. Alternate translation: “Only the master can decide if he will accept the servant or not” (See: Metaphor)

σταθήσεται δέ, δυνατεῖ γὰρ ὁ Κύριος στῆσαι αὐτόν

Paul speaks of the servant who is acceptable to God as if he were being “made to stand” instead of falling. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “But the Lord will accept him because he is able to make the servant acceptable” (See: Metaphor and Active or Passive)

Romans 14:5

ὃς μὲν κρίνει ἡμέραν παρ’ ἡμέραν; ὃς δὲ κρίνει πᾶσαν ἡμέραν.

“One person thinks one day is more important than all the others, but another person thinks that all days are the same”

ἕκαστος ἐν τῷ ἰδίῳ νοῒ, πληροφορείσθω

You can make the full meaning explicit. You can also translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “Let each person be sure what he is doing is to honor the Lord” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 14:6

ὁ φρονῶν τὴν ἡμέραν, Κυρίῳ φρονεῖ

Here “observes” refers to worshiping. Alternate translation: “The person who worships on a certain day does it to honor the Lord” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ὁ ἐσθίων

The word “everything” is understood from Romans 14:3. It can be repeatd here. Alternate translation: “the person who eats every kind of food” (See: Ellipsis)

Κυρίῳ ἐσθίει

“eats to honor the Lord” or “eats that way in order to honor the Lord”

καὶ ὁ μὴ ἐσθίων

The word “everything” is understood from Romans 14:3. It can be repeatd here. Alternate translation: “He who does not eat everything” or “The person who does not eat certain kinds of food” (See: Ellipsis)

Romans 14:7

οὐδεὶς γὰρ ἡμῶν ἑαυτῷ ζῇ

Here “lives for himself” means to live only to please oneself. Alternate translation: “None of us should live merely to please ourselves” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

οὐδεὶς…ἡμῶν

Paul is including his readers, so this is inclusive. (See: Inclusive and Exclusive “We”)

οὐδεὶς ἑαυτῷ ἀποθνῄσκει

This means one’s death affects other people. Alternate translation: “none of us should think that when we die, it affects only us” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 14:8

Paul is speaking of both himself and his readers, so all instances of “we” are inclusive. (See: Inclusive and Exclusive “We”)

Romans 14:10

τί κρίνεις τὸν ἀδελφόν σου? ἢ καὶ σὺ τί ἐξουθενεῖς τὸν ἀδελφόν σου

By using these questions, Paul is demonstrating how he might need to scold individuals among his readers. Alternate translation: “it is wrong for you to judge your brother, and it is wrong for you to despise your brother!” or “stop judging and despising your brother!” (See: Forms of You)

τὸν ἀδελφόν

Here this means a fellow Christian, male or female.

πάντες γὰρ παραστησόμεθα τῷ βήματι τοῦ Θεοῦ

The “judgment seat” refers to God’s authority to judge. Alternate translation: “For God will judge us all” (See: Metonymy)

Romans 14:11

γέγραπται γάρ…ἐγώ

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “For someone has written in the Scriptures: ‘As” (See: Active or Passive)

ζῶ ἐγώ

This phrase is used to start an oath or solemn promise. Alternate translation: “You can be certain that this is true” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἐμοὶ κάμψει πᾶν γόνυ, καὶ πᾶσα γλῶσσα ἐξομολογήσεται τῷ Θεῷ

Paul uses the words “knee” and “tongue” to refer to the whole person. Also, the Lord uses the word “God” to refer to himself. Alternate translation: “every person will bow and give praise to me” (See: Synecdoche and First, Second or Third Person)

Romans 14:12

περὶ ἑαυτοῦ, λόγον δώσει τῷ Θεῷ

“will have to explain our actions to God”

Romans 14:13

ἀλλὰ τοῦτο κρίνατε μᾶλλον, τὸ μὴ τιθέναι πρόσκομμα τῷ ἀδελφῷ ἢ σκάνδαλον

Here “stumbling block” and “snare” mean basically the same thing. Alternate translation: “but instead make it your goal not to do or say anything that might cause a fellow believer to sin” (See: Doublet)

τῷ ἀδελφῷ

Here this means a fellow Christian, male or female.

Romans 14:14

οἶδα καὶ πέπεισμαι ἐν Κυρίῳ Ἰησοῦ

Here the words “know” and “am persuaded” mean basically the same thing; Paul uses them to emphasize his certainty. Alternate translation: “I am certain because of my relationship with the Lord Jesus” (See: Doublet)

οὐδὲν κοινὸν δι’ ἑαυτοῦ

You can translate this in a positive form. Alternate translation: “everything by itself is clean” (See: Double Negatives)

δι’ ἑαυτοῦ

“by its nature” or “because of what it is”

εἰ μὴ τῷ λογιζομένῳ τι κοινὸν εἶναι, ἐκείνῳ κοινόν

Paul implies here that a person should stay away from anything that he thinks is unclean. You can make this explicit in your translation. Alternate translation: “But if a person thinks something is unclean, then for that person it is unclean and he should stay away from it” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 14:15

εἰ…διὰ βρῶμα, ὁ ἀδελφός σου λυπεῖται

“If you hurt your fellow believer’s faith over the matter of food.” Here the word “your” refers to those who are strong in faith and “brother” refers to those who are weak in faith.

ὁ ἀδελφός

Here this means a fellow Christian, male or female.

οὐκέτι κατὰ ἀγάπην περιπατεῖς

Paul speaks of the behavior of believers as if it were a walk. Alternate translation: “then you are no longer showing love” (See: Metaphor)

Romans 14:16

μὴ βλασφημείσθω οὖν ὑμῶν τὸ ἀγαθόν

“If someone thinks that something is evil, do not do it, even if you consider it to be good”

Romans 14:17

οὐ γάρ ἐστιν ἡ Βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ βρῶσις καὶ πόσις, ἀλλὰ δικαιοσύνη, καὶ εἰρήνη, καὶ χαρὰ ἐν Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ

Paul argues that God set up his kingdom so he could give us a right relationship with himself, and to provide peace and joy. Alternate translation: “For God did not set up his kingdom so that he could rule over what we eat and drink. He set up his kingdom so we could have a right relationship with him, and so he could give us peace and joy” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 14:18

δόκιμος τοῖς ἀνθρώποις

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “people will approve of him” or “people will respect him” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 14:19

τὰ τῆς εἰρήνης διώκωμεν, καὶ τὰ τῆς οἰκοδομῆς τῆς εἰς ἀλλήλους

Here “build up one another” refers to helping each other grow in faith. Alternate translation: “let us seek to live peacefully together and help one another grow stronger in faith” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 14:20

μὴ ἕνεκεν βρώματος, κατάλυε τὸ ἔργον τοῦ Θεοῦ

You can make explicit the full meaning of this sentence. Alternate translation: “Do not undo what God has done for a fellow believer just because you want to eat a certain kind of food” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἀλλὰ κακὸν τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ τῷ διὰ προσκόμματος ἐσθίοντι

Here anything that “causes him to stumble” means it causes a weaker brother to do something that is against his conscience. Alternate translation: “but it would be a sin for someone to eat food, which another brother thinks is wrong to eat, if by eating this causes the weaker brother to do something that is against his conscience” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 14:21

καλὸν τὸ μὴ φαγεῖν κρέα, μηδὲ πιεῖν οἶνον, μηδὲ ἐν ᾧ ὁ ἀδελφός σου προσκόπτει

“It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else that might cause your brother to sin”

ὁ ἀδελφός

Here this means a fellow Christian, male or female.

σου

This refers to the strong in faith and “brother” refers to the weak in faith.

Romans 14:22

σὺ πίστιν ἣν ἔχεις

This refers back to the beliefs about food and drink.

σὺ…σεαυτὸν

singular. Because Paul is addressing the believers, you may have to translate this using plural. (See: Forms of You)

μακάριος ὁ μὴ κρίνων ἑαυτὸν ἐν ᾧ δοκιμάζει

“Blessed are those who do not feel guilty for what they decide to do”

Romans 14:23

ὁ δὲ διακρινόμενος, ἐὰν φάγῃ, κατακέκριται

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “God will say that the person does wrong if he is not sure if it is right to eat a certain food, but he eats it anyway” or “The person who is not sure if it is right to eat a certain food, but then eats it anyway will have a troubled conscience” (See: Active or Passive)

ὅτι οὐκ ἐκ πίστεως

Anything that is “not from faith” is something that God does not want you to do. You can make explicit the full meaning here. Alternate translation: “God will say that he is wrong because he is eating something he believes God does not want him to eat” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

πᾶν δὲ ὃ οὐκ ἐκ πίστεως, ἁμαρτία ἐστίν

Anything that is “not from faith” is something that God does not want you to do. You can make explicit the full meaning here. Alternate translation: “you are sinning if you do something that you do not believe God wants you to do” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 15

Romans 15 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with verses 9-11 and 21 of this chapter, which are words from the Old Testament.

Some translations set prose quotations from the Old Testament farther to the right on the page to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with the quoted words in verse 12.

In Romans 15:14, Paul begins to speak more personally. He shifts from teaching to telling of his personal plans.

Important figures of speech in this chapter

Strong/Weak

These terms are used to refer to people who are mature and immature in their faith. Paul teaches that those who are strong in faith need to help those who are weak in faith. (See: faith)

Romans 15:1

Paul concludes this section about believers’ living for others with reminding them how Christ lived.

δὲ

Translate this using the words your language uses to introduce a new idea into an argument.

ἡμεῖς, οἱ δυνατοὶ

Here “strong” refers to the people who are strong in their faith. They believe that God allows them to eat any kind of food. Alternate translation: “we who are strong in faith” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἡμεῖς

This refers to Paul, his readers, and other believers. (See: Inclusive and Exclusive “We”)

τῶν ἀδυνάτων

Here “the weak” refers to the people who are weak in their faith. They believe that God does not allow them to eat some kinds of food. Alternate translation: “those who are weak in faith” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 15:2

πρὸς οἰκοδομήν

By this, Paul means to strengthen someone’s faith. Alternate translation: “to strengthen his faith” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 15:3

καθὼς γέγραπται

Here Paul refers to a scripture where Christ (the Messiah) speaks to God. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “the Messiah said to God in the scriptures” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information and Active or Passive)

οἱ ὀνειδισμοὶ τῶν ὀνειδιζόντων σε, ἐπέπεσαν ἐπ’ ἐμέ

The insults of those who insulted God fell on Christ.

Romans 15:4

ὅσα γὰρ προεγράφη, εἰς τὴν ἡμετέραν διδασκαλίαν ἐγράφη

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “For in times past, the prophets wrote everything in the Scriptures to teach us” (See: Active or Passive)

ἡμετέραν…ἔχωμεν

Paul includes his readers and other believers. (See: Inclusive and Exclusive “We”)

ἵνα διὰ τῆς ὑπομονῆς καὶ διὰ τῆς παρακλήσεως τῶν Γραφῶν, τὴν ἐλπίδα ἔχωμεν

Here “have confidence” means that the believers will know that God will fulfill his promises. You can make explicit the full meaning in your translation. Alternate translation: “In this way the scriptures will encourage us to expect that God will do for us everything that he has promised” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 15:5

Paul encourages the believers to remember that both Gentile believers and Jews that believe are made one in Christ.

Θεὸς…δῴη

“I pray that…God…will grant”

τὸ αὐτὸ φρονεῖν ἐν ἀλλήλοις

Here to be of the “same mind” is a metonym that means to be in agreement with each other. Alternate translation: “to be in agreement with each other” or “to be united” (See: Metonymy)

Romans 15:6

ἐν ἑνὶ στόματι, δοξάζητε

This means to be united in praising God. Alternate translation: “praise God together in unity as if only one mouth were speaking” (See: Metonymy)

Romans 15:7

προσλαμβάνεσθε ἀλλήλους

“accept one another””

Romans 15:8

λέγω γὰρ

The word “I” refers to Paul.

Χριστὸν διάκονον γεγενῆσθαι περιτομῆς

Here “the circumcision” is a metonym that refers to the Jews. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “Jesus Christ has become a servant of the Jews” (See: Metonymy and Active or Passive)

εἰς τὸ βεβαιῶσαι τὰς ἐπαγγελίας

This is one of the two purposes for which Christ became a servant of the circumcision.

τὰς ἐπαγγελίας τῶν πατέρων

Here “the fathers” refers to the ancestors of the Jewish people. You can translate this in active form. Alternate translation: “the promises that God gave to the ancestors of the Jews” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information and Active or Passive)

Romans 15:9

τὰ δὲ ἔθνη, ὑπὲρ ἐλέους δοξάσαι τὸν Θεόν

This is the second reason for which Christ became a servant of the circumcision. Alternate translation: “and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy”

καθὼς γέγραπται

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “as someone has written in the Scriptures” (See: Active or Passive)

τῷ ὀνόματί σου ψαλῶ

Here “your name” is a metonym that refers to God. Alternate translation: “sing praise to you” (See: Metonymy)

Romans 15:10

καὶ πάλιν λέγει

“Again the scripture says”

μετὰ τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ

This refers to God’s people. You can make this explicit in your translation. Alternate translation: “with the people of God” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 15:11

ἐπαινεσάτωσαν αὐτὸν

“praise the Lord”

Romans 15:12

ῥίζα τοῦ Ἰεσσαί

Jesse was the physical father of King David. Alternate translation: “descendant of Jesse” (See: Metonymy)

ἐπ’ αὐτῷ ἔθνη ἐλπιοῦσιν

Here “him” refers to the descendant of Jesse, the Messiah. Those who are not Jews will also trust him to fulfill his promises. Alternate translation: “The people who are not Jews can trust him to do what he has promised” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 15:13

πληρώσαι ὑμᾶς πάσης χαρᾶς καὶ εἰρήνης

Paul exaggerates here to emphasize his point. Alternate translation: “fill you with great joy and peace” (See: Hyperbole)

Romans 15:14

Paul reminds the believers in Rome that God chose him to reach the Gentiles.

πέπεισμαι…ἀδελφοί μου, καὶ αὐτὸς ἐγὼ περὶ ὑμῶν

Paul is quite sure that the believers in Rome are honoring each other in their behavior. Alternate translation: “I myself am completely sure that you yourselves have acted toward others in a completely good way” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἀδελφοί

Here this means fellow Christians, including both men and women.

πεπληρωμένοι πάσης γνώσεως

Paul exaggerates here to emphasize his point. Alternate translation: “filled with sufficient knowledge to follow God” (See: Hyperbole)

δυνάμενοι καὶ ἀλλήλους νουθετεῖν

Here “exhort” means to teach. Alternate translation: “also able to teach each other” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 15:15

τὴν χάριν τὴν δοθεῖσάν μοι ὑπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ

Paul speaks of grace as if it were a physical gift that God had given him. God had appointed Paul and apostle even though he had persecuted believers before he decided to follow Jesus. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “the grace that God gave me” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 15:16

γένηται ἡ προσφορὰ τῶν ἐθνῶν εὐπρόσδεκτος

Paul speaks of his preaching the gospel as if he, as a priest, were making an offering to God. Alternate translation: “the Gentiles might please God when they obey him” (See: Metaphor)

Romans 15:18

εἰς ὑπακοὴν ἐθνῶν

“so that the Gentiles will obey God”

λόγῳ καὶ ἔργῳ

This can be translated in active form: Alternative translation: Alternate translation: “These are things that Christ has accomplished through what I have said and done” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 15:19

ἐν δυνάμει σημείων καὶ τεράτων ἐν δυνάμει Πνεύματος Θεοῦ

You can translate this double negative in a positive form. Here “these are things” refers to what Christ has accomplished through Paul. Alternate translation: “For the sake of the obedience of the Gentiles, I will only speak of what Christ has accomplished through me in my words and actions and by the power of signs and wonders through the power of the Holy Spirit” (See: Double Negatives and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

σημείων καὶ τεράτων

These two words mean basically the same thing and refer to various kinds of miracles. (See: Doublet)

ὥστε…ἀπὸ Ἰερουσαλὴμ καὶ κύκλῳ μέχρι τοῦ Ἰλλυρικοῦ

This is from the city of Jerusalem as far as the province of Illyricum, a region close to Italy.

Romans 15:20

οὕτως δὲ φιλοτιμούμενον εὐαγγελίζεσθαι, οὐχ ὅπου ὠνομάσθη Χριστός

Paul only wants to preach to people who have never heard of Christ. Alternate translation: “Because of this, I want to preach the good news in places where people have never heard of Christ” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἵνα μὴ ἐπ’ ἀλλότριον θεμέλιον οἰκοδομῶ

Paul speaks of his ministry work as if he were building a house on a foundation. Alternate translation: “in order that I might not be simply continuing the work that someone else already started. I do not want to be like a man who builds a house on someone else’s foundation” (See: Metaphor)

Romans 15:21

καθὼς γέγραπται

Here Paul refers to what Isaiah wrote in the scriptures. You can translate this in an active form and make the meaning explicit. Alternate translation: “What is happening is like what Isaiah wrote in the scriptures” (See: Active or Passive and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

οἷς οὐκ ἀνηγγέλη περὶ αὐτοῦ

Here Paul speaks of the “tidings” or message about Christ as if it were alive and able to move by itself. Alternate translation: “Those whom no one had told the news about him” (See: Personification)

Romans 15:22

Paul tells the believers in Rome about his personal plans to visit them and asks the believers to pray.

καὶ ἐνεκοπτόμην

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “they also hindered me” or “people also hindered me” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 15:23

μηκέτι τόπον ἔχων ἐν τοῖς κλίμασι τούτοις

Paul implies that there are no more places in these areas where people live who have not heard about Christ. Alternate translation: “there are no more places in these regions where people have not heard about Christ” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 15:24

τὴν Σπανίαν

This is a roman province west of Rome that Paul desired to visit. (See: How to Translate Names and Translate Unknowns)

διαπορευόμενος

“as I pass through Rome” or “while I am on my way”

καὶ ὑφ’ ὑμῶν προπεμφθῆναι ἐκεῖ

Here Paul implies that he wants the Roman believers to provide some financial assistance to him for his journey to Spain. Alternate translation: “that you will help me on my journey” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information and Active or Passive)

ἐὰν ὑμῶν…ἐμπλησθῶ

“have enjoyed spending some time with you” or “have enjoyed visiting you”

Romans 15:26

εὐδόκησαν…Μακεδονία καὶ Ἀχαΐα

Here the words “Macedonia” and “Achaia” are synecdoches for the people who live in those areas. Alternate translation: “the believers in the provinces of Macedonia and Achaia were happy” (See: Synecdoche)

Romans 15:27

εὐδόκησαν γάρ

“The believers in Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to do it”

γάρ…ὀφειλέται εἰσὶν αὐτῶν

“indeed the people of Macedonia and Achaia are in debt to the believers in Jerusalem”

εἰ…τοῖς πνευματικοῖς αὐτῶν ἐκοινώνησαν τὰ ἔθνη, ὀφείλουσιν καὶ…λειτουργῆσαι αὐτοῖς

“since the Gentiles have shared in the spiritual things of the Jerusalem believers, the Gentiles owe service to the Jerusalem believers”

Romans 15:28

σφραγισάμενος αὐτοῖς τὸν καρπὸν τοῦτον

Paul speaks of the money he is taking to Jerusalem as if it were a fruit that was collected for them. Alternate translation: “and have safely delivered this offering to them” (See: Metaphor)

Romans 15:29

οἶδα δὲ ὅτι ἐρχόμενος πρὸς ὑμᾶς, ἐν πληρώματι εὐλογίας Χριστοῦ, ἐλεύσομαι

This phrase means that Christ will bless Paul and the Roman believers. Alternate translation: “And I know that when I visit you, Christ will abundantly bless us” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 15:30

δὲ

If your language has a way to show that Paul has stopped talking about the good things he is confident of (Romans 15:29) and is now starting to talk about the dangers he faces, use it here.

παρακαλῶ…ὑμᾶς

“I encourage you”

ἀδελφοί

Here this means fellow Christians, including both men and women.

συναγωνίσασθαί

“you work hard” or “you struggle”

Romans 15:31

ῥυσθῶ ἀπὸ τῶν ἀπειθούντων

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “God may rescue me from those who are disobedient” or “God may keep those who are disobedient from harming me” (See: Active or Passive)

καὶ ἡ διακονία μου ἡ εἰς Ἰερουσαλὴμ εὐπρόσδεκτος τοῖς ἁγίοις γένηται

Here Paul expresses his desire that the believers in Jerusalem will gladly accept the money from the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. Alternate translation: “pray that the believers in Jerusalem will be glad to receive the money that I am bringing them” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 15:33

ὁ…Θεὸς τῆς εἰρήνης μετὰ

The “God of peace” means the God who causes believers to have inner peace. Alternate translation: “I pray that God who causes all of us to have inner peace” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 16

Romans 16 General Notes

Structure and formatting

In this chapter, Paul gives personal greetings to some of the Christians in Rome. It was common to end a letter in the ancient Near East with this type of personal greeting.

Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter

Because of the personal nature of this chapter, much of the context is unknown. This will make translation more difficult. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 16:1

Paul then greets many of the believers in Rome by name.

συνίστημι δὲ ὑμῖν Φοίβην

“I want you to respect Phoebe”

Φοίβην

This is a woman’s name. (See: How to Translate Names and Translate Unknowns)

τὴν ἀδελφὴν ἡμῶν

The word “our” refers to Paul and all believers. Alternate translation: “our sister in Christ” (See: Inclusive and Exclusive “We”)

Κενχρεαῖς

This was a seaport city in Greece. (See: How to Translate Names and Translate Unknowns)

Romans 16:2

αὐτὴν προσδέξησθε ἐν Κυρίῳ

Paul encourages the Roman believers to welcome Phoebe as a fellow believer. Alternate translation: “welcome her because we all belong to the Lord” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἀξίως τῶν ἁγίων

“in the way that believers should welcome other believers”

παραστῆτε αὐτῇ

Paul encourages the Roman believers to give to Phoebe anything she needs. Alternate translation: “help her by giving her whatever she needs” (See: Euphemism)

προστάτις πολλῶν ἐγενήθη καὶ ἐμοῦ αὐτοῦ

“has helped many people, and she has also helped me”

Romans 16:3

Πρίσκαν καὶ Ἀκύλαν

Priscilla was the wife of Aquila. (See: How to Translate Names)

τοὺς συνεργούς μου ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ

Paul’s “fellow workers” are people who also tell others about Jesus. Alternate translation: “who work with me to tell people about Christ Jesus” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 16:5

καὶ τὴν κατ’ οἶκον αὐτῶν ἐκκλησίαν

“Greet the believers who meet in their house to worship”

Ἐπαίνετον

This is the name of a man. (See: How to Translate Names and Translate Unknowns)

ἀπαρχὴ τῆς Ἀσίας εἰς Χριστόν

Paul speaks of Epaenetus as if he were a fruit that he harvested. Alternate translation: “first person in Asia to believe in Jesus” (See: Metaphor)

Romans 16:6

Μαρίαν

This is a woman’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

Romans 16:7

Ἀνδρόνικον

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

Ἰουνίαν

This could be either (1) Junia, a woman’s name, or, much less likely, (2) Junias, a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

οἵτινές εἰσιν ἐπίσημοι ἐν τοῖς ἀποστόλοις

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “The apostles know them very well” (See: Active or Passive)

Romans 16:8

Ἀμπλιᾶτον

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

τὸν ἀγαπητόν μου ἐν Κυρίῳ

“my dear friend and fellow believer”

Romans 16:9

Οὐρβανὸν…Στάχυν

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Romans 16:10

Ἀπελλῆν…Ἀριστοβούλου

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

τὸν δόκιμον ἐν Χριστῷ

The word “approved” refers to someone who has been tested and proved to be genuine. Alternate translation: “whom Christ has approved”

Romans 16:11

Ἡρῳδίωνα…Ναρκίσσου

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

τοὺς ὄντας ἐν Κυρίῳ

This refers to those who trust in Jesus. Alternate translation: “who are believers” or “who belong to the Lord” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 16:12

Τρύφαιναν…Τρυφῶσαν…Περσίδα

These are women’s names. (See: How to Translate Names and Translate Unknowns)

Romans 16:13

Ῥοῦφον

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names and Translate Unknowns)

τὸν ἐκλεκτὸν ἐν Κυρίῳ

You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “whom the Lord has chosen” (See: Active or Passive)

τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐμοῦ

Paul speaks of the mother of Rufus as if she were his own mother. Alternate translation: “his mother, whom I also think of as my mother” (See: Metaphor)

Romans 16:14

Ἀσύγκριτον, Φλέγοντα, Ἑρμῆν, Πατροβᾶν, Ἑρμᾶν

These are men’s names. (See: How to Translate Names and Translate Unknowns)

ἀδελφούς

Here this means fellow Christians, including both men and women.

Romans 16:15

Φιλόλογον…Νηρέα…Ὀλυμπᾶν

These are men’s names. (See: How to Translate Names and Translate Unknowns)

Ἰουλίαν

The name of a woman. Julia was probably the wife of Philologus. (See: How to Translate Names and Translate Unknowns)

Romans 16:16

φιλήματι ἁγίῳ

an expression of affection for fellow believers

ἀσπάζονται ὑμᾶς αἱ ἐκκλησίαι πᾶσαι τοῦ Χριστοῦ

Here Paul speaks in a general manner concerning the churches of Christ. Alternate translation: “The believers in all the churches in this area send their greetings to you” (See: Hyperbole)

Romans 16:17

Paul gives one last warning to the believers about unity and living for God.

ἀδελφοί

Here this means fellow Christians, including both men and women.

σκοπεῖν

“to watch out for”

τὰς διχοστασίας καὶ τὰ σκάνδαλα…ποιοῦντας

This refers to those who argue and cause others to stop trusting in Jesus. Alternate translation: “who are causing believers to argue with one another and to stop having faith in God” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

παρὰ τὴν διδαχὴν ἣν ὑμεῖς ἐμάθετε

“They teach things that do not agree with the truth you have already learned”

ἐκκλίνετε ἀπ’ αὐτῶν

“Turn away” here is an metaphor for “refuse to listen.” Alternate translation: “Do not listen to them” (See: Metaphor)

Romans 16:18

ἀλλὰ τῇ ἑαυτῶν κοιλίᾳ

The words “they serve” are understood from the previous phrase. This can be expressed as a separate sentence. Alternate translation: “Rather, they serve their own stomach” (See: Ellipsis)

ἀλλὰ τῇ ἑαυτῶν κοιλίᾳ

Here “stomach” is a metonym that refers to physical desires. Serving there stomach represents satisfying their desires. Alternate translation: “but they only want to satisfy their own selfish desires” (See: Metonymy and Metaphor)

καὶ διὰ τῆς χρηστολογίας καὶ εὐλογίας

The words “smooth” and “flattering” mean basically the same thing. Paul is emphasizing how these people are deceiving believers. Alternate translation: “By saying things that seem to be good and true” (See: Doublet)

ἐξαπατῶσι τὰς καρδίας τῶν ἀκάκων

Here “hearts” is a metonym for a person’s mind or inner being. Alternate translation: “they deceive the innocent believers” (See: Metonymy)

ἀκάκων

This refers to those who are simple, inexperienced, and naive. Alternate translation: “those who innocently trust them” or “those who do not know these teachers are fooling them”

Romans 16:19

ἡ γὰρ ὑμῶν ὑπακοὴ, εἰς πάντας ἀφίκετο

Here Paul speaks of the Roman believers’ obedience as if it were a person who could go to people. Alternate translation: “For everyone has heard how you obey Jesus” (See: Personification)

ἀκεραίους…εἰς τὸ κακόν

“not involved in doing evil things”

Romans 16:20

ὁ δὲ Θεὸς τῆς εἰρήνης συντρίψει τὸν Σατανᾶν ὑπὸ τοὺς πόδας ὑμῶν ἐν τάχει

The phrase “crush under your feet” refers to complete victory over an enemy. Here Paul speaks of the victory over Satan as if the Roman believers were trampling an enemy under their feet. Alternate translation: “Soon God will give you peace and complete victory over Satan” (See: Metaphor)

Romans 16:21

Paul gives greetings from the believers who are with him.

Λούκιος, καὶ Ἰάσων, καὶ Σωσίπατρος

These are men’s names. (See: How to Translate Names)

Romans 16:22

ἐγὼ, Τέρτιος, ὁ γράψας τὴν ἐπιστολὴν

Tertius is the man who wrote down what Paul spoke. (See: How to Translate Names)

ἀσπάζομαι ὑμᾶς…ἐν Κυρίῳ

“greet you as a fellow believer”

Romans 16:23

Γάϊος…Ἔραστος…Κούαρτος

These are men’s names. (See: How to Translate Names)

ὁ ξένος

This refers to Gaius, the person in whose house Paul and his fellow believers gathered for worship.

ὁ οἰκονόμος

This is a person who takes care of the money for a group.

Romans 16:25

Paul closes with a prayer of blessing.

δὲ

Here the word “now” marks the closing section of the letter. If you have a way of doing this in your language, you can use it here.

ὑμᾶς στηρίξαι

Paul speaks here of having strong faith as if a person were standing, instead of falling. Alternate translation: “to make your faith strong” (See: Metaphor)

κατὰ τὸ εὐαγγέλιόν μου, καὶ τὸ κήρυγμα Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ

“by the good news that I have preached about Jesus Christ”

κατὰ ἀποκάλυψιν μυστηρίου χρόνοις αἰωνίοις σεσιγημένου

Paul says that God has revealed previously hidden truths to the believers. He speaks of these truths as if they were a secret. You can translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “because God has revealed to us believers the secret that he was keeping for a long time” (See: Metaphor and Active or Passive)

Romans 16:26

φανερωθέντος δὲ νῦν διά τε Γραφῶν προφητικῶν, κατ’ ἐπιταγὴν τοῦ αἰωνίου Θεοῦ…εἰς πάντα τὰ ἔθνη γνωρισθέντος

The verbs “revealed” and “made known” mean basically the same thing. Paul uses both of them to emphasize his point. You can combine these words and translate this in an active form. Alternate translation: “but now the eternal God has made it known to all the nations through the prophetic writings” (See: Doublet and Active or Passive)

εἰς ὑπακοὴν πίστεως

Here “obedience” and “faith” are abstract nouns. You can use the verbs “obey” and “trust” in your translation. You may need to make explicit who will obey and trust. Alternate translation: “so that all nations will obey God because they trust in him” (See: Abstract Nouns and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Romans 16:27

μόνῳ σοφῷ Θεῷ…ᾧ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. ἀμήν!

Here “through Jesus Christ” refers to what Jesus did. To give “glory” means to praise God. Alternate translation: “Because of what Jesus Christ has done for us, we will praise forever the one who alone is God and who alone is wise. Amen” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)