translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: ROM

label: NET translator note

text: Some interpreters (e.g., C. K. Barrett, Romans [HNTC], 43) connect the inferential Διό ( dio , “therefore”) with 1:32 a, treating 1:32 b as a parenthetical comment by Paul.


text: That is, “you have nothing to say in your own defense” (so translated by TCNT).


text: Grk “O man.”


text: Grk “Therefore, you are without excuse, O man, everyone [of you] who judges.”


text: Grk “in/by (that) which.”


text: Or “based on truth.”


text: Grk “do you think this,” referring to the clause in v. 3 b.


text: Grk “O man, the one who judges.”


text: Grk “and do them.” The other words are supplied to bring out the contrast implied in this clause.


text: Grk “being unaware.”


text: Grk “hardness.” Concerning this imagery, see Jer 4:4 ; Ezek 3:7 ; 1 En. 16:3.


text: Grk “in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.”


text: Grk “who.” The relative pronoun was converted to a personal pronoun and, because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.


text: Or “will render,” “will recompense.” In this context Paul is setting up a hypothetical situation, not stating that salvation is by works.


text: This contrast is clearer and stronger in Greek than can be easily expressed in English.


text: Grk “those who [are] from selfish ambition.”


text: Grk “are persuaded by, obey.”


text: No verb is expressed in this verse, but the verb “to be” is implied by the Greek construction. Literally “suffering and distress on everyone…”


text: Grk “every soul of man.”


text: Grk “but even,” to emphasize the contrast. The second word has been omitted since it is somewhat redundant in English idiom.


text: The Greek sentence expresses this contrast more succinctly than is possible in English. Grk “For not the hearers of the law are righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be declared righteous.”


text: Some (e.g. C. E. B. Cranfield, Romans [ICC], 1:135-37) take the phrase φύσει ( fusei , “by nature”) to go with the preceding “do not have the law,” thus: “the Gentiles who do not have the law by nature,” that is, by virtue of not being born Jewish.


text: Grk “do by nature the things of the law.”


text: Grk “show the work of the law [to be] written,” with the words in brackets implied by the Greek construction.


text: Or “excuse.”


text: Grk “their conscience bearing witness and between the thoughts accusing or also defending one another.”


text: The form of the Greek word is either present or future, but it is best to translate in future because of the context of future judgment.


text: Grk “of people.”


text: Grk “boast in God.” This may be an allusion to Jer 9:24 .


text: Grk “the will.”


text: Grk “because of being instructed out of the law.”


text: This verb is parallel to the verbs in vv. 17-18 a, so it shares the conditional meaning even though the word “if” is not repeated.


text: The structure of vv. 21-24 is difficult. Some take these verses as the apodosis of the conditional clauses (protases) in vv. 17-20 ; others see vv. 17-20 as an instance of anacoluthon (a broken off or incomplete construction).


text: Or “detest.”


text: Grk “if you should be a transgressor of the law.”


text: The Greek word φυλάσσω ( fulassw , traditionally translated “keep”) in this context connotes preservation of and devotion to an object as well as obedience.


text: Grk “the uncircumcision by nature.” The word “man” is supplied here to make clear that male circumcision (or uncircumcision) is in view.


text: Grk “through,” but here the preposition seems to mean “(along) with,” “though provided with,” as BDAG 224 s.v. διά A.3.c indicates.


text: Grk “letter.”


text: Some have taken the phrase ἐν πνεύματι ( en pneumati , “by/in [the] S/spirit”) not as a reference to the Holy Spirit, but referring to circumcision as “spiritual and not literal” (RSV).


text: Grk “whose.” The relative pronoun has been replaced by the phrase “this person’s” and, because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started in the translation.