Romans 15:20 — Greek interlinear

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strong's
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. οὕτως
2. οὕτως
3. thus
4. so
5. G3779 ↗
6. D-·······
7. thus
8. thus
9. -
10. Y60
11. 112213
1. δέ
2. δέ
3. and
4. -
5. G1161 ↗
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y60
11. 112214
1. φιλοτιμούμενον
2. φιλοτιμέομαι
3. being ambitious
4. was
5. G5389 ↗
6. V-PPM·AMS
7. being_ambitious
8. being_ambitious
9. -
10. Y60; R105120; Person=Paul
11. 112215
1. φιλοτιμοῦμαι
2. φιλοτιμέομαι
3. -
4. -
5. G5389 ↗
6. V-IPM1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ being_ambitious
8. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ being_ambitious
9. -
10. -
11. 112216
1. εὐαγγελίζεσθαι
2. εὐαγγελίζω
3. to be good message preaching
4. to be preaching good message
5. G2097 ↗
6. V-NPM····
7. ˓to_be˒ good_message_preaching
8. ˓to_be˒ gospel_preaching
9. -
10. Y60; R105120; Person=Paul
11. 112217
1. οὐχ
2. οὐ
3. not
4. -
5. G3756 ↗
6. D-·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y60
11. 112218
1. ὅπου
2. ὅπου
3. where
4. wherever
5. G3699 ↗
6. D-·······
7. where
8. where
9. -
10. Y60
11. 112219
1. ὠνομάσθη
2. ὀνομάζω
3. was named
4. -
5. G3687 ↗
6. V-IAP3··S
7. ˓was˒ named
8. ˓was˒ named
9. -
10. Y60
11. 112220
1. ὁ
2. ὁ
3. -
4. -
5. G3588 ↗
6. E-····NMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. -
11. 112221
1. Χριστός
2. χριστός
3. chosen one messiah
4. Messiah someone
5. G5547 ↗
6. N-····NMS
7. chosen_one/messiah
8. Christ
9. WN
10. Y60; Person=Jesus; F112237
11. 112222
1. ἵνα
2. ἵνα
3. in order that
4. that
5. G2443 ↗
6. C-·······
7. in_order_that
8. in_order_that
9. -
10. Y60
11. 112223
1. μή
2. μή
3. not
4. -
5. G3361 ↗
6. C-·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y60
11. 112224
1. ἐπʼ
2. ἐπί
3. on
4. -
5. G1909 ↗
6. P-·······
7. on
8. on
9. -
10. Y60
11. 112225
1. ἀλλότριον
2. ἀλλότριος
3. anothers
4. -
5. G245 ↗
6. E-····AMS
7. anothers
8. another’s
9. -
10. Y60
11. 112226
1. θεμέλιον
2. θεμέλιος
3. foundation
4. #foundations
5. G2310 ↗
6. N-····AMS
7. foundation
8. foundation
9. -
10. Y60
11. 112227
1. οἰκοδομῶ
2. οἰκοδομέω
3. I may be building
4. I be building
5. G3618 ↗
6. V-SPA1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓may_be˒ building
8. ˱I˲ ˓may_be˒ building
9. -
10. Y60; R105120; Person=Paul
11. 112228

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 15:14–21: Paul encouraged them and said he was happy with his work/ministry

In this section, Paul told the believers in Rome that he was convinced that they were good, had knowledge, and were able to teach each other. He reminded them that he had been very bold in this letter. He wanted the Gentiles to be acceptable to God regarding their faith.

He told the believers in Rome that he was proud of his work for God. His work was to help Gentiles to believe in Jesus. He told them that he always wanted to preach the gospel where people did not know about Christ.

Here are other possible headings for this section:

Paul was an apostle to the Gentiles

Paul’s Reason for Writing (NLT)

15:20a

In this way I have aspired to preach the gospel

In that way my goal is to preach the good news
In this/that way I always desire to announce the good news of Jesus

In this way: These words introduce why Paul preached in many places between Jerusalem and Illyricum. Here is another way to translate this word:

and thus (ESV)

thus

I have aspired: Here the word aspired refers to a continuing desire to do something. At that time Paul always wanted to preach the gospel where people did not know about Jesus. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

I make it my ambition (ESV)

I desire (NET)

The Greek tense indicates an ambition at the present time (the time he wrote this letter). It does not say anything about how long in the past he has had this ambition. Translate as an ambition at the present time.

preach the gospel: The Greek word here means “announce good news” or “proclaim the gospel.” Preaching is often done before a group of people. Here it refers to telling others the good news of Jesus as Messiah/Christ. Here are other ways to translate this Greek word:

declare the gospel (REB)

preach the Good News (GNT)

See how you translated this phrase in 1:15.

15:20b

where Christ was not known,

where the Christ/Messiah has not already been preached,
in towns/places where no one has yet gone and told the people that he is the Deliverer whom God promised to send.

where Christ was not known: This clause refers to places where someone has not told the people there about Jesus being the Christ, the one to save people from their sins. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

not where Christ has already been named (ESV)

where Christ has not been heard of (GNT)

where the name of Christ has not already been heard (NJB)

15:20c

so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.

so that I am not like someone building on someone else’s foundation.
In this/that way I am not the second person strengthening a group of believers like someone building on someone else’s foundation.
For I do not want to come after someone has established the church/group of believers and do further work/ministry there.

so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation: The phrase so that…not means “in order that…not.” It introduces a purpose for avoiding something. For example:

lest I build on someone else’s foundation (ESV)

I would not be building on someone else’s foundation: This is a figure of speech that refers to Paul being the second apostle to do what a previous apostle did in that town/place: preach the gospel, help people believe in Jesus, encourage believers and help them grow in their faith. This “builds” the group of believers. The first person “builds” the foundation and the second person “builds” on top of the foundation.

In some languages a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

Add the word “like.” For example:
I would be like a person building on someone else’s foundation
Explain the metaphor in your translation. For example:
I strengthen a group of believers like someone building on someone else’s foundation
Translate literally and explain in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:
This refers to being the second person to help people believe and encourage them in their faith
Translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:
I am the second person to preach and teach in a townIf you follow this option, your translation should not indicate or imply that Paul might have started a group of believers separate from the first group.

This is not talking about a physical building that believers meet in.

foundation: This word refers to the first layer of a house or building. The floors and walls are build on top of the foundation. Some languages do not have a general word like foundation but must name the material of which the foundation is made. For example:

base stones

bricks

posts

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

φιλοτιμούμενον εὐαγγελίζεσθαι

being_ambitious ˓to_be˒_gospel_preaching

Paul is leaving out some of the words that a clause would need in many languages to be complete. If it would be helpful in your language, you could supply these words from the context. Alternate translation: [I am counting it an honor to proclaim the gospel]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

φιλοτιμούμενον

being_ambitious

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of honor, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [counting it honorable]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

εὐαγγελίζεσθαι, οὐχ ὅπου ὠνομάσθη Χριστός

˓to_be˒_gospel_preaching not where ˓was˒_named Christ

The clause not where Christ has been named indicates the kind of places where Paul would not proclaim the gospel. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this more explicit. Alternate translation: [to proclaim the gospel in places other than where Christ has been named]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ὠνομάσθη Χριστός

˓was˒_named Christ

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [people have named Christ]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ὠνομάσθη Χριστός

˓was˒_named Christ

Here, has been named refers to speaking someone’s name. It does not refer to giving someone a name. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [Christ’s name has been spoken] or [Christ’s name has been heard]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

μὴ ἐπ’ ἀλλότριον θεμέλιον οἰκοδομῶ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οὕτως δέ φιλοτιμούμενον εὐαγγελίζεσθαι οὐχ ὅπου ὠνομάσθη Χριστός ἵνα μή ἐπʼ ἀλλότριον θεμέλιον οἰκοδομῶ)

Paul speaks of his work of preaching the gospel and making disciples as if he were building a house on a foundation. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly or use a simile. Alternate translation: [I might not continue doing the work that another man has already begun] or [I might not be like someone who builds upon another man’s foundation]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

1. OET-LV words
2. OET-RV words
3. Strong's
4. Greek word
5. Greek lemma
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. and
2. -
3. G1161 ↗
4. δέ
5. δέ
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y60
11. 112214
1. thus
2. so
3. G3779 ↗
4. οὕτως
5. οὕτως
6. D-·······
7. thus
8. thus
9. -
10. Y60
11. 112213
1. being ambitious
2. was
3. G5389 ↗
4. φιλοτιμούμενον
5. φιλοτιμέομαι
6. V-PPM·AMS
7. being_ambitious
8. being_ambitious
9. -
10. Y60; R105120; Person=Paul
11. 112215
1. to be good message preaching
2. to be preaching good message
3. G2097 ↗
4. εὐαγγελίζεσθαι
5. εὐαγγελίζω
6. V-NPM····
7. ˓to_be˒ good_message_preaching
8. ˓to_be˒ gospel_preaching
9. -
10. Y60; R105120; Person=Paul
11. 112217
1. not
2. -
3. G3756 ↗
4. οὐχ
5. οὐ
6. D-·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y60
11. 112218
1. where
2. wherever
3. G3699 ↗
4. ὅπου
5. ὅπου
6. D-·······
7. where
8. where
9. -
10. Y60
11. 112219
1. was named
2. -
3. G3687 ↗
4. ὠνομάσθη
5. ὀνομάζω
6. V-IAP3··S
7. ˓was˒ named
8. ˓was˒ named
9. -
10. Y60
11. 112220
1. chosen one messiah
2. Messiah someone
3. G5547 ↗
4. Χριστός
5. χριστός
6. N-····NMS
7. chosen_one/messiah
8. Christ
9. WN
10. Y60; Person=Jesus; F112237
11. 112222
1. in order that
2. that
3. G2443 ↗
4. ἵνα
5. ἵνα
6. C-·······
7. in_order_that
8. in_order_that
9. -
10. Y60
11. 112223
1. not
2. -
3. G3361 ↗
4. μή
5. μή
6. C-·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y60
11. 112224
1. on
2. -
3. G1909 ↗
4. ἐπʼ
5. ἐπί
6. P-·······
7. on
8. on
9. -
10. Y60
11. 112225
1. anothers
2. -
3. G245 ↗
4. ἀλλότριον
5. ἀλλότριος
6. E-····AMS
7. anothers
8. another’s
9. -
10. Y60
11. 112226
1. foundation
2. #foundations
3. G2310 ↗
4. θεμέλιον
5. θεμέλιος
6. N-····AMS
7. foundation
8. foundation
9. -
10. Y60
11. 112227
1. I may be building
2. I be building
3. G3618 ↗
4. οἰκοδομῶ
5. οἰκοδομέω
6. V-SPA1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓may_be˒ building
8. ˱I˲ ˓may_be˒ building
9. -
10. Y60; R105120; Person=Paul
11. 112228

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

OET interlinear ROM 15:20

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

Section 15:14–21: Paul encouraged them and said he was happy with his work/ministry

15:20a

15:20b

15:20c

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)