OET interlinear ROM 1:1

1:1a

Paul: The author of this letter is named Paul. He began this letter with his name. This was the normal way to begin a letter at that time in that region.

Paul did not use a sentence here. In some languages it is more natural to introduce the writer in a different way. For example:

From Paul, (CEV)

This letter is from Paul, (NLT)

I, Paul, am writing this letter. I am

a servant of: The Greek word that the BSB translates as servant refers to a slave. Here, this phrase indicates that Paul belonged to Jesus as his slave. Paul served him and completely submitted himself to the authority of Jesus.

People often despised servants or slaves. But when someone called himself a slave of Jesus, as Paul did here, he was not ashamed of it. You may have more than one word to describe servants or slaves. Choose the one that indicates or implies the believer’s good relationship to Jesus. That is why many English versions use the word servant instead of slave.

Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

a slave of (NET)

a worker of/for

If you have translated other books, see how you translated this word in Galatians 1:10, Philippians 1:1, Titus 1:1, or James 1:1.

In some languages, it will be best to translate the word servant as a verb. For example:

I serve

I completely submit to

I do the work of

Christ Jesus: There is a textual issue here about the order of the words Christ Jesus:

1. The correct order is Christ Jesus. (BSB, NIV, GNT, NJB, NASB, NABRE, ESV, NLT, CEV, NET, REB, NCV)

2. The correct order is Jesus Christ. (RSV, KJV, GW)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) because the UBS Greek New Testament supports it.The UB5 says that the order Christ Jesus “is almost certain.”

The order of the words Christ Jesus emphasizes that Jesus is the Christ/Messiah. However, in some languages the order Christ Jesus is not natural. If that is true in your language, emphasize, if possible, the fact that Jesus is the Christ in a natural way. For example:

Jesus, who/he is the Christ

Jesus, the Messiah,

Christ: This name is spelled “Christos” in the Greek language. (The Greek sound spelled ‘ch’ here is similar to a ‘k’ but without making the air stop in the mouth.) Spell the name as people in your language say it, or use the name from the common language in your region.

The word Christ was used as a title. It was the Greek translation of the Hebrew word “Messiah.” It means “the anointed one.” In the Jewish culture a person was anointed by pouring oil on top of his head in a ceremony. This was done to show that God chose him for a special task/job. In the Old Testament, some were anointed to be priests, some to be kings, and some to be prophets. In the Old Testament, “the anointed one” refers to the person whom God promised would save/free his people and rule them.For example, see Isaiah 61:1 and Psalm 2.

Here are other ways to translate Christ:

• Use a title or a descriptive phrase in your language that has the same meaning as Christ. For example:

  God’s Anointed/Chosen One

  the Messiah

  Promised Deliverer

  the Rescuer-King whom God appointed

• Transliterate Christ and include a phrase that explains the meaning. For example:

  Karisiti, the appointed one

  Cristo, the King whom God promised to send

• Transliterate Christ and indicate in some way that it is a title. For example:

  the Kirisita

If you do not indicate the meaning of Christ in your translation, you may want to include a footnote to explain it. For example:

The word/title “Christ” refers to the one whom God had promised to send. He would be both king and savior.

Or you may want to explain the meaning in a glossary.

1:1b

called to be an apostle: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as called to be an apostle is literally “(a) called apostle.” Here the word called means “chosen to be given a special benefit or purpose.” God invited Paul to do the work of an apostle (1 Timothy 1:1). Here are other ways to translate this word:

his appointed apostle

an apostle by God’s call/choice

Some languages must use a verb here. For example:

called as an apostle (NASB)

called by God to be an apostle (REB)

God invited me to be an apostle

an apostle whom he/God chose

an apostle: The Greek word that the BSB translates as apostle means a “representative” or “messenger.” It refers to a person whom someone sends with his authority. He is sent to give a message or accomplish a particular task. Here, the word apostle refers to Paul whom Jesus sent as his messenger. Paul’s message was the gospel about Jesus. Here are other ways to translate apostle:

• Translate the meaning. For example:

  his/Jesus’ special representative

  Christ’s/his messenger

  a man whom Jesus Christ sent (on a mission)

  a person with authority from Jesus Christ to do his work

• Use the common word for the word apostle if it is already in use. For example:

  apostol

Use the same term for apostle as you used in the Gospels. (See Mark 6:30 or Luke 6:13.) Be sure that the term you choose for apostle is different from your terms for prophet (1:2) and angel (8:38).

1:1c

This clause also describes Paul (1:1a). God set him apart for the preaching of the gospel. In Greek and the BSB, the sentence continues from 1:1b. But in some languages, a new sentence would be more clear. For example:

God set me apart for his gospel

set apart for the gospel of God: The phrase set apart indicates that God chose Paul from among a group of people to do a specific task. He chose Paul to be a messenger to tell the gospel to the non-Jews (1:5). Here are other ways to translate these words:

separated to serve the gospel of God

he/Jesus/God caused me to dedicate all my life for the gospel of God

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

God set me apart for the gospel about Jesus

See how you translated the phrase set apart in Acts 13:2 or Galatians 1:15.

for: Here the word for introduces a purpose clause. God set Paul apart from other work for the purpose of preaching or sharing the gospel. Here are other ways to translate for:

in order that

The reason he chose me to be an apostle was so thatWestern Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation on TW.

to speak/tell God’s good newsOtomi Back Translation on TW.

the gospel of God: The Greek word that the BSB translates as gospel means “good news” or “announcement of a message that people consider very good.” Here, it refers to the good news that God sent Jesus to save us from wrongdoing and reconcile us to God. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

good/sweet news from God

God’s message/report that causes joy

good news about Jesus Christ that God sent

of God: The word of here indicates that the gospel is from God. See the examples above.