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InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
Rom C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16
Rom 1 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18 V19 V20 V21 V22 V23 V24 V26 V27 V28 V29 V30 V31 V32
OET (OET-LV) who exchanged the truth of_ the _god into the falsehood, and were_worshipped and serving unto_the creation contrary_to the one having_created it, who is blessed to the ages.
Truly.
OET (OET-RV) as they exchanged God’s truth for a lie and now worshipped and served the creation, instead of the creator who should be praised throughout the ages. May it be so.
In this section, Paul said that it is clear that God is angry about the bad things that people do. God has shown all people who he is, but they have rejected him. So they became fools and worshiped things instead of God. And so God put them under the control of sinful desires even more.
Here are other possible headings for this section:
The reason why God is angry with people
God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness (ESV)
People do what is not right in God’s sight and so God is angry
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie,
They changed from believing the truths about God to believing a lie.
They have stopped believing what is true about God and started believing a lie.
They: The Greek word here is literally “who.” There are two ways to interpret it here:
It introduces something more that is said about these people. Here it introduces a condemnation of ungodly people that is similar to 1:23. For example:
They (BSB) (BSB, NIV, GNT, KJV, NABRE, NLT, GW, CEV, NET, REB, NCV)
It introduces a reason for what Paul said in 1:24. For example:
because they (RSV) (RSV, NJB, ESV, NASB)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because 1:25a repeats the general sense of 1:23 rather than giving a reason for anything Paul said in 1:24.Cranfield (page 123). Dunn, Jewett, Fitzmyer, and Moo also support interpretation (1).
exchanged: This word refers to replacing something with something else. See how you translated this word in 1:23.
the truth of God: This phrase refers to things that people can know about God by looking at creation (1:19–21). It does not refer to the gospel of Jesus.
for a lie: The Greek phrase here includes the Greek article, sometimes translated as “the.” It probably refers to the idols made in the images of man and creatures (1:23). But those idols are not explicitly called a lie there, so all the English versions on TW translate it as the BSB does.
and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator,
They also honored and obeyed a created being instead of the Being who created all things,
They also praised something that someone made and followed it instead of praising the One/Person who made all things and following him.
worshiped: The Greek word here refers to honoring someone as God as well as having awe for that person. The Greek word includes religious acts that in English are called “worship.” Here are other ways to translate this Greek word:
offered reverence (REB)
honored and were in awe of
served: This word refers to doing religious duties. It includes praying, worshiping, and doing what the god required someone to do. Here are other ways to translate this word:
did the work of
obeyed/followed
creature: This word refers to any created being: people, animals, fish, and so on, as in 1:23. Here are other ways to translate this word:
the beings of God’s creation
the things God created (NLT)
what God has created (GNT)
Creator: This word refers to the one who created all things: God. Paul used this word here to compare against the word “creature.” Here are other ways to translate this word:
the One who created everything
God, he who made all things there areOtomi Back Translation on TW.
him who created (them)Tagbanwa Back Translation on TW.
who is forever worthy of praise! Amen.
he/who is always praised! It is true.
His people and angels always praise him, now and for all the time. Amen/True!
who is forever worthy of praise: This clause tells the reader more about God. It does not separate God from other gods. For the correct meaning in some languages, translators must avoid the word who. For example:
He is blessed forever.
is forever worthy of praise: The Greek word that the BSB translates as worthy of praise here means “blessed” or “honored.” People and the angels and other creatures of heaven are praising and will always praise and honor God.
The phrase worthy of praise describes God. Some languages must use a verb instead. For example:
who is praised forever
whom his people and angels praise/bless always
forever: The Greek is literally “into the ages.” It refers to all time in the future.
Amen: The word Amen is a Hebrew word that means “even so” or “it is true.” It is used to agree with what was said. The Greek borrowed the Hebrew word. English borrowed this word as well.
In some languages people are not familiar with this word. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
Translate the meaning. For example:
It is so.
True!
Borrow this word and spell it as people in your language would say it. You may then want to explain its meaning in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:
The word “amen” means “even so” or “it is true.”
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
οἵτινες μετήλλαξαν τὴν ἀλήθειαν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν τῷ ψεύδει
who exchanged (Some words not found in SR-GNT: οἵτινες μετήλλαξαν τήν ἀλήθειαν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν τῷ ψεύδει καί ἐσεβάσθησαν καί ἐλάτρευσαν τῇ κτίσει παρά τόν κτίσαντα ὅς ἐστίν εὐλογητός εἰς τούς αἰῶνας Ἀμήν)
Paul uses exchanged to describe the actions of these ungodly people as if they were exchanging goods or money. Paul means that they stopped believing what is true about God and started believing in idols, which are false gods. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. See how you translated exchanged in [1:23](../01/23.md). Alternate translation: [these people refused to trust what God says is true and accepted what is false]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
τὴν ἀλήθειαν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν τῷ ψεύδει
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οἵτινες μετήλλαξαν τήν ἀλήθειαν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν τῷ ψεύδει καί ἐσεβάσθησαν καί ἐλάτρευσαν τῇ κτίσει παρά τόν κτίσαντα ὅς ἐστίν εὐλογητός εἰς τούς αἰῶνας Ἀμήν)
If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of truth and lie, you could express the same ideas in another way. Alternate translation: [what is correct about God for what is incorrect]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession
τὴν ἀλήθειαν τοῦ Θεοῦ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οἵτινες μετήλλαξαν τήν ἀλήθειαν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν τῷ ψεύδει καί ἐσεβάσθησαν καί ἐλάτρευσαν τῇ κτίσει παρά τόν κτίσαντα ὅς ἐστίν εὐλογητός εἰς τούς αἰῶνας Ἀμήν)
Paul is using the possessive form to describe truth that is about God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: [the truth about God]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet
ἐσεβάσθησαν καὶ ἐλάτρευσαν
˓were˒_worshipped (Some words not found in SR-GNT: οἵτινες μετήλλαξαν τήν ἀλήθειαν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν τῷ ψεύδει καί ἐσεβάσθησαν καί ἐλάτρευσαν τῇ κτίσει παρά τόν κτίσαντα ὅς ἐστίν εὐλογητός εἰς τούς αἰῶνας Ἀμήν)
These two phrases mean basically the same thing. Paul uses them to emphasize that these people completely rejected worshiping the true God. If your language does not use repetition in this way, you could combine these phrases. Alternate translation: [wholeheartedly worshiped]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
τῇ κτίσει
˱unto˲_the creation
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of creation, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [what was created]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / distinguish
τὸν κτίσαντα, ὅς ἐστιν εὐλογητὸς εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οἵτινες μετήλλαξαν τήν ἀλήθειαν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν τῷ ψεύδει καί ἐσεβάσθησαν καί ἐλάτρευσαν τῇ κτίσει παρά τόν κτίσαντα ὅς ἐστίν εὐλογητός εἰς τούς αἰῶνας Ἀμήν)
This phrase gives further information about the Creator. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make the relationship between these phrases clearer. Alternate translation: [the Creator God who is blessed to eternity]
Note 7 topic: translate-blessing
ὅς ἐστιν εὐλογητὸς εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας
who (Some words not found in SR-GNT: οἵτινες μετήλλαξαν τήν ἀλήθειαν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν τῷ ψεύδει καί ἐσεβάσθησαν καί ἐλάτρευσαν τῇ κτίσει παρά τόν κτίσαντα ὅς ἐστίν εὐλογητός εἰς τούς αἰῶνας Ἀμήν)
After naming the Creator, Paul adds a blessing. Use a form that people would recognize as a blessing in your language. Alternate translation: [may he be blessed to eternity]
Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj
εὐλογητὸς
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: οἵτινες μετήλλαξαν τήν ἀλήθειαν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν τῷ ψεύδει καί ἐσεβάσθησαν καί ἐλάτρευσαν τῇ κτίσει παρά τόν κτίσαντα ὅς ἐστίν εὐλογητός εἰς τούς αἰῶνας Ἀμήν)
Paul is using the adjective blessed as a noun in order to describe the Creator. If your language does not use adjectives in the same way, you could translate this with a noun phrase. Alternate translation: [the Blessed One]
OET (OET-LV) who exchanged the truth of_ the _god into the falsehood, and were_worshipped and serving unto_the creation contrary_to the one having_created it, who is blessed to the ages.
Truly.
OET (OET-RV) as they exchanged God’s truth for a lie and now worshipped and served the creation, instead of the creator who should be praised throughout the ages. May it be so.
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.
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