uW Translation Notes:

General Information:

In 2:7–10 Paul explains what he means when he said in 2:6 that God will “pay back to each according to his deeds.”

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

τοῖς & καθ’ ὑπομονὴν ἔργου ἀγαθοῦ, δόξαν καὶ τιμὴν καὶ ἀφθαρσίαν ζητοῦσιν, ζωὴν αἰώνιον;

˱to˲_the_‹ones› & with endurance ˱in˲_work good glory and honor and indestructibility seeking life eternal

If it would be more natural in your language, you could change the order of these clauses. Alternate translation: “eternal life to those who are seeking glory and honor and incorruptibility according to endurance of good work”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

ζωὴν αἰώνιον

life eternal

Paul is leaving out some of the words that a sentence would need in many languages to be complete. If it would be helpful in your language, you could supply these words from the previous verse. Alternate translation: “eternal life is what God pays back”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τοῖς & ζητοῦσιν

˱to˲_the_‹ones› & seeking

Paul uses seeking to refer to these people as if they were trying to find something. He means that they are trying to live in such a way as to obtain glory and honor and incorruptibility. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternative translation: “to those who … keep trying to attain”

τοῖς & καθ’ ὑπομονὴν ἔργου ἀγαθοῦ, δόξαν καὶ τιμὴν καὶ ἀφθαρσίαν ζητοῦσιν, ζωὴν αἰώνιον

˱to˲_the_‹ones› & with endurance ˱in˲_work good glory and honor and indestructibility seeking life eternal

Here, according to could indicate: (1) the means by which these people are seeking glory and honor and incorruptibility. Alternate translation: “everlasting life to those who, by means of endurance of good work, are seeking glory and honor and incorruptibility” (2) the reason why God gives these people everlasting life. Alternate translation: “because they endure in good work and are seeking glory and honor and incorruptibility, everlasting life”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

καθ’ ὑπομονὴν ἔργου ἀγαθοῦ

with endurance ˱in˲_work good

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of endurance, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “according to the fact that they keep on doing good work”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

δόξαν καὶ τιμὴν καὶ ἀφθαρσίαν

glory and honor and indestructibility

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of glory, honor, and incorruptibility, you could express the same ideas in another way. Alternate translation: “for God to glorify, honor, and cause them to live forever”