OET interlinear ROM 8:39

8:39a

height…depth: There are several ways to interpret the Greek words that the BSB translates as height and depth:

1. Interpret these words as relating to something connected to the literal sense of these words. For example:

   the heights…the depths (NJB) (BSB, RSV, NIV, NJB, NASB, KJV, ESV, NABRE, NET, REB)

2. It refers to powerful spirits high in the sky and in the earth or sea below. For example:

   powers above…powers below (CEV) (NLT, GW, CEV)

3. It refers to a world high in the sky and a world in the earth below. For example:

   the world above…the world below (GNT) (GNT)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because it is not clear exactly what Paul was thinking of here.Moo, Longenecker, Cranfield, Dunn, Schreiner, Jewett, and Witherington support interpretation (1) in their translations. Many have conjectures about astronomy, astrology, space, and other things. Schreiner (page 465) says, “The terms are spatial but should be interpreted metaphorically in light of the poetic cast of the passage (cf. Ps. 139:8–9; Eph. 3:18…). There is nothing, neither high nor low, in all the created order that can separate believers from the love of God in Christ Jesus.”

These words, height and depth, probably refers to things or beings that are high or deep (without being specific like interpretation (2) or (3)). Here are other ways to translate these words:

things high above…things deep down

nothing above us, nothing below us (NCV)

anything else in all creation: The Greek is more literally “any other created-thing.” It refers to any thing or being that God created. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

any created thing (NJB)

any other creature (NABRE)

8:38–39

8:39b

separate: Here the word separate is used figuratively. It indicates that something prevents God from loving us or makes that love ineffective. See how you translated this word in 8:35.

the love of God: This refers to God loving us. Here it does not refer to us loving him.

8:39c

in Christ Jesus our Lord: The word in here indicates that God showed his love for us by sending Jesus to die on the cross for us (see 5:8). It is in relationship to Jesus that we experience God’s love for us.See Moo (page 547). Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

which we experience because of Cristo Jesus our LordKankanaey Back Translation on TW.

through this Lord of ours Cristo JesusTagbanwa Back Translation on TW.

which he gives us in our relationship to Jesus Christ, our Lord

Christ Jesus: 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. See how you translated this phrase in 8:34.

our Lord: The word Lord refers to someone who has authority over people. Here it indicates that Jesus has authority over believers. See how you translated this phrase in 1:4 or 7:25.

In chapters 9–11 Paul spoke about the fact that most Jews had not accepted Jesus as their promised Messiah at that time. He explained how throughout their history God had always preserved a small portion of them as believers. He also talked about the possibility that their salvation was still close at hand in the gospel.

The fact that many did not believe did not mean that God completely rejected them. Also, it was important that the non-Jewish believers not look down on those Jews, or think too highly of themselves.

Paul described the unbelieving Jews as branches broken off a tree so that different branches, the non-Jewish believers, could be grafted in. But this grafting-in was all based on faith, not on any special qualities of those believers. God hardened the Jews’ hearts in part so that non-Jews would be able to come into the family. That will be true until the full number of non-Jews come in. And in that way all Israel will be saved.

Here are other possible headings for this division:

The plan of God for Jews and Gentiles (Stott)

God’s Justice and Israel’s Future (Witherington)

Israel and the Purposes of God (Kruse)