Lectionary Year A
March 17, 2002
Romans 8:6-11

Initial Acquaintance/Rough Translation

A. Comparing Translations

(JFC) The New English Translation and the Revised Standard Version differ some, according to these notes:

6 For the outlook of the flesh - NET
To set the mind on the flesh - RSV

7c nor is it able to do so. - NET
indeed it cannot. - RSV

10 your body is dead because of sin - NET
although your bodies are dead because of sin - RSV

but the Spirit is your life because of righteousness. - NET
your spirits are alive because of righteousness. - RSV

B. Textual Criticism

(JFC) 10 Between sw/ma and nekro.n, a few redactors place the third person indicative verb estin, which could be understood, as it is in the first phrase in this sentence. Ergo, the inclusion of it as original is seemingly unnecessary.

11 Some more reliable editors omit the article to.n before the proper name of VIhsou/n, although some more reliable witnesses retain it. Perhaps this change could have been original. Then, for Cristo.n evk nekrw/n, some rather important witnesses read evk nekrw/n Cristo.n, while others read C Is ek, and still others add an article and read ton C ek n, while still more reliable editors retain the text as printed. Metzger's Committee (TCGNT) finds this last suggestion the most likely to have been original, explaining the other variants must be due to scribal attempts to get the verse more parallel. Next, a few witnesses omit the next kai., evidently in order to make the two verbs more emphatic. Such could be original to make the verbs more noticeable, I suppose. Then, for tou/ evnoikou/ntoj auvtou/ pneu,matoj, several important editors read to evnoikou/n auvtou/ pneu,ma, which might make better sense, except, other rather reliable witnesses keep the text as received, as do Metzger's Committee members prefer. Then, too, the ICC says, "On the whole the preponderance seems to be slightly on the side of the gen., but neither reading can be ignored. Intrinsically the one reading is not clearly preferably to the other. St. Paul might have used equally well either form of expression." We'll see.

C. Rough Translation

(JFC) 6 For the way of thinking of flesh/human way of thinking (leads to/is/brings) death, but the way of thinking of (the) Spirit (leads to/is/brings) life and peace; 7 for the way of thinking of the flesh (is/brings) hostility to/for God, for the Law of the/this God not is subject/put under the authority of , for nor is it enabled (present, middle or passive, indicative); 8 but the ones in flesh being God to please (aorist, active, infinitive) not enabled/capable of (present, middle or passive, indicative). 9 But you not are in (the) flesh but in (the) Spirit, since/if it is true that (the) Spirit of God lives in you. But if anyone (the) Spirit of Christ not has, this one not is of Him. 10 But if Christ (is) in you (plural), then the body of yours (is) dead through sin but (the) Spirit (is/brings) life through righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of the One who raised (aorist, active, participle) the Christ from dead lives in you, the One who raised (aorist, active, participle) Christ from dead will make alive/give life (future, active, indicative) to and the mortal bodies (plural) of yours through the One who is living (present, active, participle) of whose Spirit (is) in you.

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