TRANSLATION COMPARISON

A Comparison Of Several Modern Translations Based On Romans 3:23-26


Romans 3:23-26 is one of the most important NT passages on Justification and Redemption. A comparison of different translations can sometimes help in understanding the text. A good example is the word translated 'propitiation' in the more literal ESV, NKJV, NASB and 'expiation-atonement-punishment' in other less-literal versions.

Note: the ESV is highlighted because many scholars consider it to be the most accurate translation in print--we use it as the standard for all evaluations and comparisions.
 

ESV

NKJV

NASB

RSV

NIV

NLT-SE

NEB

TM*

AMP**

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 

For all alike have sinned, and are deprived of the divine splendour,

 Since we've compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us,                 

Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives.

and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;

they are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus,

and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 

and all are justified by God’s free grace alone, through his act of liberation in the Person of Christ Jesus.

God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.

[All] are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus,

whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

whom God set forth to be a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,

whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness,
because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;

whom God put forward as an expiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness,
because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins;

God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in
his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished;

For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past,

For God designed him to be the means of expiating sin by his sacrificial death, effective through faith. God meant by this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had overlooked the sins of the past–

God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin. Having faith in him sets us in the clear. God decided on this course of action in full view of the public—to set the world in the clear with himself through the sacrifice of Jesus, finally taking care of the sins he had so patiently endured.

Whom God put forward [before the eyes of all] as a mercy seat and propitiation by His blood [the cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received] through faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment.

It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies him who has faith in Jesus.

he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. 

to demonstrate his justice now in the present, showing that he is himself just and also justifies any man who puts his faith in Jesus.

This is not only clear, but it's now—this is current history! God sets things right. He also makes it possible for us to live in his rightness.

It was to demonstrate and prove at the present time (in the now season) that He Himself is righteous and that He justifies and accepts as righteous him who has [true] faith in Jesus.


* It is easy to see why we do not recommend paraphases like The Message! See translation recommendations.

** The Amplified Bible, an expanded translation.

 

 

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