¹ tn Grk “remember you, always asking.”

² tn Grk “succeed in coming to you in the will of God.”

³ tn This verb is parallel to the verbs in vv. 17-18a, so it shares the conditional meaning even though the word “if” is not repeated.

⁴ tn Grk “abounded unto.”

⁵ tn Or “was justified.”

⁶ tn Grk “we will certainly also of his resurrection.”

⁷ tn Greek emphasizes the contrast between these two clauses more than can be easily expressed in English.

⁸ tn Or “life-giving.” Grk “the Spirit is life.”

⁹ tn Grk “vessels.” This is the same Greek word used in v. 21.

¹⁰ tn Or “vessels destined for wrath.” The genitive ὀργῆς (orghs) could be taken as a genitive of destination.

¹¹ tn Or possibly “objects of wrath that have fit themselves for destruction.” The form of the participle could be taken either as a passive or middle (reflexive). ExSyn 417-18 argues strongly for the passive sense (which is followed in the translation), stating that “the middle view has little to commend it.” First, καταρτίζω (katartizw) is nowhere else used in the NT as a direct or reflexive middle (a usage which, in any event, is quite rare in the NT). Second, the lexical force of this verb, coupled with the perfect tense, suggests something of a “done deal” (against some commentaries that see these vessels as ready for destruction yet still able to avert disaster). Third, the potter-clay motif seems to have one point: The potter prepares the clay.

¹² tn Grk “vessels.” This is the same Greek word used in v. 21.

¹³ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

¹⁴ tn Traditionally, “Lord of hosts”; Grk “Lord Sabaoth,” which means “Lord of the [heavenly] armies,” sometimes translated more generally as “Lord Almighty.”

¹⁵ sn A quotation from Isa 1:9.

¹⁶ tn Grk “Why? Because not by faith but as though by works.” The verb (“they pursued [it]”) is to be supplied from the preceding verse for the sake of English style; yet a certain literary power is seen in Paul’s laconic style.

¹⁷ tc Most mss, especially the later ones (א² D Ψ 33 Ï sy), read νόμου (nomou, “of the law”) here, echoing Paul’s usage in Rom 3:20, 28 and elsewhere. The qualifying phrase is lacking in א* A B F G 6 629 630 1739 1881 pc lat co. The longer reading thus is weaker externally and internally, being motivated apparently by a need to clarify.

tn Grk “but as by works.”

¹⁸ tn Grk “the stone of stumbling.”

¹⁹ tn Or “the Lord.” The Greek construction, along with the quotation from Joel 2:32 in v. 13 (in which the same “Lord” seems to be in view) suggests that κύριον (kurion) is to be taken as “the Lord,” that is, Yahweh. Cf. D. B. Wallace, “The Semantics and Exegetical Significance of the Object-Complement Construction in the New Testament,” GTJ 6 (1985): 91-112.

²⁰ tn Or “full inclusion”; Grk “their fullness.”

²¹ tn This word comes from the same root as “grace” in the following clause; it means “things graciously given,” “grace-gifts.”

²² tc Some mss insert 16:25-27 at this point. See the tc note at 16:25 for more information.