This verse is introduced with the same particles that introduce verse 12. Must always aim at translates a subjunctive in Greek, which most translations take with the force of an imperative. Some Greek manuscripts have this verb in the indicative, “we aim at.” The UBS text committee gives the reading retained in the text a “D” rating, indicating that there is a high degree of doubt concerning it. The choice between the two readings is difficult, but practically all translators apparently prefer to follow the subjunctive. The tense of this subjunctive is present, and the Good News Translation interprets it to have the force of must always aim at.

We must always aim at those things that bring peace is literally “we must pursue those things of peace.” “To pursue peace” is a Semitic idiom which means “to try to live in peace with one’s fellow-man.” The genitive expression “those things of peace” means those things that bring peace (New English Bible “the things that make for peace”).

We must always aim at those things may be translated in some languages as “we must always try to do those things.” Such an expression may be readily combined with the restrictive clause that bring peace, and the first part of verse 19 may then be translated as “we must always try to do what causes peace” or “… causes people to live peacefully together.” In some languages the idea of eliminating “strife” may be an effective way of speaking of “peace” in this type of context—for example, “we must always try to do whatever removes strife.”

That help strengthen one another is a genitive clause in Greek, which the Good News Translation has translated as a verb expression. The strength referred to is, of course, spiritual strength. The final restrictive clause, that help strengthen one another, may be combined with the preceding as “we must always try to do … what helps one another become strong,” “… what causes other believers to become strong,” or “… what causes other people to become strong in their faith.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1973. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .