The Greek that is translated as “righteous (or: justified) by faith” in English is translated by the Mandarin Chinese Union Version (all editions) as yīn xìn chēng yì (因信称义 / 因信稱義), lit. “because of faith, called (or: pronounced) righteous.” This follows the traditional 4-character style of Chinese proverbs and has become a successfully embraced term.
See also justified by faith.
Barclay Newman, a translator on the teams for both the Good News Bible and the Contemporary English Version, translated passages of the New Testament into English and published them in 2014, “in a publication brief enough to be non-threatening, yet long enough to be taken seriously, and interesting enough to appeal to believers and un-believers alike.” The following is the translation of Luke 24:1-12:
Before Sunday dawned, the women rushed to the tomb,
carrying spices they had prepared.
The stone had been rolled away from the entrance,
and they rushed right in.
Where was the body of the Lord Jesus?
It was nowhere to be seen,
and they didn’t know what to think.
Two men there in shining white garments!
Where did they come from?
Shocked, the women fell to the ground, but the men said:
“The living don’t dwell in tombs of the dead!
Jesus has been raised to life,
and now he’s long gone.
While you were still in Galilee, don’t you remember
he told you he’d be arrested, then executed on a cross,
but three days later he’d rise to life?”
At that very moment, the women recalled
what Jesus had said to them.
Quite a crowd of women had gone to the tomb,
among them: Mary Magdalene, Joanna,
and Mary the mother of James.
They hurried off and informed others,
including the closest followers of Jesus,
who refused to believe such nonsense.
However, Peter raced to the tomb,
but after stooping and looking carefully inside,
he saw only burial clothes.
Still confused, he returned to the others.
Barclay Newman, a translator on the teams for both the Good News Bible and the Contemporary English Version, translated passages of the New Testament into English and published them in 2014, “in a publication brief enough to be non-threatening, yet long enough to be taken seriously, and interesting enough to appeal to believers and un-believers alike.” The following is the translation of Luke 23:50-56:
Joseph Arimathea was honest and earnest,
eagerly awaiting the advent of the Ultimate Kingdom.
Although he was a member of the council,
he had disagreed with their decision to execute Jesus.
Joseph approached Pilate, requesting the body of Jesus.
He removed it from the cross, and wrapped it in a linen cloth,
before placing it in a tomb carved from solid rock —
a pristine tomb, as yet undefiled by death.
Friday had arrived — the Sabbath would commence at sunset.
Those women who had come from Galilee
now followed Joseph and watched
as the body was placed in the tomb.
They wanted to go at once and prepare burial spices,
but their religion required they rest on the Sabbath.
Barclay Newman, a translator on the teams for both the Good News Bible and the Contemporary English Version, translated passages of the New Testament into English and published them in 2014, “in a publication brief enough to be non-threatening, yet long enough to be taken seriously, and interesting enough to appeal to believers and un-believers alike.” The following is the translation of Luke 23:44-49:
The sun stopped shining and shadowy darkness
spread like a shroud from noon to mid afternoon.
The temple curtain split down the middle,
as the final words of Jesus thundered,
“Father, I trust myself to you!”
A Roman soldier witnessed the events and exclaimed,
“Today I’ve seen a truly good man!”
The crowd that had gathered to gape at the gruesome sight,
dispersed and disappeared with broken hearts.
But the close friends of Jesus — especially the women
who had accompanied him from Galilee —
stood at a distance as solemn witnesses.
Barclay Newman, a translator on the teams for both the Good News Bible and the Contemporary English Version, translated passages of the New Testament into English and published them in 2014, “in a publication brief enough to be non-threatening, yet long enough to be taken seriously, and interesting enough to appeal to believers and un-believers alike.” The following is the translation of Luke 23:26-43:
As Jesus was being led away,
some soldiers grabbed a man named Simon Cyrene,
who was on his way home from the fields —
they put the cross on his shoulders,
and forced him to drag it behind Jesus.
A large crowd was following along,
among them some women,
weeping and wailing for him.
Jesus turned toward the women and said:
“Cry for yourselves, not for me, women of Jerusalem!
Someday everyone will agree,
‘It’s better to be barren than blest with children.’
If sparks ignite so quickly when someone is innocent,
a volcano will surely erupt when the nation rebels,
causing people to beg for mountains and hills
to rush to their rescue.”
Two criminals were led out to be executed with Jesus,
and when they reached the place called “Skull,”
each of them was nailed to a cross,
with Jesus in between.
“Father,” prayed Jesus, “forgive these people —
they don’t know what they’re doing.”
While the crowd was stunned and staring at the spectacle,
the soldiers gambled for his garments,
as their leaders hurled spiteful insults,
“He saved others! If he’s God’s Favorite,
then let him save himself.”
“So you’re king of this nation,” mocked the soldiers,
offering Jesus a goblet of wine. “Ok, save yourself!”
On the cross above Jesus was posted a sign:
“Here Hangs Your National Hero!”
One of the dying criminals also insulted Jesus,
“Aren’t you God’s Favorite? Save yourself and us!”
The other criminal replied with a sharp rebuttal,
“Don’t you fear God? This man’s innocent,
but we’re guilty as sin.”
Then turning to Jesus, he said,
“Remember me when you come into power!”
“Today you’ll be with me in paradise,”
Jesus assured the man.
Barclay Newman, a translator on the teams for both the Good News Bible and the Contemporary English Version, translated passages of the New Testament into English and published them in 2014, “in a publication brief enough to be non-threatening, yet long enough to be taken seriously, and interesting enough to appeal to believers and un-believers alike.” The following is the translation of Luke 23:13-25:
Pilate called together the chief priests,
the religious authorities, and all their cohorts.
Then he said:
“You brought Jesus into my court,
accusing him of being a troublemaker.
But you’re witnesses that I’ve found him innocent,
and so has Herod, who sent him back to me.
This man doesn’t deserve the death penalty.
I’ll have him beaten, then released.”
“Kill him! Set Barabbas free!” shouted the angry mob.
Now Barabbas had been in prison,
charged with terrorism and murder.
Pilate wanted to set Jesus free,
so he repeated himself to the mob.
But they shouted even louder,
“Nail him to a cross! Nail him to a cross!”
“What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate once again.
“I’ve found him guilty of nothing deserving death.
I’ll have him beaten and released.”
“Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!”
came the incessant cry of the crowd.
Finally, Pilate gave in to the demands of the frenzied mob.
He freed Barabbas, the terrorist and murderer,
then handed Jesus over to face certain death.
Barclay Newman, a translator on the teams for both the Good News Bible and the Contemporary English Version, translated passages of the New Testament into English and published them in 2014, “in a publication brief enough to be non-threatening, yet long enough to be taken seriously, and interesting enough to appeal to believers and un-believers alike.” The following is the translation of Luke 23:6-12:
Galilee was the magic word,
and since Herod was governor of Galilee,
Pilate decided to send Jesus to Herod,
who was in Jerusalem at the time.
For some while, Herod had wanted to meet Jesus,
and he was really pleased to have this chance.
Maybe Jesus would even work a miracle for him!
Herod questioned Jesus intensely,
but received no answers.
So the priests and professors of religion arose,
accusing Jesus of all kinds of crimes.
Herod and his soldiers made insulting remarks against Jesus,
then placed an expensive robe on him
and sent him back to Pilate.
Although Herod and Pilate
had formerly been fierce enemies,
they now became very good friends.
Barclay Newman, a translator on the teams for both the Good News Bible and the Contemporary English Version, translated passages of the New Testament into English and published them in 2014, “in a publication brief enough to be non-threatening, yet long enough to be taken seriously, and interesting enough to appeal to believers and un-believers alike.” The following is the translation of Luke 23:1-5:
The self-appointed committee of inquisitors
then took Jesus to Governor Pilate of Judea
and started making accusations, “This man is a terrorist!
He’s telling our people not to pay taxes to Rome,
and he claims to be king of our nation!”
“Are you their king?” asked Pilate.
“Those are your words,” Jesus replied.
“Not guilty!” declared Pilate in front of everyone.
But they kept objecting,
“He’s been causing trouble all over Judea,
ever since he came here from Galilee.”