1:6a
has made us to be a kingdom, priests: There are two issues here.
Issue 1—The Greek text
There is a textual issue here:
(1) The earliest Greek manuscripts have the word “kingdom.”
(2) Some later Greek manuscripts have the word “kings.
It is recommended that you follow option (1).
Issue 2—Meaning
The Greek words are literally “has made us to be a kingdom, priests” (as in the Berean Standard Bible). There are several ways to interpret the Greek phrase:
(1) It indicates that the words priests and kingdom describe the same thing, as in the Revised Standard Version.
(2) It indicates that the kingdom consists of priests. For example:
made us a kingdom of priests (Good News Translation)
(3) It indicates two things unconnected or only loosely connected with each other. He made his people to be a kingdom, and he also made them priests. For example:
He has made us his kingdom and his priests (New Living Translation (1996))
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the Greek words do not have “and” here, nor the grammar indicating “of.” Other ways to translate these words according to interpretation (1) are:
made us a kingdom, ⌊that is,⌋ priests
-or-
made us a kingdom. ⌊He also made us⌋ priests
made us to be a kingdom: These words mean “has caused us to become a united group under one king/leader.” God is the king. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
has caused us to become a nation/tribe/people-group
-or-
has appointed us as a kingdom (NET Bible)
priests to His God and Father: The Greek words are literally “priests to his God and Father” (as in the Berean Standard Bible). This is a metaphor. Believers are like priests.
They are like priests because they serve God as a way of life. They devote themselves to doing what God wants them to do. There are several ways to translate this figure of speech:
• Keep the figure of speech. For example:
priests for God his Father (God’s Word)
• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
to become like priests of his Father God
• Translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:
those who serve/worship God his Father
• Keep the metaphor or simile priests and explain the meaning. For example:
priests serving his God and Father (NET Bible)
Translate this figure of speech in a way that makes the meaning clear in your language. Whether you are able to keep the figure of priests will depend partly on the role and function of priests in your culture. See the following note.
priests: A Jewish priest was a religious leader who:
(a) offered sacrifices to God for the people,
(b) led the people in worship, and
(c) taught the people about God.
Here the word priests refers figuratively to people who serve God as a way of life. They worship God and help others to worship him also. Since Jesus died on the cross as our sacrifice, Christians do not offer sacrifices. If your usual word or phrase for priests focuses on sacrificing animals and food, you should translate the figurative meaning of priests here. For example:
those who always serve God his Father
-or-
people doing his Father God’s will/desire as a way of life
His God and Father: The pronoun His refers to Jesus. The word Father refers to God. In your translation, make sure that it is clear that the phrases His God and Father both refer to the one true God. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
God his Father (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
his God and Father
1:6b
to Him be the glory and power: The Greek words are literally “to him glory and power.” There is no verb in the Greek. The Berean Standard Bible and many other English versions add the verb be. This phrase indicates that John agreed that Jesus had glory and power. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
to him is glory and power
-or-
he is the one who is great and who has power forever
-or-
glory and power belong to him
to Him: The pronoun Him refers to Jesus.
glory: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as glory here refers to the recognition of God having great status. He is greater than anything a person could think of.
power: This word refers to the ability and authority to cause things to happen. It does not refer to physical strength here. The Revised Standard Version translates it as:
dominion
forever and ever: The Greek words are “into the ages of the ages.” It means “always” or “eternally.” Other ways to translate this phrase are:
for evermore
-or-
for all ages to come
Amen: The word Amen is a Hebrew word that means “even so” or “it is true.” It is used to agree with what was said. The Greek borrowed the Hebrew word. English borrowed this word as well.
In some languages people are not familiar with this word. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Translate the meaning. For example:
It is so.
-or-
True!
• Borrow this word and spell it as people in your language would say it. You may then want to explain its meaning in a footnote. An example footnote is:
The word “amen” means “even so” or “it is true.”
General Comment on 1:5d–6b
These clauses contain a description of Jesus Christ and what he has done (1:5d–6a), followed by a call to praise him (1:6b). In some languages it is more natural to translate 1:6b first, and then tell about who Jesus is and what he did (1:5d–6a). For example:
6b Glory and power be to him! 5d He has loved us 5e and shed his blood to free us from our sins! 6a And he has made us into a kingdom, priests to serve his God and Father!
If you do this, you will need to combine the verses as “5–6.”
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