In Greek this verse is also a question, and it is closely related to the one in verse 3. Here again the Good News Translation divides a sentence into two parts. The verb translated despise may also have the meaning “take lightly” or “think lightly of” (New English Bible). His great kindness is literally “the riches of his kindness,” a phrase which the New English Bible renders rather literally as “his wealth of kindness.” The words rendered tolerance (only here and in 3.26 in the Greek New Testament) and patience are synonyms. If any distinction in meaning is to be sought, the first refers to God’s act of holding back his punishment, while the second refers to God’s willingness to endure man’s rejection of him.
It is difficult in some languages to speak of “despising kindness” or “thinking lightly of kindness.” However, one can despise a person or think lightly of God because he is kind. In the same manner it is possible to introduce kindness, tolerance, and patience primarily in terms of event words rather than merely as abstract nouns—for example, “you despise…” or “you think lightly of God because he is very kind and doesn’t punish you right away and puts up with you for a long time.” In some languages tolerance may be expressed in a figurative manner—for example, “has a big heart”—and patience may be “keeps on being the same regardless.” In other languages patience may be “to have a soft heart.” In still other languages tolerance and patience may be translated as “he is slow to judge and he carries you for a long time.”
God is kind because he is trying to lead you to repent is literally “the goodness of God is leading you to repentance.” Most scholars agree that “is leading” must be taken in the sense of “is trying to lead” (many translations “is meant to lead”). The New English Bible interprets “repentance” as “a change of heart.”
Because of the general character of an expression such as you know, it is essential in most languages that you be plural throughout this passage, sometimes with an emphatic “all”—for example, “you all know.”
A term for repentance must certainly focus upon the change in personality. Therefore “to change your hearts,” “to have new hearts,” or even “to think differently” may be satisfactory. On the other hand, one may have specific reference to a change of behavior—for example, “turn away from your sins” or “change and return to God.”
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 .