Although in Greek this verse consists of a relative clause, continuing the sentence begun in the previous verse, many modern translators make this into a separate sentence (An American Translation*, Jerusalem Bible). “Who” of the Greek relative clause is rendered God by the Good News Translation and “he” by many other translations. Paul lays down a thesis in this verse which becomes the basis for what he says in verses 7-11: that is, for God will reward every person according to what he has done (see Psalm 62.12). In English the transitional conjunction for seems appropriate at the beginning of verse 6, but this cannot be rendered literally “because” or “since” in view of the fact that the content of verse 6 is not a reason for what has immediately preceded, but merely a continuation of related events.

Although in English the word reward carries only positive connotations, the Greek word has both negative and positive connotations and may refer to payment for evil as well as for good. It is not easy to find a completely appropriate term for will reward. In general one must use some such term as “recompense” or “pay back,” in order to suggest that what God will do for people is in direct proportion, or in line with, the manner in which they have acted. In verse 6 it may be necessary to employ plural references, rather than singular ones, in order to indicate that God’s reward applies to all persons. Although every person is grammatically singular, it is semantically plural.

What he has done is literally “his works,” a term which Paul defines in verses 7-10. Many feel that Paul is contradicting himself by the mention of God’s rewarding every person according to what he has done, but it is clear that Paul himself sees no conflict between what he says here and his affirmation of “justification by faith” later. Here Paul is not speaking of the works by which one attempts to earn salvation, but rather of the sort of works that grow out of a right relationship already established with God. The “works” mentioned in verses 7 and 10 are the necessary outcome of a right relationship with 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 .