Translation commentary on Acts 15:11

In order to carry through the full impact of the particle with which this verse begins, the Good News Translation has translated No! (so also New English Bible), though one could employ “but,” “on the contrary,” or “surely … not.” In some languages one cannot use a negative such as “no.” Rather, it is necessary to employ an entire negative expression—for example, “that is not the way it should be.” However, the contrast between verses 11 and 10 may be indicated by a connective such as “but on the other hand” or “but in contrast with this.”

The remainder of this verse may be understood in one of three ways: (1) We believe and are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are (saved), a present experience. This viewpoint is also followed by Moffatt, Jerusalem Bible, and New English Bible. (2) “We believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will” (Revised Standard Version), a reference to the future. (3) “We believe we have been saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, just as they have,” a past fact. The reason for these three different interpretations is the use of the aorist infinitive in the Greek phrase “we believe to be saved.” The infinitive “to be saved” may refer to a past fact, a future possibility, or a present reality that expresses a timeless truth; and many modern exegetes believe that this context points more naturally to the last of these possibilities.

Regardless of the tense of the verb selected to render the word believe, this must be satisfactorily combined with the following expression for saved. In languages where an active form is required, one may say “we believe that God saves us.” However, this salvation must also be meaningfully connected to the expression of grace—for example, “God saves us through the kindness (grace or favor) which the Lord Jesus showed us.”

The last clause just as they are may be rendered in some languages as “and God saved them in the same way.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Acts 15:11

15:11a

On the contrary: The Greek word is literally “but.” It indicates strong contrast between the desire of the men who wanted all believers to be circumcised and to follow the laws of Moses and what Peter said here. Other ways to translate this word are:

No! (New International Version)
-or-
However,

In some languages the way the rhetorical question in 15:10 is translated (for example: “do not test God by…”) does not contrast with 15:11 (“we believe we are saved through grace”). If that is true in your language, do not translate the contrast. For example:

We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus. (New Living Translation (2004))

15:11a also explains why the believers should not require Gentile believers to be circumcised. For example, the Revised English Bible introduces 15:11a with:

For (Revised English Bible)

we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved: The phrase “by the grace of the Lord Jesus” probably connects to “to be saved,” but is placed in the front of the clause in Greek to emphasize it. The New Jerusalem Bible places the phrase last to emphasize it:

we believe that we are saved in the same way as they are: through the grace of the Lord Jesus (New Jerusalem Bible)

through the grace of the Lord Jesus:
In Greek, the word grace refers to being kind to people who do not deserve it. Here Jesus has chosen to be kind to people, and not because they have earned it by circumcision or keeping the law. Other ways to translate this word are:

through the kindness of our Lord Jesus
-or-
by the help ⌊as a gift/favor⌋ of our Lord Jesus
-or-
by the favor of our Lord Jesus

In some languages, it is necessary or more natural to translate grace using a verb. For example:

because the Lord Jesus is ⌊voluntarily/freely⌋ kind to us
-or-
because our Lord Jesus favors us
-or-
on the basis that Jesus, the Lord, helps us ⌊as a gift/favor⌋
-or-
because the Lord Jesus behaved toward me in a kind way

See how you translated the word grace in 11:23 or 14:3.

the Lord Jesus: Some English versions adds the pronoun “our.” (In Greek, this phrase is literally the Lord Jesus as in the Berean Standard Bible.) Translate using “our” if this is necessary to be natural in your language.

Lord: This word means “the one in authority over others” or “master.” Jesus rules over all things. See how you translated this word in 1:6 or 14:23.

we are saved: The clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. The context implies either God or Jesus as the one who saves. For example:

⌊God⌋ saved us
-or-
the Lord Jesus saves us (God’s Word)

Some languages can translate using a noun. For example:

we believe our salvation is through the grace…

saved: See how you translated this word in 15:1.

15:11b

just as they are: The pronoun they refers to Gentiles. Both Jews and Gentiles are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus. For example:

just as the Gentiles are (Contemporary English Version)

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