Sometimes when I look at definitions in a Greek or Hebrew dictionary, I am really struck by one of the synonyms for a word in the passage I am studying. What is probably more often true is that none of definitions is particularly striking, but together they provide an aid for thinking about the passage. I’m going to use Romans 8:32 as an example of a scripture where looking at the Greek simply enriched my understanding of the passage a bit. It says: “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things.”
There are two places in this passage where the Greek includes the word “indeed” and it does not show up in the English translation. This is what the passage would look like if we inserted this word: Who indeed did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not indeed also with him graciously give us all things.” The meaning is not changed, but it is a bit more emphatic.
The word “spare” means to treat leniently or to abstain from using or doing anything. In other words, God was not lenient with Jesus, he used him—with Jesus’ permission!
There’s more than one word in Greek that gets translated “but.” The word used here is a strong word; I usually think of it as “contrariwise.” God did not treat his own son leniently, on the contrary, he gave him up for us.
The word “for” found in the phrase “for us all” is a word that means “for the benefit of,” or “in place of.”
“How will he not also with him…” There are two words in Greek that are translated “with”. One of the words would be equivalent to me asking, “Do you want to go to the store with me?” I’m merely asking if you want to accompany me. But the other word, the one used here, would be more like me getting ready to risk something significant and asking “Are you with me on this?” I don’t want someone who will just come along for the ride. I want someone who is one with me. This word conveys a sense of unity—the gift of Jesus includes the gift of “all things.”
The term, “graciously give,” is a word that has “grace” at its root. It refers to giving as a favor—in kindness. It is sometimes used to express pardon, rescue, forgiveness, or deliverance.
After looking at the Greek, I usually write my own paraphrase of the passage. This way I can include any insights I see from the words as a part of the passage. There are no “right” answers in this, and what I notice will vary over time depending on what is happening in my life.
Here is an example of this passage paraphrased: Indeed, he was not lenient with his own son; on the contrary, he gave up Jesus to benefit all of us. How indeed could God fail to favor us with all we need in Jesus?
You will notice that the paraphrase is not a word by word translation. It is not meant to be one. It is an expression of what the passage says to me at the time I write it. When I do this, I may or may not meditate on the passage using the paraphrase. With this particular passage the main thing I have meditated on is the whole concept that if God has given me Jesus, the most costly and best possible gift of all, how can I think he would be tight-fisted with anything else I might need?