15:17 so that the rest of humanity 1 may seek the Lord,
namely, 2 all the Gentiles 3 I have called to be my own,’ 4 says the Lord, 5 who makes these things
1 tn Or “so that all other people.” The use of this term follows Amos 9:11 LXX.
2 tn Here καί (kai) introduces an explanatory clause that explains the preceding phrase “the rest of humanity.” The clause introduced by καί (kai) could also be punctuated in English as a parenthesis.
3 tn Or “all the nations” (in Greek the word for “nation” and “Gentile” is the same).
4 tn Grk “all the Gentiles on whom my name has been called.” Based on well-attested OT usage, the passive of ἐπικαλέω (epikalew) here indicates God’s ownership (“all the Gentiles who belong to me”) or calling (“all the Gentiles whom I have called to be my own”). See L&N 11.28.
5 sn A quotation from Amos 9:11-12 LXX. James demonstrated a high degree of cultural sensitivity when he cited a version of the text (the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament) that Gentiles would use.