As already pointed out, in Greek verses 23-25 form a single sentence. The Good News Translation breaks the sentence here and renders the Greek conjunctions “but also” by they were written also. It is best to take the verb which Paul used here (Good News Translation are to be accepted as righteous) as an eschatological reference (that is, a reference to the final day of judgment) rather than as a timeless present. In this verse Paul also makes it clear that the same God who accepted Abraham as righteous is the one who accepts the Christian believer as righteous. Moreover, the Christian’s faith is the same as that which Abraham had, for it is directed toward the God who is able to bring life out of death. Abraham believed in God who was able to bring life out of Sarah’s dead womb; the Christian believes in God who raised Jesus our Lord from death.

The expression they were written also for us may be rendered more appropriately in some languages as “these words also apply to us” or “… speak to us.” The future passive implied in the expression who are to be accepted as righteous may be rendered as “whom God will accept as righteous.” The final relative clause, who believed in him who raised Jesus our Lord from death, may be understood as merely another attributive of us, or it may be understood in a somewhat causal sense—for example, “because we believe in God who raised Jesus our Lord from death,” “… caused Jesus our Lord to come back to life,” or “… to live again.”

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 .