Por nosotros o Para nosotros?

Question

Which of these 2 sentence is correct & why?

Jesus died for us in order to save us from our sins

1. Jesucristo murió para nosotros para salvarnos de nuestros pecados

2. Jesucristo murió por nosotros para salvarnos de nuestros pecados

Answer 1

I would say "por."

Both the RAE and the Bible are fairly clear on this point

From the RAE

A favor o en defensa de alguien o de algo. Por él daré la vida.

Romanos 5:8 (Reina Valera)

cuando todavía éramos pecadores, Cristo murió por nosotros.

EDIT:

Thanks for clearing that up, Ira. I still don't see the reasoning, but I believe you.

When Christ died, he died because "we were all still sinners." That is to say that he died on behalf of or in defense of (por) all sinners, or rather, that he died on behalf of (por) us. His goal was to save us; that is, he died in order to (para) save us. In sum: He died on our behalf (por nosotros) in order to save us (para salvarnos). Does this explanation shed a bit more light?

Thanks for clearing that up, Ira. I still don't see the reasoning, but I believe you. - --Mariana--, JUN 29, 2010

Great explanation.. - Deanski, JUN 29, 2010

Answer 2

If "for" translates as "on behalf of", you use por. Hence we should use por in this case.

Absolutely right! Hands down. - Lucho, JUN 29, 2010

Thanks. - Deanski, JUN 29, 2010

Great answer Deanski - Izanoni1, JUN 29, 2010

Answer 3

When you do 'something' for 'somebody' you use por so I also go for 'por'.

Answer 4

I'd agree with DR that it's "para" because it's for the benefit of someone, e.g., Este regalo es para ti.

Edit: Please see Izanoni's post for the correct answer.

Answer 5

Good question! This is still tricky for me...

I would say "para", as I think we are "the recipient" of the action or the benefit of the action.

Boy, tough one though - let's see what the pros say.

Answer 6

I would say the second one:

"Jesucristo murió por nosotros para salvarnos de nuestros pecados",

because with "nosotros", goes "por" (for who?), and with the rest of the sentence, where we give the reasons for the action goes "para" (for what reasons?)...

I'm not 100% sure, so please wait for some more answers...