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Legacy Standard Bible Translation Notes
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The Tyndale Center for Bible Translation

NOTES

BIBLE

John 14

1

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.

Μὴ ταρασσέσθω ὑμῶν ἡ καρδία· πιστεύετε εἰς τὸν θεόν, καὶ εἰς ἐμὲ πιστεύετε.

 
2

In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.

ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ τοῦ πατρός μου μοναὶ πολλαί εἰσιν· εἰ δὲ μή, εἶπον ἂν ὑμῖν ὅτι πορεύομαι ἑτοιμάσαι τόπον ὑμῖν·

 
3

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

καὶ ἐὰν πορευθῶ καὶ ἑτοιμάσω τόπον ὑμῖν, πάλιν ἔρχομαι καὶ παραλήμψομαι ὑμᾶς πρὸς ἐμαυτόν, ἵνα ὅπου εἰμὶ ἐγὼ καὶ ὑμεῖς ἦτε.

 
4

And you know the way where I am going.”

καὶ ὅπου ἐγὼ ὑπάγω οἴδατε τὴν ὁδόν.

 
5

Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going. How do we know the way?”

λέγει αὐτῷ Θωμᾶς· Κύριε, οὐκ οἴδαμεν ποῦ ὑπάγεις· πῶς δυνάμεθα τὴν ὁδὸν εἰδέναι;

 
6

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me.

λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ὁδὸς καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια καὶ ἡ ζωή· οὐδεὶς ἔρχεται πρὸς τὸν πατέρα εἰ μὴ διʼ ἐμοῦ.

 
7

If you have come to know Me, you will know My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

εἰ ἐγνώκειτέ με, καὶ τὸν πατέρα μου ἂν ᾔδειτε· ἀπʼ ἄρτι γινώσκετε αὐτὸν καὶ ἑωράκατε αὐτόν.

 
8

Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”

Λέγει αὐτῷ Φίλιππος· Κύριε, δεῖξον ἡμῖν τὸν πατέρα, καὶ ἀρκεῖ ἡμῖν.

 
9

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all so long and have you not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Τοσούτῳ χρόνῳ μεθʼ ὑμῶν εἰμι καὶ οὐκ ἔγνωκάς με, Φίλιππε; ὁ ἑωρακὼς ἐμὲ ἑώρακεν τὸν πατέρα· πῶς σὺ λέγεις· Δεῖξον ἡμῖν τὸν πατέρα;

have you not come to know…
Jesus’ second question starts with the Greek word οὐκ (ouk). In Greek, a question beginning with οὐκ (ouk) expects a positive answer. Philip did know Jesus, and Jesus was simply reminding him of that fact in order to confirm to him that the one who sees Him sees the Father. The translation here with “have you not…” helps to carry this idea accurately into English.

 
10

Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak from Myself, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.

οὐ πιστεύεις ὅτι ἐγὼ ἐν τῷ πατρὶ καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ἐν ἐμοί ἐστιν; τὰ ῥήματα ἃ ἐγὼ λέγω ὑμῖν ἀπʼ ἐμαυτοῦ οὐ λαλῶ, ὁ δὲ πατὴρ ἐν ἐμοὶ μένων ποιεῖ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ.

from Myself
The translation “from Myself” literally renders the Greek construction ἀπʼ ἐμαυτοῦ (ap’ emautou). Jesus is emphasizing that His words are not merely His own, but ultimately represent the Father Himself. Jesus is so perfectly unified with the Father that His words are the Father’s words.

 
11

Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.

πιστεύετέ μοι ὅτι ἐγὼ ἐν τῷ πατρὶ καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ἐν ἐμοί· εἰ δὲ μή, διὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτὰ πιστεύετε.

 
12

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do because I go to the Father.

ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ὁ πιστεύων εἰς ἐμὲ τὰ ἔργα ἃ ἐγὼ ποιῶ κἀκεῖνος ποιήσει, καὶ μείζονα τούτων ποιήσει, ὅτι ἐγὼ πρὸς τὸν πατέρα πορεύομαι·

 
13

Whatever you ask in My name, this will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

καὶ ὅ τι ἂν αἰτήσητε ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί μου τοῦτο ποιήσω, ἵνα δοξασθῇ ὁ πατὴρ ἐν τῷ υἱῷ·

this
The translation “this” is a more precise translation than “that,” because it represents a near demonstrative pronoun in Greek (τοῦτο; touto; “this”), and not the alternative far demonstrative pronoun (ἐκεῖνο; ekeino; “that”). The near demonstrative pronoun means that Jesus is referring specifically back to the request asked of Him. This is a grand promise, as whatever a believer asks of Him, in His name, is precisely what He will do. Jesus’ statement—within the context of Jesus leaving His disciples to return to the presence of the Father—is meant to assure them that He will always sufficiently supply their needs even when He is not physically with them.

 
14

If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

ἐάν τι αἰτήσητέ με ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί μου ἐγὼ ποιήσω.

 
15

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

Ἐὰν ἀγαπᾶτέ με, τὰς ἐντολὰς τὰς ἐμὰς τηρήσετε·

 
16

And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, that He may be with you forever;

κἀγὼ ἐρωτήσω τὸν πατέρα καὶ ἄλλον παράκλητον δώσει ὑμῖν ἵνα ᾖ μεθʼ ὑμῶν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα,

And
This sentence begins in Greek with κἀγὼ (kagō), a crasis (i.e., a combination of two words, similar to a contraction in English) of καὶ (kai; “and”) and ἐγώ (ego; “I”). Thus, “and” is translated at the beginning. “And” here also indicates a sequential progression, as the believers’ asking (v. 14) is closely followed by Jesus’ own asking of the Father. As the Father always answers the prayers of His beloved Son, believers can be fully confident that whatever they ask in His name will be answered.

Advocate
“Advocate” translates the Greek word παράκλητος (paraklētos). In the New Testament, John is the only author to use this word (cf. 14:26; 15:26; 16:7; 1 John 2:1). Although παράκλητος (paraklētos) can mean “helper,” its most basic meaning has to do with someone who comes to another’s aide and mediates or intercedes on their behalf. This is why in 1 John 2:1, Jesus does not merely help the believer but intercedes or advocates on their behalf before the Father.

 
17

the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him. You know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.

τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς ἀληθείας, ὃ ὁ κόσμος οὐ δύναται λαβεῖν, ὅτι οὐ θεωρεῖ αὐτὸ οὐδὲ γινώσκει· ὑμεῖς γινώσκετε αὐτό, ὅτι παρʼ ὑμῖν μένει καὶ ἐν ὑμῖν ἔσται.

 
18

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

Οὐκ ἀφήσω ὑμᾶς ὀρφανούς, ἔρχομαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς.

 
19

After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also.

ἔτι μικρὸν καὶ ὁ κόσμος με οὐκέτι θεωρεῖ, ὑμεῖς δὲ θεωρεῖτέ με, ὅτι ἐγὼ ζῶ καὶ ὑμεῖς ζήσετε.

 
20

On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.

ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ γνώσεσθε ὑμεῖς ὅτι ἐγὼ ἐν τῷ πατρί μου καὶ ὑμεῖς ἐν ἐμοὶ κἀγὼ ἐν ὑμῖν.

 
21

He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”

ὁ ἔχων τὰς ἐντολάς μου καὶ τηρῶν αὐτὰς ἐκεῖνός ἐστιν ὁ ἀγαπῶν με· ὁ δὲ ἀγαπῶν με ἀγαπηθήσεται ὑπὸ τοῦ πατρός μου, κἀγὼ ἀγαπήσω αὐτὸν καὶ ἐμφανίσω αὐτῷ ἐμαυτόν.

 
22

Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?”

λέγει αὐτῷ Ἰούδας, οὐχ ὁ Ἰσκαριώτης· Κύριε, τί γέγονεν ὅτι ἡμῖν μέλλεις ἐμφανίζειν σεαυτὸν καὶ οὐχὶ τῷ κόσμῳ;

 
23

Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling with him.

ἀπεκρίθη Ἰησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ἐάν τις ἀγαπᾷ με τὸν λόγον μου τηρήσει, καὶ ὁ πατήρ μου ἀγαπήσει αὐτόν, καὶ πρὸς αὐτὸν ἐλευσόμεθα καὶ μονὴν παρʼ αὐτῷ ποιησόμεθα.

dwelling
“Dwelling” translates the same word translated “dwelling place” in verse 2 (μονή; monē), which is the only other time it occurs in the New Testament. John could be implying here that the believer’s union with Christ is a foretaste of and connection to their eschatological dwelling with Him.

 
24

He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.

ὁ μὴ ἀγαπῶν με τοὺς λόγους μου οὐ τηρεῖ· καὶ ὁ λόγος ὃν ἀκούετε οὐκ ἔστιν ἐμὸς ἀλλὰ τοῦ πέμψαντός με πατρός.

 
25

“These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you.

Ταῦτα λελάληκα ὑμῖν παρʼ ὑμῖν μένων·

 
26

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

ὁ δὲ παράκλητος, τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον ὃ πέμψει ὁ πατὴρ ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί μου, ἐκεῖνος ὑμᾶς διδάξει πάντα καὶ ὑπομνήσει ὑμᾶς πάντα ἃ εἶπον ὑμῖν.

Advocate
Refer to the discussion on verse 16 above.

 
27

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

εἰρήνην ἀφίημι ὑμῖν, εἰρήνην τὴν ἐμὴν δίδωμι ὑμῖν· οὐ καθὼς ὁ κόσμος δίδωσιν ἐγὼ δίδωμι ὑμῖν. μὴ ταρασσέσθω ὑμῶν ἡ καρδία μηδὲ δειλιάτω.

 
28

You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.

ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἐγὼ εἶπον ὑμῖν· Ὑπάγω καὶ ἔρχομαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς. εἰ ἠγαπᾶτέ με ἐχάρητε ἄν, ὅτι πορεύομαι πρὸς τὸν πατέρα, ὅτι ὁ πατὴρ μείζων μού ἐστιν.

 
29

And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe.

καὶ νῦν εἴρηκα ὑμῖν πρὶν γενέσθαι, ἵνα ὅταν γένηται πιστεύσητε.

 
30

I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me;

οὐκέτι πολλὰ λαλήσω μεθʼ ὑμῶν, ἔρχεται γὰρ ὁ τοῦ κόσμου ἄρχων· καὶ ἐν ἐμοὶ οὐκ ἔχει οὐδέν,

 
31

but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here.

ἀλλʼ ἵνα γνῷ ὁ κόσμος ὅτι ἀγαπῶ τὸν πατέρα, καὶ καθὼς ἐνετείλατο μοι ὁ πατὴρ οὕτως ποιῶ. Ἐγείρεσθε, ἄγωμεν ἐντεῦθεν.

 
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The Hebrew Old Testament is taken from the Unicode/XML Westminster Leningrad Codex
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The Greek New Testament is taken from the Society of Biblical Literature Greek New Testament
Edited by Michael W. Holmes
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