Lectionary Year A
April 21, 2002
John 10:1-10

Step I: Rough Translation

A. Comparison of translations

(JC)NIV and NRSV

3 watchman vs gatekeeper
10 have it to the full vs. have it abundantly


(RR)For John 10:1-10, the three translations compared are from the NIV., RSV., and the NKJ Versions. The differences are noted in bold type:

Verse 1 (NIV.) "I tell you the truth, the man", (RSV) "Truly, truly I say to you, he", and the (NKJ) "Most assuredly I say to you, he"
Verse 3 (NIV) The Watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice (RSV) To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice (NKJ) To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice.
Verse 5 (NIV) But they will never follow a stranger, in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice. (RSV) A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. (NKJ) Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.
Verse 6 (NIV) Jesus used this figure of speech (RSV) This figure Jesus used with them (NKJ) Jesus used this illustration
Verse 8 (NIV) but the sheep did not listen to them (RSV) but the sheep did not heed them (NKJ) but the sheep did not hear them.
Verse 9 (NIV) I am the gate (RSV) I am the door (NKJ) I am the door
Verse 10 (NIV) I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (RSV) I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (NKJ) I have come that they may have life could have life, and that they could have it more abundantly.
NIV John 10:1 "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them. 7 Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

RSV John 10:1 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber; 2 but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." 6 This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7 So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them. 9 I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

NKJ John 10:1 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 "But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 "To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 "And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 "Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." 6 Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. 7 Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 "All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

B.Textual Criticism

(RR)Most of the text critical notations for the variants of this pericope are not supported by a majority of the Alexandrian Family sources, and so the text is the most strongly witnessed.

Verse 3 the variant kalei is supported by only one Alexandrian Source while the text fwnei has at least eight supporting Alexandrian sources.

Verse 5 the variant akolouqhswsin which is a Aorist Active Subjunctive 3rd Person Plural ( They might have followed ) is supported by nine Alexandrian Sources. The text akolouqnsousin a future active indicative 3rd Person Plural (They will follow) is supported by only four sources. In context, the text is saying "they will not ever follow a stranger." The variant would say, " They might not have followed a stranger." I chose the text because it agrees with the tense of the verb in the second part of the sentence.
Verse 7 the variant uses the word o poimhn , the shepherd instead of the word h qura, the gate. It is supported by one Alexandrian Source and is an early copyist's editorial to simplify the translation.
Verse 8 has two variants, one that omit pantej, (all) and changes the word order from pantej osoi hlqon to osoi hlqon pantej. These are not supported by a majority of Alexandrian sources. The text does have the support of eight Alexandrian sources. The phrase pro emou , (before me) is not supported by a majority of Alexandrian sources, as there is impressive external evidence for the shorter version. The committee made a decision to include the longer version in the text but to enclose it within brackets. I agree with the committee and text because I believe it is the best decision for clarity and impact.

C.Rough Translation

(JEA)
10:1) Truly, truly I say to you all, the one not coming in through the door into the courtyard (corral?) Of the sheep but is the one going up from another place that one is a thief and a robber, 2) but the one coming in through the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3) The door-keeper opens up to this one and the sheep hear his voice and he voices the own sheep according to name and he leads them out. 4) When he throws out all its own he goes before them and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5) And they will not at all follow another one, but they will flee from him because they do not know the voice of the other ones. 6) Jesus spoke to them this cryptic saying (Gr. "para+oi[o]mai"> to think or reflect alongside [perhaps in a non-conventional way?]? is this the johannine equivalent to the synoptic "parabole"? Cf. Also Jn. 16:25, 29), but those did not know what things were which he was speaking to them.

7) Therefore Jesus said again, Truly, truly I say to you all that I am the door of the sheep. 8) All however many came before me are thieves and robbers , but the sheep did not hear them. 9) I am the door; through me if anyone may come in he/she will be saved and he/she will come in and will go out and he/she will find pasture. 10) The thief comes not if not in order that he/she may steal and sacrifice (kill?) and destroy; I came in order that they may have life and that they may have excessively.

(RR)1 Truly truly I say to you, the one not entering through the gate into the sheepfold but coming up at another place that man is a thief and a robber, 2 but the one coming in through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 This gatekeeper opens and the sheep hear the voice of his and he calls ( voices a call) to one's own sheep according to (by) name and he brings them out. 4 When he might bring out all belonging to oneself (his self), he goes in front of them and the sheep follow to him, because they know the voice of his. 5 And they will not ever follow a stranger, but they will flee (run away) from him, because they have not known the voice of strangers. 6 Jesus said this parable (figure of speech) for them but that they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7 Jesus said therefore again (once more), "Truly truly I say to you that I am the gate of the sheep." 8 All whoever came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not heed them. 9 I am the gate. Through me if whoever might enter he will be saved and will enter and will go in and out and will discover pasture. 10 The thief is coming only in order that he might steal and might slaughter (kill) and might destroy. I came in order that they might have life and they might have to the full.

(JC)1 Truly, truly I say to you, the one not coming through the door in the courtyard of the sheep, but coming donw from another place, that one is a thief and a robber.
2 But the one coming through the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 To this one the doorkeeper opens the door and the sheep hear his voice and he calls to his own according to their names and leads them out.
4 Whenever his own are driven out, he goes in front of them and the sheep follow because they know his voice.
5 But a stranger they will not follow but will flee from him because they do not know the stranger's voice.
6 These figures Jesus said to them, but they didn't understand anything he said to them.
7 Therefore Jesus said again, truly, truly I say to you that I am the door of the sheep.
8 However great was everyone who came before me they are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
9 I am the door; whoever came through me will be saved and he will come in and go out and will find pasture.
10 The thief does not come in except to steal and kill and ruin; I come in order that you may have life and have extraordinary life.

(DH) C. ROUGH TRANSLATION
(v.1) Amen, amen, I am saying to you (pl.), the one who is not entering through the door [gate] into the fold of the sheep but is going up by another way, is a thief and a robber. (v.2) But the one who is entering through the door [gate] is shepherd of the sheep. (v.3) To this one the doorkeeper [gatekeeper] is opening up and the sheep are hearing his voice and he is calling [summoning?] his own sheep according to names [by their names] he is leading them out. (v.4) Whenever he brought out [forced out?] all his own, he is going before them and the sheep are following him, because they know his voice. (v.5) Now they will not follow another one [a stranger], but they will run away from him, because they do not know the voice of others [strangers]." (v.6) Jesus spoke this figure of speech [proverb?] to them, but they did not know what the things were, which he was [continued to] saying to them.

(v.7) Then, Jesus said again, "Amen, amen, I am saying to you (pl.): 'I AM the door [gate] of the sheep. (v.8) All the ones, as many as came before me, are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. (v.9) I AM the door [gate]; whoever enters through me will be saved and will enter in and will go out and will find pasture. (v.10) The thief is not coming except in order to steal and to kill and to destroy; I came so that they might have life and that they might have more of it [i.e. life to the full?]."

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