Lectionary Year A
March 28, 2002
John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Initial Acquaintance/Rough Translation


A. Comparing Translations

(JW)Comparing Translations - Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New Living Translation

vs.1 RSV: …having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
NIV: Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
NLT: He now showed his disciples the full extent of his love.
...agaphsas tous idious tous en tw kosmw eis telos hgaphsen autous.

vs.2 RSV: And during supper…
NIV: The evening meal was being served…
NLT: It was time for supper…
... kai deipon ginomenou

vs.7 RSV: What I am doing you do not know now, but afterward you will understand.
NIV: You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.
NLT: You don't understand now why I am doing it; someday you will.
...gnwsh de meta tauta.

vs.17 RSV: If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
NIV: Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
NLT: You know these things - now do them! That is the path of blessing.
... ei tauta oidate, makario este ean poihte auta.


(CA)
The three English translations of the pericope compared in the highlights below are the Revised Standard Version (RSV), The New Jerusalem Bible (NJB) and Peterson's "The Message" (Mes).

2 RSV "the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas…to betray him"
NJB "the devil had already put it into the mind of Judas…to betray him"
Mes "The Devil by now had Judas…firmly in his grip, all set for the betrayal"

10 RSV "He who has bathed does not need to wash except for his feet"
NJB "No one who has had a bath needs washing"
Mes "If you've had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed Now my concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene."

15 RSV "For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you."
NJB "I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you."
Mes "I've laid down a pattern for you. What I've done, you do. I'm only pointing out the obvious.

16 RSV "servant..not greater than his master, nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.
NJB "no servant is greater than his master, no messenger is greater than….who sent him."
Mes "servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn't give orders to the employer."

17 RSV "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them."
NJB "Now that you know this, blessed are you if you behave accordingly."
Mes "If you understand what I'm telling you, act like it - and live a blessed life."

A cursory review of the above translations raises the following points for consideration during the exegetical work on this passage:

- What are the roles of evil and "holiness" in this Passover event?
- What is the significance of the role "reversal" - Jesus as a servant washing his disciples feet - juxtaposed to a servant not being greater than the master. What does this mean?
- What is this understanding that the disciples are to have?

(CB)
I have chosen to compare the New International Version (NIV), the Revised Standard Version (RSV), and The Living Bible (LB) Bibles for comparison.

Verse 1 NIV It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.

RSV Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

LB Jesus knew on the evening of Passover Day that it would be his last night on earth before returning to his Father.

Verse 2 NIV The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.

RSV And during supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him,

LB During supper the devil had already suggested to Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, that this was the night to carry out his plan to betray Jesus.

Verse 5 NIV After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

RSV Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded.

LB poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel he had around him.

B. Textual Criticism

(JW)Verse 13:2 offers a textual difficulty as shown in Nestle's critical apparatus. The form of ginomai chosen to be included in the text is the Present Middle Passive Deponent Participle, which might read "during." This would imply that Jesus began the footwashing during the evening meal. The alternative rendering is in the 2nd Aorist Middle/Deponent Participle, which might read "being ended." This could imply that the meal was over, which wouldn't fit well with the rest of the passage that goes on to talk about Jesus' offering the bread and wine after the footwashing. Also this second more difficult reading does have some Alexandrian support, the first reading has more, and was used for logical contextual reasons.

(CA)While the pericope has ample text critical notes, only a few are presented here. In verse 2, six Alexandrian sources support dei,pnou ginome,nou, the present middle/deponent form of the participle meaning "during supper." A minority of 2 Alexandrian sources find the aorist middle/deponent form genome,nou, which would translate "supper being ended." In his textual commentary (239) Metzger says that this would be the more difficult reading because it contradicts the time frame shown in verses 4 and 26. On the basis of external evidence (the quantity of Alexandrian sources favoring the present form), the editors' decision seems appropriate.

In the same verse 2, two Alexandrian sources support the editors' text of i[na paradoi/ auvto.n, "that he might hand him over," the Aorist Active Subjunctive form of the verb. Four Alexandrian sources support the alternative present active subjunctive form of the verb paradw. The editors' choice of the minority aorist form is interesting. According to Machen (131) the aorist form of the subjunctive is the simpler form over the present, because it does not indicate duration as the present tense form does. On the basis of external evidence, the present tense form seems appropriate: the use of the present participle would seem the more difficult reading also.

In verse 6, after le,gei auvtw, four Alexandrian sources insert the pronoun "that" ekeivos. Two Alexandrian sources support the text that leaves out "that" which would add a word and make what follows an indirect quotation. The "shortest reading" would make the editors' choice appropriate.


(CB)
This passage is rich with textual criticism emendations of insertions or omissions of words and phrases, alternative readings, and transposition of word order in a single word or in complete phrases. In verse 3, there is an insertion of o Ihsouj after eidwj, which is supported by 5 Alexandrian, first order witnesses for the Gospel of John. A second, alternative insertion suggests de o Ihsouj is supported by one first order witness. The Nestle-Aland text, as edited, notes seven Alexandrian witnesses, including to significant papyri, to support its editorial decision to omit the insertion of "Jesus." Therefore, according to the external evidence, I would concur with the Nestle-Aland text in rendering the passage without the addition of "Jesus."

In verse 1, the phrase tou kosmou toutou, indicates a transposition of words, toutou kosmou tou, in one significant first order witness. As the Nestle-Aland text fails to give supporting evidence for the editorial choice as rendered, it is determined that all other significant Alexandrian witnesses reflect the choice given. Therefore, I would concur that the phrase, tou kosmou toutou, remain as indicated in the text.

C. Rough Translation



(JEA)

13:1 And before the feast of the Passover Jesus having known that his hour came in order that he might migrate (Gr. "metabaino">depart, move out, change location) out of this cosmos toward the Father, having loved the his-own-ones, the ones in the comos, them he loved into the end. 2) And as the evening meal came about, already Diabolos having cast into the heart in order that Judas Iscariot might betray (Gr. "paradidomi"> give over, deliver to) him, 3) (Jesus?) having known that all things the Father gave (Gr. "didomi") to him into the hands and that from God he went out and toward God he leads, 4) he is raised (Gr. "egeiro" t.t. 3rd. p.s. pres. pass. ind. "is resurrected [by God?]??) out of the supper and places his garments and having taken a towel he girded (Gr. "diazonummi") himself. 5) Then he casts water into the wash basin (Gr. "nipter") and began to wash the feet of his disciples and to wipe them off thoroughly by means of the towel with respect to which he was being girded (periphrastic tense, divine passive>customarily girded by God?). 6) Therefore he comes (deponent verb) to Peter; he (Peter?) says to him, "Lord, you wash my feet?" 7) Jesus having answered also said to him, "What thing I am doing you do not know now, but (Gr. "de") you will know after these things." 8) Peter says to him, "Not ever may you wash (Gr. "nipto" aor. imperative!) my feet into eternity." Jesus responded to him, "If I may not wash you, you do not have a part with me." 9) Simon Peter says to him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also the hands and the head." 10) Jesus says to him, "The one being bathed does not have need except the feet to be washed, but is whole clean one. And you all are clean ones, but not all of you." 11) For he knew (Gr. "edei/oida/eidon/horao" = saw?) the one betraying him; on account of this thing he said, (Gr. "hoti" intro. direct discourse or "that"?) "not all of you are clean ones." 12) Therefore when he washed the feet of them (and) took his garments and sat down (Gr. lit. "fall up"as reclining position at table) again, he said to them, "Do you know what thing I have done to you all? 13) You all voice me "the teacher" and "the Lord," and you all say well, for I am. 14) If, therefore, I washed of you all the feet, the Lord and the teacher," also you all ought of one another to wash the feet. 15) For a demonstration (Gr. "hypodeigma"> "hypodeiknumi" to demonstrate, to indicate) I gave to you all in order that just as I did to you all, you all might do. 16) Truly, truly, I say to you all, not is a slave greater than his lord not an apostle greater than the one having sent him. 17) If these things you all know, blessed-by-God-ones are you all, if you all do them (= act accordingly?)."


(JW)13:1) And before the feast of the Passover Jesus having known that his hour came in order that he might migrate out of this world to the Father, the having loved his own the in the world ones into (the) end he loved them. 2) And during supper, the devil already having cast into the heart in order that Judas Simon of Iscariot might betray him, 3) and he (Jesus) having known that all things gave him the father into the hands and that from God he went out and to God he leads, 4) he is raised out of the supper and places his garments and haven taken a towel he girded himself. 5) Then he casts water into the basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples and to wipe them off thoroughly by means of the towel with respect to which he was girded. 6) Therefore he comes to Simon Peter; he says to him, "Lord, you wash my feet?" 7) Jesus having answered also said to him, "What thing I am doing you do not see now, but you will know after these things." 8) Peter says to him, "Not ever will you wash my feet into eternity. Jesus answered him, "If I may not wash you, you do not have a part with me." 9) Simon Peter says to him, "Lord, not the feet of me only, but also the hands and the head." 10) Jesus says to him, "The one being bathed does not need except the feet to be washed, but is whole clean. And you all are clean ones, but not all of you." 11) For he knew the one betraying him; on account of this thing he said, "not all of you are clean ones."
12) Therefore when he washed the feet of them (and) took his garments and reclined again, he said to them, "Do you know what thing I have done to you all? 13) You voice me "The teacher" and "The lord," and you all say well, for I am 14) If therefore I washed you all's feet the lord and the teacher, also you all ought of one another to wash the feet.15) For a demonstration I gave to you all in order that I did to you also you all might do. 16) Truly, truly, I say to you all, not is a slave greater than the lord of him nor an apostle greater than the one having sent him. 17) If these things you all know, blessed-by-God are you all if you do them.

(CA)
1) And before the feast/festival of the Passover, Jesus having known that it came of him the hour that he might move out from the world this to the Father, having loved his own ones in the world to (the) end he loved them.
2) And supper having begun, the accuser/Devil already having thrown into the heart/mind that he might hand over him Judas of Simon of Iscariot,
3) And having known that all things he gave to him the Father into the hands and that from God he came and to God he leads back,
4) he is raised out from the supper and he puts aside the outer garments and having taken a towel he ties it around himself.
5) Then he throws water into the washbasin and he began to wash the feet of the disciples and to wipe (them) with the towel (with) which he was girded.
6) Then he goes to Simon Peter. He says to him, "Lord, you of me wash the feet?"
7) He answered Jesus and he said to him, "What I do you do not perceive now, but you will understand after these things."
8) He says to him Peter, "Never might you wash of me the feet into the age." He answered Jesus to him, "Unless I wash you, you do not have a share/part with me."
8) He says to him Simon Peter, "Lord, not the feet of me only, but also the hands and the head."
10) He says to him Jesus, "The one having been washed does not have need except the feet to be washed, but he is clean wholly and you all clean you all are, but not all."
11) For he had known the one going to betray him therefore he said that not all clean you all are.
12) When therefore he washed the feet of them [and] he took the garments of him and he reclined again, he said to them, "Do you all know what I have done to you all?"
13) "You all call me 'the Teacher' and 'the Lord,' and well you all say/speak, for I am.
14) If therefore I washed of you all the feet, the Lord and the teacher, also you all ought of one another to wash the feet.
15) For an example I gave to you all because as I did to you all also you all may do.
16) Truly, truly I say to you, he is not a slave greater than the lord of him nor one sent greater than the one sending him.
17) If these things you all know, blessed you all are if you all do them."

(CB)
13:1 But before the festival of Passover having known that his hour came/went in order that to go with out his universe toward the Father, having loved them his own them in to/for universe into end he loved them. 2. and supper came, the devil now having thrown/cast down into the heart in order that to give over him Judas of Simon Iscariot, 3. having known that each/every/all gave the things to/for the father into the hands/authority (* in Nestle-Aland text) and that from/by means of God he came/went out and toward God goes/goes his way. 4. He is raised up out of supper and places/puts the garments and having taken towel wrapped around himself. 5. Then he throws/casts water into the wash basin and he began to wash the feet of the disciples and to dry to/for towel which was wrapped around. 6. Then he comes/goes to Simon Peter. He says to/for him, "Lord, you wash my feet?" 7. Jesus answers and he said to him. "what I do you do not know/understand now/at the present time, but you will know after these things. 8. Peter says to him, "NOT you to wash my feet into the age/eternity. 9. Simon Peter says to him, "Lord, not my feet only but and/also the hands and the head." 10. Jesus says to him, "The being-bathed-one will not have need if/whether/that not the feet to be washed, but it is pure/clean/innocent. And you all are pure/clean/innocent ones, but not all of you." 11. For he knew the one betraying him.. Because of/ on account of this thing he said, "not all of you all are pure/clean innocent ones."


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