Lectionary Year B
May 25, 2003
John 15:9-17

Initial Acquaintance/Rough Translation

A. Comparing Translations

(JFC) The American Bible Society's Contemporary English Version of 1995, The World English Bible's American Standard Version of 1901 currently being updated and the Revised Standard Version of 1947 differ some as these notes indicate:

9b Remain in my love. - ASV
So remain faithful to my love for you. - CEV
Abide in my love. - RSV

10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; - ASV
If you obey me, I will keep loving you, - CEV
More "abide in my love" - RSV

11b and c that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full. - ASV
to make you as completely happy as I am. - CEV
that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. - RSV

12a "This is my commandment, - ASV and RSV
Now I tell you - CEV

13 Greater love has no man than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.. - ASV and RSV, which, though uses the masculine pronoun instead of "someone"
The greatest way to show love for friends is to die for them. - CEV
17 "I command these things to you, that you may love one another." - ASV
So I command you to love one another. - CEV and RSV

B. Textural Criticism

(JFC) 16b The only redaction worth noting, since most all others are merely changes in word orders, etc., is in this verse's kai. e;qhka u`ma/j, which Papyrus has only the first two words, kai. e;qhka, evidently missing the objective pronoun or thinking it unnecessary. It seems a little incomplete without the u`ma/j, so, even though it reads longer to include it, it seems like it could have originally been included for clarity's sake. Then, for the last two words in this verse, the aorist, active, subjunctive, dw/| u`mi/n, would be altered to a future, active, indicative, dwsei, by some significant editors while others change it further to read, touto poihsw, ina dozasqh o pathr en twuiw, "This do in order to glorify the Father", which seems acceptable, but not necessarily original due to the added length and seemingly likely added for liturgical uses of the passage, perhaps.

C. Rough Translation

(JFC) 9 Just as loved [aorist, active, indicative] me the Father, I also you [pl] loved [aorist, active, indicative]; remain in the love to the [dative] to mine [dative, possessive]. 10 If the commandments of mine you [pl] should keep [aorist, active, subjunctive] you shall remain/stay/abide in the love of mine, because I the commandments of the Father of mine I have kept and remain of His in the love. 11 These (statements) I have said/spoken/proclaimed to you in order that the gladness/joy/happiness in mine in you may be and the joy of yours might be made full. 12 This is the commandment that (is) mine, that you [pl] should love [subjunctive] love one another as I loved [aorist] you [pl]. 13 Greater love (than) this love [accusative] no one has, in order that someone the self/life of his would lay/put [aorist, active, subjunctive] for/on behalf of the friends of his. 14 You friends of mine if you should/would/ do [subjunctive] what I am commanded [present, middle or passive, indicative] of/to you. 15 No more/longer I call you slaves, for the servant not has known [perfect, active, indicative] what does of him the master; but you [pl] I have called [perfect, active, indicative] friends, for all who heard from the Father of mine made known to you [pl]. 16 Not you [nom., pl.] me [acc.] did choose [aorist, middle, indicative], but I chose you and so that you might [subjunctive] go and fruit bear and the fruit of yours might remain, so that whatever you might ask the Father in the name of Me He would/should give [subjunctive] to you [pl]. 17 These (matters) I command [present, middle or passive, indicative] you so that you might/should [subjunctive] love one another.



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