The Greek text literally reads “the thief,” and Good News Translation and most other translations maintain this expression exactly as the Greek has it. The definite article the does not point to any specific thief, but is simply a part of the parabolic style. The reference is generic, and such an expression as “a thief” or “thieves” may also be used.

Good News Translation and several other translations change the Greek negative expression (literally “does not come except in order to”) into a positive one: comes only in order to.

The verb translated kill is used only here in John’s Gospel; it refers specifically to the killing of animals and literally means “slaughter” (New American Bible). The word destroy is a frequently used Johannine term. In John 3.16 this verb is used intransitively, where it is translated die in Good News Translation. In 6.39 Jesus, speaking of those whom the Father has given him, says I should not lose any of all those he has given me. There the verb “to destroy” is used with the meaning of lose. It may be that here the verb carries more overtones of meaning than its companion verb “to kill”; that is, it may well connote eternal destruction. However, this idea is merely intimated, and should not be expressed in translation. It is better to translate by a general term, such as “to destroy,” rather than to specify “to destroy eternally,” even though this idea may be involved here. In some languages it may be difficult to find a term meaning “destroy” which will contrast with or at least amplify the concept of “kill.” In speaking of the destruction of an animal, “kill” seems to be the strongest term which could be employed, but in some languages a general term, such as “to get rid of” or “to ruin” or “to cause to be no more” may be used.

Good News Translation shifts to the second person you, in place of the Greek third person “they.” This is an important shift, since the persons referred to are Jesus’ followers rather than the Pharisees to whom the parable is addressed (verse 6). Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates “they” by “my sheep.” It may be possible also to render “people” or “they who hear my voice.” The life referred to is eternal life, a central and basic theme of this Gospel.

The expression life in all its fullness (New English Bible “and may have it in all its fullness”) is translated in various ways. Revised Standard Version (“and have it abundantly”) and New American Bible (“and have it to the full”) are fairly close to the form of the Greek. Since in many languages life must be translated by a verb meaning “to live,” it may be necessary here to translate “that they might really live.” The final phrase life in all its fullness may then possibly be translated “that they may live completely” or even “… completely and wonderfully.” Or this idea may be expressed by the use of a negation, for example, “that there may be nothing lacking in their living.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .