15:39a
centurion: A centurion was a Roman military officer. He was the leader of eighty to one hundred soldiers. This particular centurion was the officer in charge of crucifying Jesus and the two robbers.
Here are some other ways to translate centurion:
officer
-or-
elder/leader of one hundred soldiers
-or-
soldiers’ chief
-or-
elder/leader of many soldiers
standing there: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as standing there in this context means “who was near” or “who was there.” It is true that this officer was probably standing, but the focus is not on his posture. See how you translated the similar expression at 15:35a–b.
in front of Jesus: The phrase in front of Jesus implies that the Roman officer was facing Jesus and looking at him.
15:39b
saw how He had breathed His last: There is textual issue with this verse. In some Greek manuscripts, there is a word that means “crying out”:
(1) Some Greek manuscripts do not have this word. Most English versions follow these manuscripts. For example, the Good News Bible says:
The army officer…saw how Jesus had died. (Good News Bible)
(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, English Standard Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, New American Standard Bible, NET Bible, New Century Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation, Revised English Bible)
(2) Other Greek manuscripts have this word that means crying out. Only a few English versions follow these manuscripts. For example, the New International Version says:
heard his cry and saw how he died (New International Version, 2011 edition)
(New International Version, King James Version)
It is recommended that you follow option (1), since it has strong manuscript support and most English versions follow this option. However, you should check the major language version in your area. If it follows option (2), then you may want to follow it. Both options have strong manuscript support.
how He had breathed His last: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as how also means “in this way/manner.” It is not exactly clear what this word refers to. Many things about the way Jesus died may have caused the centurion to say what he did in 15:39c. Many events that happened in connection with Jesus’ death may have also cause him to say this. So you should translate this in a general way. For example you could translate 15:39b as:
how Jesus died
-or-
When he saw the way that Jesus died
15:39c
Truly this man was: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Truly literally means “certainly.” The centurion’s use of this word expresses his confidence in what he is about to say about Jesus.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
Certainly, this man was (God’s Word)
-or-
This man really was (Contemporary English Version)
the Son of God: The Bible uses the title Son of God to express the fact that Jesus has the same nature as God. The title also indicates that the relationship between God and Jesus, his Son, is similar in some way to the relationship of human fathers and sons. God does not have a physical body, and he did not create/produce Jesus the way a human father produces a son. Jesus existed eternally as the Son with his Father.
In areas where people do not understand the term Son of God in this way, you may wish to include a footnote. For example:
God is the Father of Jesus the Son in a different way than human males are fathers of their sons. The Bible uses the word Son to express the fact that Jesus has the same nature as God. It also indicates that the relationship between God and Jesus, his Son, is similar in some way to the relationship of human fathers and sons.
In languages where there is no single word for “son,” many translators have used a more general expression, such as:
child of God
Other verses will usually make clear that Jesus was a male child. If you use a descriptive phrase such as “male child of God,” be sure that this expression does not imply that God had another child who was female.
The phrase the Son of God also occurs in 1:1 and 3:11. You should translate it here as you did there.
Some languages must distinguish between “the son of God” and “ son of God.” “The son of God” implies that there is only one. “ son of God” implies one son among several. If you must distinguish this in your language, you should say “the son of God.” (In the commentaries, there is much discussion about whether this should be translated as “the son of God” or “ son of God,” about whether the meaning should come from what the centurion intended or what Mark intended, and if focused on the centurion, whether he understood Jesus as the unique son of God or simply a heroic man or demi-God according to Greco-Roman thought. The Greek grammar here can support translation into English as either “a” or “the” son of God (Colwell’s rule). However, the anarthrous construction highlights the character or nature of being a “son of God.” It is an English issue that forces us to decide between “a” or “the” son of God since English does not support “this man was son of God” (but see New Jerusalem Bible). The distinction between “a son of God” (implying one among many) and “the son of God” (implying unique) need not have been in either the centurion’s or Mark’s mind.)
Paragraph 15:40–41
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