Paragraph 8:52–59
Jesus’ opponents were angry that he said that he was able to protect people from death. When Jesus then said that he had existed before Abraham, they became so angry that they tried to kill him.
8:52a
Many Greek manuscripts connect this sentence to the previous sentence with a conjunction that is often translated as “therefore.” For example:
At this (New International Version)
Not all Greek manuscripts include this conjunction, but it is implied. You should translate it in the way that is natural in your language. If it is more natural, you may leave it implied, as the Berean Standard Bible has done.
Now we know that You have a demon: Jesus’ opponents had already said that he had a demon (8:48). Now they felt sure that that was true (even though it was not). They thought that what Jesus had just said proved he had a demon. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
Now we are sure that you have a demon. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
This proves to us (excl.) that you have a demon.
-or-
This makes us certain that you have a demon.
we: The pronoun we is exclusive in this context. It does not include Jesus.
You have a demon: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as You have a demon indicates that the speakers thought that an evil spirit controlled or possessed Jesus. They thought that what he had said could not be true, and that an evil spirit had caused him to think and say it. See the note on 8:48. Here are other ways to translate this expression:
you are possessed (Revised English Bible)
-or-
you are possessed by a demon (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
you have a demon in you! (New Century Version)
the Jews: This phrase continues to refer to those people there at the temple who were against Jesus. See 8:48.
8:52b
Abraham died, and so did the prophets: These clauses imply that even though Abraham and the prophets served God, they still died. All the Jewish people admired Abraham as the first ancestor of their people and the friend of God. Yet, although he was such a great man, he died. The prophets were also great men, and they also died.
the prophets: A prophet was someone who told the people words that he heard from God, God’s message. See how you translated this word in 1:21d and 4:19b.
8:52c
yet You say: The word yet introduces a contrast between what had happened in the past and what Jesus said would happen in the future. In the past good people had died, but in the future those who followed Jesus would not die. The speakers did not think that what Jesus said could be true.
anyone who keeps Your word: This expression refers to someone who accepts and obeys Jesus’ teaching. See how you translated this in 8:51b. For example:
’Whoever does what I say….’ (God’s Word)
-or-
‘If anyone obeys my teaching….’ (NET Bible Bible)
8:52d
will never taste death: This phrase means the same as “will never see death” in 8:51b. Use the expression that is natural in your language. There may be an idiom that is natural in this context, or you may translate this phrase without an idiom. For example:
will never meet death
-or-
will never die (Good News Translation)
General Comment on 8:52c–d
These clauses include a quotation inside another quotation. The speakers quoted Jesus’ words in 8:51. They did not use exactly the same words, but the meaning is the same. In some languages it may be natural to use an indirect quotation for the inner quotation. For example:
yet you say that whoever obeys your teaching will never die. (Good News Translation)
-or-
How can you say that no one who obeys your words will ever die? (Contemporary English Version)
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