19:35a–d
The one who saw it has testified to this, and his testimony is true. He knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe: This verse is a comment by the author. It is background information, not part of the main story. Some English versions therefore placed it in parentheses. You should indicate that this is background information in a way that is natural in your language.
19:35a
The one who saw it has testified to this: The author indicated that what he just wrote (probably in 19:32–34) came from someone who saw it happen. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
The man who saw it has given testimony (New International Version)
-or-
This is the evidence of one who saw it (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
The one who saw this happen has spoken of it (Good News Translation)
This person who saw the crucifixion testified (told what he saw) about what was written in the previous verses. It is important that your readers understand that the author is confirming the truth of what he just wrote. For example:
This report is from a witness.
-or-
This testimony is written by someone who saw these things happen.
The one who saw it: This clause probably refers to the disciple whom Jesus loved, John himself. It means that he was a witness, someone who had personally seen these things happen. Because John did not identify himself here, you should not either. But you may want to indicate in a footnote that the author was probably referring to himself.
has testified: This phrase refers to what the author wrote in the previous verses. There the author testified about the things that he had seen. See how you translated the verb testified in 1:7, 15.
19:35b
and his testimony is true: The author John assured that his account was accurate. The report or testimony (what he testified) that he wrote in the previous verses was true, faithfully telling the facts. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
What he says/writes is true
-or-
⌊This⌋ testimony ⌊that he is writing⌋ is true/accurate.
-or-
He is testifying truly/faithfully.
-or-
This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account. (New Living Translation (2004))
19:35c
He knows that he is telling the truth: The author John probably refers to himself. This clause says that he knows that what he has written is the truth. He knows that because he wrote about what he saw. He declares that what he wrote about Jesus’ death is true, reliable, and faithfully telling the facts. In some languages it may be natural to indicate that he was writing the truth, rather than speaking it. For example:
he knows that he is writing what really happened
-or-
he knows that what he writes is true
19:35d
so that you also may believe: This clause tells the witness’s purpose in testifying. John indicated that he was testifying about what he saw so that his readers would believe.
you: This pronoun is plural and refers to the readers of the book. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
I know I am telling you (plur.) the truth. I am telling you this so that you will believe ⌊in Christ⌋ .
may believe: This phrase includes the idea of believing the facts about who Jesus was and what he did. But it also includes the idea of trusting Jesus instead of trusting oneself or someone else. Both ideas are very closely related. If someone believes the facts about Jesus, it should result in trusting him. See how you translated the word believe in 1:7, 4:48, and 6:36. Here are other ways to translate this idea:
Now you can have faith too. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
that you might become believers
General Comment on 19:35a–d
In the Greek text 19:35b is at the end of the verse, separated from 19:35a by 19:35b–c. However, the thought of 19:35b is closely connected to 19:35a. Some translations keep the Greek order and indicate that 19:35b–c are parenthetical. For example:
35a He who saw it has borne witness—35c his testimony is true, 35d and he knows that he is telling the truth—35b that you also may believe. (English Standard Version)
-or-
35a And the person who saw it has testified 35c (and his testimony is true, 35d and he knows that he is telling the truth), 35b so that you also may believe. (NET Bible)
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