3:18a
Whoever believes in Him is not condemned: This refers to any and all people who believe in Jesus, including the readers or listeners. In some languages it is more natural to translate this idea using a second person pronoun. For example:
You (plur.) who believe in him will not be condemned.
believes in Him: 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 this idea in 1:7b, 1:12b, 3:15 and 3:16b. The pronoun Him refers to Jesus.
Here are other ways to translate this idea here:
have faith in God’s Son
-or-
trust in him
-or-
put their faith in him
is not condemned: This is a passive verb phrase. There are at least two ways to translate it:
• Use a passive verb. For example:
People who believe in God’s Son are not judged guilty. (New Century Version)
• Use an active verb with God as the subject. For example:
God will not condemn those who trust his Son.
Use the form that is most natural in your language in this context.
General Comment on 3:18a
In some languages it may be more natural to use a negative in the subject rather than the verb. For example:
No one who has faith in him will be condemned. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
No one who puts his faith in him comes under judgement (Revised English Bible)
3:18b
but whoever does not believe has already been condemned: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as whoever does not believe refers to people who refuse to believe in God’s Son. The object of their disbelief, Jesus, is not stated but is implied from 3:18a. In some languages it is more natural to supply an object. For example:
But everyone who doesn’t have faith in him has already been condemned (Contemporary English Version)
does not believe: The word believe 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 this idea in 3:18a. Here are other ways to translate this idea here:
does not have faith
-or-
do not trust in him
-or-
do not put their faith in him
-or-
the unbeliever (Revised English Bible)
has already been condemned: The word condemned is a passive verb. It indicates that God has judged these people as guilty. There are at least two ways to translate it:
• Use a passive verb. For example:
But those who don’t believe are already condemned (God’s Word)
-or-
Those who do not believe have already been judged guilty (New Century Version)
• Use an active verb. For example:
God has already condemned anyone who will not believe in his Son.
3:18c
because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son: This clause gives the ground or basis for God condemning these people. Those who refuse to believe in God’s Son are condemned by God because they do not believe. Here is another was to translate this clause:
for not having faith in God’s only Son (Contemporary English Version)
has not believed: See the note on the word believed in 3:18a and b and how you translated the idea there. Here are other ways to translate this idea here:
has not trusted
-or-
has not put their faith
-or-
has not put his trust (Revised English Bible)
-or-
they don’t believe (God’s Word)
in the name of: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the name of refers to the person himself. In some languages it is more natural to say it more directly. For example:
in God’s only Son (Revised English Bible)
-or-
in God’s one and only Son (New Century Version)
God’s one and only Son: The phrase God’s one and only Son refers to God’s unique Son, Jesus himself. He shares in God’s actual nature and character. See the note on “his only Son” at 3:16.
Here are other ways to translate this phrase here:
the one and only Son of God (NET Bible)
-or-
God’s one and only Son (New Living Translation (2004))
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