Paragraph 12:4–7
12:4–5
In these verses Jesus emphasized a contrast between fearing God and fearing people. He used the verb “fear” three times. He also repeated the phrase “I tell you” at the beginning of 12:4 and the end of 12:5. Consider how to make the contrast in these two verses emphatic in your language.
12:4a
I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid: Jesus often used the words I tell you to emphasize what he was about to say. In this context Jesus emphasized the following instruction or command to his disciples. He told them not to be afraid of human beings. Some ways to show this emphasis are:
• As a phrase before Jesus’ statement. For example:
Remember this, my friends, you should not be afraid…
-or-
Listen, my friends, do not be afraid…
• As an emphatic word within Jesus’ statement. For example:
My friends, you should certainly not be afraid…
If you have another way in your language to emphasize a statement or to alert people to listen with special attention, consider using it here. See also the note on 10:12.
My friends: Here Jesus addressed his disciples directly as My friends. In some languages it may be more natural to include this direct address at the beginning of the sentence. For example:
My friends, I tell you…
Jesus was already talking to the disciples when he addressed them as his friends. In some languages it may not be natural to use a direct address like this. You may need to include the information within Jesus’ statement to the disciples. For example:
To you who are my friends I say… (Revised English Bible)
do not be afraid of those who kill the body: In this context the phrase those who kill the body refers to human beings. Human beings are able to kill the disciples’ bodies, but 12:4b–5 implies that they cannot take away the disciples’ eternal life with God. See also the parallel passage in Matthew 10:28, which explicitly mentions the soul.
In some languages it may be unnatural to speak of killing the body. Try to find an expression in your language that refers naturally to physical death and also contrasts with death that lasts forever in hell. For example:
do not be afraid of people, even though they can end your life on this earth
12:4b
and after that can do no more: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as after that can do no more means “after killing the body, they cannot harm you any more.” People can only kill someone’s body; they cannot prevent him from living forever with God. Other ways to translate this expression are:
who can do nothing more to hurt you (New Century Version)
-or-
who…cannot afterward do anything worse (Good News Translation)
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