17:33
This verse is very similar to 9:24. See the notes there (9:24a and 9:24b). It is also similar to Mark 8:35. Jesus talked about two types of “life” in this verse: physical, earthly life without God and eternal life with God. It is important to understand this difference in order to understand the verse.
Jesus was talking about two kinds of people:
(a) Some people continue to control what they do here on earth and do not submit to God. Those people will lose the opportunity to live eternally with him.
(b) Some people submit to God and follow his will here on earth. They will live eternally with God.
17:33a
Whoever tries to save his life: The clause Whoever tries to save his life refers to any person who is determined to continue living. Such a person is not willing to suffer and die for Jesus. Instead, he wants to save or preserve his own way of life. Some ways to translate this clause are:
whoever seeks to protect his own life
-or-
If you cling to your life (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
a person who wants to guard his life on this earth
-or-
People who try to save their lives (Contemporary English Version)
See save, Meaning 1, in the Glossary.
In some languages it may be necessary to translate life as a verb. For example:
whoever tries/seeks to continue living
will lose it: The phrase will lose it refers to losing true life, which is life with God that lasts forever. A person who loses his life in this sense will fail to experience it either here on earth or in heaven after he dies. He will eventually lose his physical life because no one can live forever. He will also forfeit the opportunity to gain true life with God.
In some languages, a literal translation of lose may imply that a person misplaces something and is unable to find it. It may also imply that a person who already has eternal life will lose it. Be careful to avoid both these implications. Some ways to express the correct meaning are:
will forfeit true life
-or-
will lose the opportunity to gain eternal life
-or-
will not gain life with God
-or-
will not be able to live forever with God
17:33b
but whoever loses his life will preserve it: This clause indicates that a person who willingly gives up his life on earth will gain eternal life with God in heaven. Other ways to translate this clause are:
…those who lose their lives will save them. (God’s Word)
-or-
…and if you let your life go, you will save it. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
And that person who does not set his heart on his life…he will be given life without end.
The parallel passage in Mark 8:35 says “whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel.” The context here in Luke also implies that Jesus referred to his disciples who lose their lives for him. In some languages it may be necessary to make that explicit. For example:
who loses his life ⌊for me⌋ will save it
-or-
whoever is willing to die ⌊for me⌋ will gain eternal life
In some languages it may be necessary to translate life as a verb. For example:
whoever is willing to die will live forever
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