18:17a
Truly I tell you: The clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Truly I tell you is literally “Amen I tell you.” Jesus often used this clause to introduce a statement that he wanted to emphasize. It indicates that the statement was important and people should listen carefully to it. It implies that the statement is totally reliable because it is based on Jesus’ own authority.
In this context Jesus used the words Truly I tell you to introduce the serious warning that whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it. The pronoun you is a plural pronoun.
See how you translated Truly I tell you in 4:24. In some languages you may need to translate it differently in different contexts. Do not translate in a way that implies that Jesus had not been telling the truth at other times.
Here are some ways to translate the phrase in this context:
I assure you that…
-or-
Listen carefully, because this is important/true:
If you have another way in your language to emphasize an important statement that is totally reliable, consider using it here.
18:17b–c
anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it: The word receive means “accept, welcome.” A person must be willing to accept and welcome God as the ruler in his life. He must be part of the group of people who accept God’s authority.
The word enter figuratively refers to becoming a person whom God rules and cares for as his king. If a person does not welcome God to rule over him, God will not allow that person to belong to His kingdom. This is an emphatic statement. Some other ways to translate it are:
whoever does not accept God’s ruling over him the way a child accepts it, he absolutely will not be included in God’s kingdom
-or-
people who will not depend on God like children will not become his people in his Kingdom
The word enter is used in a similar way in 18:24. See also kingdom of God, Context 1, in the Glossary.
not…never: In some languages, two negatives such as this may be confusing. Here are some ways you might translate this phrase without using two negatives:
God will accept into his kingdom only those people who will accept his rule as if they were children
-or-
no one will be included in the kingdom of God unless he welcomes God’s rule ⌊in his life⌋ as a child does
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