9:24a
For: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For introduces a reason or explanation for what Jesus said in 9:23. In some languages an explicit connecting word or phrase may not be needed. Show this connection in a way that is natural in your language.
whoever wants to save his life will lose it: In this part of the verse the word life and the pronoun it refer to two different meanings of “life.” The word life refers to a person’s own way of life in this world. The pronoun it refers to a person’s true life with God.
whoever wants to save his life: The phrase whoever wants to save his life refers to a person who is not willing to deny himself and suffer for Jesus (9:23). Instead, he wants to save or preserve his own way of life. See save, Meaning 1, in the Glossary. Some ways to translate this are:
whoever wants to protect his own life
-or-
if you want to guard your life on this earth
his life: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as life is literally “soul.” It refers to a person’s inner being or true self, as well as his physical life.
will lose it: The phrase lose it refers to losing true life, that is, life with God that lasts forever. The person will fail to experience that life 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 lose 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
9:24b
whoever loses his life for My sake: The phrase whoever loses his life for My sake refers to anyone who renounces or gives up his right to follow his own way of life in order to follow Jesus. It also includes anyone who dies or is killed for Jesus.
for My sake: The phrase for My sake gives the reason for which a disciple must be willing to give up his own life. He must renounce his own way of life because of his faith in Christ and his desire to obey Christ. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
because you believe in me
-or-
on account of his loyalty to me
-or-
because of his following/serving me
Be careful not to translate the phrase for My sake in the sense of “for my benefit” or “in my place.” That is often the correct meaning in the context of Christ dying for us. It is not correct in the context of a disciple giving up his life for Christ.
will save it: The pronoun it refers to a person’s eternal life with God. The person who gives up his earthly life for Jesus will save himself from spiritual death. He will gain true life with God in this world and in heaven. Some other ways to translate will save it are:
will find true life (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
will gain/experience life that is forever
-or-
will have true life (New Century Version)
See save, Meaning 2, in the Glossary.
General Comment on 9:24a–b
In some languages it may be unnatural or impossible to translate “life” as a noun here. It also may not be natural to refer to it as something that can be lost or kept. Here is an example of how to translate “life” as a verb:
For whoever is determined to keep on living his own way will never truly live. But whoever is willing to stop living for himself in order to devote himself to me will be able to live with God eternally/forever.
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