14:38a
Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation: The clause so that you will not enter into temptation is closely related to the words Watch and pray. Scholars interpret this relationship in two different ways:
(1) The clause tells the purpose for which the disciples should watch and pray. For example:
Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. (Berean Standard Bible)
-or-
Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. (New Living Translation, 1996 edition)
(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, King James Version, New Living Translation, 1996 edition)
(2) The clause tells what the disciples should pray. For example, the Good News Bible says:
pray that you will not fall into temptation
(Good News Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New Century Version)
The word “that” with certain speech verbs can introduce either the purpose or content of the speech, so some English versions are ambiguous. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This seems to fit both the Greek grammar and the context better. However, both interpretations are valid.
Watch and pray: The verbs Watch and pray are plural forms in Greek. This indicates that Jesus was speaking here to all three disciples. They were to continue to stay awake and continue to pray. See the comments on these verbs in 14:34b.
pray: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as pray means “speak to God.” Some languages use different words to refer to specific kinds of prayer, such as requests, thanks, or praise. Here you should use a general term that means “speak” or “talk.”
Avoid a term that may imply magical or meaningless words.
enter into temptation: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as enter into temptation is literally “come into temptation.” The phrase is a figure of speech. It means “yield to temptation.” It implies that when a person is tempted to do something sinful, he agrees to do it.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
so that you will be able to resist temptation
-or-
so that you do not agree to sin when you are tempted
Notice that the second example uses a passive verb. In some languages it may be necessary to use an active verb and make the subject explicit. If that is true in your language, you may supply “Satan” or use an indefinite subject. For example:
so that if Satan tempts you,(plur) you(plur) will not yield
It may also be necessary to indicate what Satan was tempting the disciples to do. For example:
so that you(plur) will not sin when Satan tempts you(plur) to stop trusting me
temptation: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as temptation here refers to an enticement to sin. A temptation is anything that makes a person consider sinning in order to avoid difficulty or receive some benefit.
See how you translated “tempted” at 1:13a. In some languages there may be an idiom to express the idea.
14:38b
For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak: This statement expresses a contrast: a person wants to do what is right but he is not able to do it without God’s help.
Here are some other ways to translate this contrast:
I know that you(plur) want to do what is right, but you(plur) are unable to do it in/by your(plur) own strength.
-or-
Your(plur) heart/mind wants to do something good, but your(plur) body lacks strength.
the spirit…the body: Jesus was referring mainly to the disciples when he talked about the spirit and the body. However, Jesus expressed his statement in a general way that could also apply to other people who try to resist temptation. You may translate either way. Here is one way to refer to people in general:
A person’s spirit is willing, but his body is weak.
the spirit is willing: Jesus did not say what the disciples were willing to do. There are three possibilities:
(1) They were willing to do the right thing.
(2) They were willing to resist sin / temptation.
(3) They were willing to watch.
The Greek text and English versions are ambiguous about this issue. If you are able to translate ambiguously in your language, it is recommended that you do so. If you need to specify what they were willing to do, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).
the spirit: In this context the phrase the spirit refers to the part of a person that thinks and feels and determines his character. It represents the person himself and his own will. In some languages, this may be expressed as:
You(plur)
-or-
People
In some languages speakers use a certain part of a person, such as “heart,” “liver,” or “thoughts,” to express this. If that is true in your language, consider whether you could use that expression here.
but: The connector that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but indicates a contrast. It shows that a person wants to do right, but is not able to resist temptation without God’s help. Express the contrast in a natural way in your language.
the body is weak: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the body is literally “the flesh” (Revised Standard Version). In this context it represents human ability or human strength in general. It includes the physical body and also human self-control. Here it does not represent sinful human nature that is opposed to God.
In some languages a word like body may not be used in such a general way. If that is true in your language, here are some other ways to express the meaning of the phrase the body is weak:
your/their strength is lacking
-or-
they/you are weak
-or-
they/you are unable to do so
Paragraph 14:39–40
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