9:35a
Sitting down: The words Sitting down indicate that Jesus was getting ready to teach. It does not mean that Jesus was tired or wanted to rest. In some languages, it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:
Sitting down to teach
-or-
So Jesus sat down to teach
Jesus called the Twelve: The word called indicates that Jesus summoned the disciples to come and listen.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
told the twelve disciples to gather around him (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
summoned the twelve disciples
-or-
called the Twelve to him (New Jerusalem Bible)
the Twelve: The phrase the Twelve refers to Jesus’ twelve disciples. The Good News Bible says:
the twelve disciples
See how you translated this phrase in 4:10a.
9:35b–d
If anyone wants to be first, he must be the last of all and the servant of all: The words first and last refer to ranking or status. They refer to the most and least important person. These words do not refer to time (like the first one to come) or location (like the first one in a line).
Here are some other ways to translate this:
Whoever wants to be first must place himself last of all and be the servant of all. (Good News Bible)
-or-
Whoever wants to be the most important person must take the last place and be a servant to everyone else. (God’s Word)
-or-
If you want the place of honor, you must become a slave and serve others! (Contemporary English Version)
anyone: The word anyone implies anyone among you. A follower of Christ who wants to become the leader of other believers must take the position of the least important servant. He must serve his companions.
the servant of all: The expression the servant of all refers to serving or helping other people. It does not refer to taking a job as a servant.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
serve all others
-or-
be like a servant of everyone else
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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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