Section 9:38–41

Jesus told who is for him and who is against him

In this section, the disciple John told Jesus that he and the other disciples had tried to stop a man from expelling demons in Jesus’ name. They did this because the man was not one of the twelve disciples. Jesus then taught them that many people other than the twelve disciples were following him. He said that all of these people will be rewarded for what they do in his name.

It is good to translate this section before you decide on a heading for it.

Here are some other possible headings for this section heading:

Jesus told who is on his side and who is on the side against him
-or-
Whoever Is Not Against Us Is For Us (New International Version)
-or-
On using the name of Jesus (New Jerusalem Bible)

The parallel passage for this section is in Luke 9:49–50.

Paragraph 9:38–41

9:38a

This is the beginning of a new story. It may be necessary in your language to introduce a new story in some way. For example, the New Century Version has:

Then John said…

John said to Him: Some Greek manuscripts say “John answered” (as in the King James Version). This indicates that John responded to Jesus’ words and deeds in 9:33–37. Other Greek manuscripts say said. Many English versions use the verb said here, and it is recommended that you do the same.

John: Here the name John refers to one of Jesus’ twelve disciples. It does not refer to John the Baptist. If people in your area will think that this name refers to John the Baptist, you may want to include some implied information. For example:

the disciple John

See how you translated the name John in 9:2a.

Teacher: The disciples and others often called Jesus Teacher. This was a polite title for a Jewish religious leader. It was a title of respect for a Jewish man who had authority to teach the things about God. It does not mean “school teacher.” See how you translated this term of address in 4:38c and 9:17b.

9:38b

driving out demons: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as driving out is literally “casting/throwing out.” This is the same word as in 9:18e. The term driving out demons means to cause demons to stop controlling a person.

Jewish people often spoke of demons as being in someone. Different cultures have different ways of speaking about people being controlled by demons and being released from the control of demons. Use a natural expression for this in your language.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

forcing demons out (God’s Word)
-or-
causing demons to leave people
-or-
sending demons away
-or-
exorcizing demons
-or-
freeing people who were controlled by demons

See how you translated the similar phrase “drove out demons” in 1:34b.

demons: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as demons refers to spirits that are evil and can control people’s actions. The word demons refers to the same type of spirits as the Greek terms that are often translated as “evil spirits” and “unclean spirits.”

Here are some other ways to translate demons:

• Use a general term in your language that refers to spirits that are evil and can control people.

• Use a specific term in your language that refers to a certain type of spirit. These spirits should be able to do evil things. Do not use a term that refers to the spirits of dead people.

• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:

evil/bad spirits
-or-
unclean spirits

Be sure that an expression like “unclean spirits” does not imply that the spirits are literally dirty.

See how you translated the word demons in 1:34b or 7:26c. See evil spirit in the Glossary for more information.

in Your name: The phrase in Your name indicates using the power or authority of Jesus to do something.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

by using the power and authority of your name (God’s Word)
-or-
through your power
-or-
as your representative

9:38c–d

and we tried to stop him, because he does not accompany us: Some Greek manuscripts have a different wording and a different order of the clauses in 9:38c–d. But the meaning is the same in each.

9:38c

and we tried to stop him: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as tried to stop is literally “were preventing” or “were forbidding.” The tense indicates that the disciples tried to make the man stop. They did this with words. They did not try to physically restrain him. Probably more than one of the disciples told him to stop. But the man probably continued to cast out demons.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

we tried to stop him (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
we tried to hinder him (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
we were forbidding him to do that
-or-
We told him to stop (New Century Version)

to stop him: It is implied that they tried to make him stop using Jesus’ name to cast out demons. If your language needs to say what was stopped, you could say:

to stop doing that
-or-
to stop driving/casting out demons using your name

9:38d

he does not accompany us: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as he does not accompany us is literally “he was not following us.” The word us probably refers to Jesus and the twelve disciples.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

he doesn’t belong to our group (Good News Bible)
-or-
he is not associated with us

General Comment on 9:38c–d

It might be more natural in your language to put the reason (9:38d) before the result (9:38c). For example:

38dHe was not one of us, 38cso we tried to stop him.
-or-
38dHe was not one of us; 38cthat is why we tried to stop him.

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