10:38a

and anyone who: As in 10:37a, the words anyone who introduce a statement that is true for everyone. In some languages, it may be natural to introduce this statement with a phrase like “the person who” or with a pronoun like “you.” For example:

The person who does not take his cross
-or-
And unless you are willing to take up your cross (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Those who do not take up their cross (Good News Translation)

does not take up his cross: The phrase take up his cross means “carry his cross.” For example:

Whoever is not willing to carry the cross (New Century Version)

This phrase refers to the way that Roman soldiers made criminals suffer and die. They forced a condemned criminal to pick up a large wooden cross. He had to carry it to the place where he would be put to death. Carrying a heavy cross was painful. Then the soldiers nailed him on the cross to die.

In this context, Jesus used this phrase figuratively. Jesus meant that anyone who wanted to become his disciple had to be willing to suffer and die. As Jesus was willing to suffer and carry his cross to the place where he died, a believer must also be willing to suffer for Christ even if it means dying.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

• Translate the figure of speech literally and add a footnote that explains the meaning. Here is a sample footnote:

In the time of Jesus, a person who was condemned to be nailed to a cross was forced to carry the cross. He carried it to the place where he would be nailed to it. So what Jesus means here is that a person who wants to be his follower must be ready to suffer and die in order to follow Jesus.

• Translate the figure of speech and also explain the meaning in the text. For example:

anyone who is not willing to carry his cross, ⌊meaning to suffer and die for me⌋

• Translate the meaning directly without using a figure of speech. For example:

anyone who is not willing to suffer and even die for me

If you follow this option, consider adding a footnote that gives Jesus’ literal words.

follow Me: This phrase refers to being a disciple of Jesus. It does not mean to walk behind Jesus.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

follow me ⌊and be my disciple⌋
-or-
be my disciple

10:38b

is not worthy of Me: This phrase is the same as the phrase in 10:37b. You should translate it here as you did there.

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