10:39a–b

This verse is similar to Luke 9:24 and Luke 17:33. If you have already translated Luke, you may want to look there for ideas in translating this verse.

10:39a

Whoever finds his life: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as finds in this context means “tries to save” or “wants to protect/preserve.” It does not mean that something was lost and then found. This clause refers to someone who is not willing to suffer and die for Jesus (10:38). Instead, he wants to save/preserve his earthly life. He tries to escape persecution and being a martyr.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

The person who tries to preserve his life (God’s Word)
-or-
If you try to save your life (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
If you cling to your life (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
The person who tries to protect/guard his life ⌊instead of following me⌋

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.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

will not get true life
-or-
will not receive eternal life

10:39b

and: There is a contrast here. The contrast is between losing one’s life (10:39a) and finding it (10:39b). Some versions indicate this contrast with the conjunction “but.” For example:

but (Good News Translation)

whoever loses his life for My sake will find it: This clause indicates that the person who is willing to suffer and die for Jesus will gain eternal life with God in heaven.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

but the person who loses his life for me will preserve it (God’s Word)

-or-

but if you die because of me, you will get eternal life

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