16:27a
For: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For introduces another basis for Jesus’ statement in 16:24. There he says that a disciple must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Jesus (16:24). Here he says that that is true for/because God will judge people according to their deeds.
Here are some other ways to translate this conjunction:
Because
-or-
The reason is that
Some English versions do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either.
the Son of Man: In Matthew, this phrase first occurs in 8:20b. See the Note there for more information on translating this phrase. This phrase last occurs in 16:13b. You should translate it here as you did there.
will come: There are three ways to interpret the Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as will come:
(1) It means that the Son of Man will certainly come. For example:
is going to come (New International Version)
(New International Version, English Standard Version, Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible)
(2) It means that the Son of Man will soon come. For example:
will soon come (Contemporary English Version)
(Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version)
(3) It simply means that the Son of Man will come at some point in the future.
will come (NET Bible)
(Berean Standard Bible, NET Bible, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004), Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, New Century Version, King James Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This is the best way to understand the Greek phrase.
with His angels: Here the pronoun His refers to Jesus. Jesus was saying that he will come with his angels.
Here is another way to translate this phrase:
⌊I⌋ the Son of Man will come with my angels
For help in translating the word angels, see the note in 13:39c.
16:27b
in His Father’s glory: The phrase in the glory of his Father indicates that Jesus will have/show the glory/greatness of his Father. When people see him come, they will see the same power, greatness and brightness that his Father has. As a person is dressed in clothes, Jesus will come in glory.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
with his Father’s glory/greatness
-or-
in the middle of the honor/power of his Father
-or-
surrounded by the authority of his Father
His Father’s: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Father’s is the ordinary word used to refer to a male parent. By using a term like this, Jesus said something about his relationship to God. He said that it is like the relationship between a human father and son. But it does not say that God is just like a human father. It also does not say that he created/produced Jesus in the way a human father produces a son.
In your translation you should use the ordinary term for father, just as Jesus did. If the people in your area might misunderstand the term in this context, you might add a footnote to help them understand. For instance:
Jesus spoke about God as his Father, but this does not mean that God gave birth to him. Instead, the term refers to a relationship between God as Father and Jesus as Son. Their relationship is close and intimate like a human father and son.
Here is another way to translate this word:
⌊heavenly⌋ Father
glory: The word glory refers to qualities connected with brightness and brilliance. This sort of brightness is connected with things which are powerful, like the sun. It is also connected with things which are valuable, like sparkling jewels or shiny gold.
We can also use these qualities to describe people or God. They describe how they look, how they act and what people say about them.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
majesty/greatness
-or-
power/authority
-or-
splendor/radiance
16:27c
repay each one: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as repay includes both the idea of:
(a) rewarding those who have done good, and
(b) punishing those who have done evil.
Your translation of this word should include both meanings.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
give each person what he deserves
-or-
reward or punish each person
according to: The Greek word the Berean Standard Bible translates as according to indicates that a person’s reward or punishment is based on what he has done.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
based on (God’s Word)
-or-
matching
what he has done: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as what he has done is more literally “his deed” or “his activity.” It probably refers to the person’s decision to deny himself and take up his cross. Or it may refer to the whole of the person’s life after that decision to follow Jesus. So, it is a restatement of what Jesus said in 16:25–26.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
his deeds (Good News Translation)
-or-
his behavior
-or-
the good or bad he has done
-or-
the way he has lived
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