I have set an example for you (New English Bible “I have set you an example”) is more literally “I have given you an example”; in English, however, it is more natural to speak of “setting” an example. The word translated example also occurs in Hebrews 4.11; 8.5; 9.23; James 5.10; 2 Peter 2.6. In some languages there is no technical term for example, but the meaning can always be expressed, for example, “I have shown you what to do by doing it myself” or “I have shown you how you should imitate me.”

So that you will do just what I have done for you represents a slight alteration of the Greek, which reads “in order that just as I did to you also you should do.” Both New English Bible (“you are to do as I have done for you”) and Jerusalem Bible (“so that you may copy what I have done to you”) invert the sentence structure in essentially the same way as Good News Translation. It may be necessary in some languages to indicate the goal of the action in the first part of this second half of verse 15, for example, “so that you will do for one another just what I have done for you” or “so that you will act toward one another just as I have acted toward you.” In some languages a word meaning “help” or “benefit” may be required to express the meaning of what was done.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .