Good News Translation and most other modern translations follow the Greek manuscripts which have the future tense: You will obey my commandments. There is also manuscript evidence in support of an imperative (“obey my commandments”), as well as a subjunctive (New American Bible “If you love me and obey the command I give you, I will ask the Father…”) The UBS Committee prefers the future tense, though judging its choice a “C” decision, indicating considerable doubt whether the superior reading is to be found in the text or in the apparatus.

The word translated obey in Good News Translation technically means “to keep,” but in this context the meaning “to obey” is obvious. This same expression appears twice in 15.10. (If you obey my commands), as well as in 1 John 2.3,4; 3.22,24; 5.3. It is also the phrase used of obedience to the Ten Commandments in Matthew 19.17. In verses 15 and 21 the reference is to obeying commandments, while in verses 23 and 24 (so also 8.51 and 15.20) it refers to obeying Jesus’ teaching (literally “word” or “words”). In verse 24 both the singular “word” and the plural “words” occur, without any apparent distinction in meaning. So there is no real difference between “commandments,” “word,” and “words.” The equation of “word” and “commandment” comes from the Old Testament, where the Ten Commandments are referred to as “the words” of God (see, for example, Deut 5.5). In the present context, the “commandments” of Jesus, the “words” of Jesus, and the “word” of Jesus are all references to the command of love.

In some languages my commandments is rendered simply “what I have commanded you to do” or “what I have told you you should do.” Thus the clause you will obey my commandments may be rendered “you will do what I have told you to do.” Some languages make a clear distinction between two ways of rendering obey. One verb is used in connection with actions, and another is used in connection with persons. Therefore, obey my commandments may be rendered “do what I told you to do” while “obey me” would be rendered by a term indicating more specifically the attitude of obedience to a person with superior authority.

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 .