My commandment is this is literally “this is my commandment that….” The structure is similar to that discussed in verse 8; here “that” of the Greek text is used to introduce the content of the commandment. In some languages such a statement as My commandment is this normally occurs after the content of the command, rather than before it, for example, “love one another just as I love you. This is what I command you.” However, in some languages one may render “I command you the following words: love one another just as I love you.”

Love one another is in the present imperative, focusing on the need for a continuous love.

Just as I love you is more literally “just as I loved you.” Here again the problem of tense sequences arises. This verb may be understood from the time perspective of the author of the Gospel, with specific reference to Jesus’ act of love on the cross. However, it is better to take it in a timeless sense, as Good News Translation does.

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 .