This verse is a summary of John’s teaching regarding the Son: he came from the Father into the world, and he leaves the world to return to the Father. I did come from the Father is omitted from some Greek manuscripts, but the UBS Committee considers this omission accidental. All translations include this clause, although New American Bible places it in brackets, indicating some doubt regarding its authenticity.

In Greek the verb did come is in the aorist tense, pointing back to the particular moment of the Son’s coming into the world, while came is in the perfect tense, emphasizing the lasting effect of his coming. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates the two verbs as one: “I have come from the Father into the world.” Most other translations maintain two distinct verbs.

And now (so also Jerusalem Bible; “now” of many translations) is literally “again” (so Revised Standard Version, Moffatt), a particle used to indicate what is next in sequence.

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 .