The connection between the two halves of this verse is not altogether clear, but it becomes more so, if the verb have is given the force of “could” or “can.” By including however and only in the second sentence, Good News Translation makes this meaning implicit, as it appears to be in other translations which introduce the second sentence by “but” (which is actually a part of the Greek text). New American Bible does so by translating have as “could.” Apparently Jesus means that there are many things he could say and judge about them, but he will not speak his own opinion; he will speak only what he has heard from the one who sent him, and that one is truthful. It does seem more satisfactory in most languages to introduce in the first sentence some suggestion of “can” or “could,” for example, “There is much that I could say about you and much that I could judge concerning you.” The implication of such a statement must be “but I’m not saying that.”

On the word truthful, see Appendix II.

The world in this verse is obviously the world of mankind (see 1.10). Since these words are addressed to the people (note the plural you in the preceding sentence), it is necessary to indicate in some languages that the people themselves are a part of this world, for example, “I tell you here in this world only what I have heard from him.” If this is not done, one may assume from Jesus’ statement that he could have spoken much about those who were interrogating him, but he preferred to talk to people in the world, that is, to others. Such a meaning must be avoided.

Only (see also New American Bible, Phillips, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch) is clearly implied by the Greek sentence structure.

The meaning I tell (so most translations) is more natural than the rather formal “I report to the world” (New English Bible).

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 .