Translation commentary on Matthew 28:18

Jesus came translates the same verb used of Jesus in 17.7. Good News Translation renders it as “drew near,” which is more natural in English.

All authority … has been given to me may need to be reformulated as an active construction with God as the expressed agent: “God has given me all authority” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Or, on the basis of verse 19, it may be even better to render “My Father (in heaven) has given me all authority.”

Jesus first declares his authority in 7.29; see discussion there for the other places where similar declarations are made of Jesus. All authority in heaven and on earth may need to be expressed as “complete authority over all (living) creatures in heaven and on earth.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

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