SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 5:11

5:11a–b

God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son: (Alternative Interpretations) There are two views about how this sentence relates to the term “testimony”:

(1) This sentence is probably stating how God puts his testimony in our hearts.

(2) Some think that it is stating what the testimony is.

5:11a

this is: (Pronoun Reference) This refers to the rest of the verse.

5:11b

this life is in His Son: (Collocation) This does not just mean that Christ has eternal life. John is saying that we only get eternal life through Christ. God gives it to us by means of uniting us with his Son.

© 2000 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 1:3

1:3a

We proclaim…: (Theme) This verse is the main point of the paragraph 1–4. John repeats what he is telling his readers in order to emphasize his purpose in telling it to them, namely that he and they may be united in fellowship. In order to make this emphasis clear in translation it may be necessary to say

The reason why we are telling you (plur) about this person who we have seen and heard is that we want you to be united with us in trusting him.

what we have seen: (Pronoun Reference) John is still referring to Jesus as the “Word of life” (see the note on 1:1). That is why the form what is used here in English, rather than “who.” In your translation you should make it clear that this whole passage is about Jesus.

1:3b

so that: (Logical Relationship) John is saying that he is telling his readers about Jesus so that they may believe the same things about Jesus as he does and thus they may have fellowship with him and the apostles. These steps in the argument may need to be made clear in translation.

also: (Emphasis) The word translated also occurs twice in the Greek, “we proclaim to you also” and “so that you also may have fellowship with us.” John is emphasizing that both the gospel and fellowship are not only for the apostles but for his readers also.

may have fellowship with us: (Meaning) John means that his readers should continue to have fellowship with him. He is not implying that they need to become Christians so that they will have fellowship. Throughout this letter he repeatedly states that he is confident that they already believe in Jesus.

fellowship: (Special Biblical Term) This term means being united, sharing in something on the basis of mutual agreement, especially in God’s blessings. That is why John uses it here to refer both to our fellowship with one another and to our fellowship with God.

1:3c

this fellowship of ours: (Alternative Interpretations) There are two interpretations of ours here:

(1) It is probably exclusive, meaning “(fellowship) of us apostles.”

(2) Some think it is inclusive, meaning “(fellowship) of you together with us apostles.”

© 2000 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2:26

Paragraph 2:26–27

Read 2:26–27 in both Berean Standard Bible and Good News Translation. Compare the two versions.

Paragraph Theme: John finishes this section by repeating his appeal to his readers to live according to the truth which they have been taught and to remain in union with Christ. This is a summary of the section 1:5–2:27.

2:26a

these things: (Pronoun Reference) This refers to what John has written in 2:18–25.

2:26b

about those who: (Meaning) John was not just writing about these people, he was warning his readers against them.

deceive you: (Meaning) Those who had left the church were trying to deceive the Christians with false teachings about the gospel.

© 2000 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 4:8

4:8b

because: (Logical Relationship) This clause (God is love) gives the reason why we know that such a person does not know God. The most important thing about God is his love, so anyone who knows him will certainly show some of his love to others.

God is love: (Meaning) This does not mean that God is the same thing as love, or that God is nothing more than love. John is saying that all of God’s character is summed up by the word “love,” and that the most important thing about him is his love, and everything he does is done out of love for people.

© 2000 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2:1

Read 2:1–2 in both Berean Standard Bible and Good News Translation. Compare the two versions.

Paragraph Theme: John has just written about Christians sinning, and one of his purposes in writing is that Christians should not sin but be pure like God. In these verses he appeals to his readers not to sin, and he reminds them that even if a Christian sins, Christ, through his death for us, provides a way for God to forgive us.

2:1a

My little children: (Cross-cultural Difference) John is writing as an old man and a respected leader to Christians in churches for which he is responsible. He is expressing an affectionate, fatherly attitude to them. Consider if in your language such a person would use the term “children” in such a situation. If he would not, then it would be right to translate it with some other more appropriate term.

I am writing: (Pronoun System) Notice that John now changes from writing in the plural “we” to the singular “I.”

these things: (Pronoun Reference) The words these things refer to what he has just said, especially in 1:5–7, about the way Christians should behave.

you will not sin: (Meaning) This follows closely what John has said in 1:9–10, that when Christians do wrong they must confess it. Here he goes on to say that a Christian should strive at all costs to avoid sinning.

2:1c

we have…: (Logical Relationship) Although Christians should strive not to sin, it may happen that they do sin. John says that if they do sin, they can still be forgiven because of what Christ does for them. If this reasoning is not clear in your translation, you may need to make explicit here that this includes the idea of God forgiving sin. See the Display.

we have an advocate before the Father: (Focus) The focus here is not on what Jesus does, but rather it is on the fact that God will forgive us. He forgives us because our friend Jesus is always with him speaking for us. This focus may need to be made clear in your translation.

an advocate before the Father: (Meaning) The Greek word which this phrase translates refers to anyone, not necessarily a lawyer, who defends a person who is accused of something in court. In the case which John is referring to here, God is the judge and Satan is accusing us of breaking God’s laws.

2:1d

the Righteous One: (Alternative Interpretations) See just in Key Biblical Terms. The Greek word translated the Righteous One has more than one sense.

(1) In this sentence it probably means that everything Jesus does is good and right in God’s sight. (This is the sense in which John usually uses this word.)

(2) Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible and Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English translate it as “just,” meaning that Jesus treats everyone fairly in his dealings and judgments.

© 2000 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2:5

2:5a

His word: (Lexical Problem) This refers to the same thing as “His commandments” in 2:3–4.

2:5b

the love of God: (Alternative Interpretations) The phrase the love of God could be understood in two different ways:

(1) It probably means “that person loves God” (Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Living Bible, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English). (John says the same thing in 5:3 in almost the same words.)

(2) However, some think it means “God loves that person” (New International Version (2011 Revision), The Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible).

been truly perfected: (Figure of Speech) John means that such a person loves God completely; his love has the full outcome that it should have.

2:5c

By this: (Logical Connection) The word this is pointing forward to the next verse. John is saying that the thing which shows whether we are “in God” is our behavior or manner of life (2:6 Berean Standard Bible “walk”). In 2:6 he explains why our behavior will show this. It may be necessary in translation to make some of these connections explicit.

in Him: (Collocation) This is John’s way of talking about our personal relationship and union with God. (See John 15:4–7, 17:21, 23). In some languages it sounds like nonsense if one talks about someone being “in” someone else. In such cases the translator needs to find how a very close relationship or association of two things would be referred to. See Good News Translation “in union with God.”

© 2000 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 3:9

3:9a

born of God: (Meaning) As in 2:29b, this means being a child of God. See Good News Translation, New English Bible, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, Living Bible.

practice sin: (Alternative Interpretations) See the note on “keeps on sinning” on 3:6a. The meaning is the same here.

3:9b

God’s seed abides in him: (Alternative Interpretations) There are different interpretations of the topic of this metaphor God’s seed and different interpretations of who him refers to:

(1) It is generally thought to mean that something of God’s nature or God’s life is in God’s children. (Good News Translation, Revised Standard Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(2) It may mean that God’s children remain in God. (Revised Standard Version footnote)

3:9c–d

he cannot…born of God: (Logical Relationship) The second half of the verse (3:9c–d) is restating the same point as the first half (3:9a–b) in slightly stronger words. The link may need to be made clear in translation. See also Good News Translation.

© 2000 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 4:21

4:21a

And: (Logical Relationship) This verse says that another reason why we must love other Christians is that God has commanded it.

we have this commandment from Him: (Alternative Interpretations) There are two interpretations of who the pronoun Him refers to here:

(1) It probably refers to God. (Living Bible)

(2) Some think it refers to Christ. (Good News Translation, New English Bible)

(1) Probably John is making his point here indirectly by stating a generally well known truth, that those who love someone love that person’s children also. (New International Version (2011 Revision), Good News Translation, New English Bible, Revised Standard Version)

(2) It may be that John is directly saying that those who love our father God also love God’s children. (Berean Standard Bible, The Jerusalem Bible, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, Living Bible)

© 2000 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.