SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 John 2000 – Page 3

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 3:6

3:6 (Logical Relationship)

This verse is the conclusion which John draws from what he has said in 3:4–5. This connection may need to be made clear by a joining word such as “so/therefore” (Good News Translation, New English Bible, Living Bible).

3:6a

No one…keeps on sinning: (Emotive Impact) John is not just making a statement here. He is giving an indirect command to his readers, who he knows are in Christ, that they should not sin.

keeps on sinning: (Alternative Interpretations) There are different interpretations of the tense of the Greek verb used here:

(1) It probably means “should not be continually/habitually sinning.” (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), Good News Translation, Living Bible, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(2) Some think it means “should not commit any sin.” (The Jerusalem Bible, Revised Standard Version, King James Version)

in Him: (Collocation) As in 2:5, this is John’s way of talking about a close personal relationship and union with God. See the note on 2:5c.

3:6b

continues to sin: (Meaning) This means the same as “keeps on sinning” in 3:6a.

3:6c

seen: (Metaphor) This does not refer to literal “seeing,” since most Christians have never seen Christ with their eyes. It is a metaphor for understanding or recognizing Christ for who he is, the Son of God.

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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 4:18

4:18a

There is no fear: (Event Idea) Here John uses a noun, fear, to express the idea of being afraid. The rest of the verse makes it clear that he is talking about being afraid of God, so if the verb “fear” requires an object in your language, “God” can be made explicit here.

in love: (Event Idea) Again a noun, love, is used to express an event idea, “loving.” Here it probably means “when God loves someone/us.”

4:18b–c

perfect love drives out fear: (Metaphor) This clause repeats the meaning of the previous one, using the metaphor of someone expelling an enemy from a place. For a restatement of this clause without the metaphor see the Display.

4:18d

fear involves punishment: (Alternative Interpretations) There are two views of what this means:

(1) It probably means “the reason why people are afraid of God is that they know he will punish them on the day of judgement.” (The Jerusalem Bible, Living Bible)

(2) Some think it means “when someone is afraid of God he is causing himself to suffer just as if God was punishing him.” (New English Bible, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

4:18e

who fears: (Lexical Problem) Again the implied object of this verb is God.

4:18f

been perfected in love: (Meaning) This means the same as “love has been perfected” in 4:17a and “love is perfected” in 4:12c. See the note on 4:12c.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2:13

2:13a

fathers: (Alternative Interpretations) John is addressing a group among his readers who are in some respect older than the others. Note that they are not “fathers” to John himself, since he is a very old man at the time of writing this letter and this group is included in those he called “my children” in 2:1. However there are two interpretations of how those in this group are older than the other Christians:

(1) John probably means those who have been Christians for a longer time.

(2) Some think it means those who are older in age.

2:13b

you know: (Multiple Senses) See the note “to know Him” on 2:3a.

2:13b–c

Him who is from the beginning: (Meaning) This is referring to Jesus Christ, who existed even before the world was created. So it may be necessary to make the name explicit in translation. See also the note on 1:1 “from the beginning.”

2:13d

young men: (Alternative Interpretations) There are two interpretations of this phrase:

(1) It probably means those who have been Christians for a short time.

(2) Some think it means men between 20 and 40 years old.

2:13e

the evil one: (Meaning) This is a common way of referring to Satan in the New Testament. The name “Satan” may need to be made explicit here in order to make it clear that the phrase the evil one does not refer to just any evil person.

2:13f

I have written: (Alternative Interpretations) In 2:13f and 2:14 the Greek has the past tense, literally, “I wrote,” instead of the present tense, “I am writing,” which it has in 2:12a–13e. There are different views as to whether this change of tense indicates a different meaning or not:

(1) It is probably just a matter of style with no difference of meaning. John is continuing to refer to what he is writing in this present letter. (Berean Standard Bible, Good News Translation, Revised Standard Version, Living Bible)

(2) Some think that the past tense indicates that John is referring only to the first part of this letter or to something else which he had written. (The Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible, King James Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

children: (Alternative Interpretations): See the note on 2:12a.

2:13g

the Father: (Expression) In some languages it may be necessary to say “our^(incl) Father.”

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 3:17

3:17a

If anyone: (Parenthesis) John interrupts his argument to give, as a warning, an example of a Christian who does not truly love his fellow Christian.

with earthly possessions: (Meaning) This refers to food, clothes, housing and the means of earning a living. It means having enough to live with (see New English Bible, Living Bible).It does not mean that he is rich.

3:17c

but withholds his compassion from him: (Meaning) This refers to both the person’s attitude and his actions. His brother’s problems do not interest or affect him and he does nothing to help his brother.

3:17d

how can the love of God abide in him?: (Rhetorical Question) The rhetorical question is used here in order to emphasize the fact that it is in no way possible for such a person to have the love of God, even if he claims to have it.

the love of God: (Alternative Interpretations) There is a lot of disagreement about the meaning of this phrase:

(1) The sentence probably means, “He cannot claim that God is causing him to love people,” (New English Bible, Revised Standard Version, Living Bible) since John’s theme here is the love we show to people.

(2) Others think it means, “He cannot claim that he loves God.” (Good News Translation)

(3) Others think it means, “He cannot claim that he loves people in the same way that God loves people.”

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 5:9

5:9a

Even if we accept human testimony: (Meaning) John is giving this as a general example to prove his point. He is saying that people normally accept what others tell them about what they have seen, therefore people should accept what God says about his Son.

5:9b

greater: (Lexical Problem) Although it is not specified in what respect God’s testimony is greater than man’s testimony, it is clear from the rest of the verse that John means that it is more worthy of acceptance.

5:9c

For: (Logical Relationship) John gives two reasons why God’s testimony is greater: firstly, it is God, not a man, who is giving it, and secondly, it is about God’s own Son, not about something else.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 1:1

Section 1:1–4

John explains his authority and his reasons for writing this letter

Read 1:1–4 carefully in both Berean Standard Bible and Good News Translation. Compare the two versions.

Section Theme: These verses form an introduction to the whole letter. In them John states the authority which he has for giving instructions to his readers. He also explains what his purpose is in writing the letter. His authority is the fact that he had personally been with Jesus Christ, the eternal Word of God. His purpose in writing the letter is that the people he is writing to may truly share the fellowship he has with God.

1:1–3 (Sentence Breaks)

These verses are all one long and complicated sentence in the Greek and in some English versions such as Revised Standard Version. The subject and main verb of this sentence come in verse 3, “We proclaim,” but its topic is at the end of verse 1, “the Word of life.” So in translation these verses may need to be split into shorter sentences and the parts may need to be reordered to make the meaning clear. See 1:1–3 in the Display.

1:1

(Good News Translation) We write to you: (Discourse Feature) The fact that this is a letter is obvious from the way John writes. In the Greek, however, there is no formal beginning to the letter, naming the writer and the people he is writing to, as there is in Paul’s letters. In your translation it may be necessary to add some simple introduction such as “We write to you,” so that readers are not confused about whether they are reading a letter or a history or some other sort of literature.

(Good News Translation) We: (Pronoun System) This letter was written by only one person, John, but throughout chapter 1 he uses the plural, We, because he is associating himself in what he is saying with the other apostles who also lived with Jesus. If this meaning will not be conveyed by We in your translation, it would be better to say “I write…,” and then “the other apostles and I have heard…,” etc. As an alternative the book introduction could contain an explanation of who John means by We.

That which was: (Pronoun Reference) This refers to the “Word of life” (see the note below). Since the “Word of life” is really Jesus, it may be better to refer to it as “he/him” in your translation.

from the beginning: (Meaning) This refers to the beginning of the world. John is saying that the Word existed even before the creation of the world. He does not mean that the Word came into existence when the world was created.

with our own eyes: (Focus) All the four statements, “we heard…,” “we saw…,” “we looked at…,” “we touched…,” are emphasizing the fact that although the Word had existed from before creation, John and the other apostles had actually been with Jesus, who was the Word, when he was in this world. None of the four statements is more prominent than the others, so if phrases such as with our eyes are unnatural in translation they can be left implicit. But make sure that the emphasis on John’s personal experience is being clearly communicated.

gazed upon: (Meaning) What is meant here is deliberate, continual, detailed observing, rather than the simple “seeing” of the previous clause.

our own hands: (Focus) See note on “with our eyes” above.

Word of life: (Meaning) This means the word which is life, the word which is the source of life, as in John 14:6. It refers to Jesus, but it would be wrong to make his name explicit as John is not here emphasizing Jesus as a person. He is emphasizing the fact that Jesus is the one who causes us to be truly alive by showing us what God is really like.

Word: (Special Biblical Term) This is a Biblical technical term as in John 1:1. It refers to God’s words or message to people in which he shows them what he is really like. In translation it may be necessary to make it clear that this is the “Word of God.”

(The Jerusalem Bible) who is life: (Pronoun Reference) If you need to make “God” explicit in the phrase “the Word of life” (or, “the Word, who is life”), make sure that this phrase who is life refers to the Word and not to God. See Display.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2:24

2:24a

As for you, let: (Discourse Feature) This instruction (2:24a) is the main thing John is saying in 2:18–25. He has warned his readers about the false teaching of those who have left the church, so he tells them they must therefore be careful not to forget or change the true Christian teaching they have received. The strong imperative is shown in several English versions by the phrases “See that” (New International Version (2011 Revision)), “Be sure” (Good News Translation), “You must” (New English Bible).

from the beginning: (Meaning) As in 2:7b, this refers to the time when they first became Christians. This meaning of from the beginning is different from the meaning of the same phrase in 1:1 and 2:13c.

remain in you: (Meaning) In the Greek this phrase has the same meaning as the phrase “abides in you” in 2:14f. See the note on 2:14f.

2:24b

If it does: (Ellipsis) This is a short way in English of referring to what has just been said. See Good News Translation and New English Bible for ways of saying it more fully.

you will also: (Meaning) This means “you for your part will.” John is contrasting his readers (who remain in the Son) with the teaching (which remains in them). It does not mean “you in addition to others will.”

in the Son and in the Father: (Collocation) As in 2:5 this is John’s way of talking about our close personal relationship and union with God. See the note on “in Him” in 2:5c.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 4:6

4:6a

We: (Alternative Interpretations) There are two interpretations of this pronoun:

(1) It is probably exclusive, meaning “we apostles,” since the believers had heard the teaching of the apostles from John.

(2) Some think it is inclusive, meaning “we apostles together with you believers.”

4:6d

That: (Pronoun Reference) The word That refers to what John has just said. He is telling his readers that to test whether a person’s teaching comes from the Holy Spirit or from an evil spirit, they should see if that person follows the apostles’ teaching or not.

Spirit of truth: (“Of” Construction) This means the Holy Spirit, who reveals the truth about God.

4:6e

spirit of deception: (“Of” Construction) This means an evil spirit, or the spirit of the antichrist, which deceives people.

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Source: SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2000

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 3:6

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 4:18

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2:13

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 3:17

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 5:9

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 1:1

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 2:24

SIL Translator's Notes on 1 John 4:6

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