The first part of this verse and the first part of 5.20 are almost identical, the Father loves the Son, but a different verb is used for “love” in each of the two passages. The Greek verb used in 3.35 is agapaō, and in 5.20 it is phileō. At one time it was customary for scholars to differentiate between the use of these two verbs in John’s Gospel, but most scholars now agree that there is no distinction in meaning between them. There is certainly no distinction in these two verses. When translating either of the verbs for “love,” one should remember that the primary focus in the biblical concept of love is always that of giving rather than receiving. One loves another for the sake of benefiting the one he loves, rather than for the sake of receiving benefit from the object of his love. See the discussion of “love” at 3.16.

The verb loves is in the present tense and indicates that the Father constantly and always loves his Son.

It is impossible in many languages to translate “the Father,” for such kinship terms as “father,” “son,” “mother,” etc., must occur with some kind of possessive and imply a relation, for example, “his father,” “my father,” “our father,” etc.—not “the father.” Since in this context “Father” is a substitute for “God,” some translators simply say “God loves his Son.” This solution is, of course, the easiest one, but it does not adequately reflect the meaning of verse 35. In some languages the expression “our Father” (using “our” in the inclusive first person plural form) is frequently used as a substitute for “God,” and in such languages an appropriate equivalent would be “our Father loves his Son.” To make this meaning more explicit, some languages require “our Father God loves his Son.”

Has put (perfect tense in Greek) suggests that what has been put in the Son’s power remains within his power. The phrase in his power translates a Semitic expression (literally “in his hand”); Jerusalem Bible has simply “to him” and New American Bible “over to him.”

Has put everything in his power may be rendered in some languages “has given him control over everything” or, in the causative sense, “has caused him to have power over everything” or “… to control everything” or “has caused that he may command everything.”

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 .