SIL Translator’s Notes on John 3:36

3:36a

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life: This is one of the most important ideas in the chapter. In some languages it is more natural to put in something to emphasize the idea. For example:

Whoever believes in the Son has truly/really got the life that continues forever.

Whoever believes in the Son: This refers to anyone and everyone who trusts Jesus. So in some languages it may be more natural to use a plural noun or pronoun. For example:

All those people who believe in the Son
-or-
Everyone who has faith in the Son (Contemporary English Version)

believes in the Son: This phrase includes the idea of believing the facts about who Jesus was and what he did. But it also includes the idea of trusting Jesus instead of trusting oneself or someone else. Both ideas are very closely related. If someone believes the facts about Jesus, it should result in trusting him. See how you translated this idea in 1:7b, 1:12b, 3:15, 3:16b, and 3:18. Here are other ways to translate this idea here:

has faith in the Son (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
trusts in the Son
-or-
puts their faith in the Son (Revised English Bible)

the Son: See how you translated this phrase in 3:35a.

eternal life: These people have spiritual life from God, life that continues forever. See the note at 3:15, where the same phrase is used. See also how you translated the phrase there.

3:36b

Whoever rejects the Son will not see life: This expression refers to anyone and everyone who rejects the Son. The people who reject the Son are those who disobey him and refuse to believe what he says. By rejecting their Savior, they reject eternal life. For example:

all those who disobey the Son will never see/enter ⌊that⌋ life
-or-
none who disobey will see/receive ⌊eternal⌋ life
-or-
no one who rejects him will ever share in that life (Contemporary English Version)

see life: This phrase here means to experience the true spiritual life mentioned in 3:36a, life with God forever. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

experience eternal life (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
share in that life (Contemporary English Version)

3:36c

Instead: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Instead here connects a negative statement (“will not see life”) to a positive statement (“must endure God’s wrath”). This kind of sentence emphasizes the positive statement. Languages have different ways to indicate this type of emphasis. Here are some ways to show the emphasis:

Use the conjunction “but” as in the New Revised Standard Version.

will not have life, but will remain under God’s punishment (Good News Translation)

Use a conjunction other than “but.” This is a common way in English to show this type of emphasis. For example:

will not see life. Instead, he will see God’s constant anger. (God’s Word)

Do not use a conjunction. For example:

will never have life. God’s anger stays on them. (New Century Version)

Change the order of the clauses. For example:

will continue to experience God’s anger and not enjoy ⌊eternal⌋ life

You should translate this emphasis in the way that is most natural in your language.

the wrath of God remains on him: This Greek that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as the wrath of God remains on him means “God will continue to be angry with him.” It indicates that God will continue to reject people who do not want to believe. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

God’s wrath rests upon him (Revised English Bible)
-or-
remains under God’s angry judgment (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
God will be angry with them forever (Contemporary English Version)

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