Section 5:30–47

Jesus told about others who told the truth about himself

Jesus told the Pharisees about those who testified about him. Those witnesses were John the Baptist, the works that the Father gave him to do, and the Father himself. The Father spoke about him in the Old Testament.

Here are some other possible section headings:

Jesus told about what testified about the truth about him
-or-
There were those who confirmed the truth about Jesus
-or-
Witnesses for Jesus

Paragraph 5:30–32

Jesus declared that he did not act independently of God his Father. In whatever he did, he was following and obeying his Father. His Father was his witness that he did this.

5:30a

I can do nothing by Myself: In this verse Jesus changed from referring to himself in the third person (the Son, him) to the first person (I, my). He declared that he had authority because of his union with God. His connection with God was what gave him the authority to judge people and to do miracles. He completely depended on God. He always acted in union with and in obedience to his Father.

Here are other ways to translate this clause:

I can do nothing independently.
-or-
I do not decide what to do by myself.
-or-
I cannot act alone.

5:30b

I judge only as I hear: This phrase means “I judge the way God tells me to.” In some languages it is more natural to say explicitly whom Jesus hears: God the Father. For example:

As I listen [to the Father], I make my judgments. (God’s Word)
-or-
I judge as God tells me. (New Living Translation (2004))

5:30c

And My judgment is just: Jesus was indicating that he is a just judge. His decisions are always fair and right. So in some languages it may be natural to use plural forms. For example:

My judgments are right. (God’s Word)

In some languages it is more natural to express the noun phrase My judgment as a verb: For example:

I judge with fairness. (Contemporary English Version)

just: The word just here means “fair,” “right,” or “accurate.” Jesus judges in a good way. He is not corrupt, so he does not do things for his own benefit. Also, he does not practice favoritism (giving only some people special favors). Use an expression that describes the work of a judge who follows the law to decide cases and does not accept bribes.

5:30d

because: This conjunction here introduces the reason why Jesus’ judgments are just.

I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me: The verb seek here means “aim, want.” To seek someone’s will is to try to do what that person wants or wishes.

Here are other ways to translate this clause:

I am not trying to do what I want, but only what he who sent me wants. (Good News Translation)
-or-
I don’t try to do what I want but what the one who sent me wants. (God’s Word)
-or-
I don’t try to please myself, but I try to please the One who sent me. (New Century Version)

but: In the previous clause, Jesus said what he did not seek, which is a negative statement. In this clause, he said what he does seek, which is a positive statement. The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but here connects the negative statement to the positive statement. This kind of sentence emphasizes the positive statement. Languages have different ways to indicate this type of emphasis. For example:

• Use the conjunction but as in the Berean Standard Bible.

because I am not trying to do what I want, but only what he who sent me wants (Good News Translation)

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

My purpose is not to do what I want. Instead, my purpose is to do what the one who sent me wants.

• Do not use a conjunction. For example:

I am not trying to do what I want. I am trying to obey the one who sent me.

• Change the order of the clauses. For example:

I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will (New Living Translation (2004))

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

the will of Him who sent Me: The phrase Him who sent Me refers to God the Father. In some languages it may be natural to make this explicit. For example:

The Father sent me…I obey him (Contemporary English Version)

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