5:43a–b

I have come in My Father’s name, and you have not received Me: This is a proof that the religious leaders did not love God. Because Jesus came from God, they would welcome him as God’s messenger if they loved God.

5:43a

I have come in My Father’s name: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in My Father’s name indicates that Jesus came with God’s authority. God sent Jesus to be his representative on earth. He appointed Jesus to speak and act for him.

Here are other ways to translate this clause:

I have come with my Father’s authority. (Good News Translation)
-or-
I have come with the authority my Father has given me. (God’s Word)
-or-
have come from my Father and speak for him (New Century Version)

I have come: Jesus had come from God to earth. In some languages it may be necessary to indicate either where Jesus came from or where he came to. For example:

God sent me here
-or-
I have come to you (New Living Translation (2004))

5:43b

you have not received Me: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you have not received Me means “you reject me.” Jesus was not feeling sorry for himself but pointing out what the Jewish leaders were doing. They were rejecting the one that God sent. For example:

you have no welcome for me (Revised English Bible)
-or-
you have rejected me (New Living Translation (2004))

5:43c–d

but if someone else comes in his own name, you will receive him: In these clauses Jesus speaks of anyone who might come and preach without anyone sending them. He is speaking in general of those whom God has not sent. So in some languages it may be natural to use plural forms here. For example:

Yet if others come in their own name, you gladly welcome them. (New Living Translation (2004))

See General Comment on 5:43c–d for a suggestion of how to reorder these clauses.

5:43c

but if someone else comes in his own name: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as if someone else comes in his own name refers to someone who comes only on his own authority. No one else sent him. For example:

But when another person comes, speaking only for himself (New Century Version)
-or-
When, however, someone comes with his own authority (Good News Translation)

5:43d

you will receive him: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you will receive him means “you (plur.) will receive/welcome that person.” The word receive is based on the same root word as “received” in 5:43b, where they did not accept Jesus.

Here are other ways to translate this clause:

you will accept him (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
you gladly welcome them (New Living Translation (2004))

General Comment on 5:43c–d

In some languages it is more natural to reorder these clauses. For example:

43d you will accept someone else 43c who on his own authority says he is from God
-or-

43d you will welcome people 43c who come on their own (Contemporary English Version)

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