Paragraph 8:42–47

Jesus said that he came from God and spoke the truth. His opponents were from the devil, who was a murderer and a liar. The fact that they did not accept Jesus proved that they were not from God.

8:42a

If God were your Father: The conjunction If introduces a condition that was not fulfilled. It indicates that the idea is not true. God was not their Father. For example:

If God were really your Father (New Century Version)

you would love Me: This clause refers to something that did not happen. These people did not love Jesus. This showed that God was not their Father.

General Comment on 8:42a

In some languages it may be more natural to reverse the clauses in 8:42a. For example:

“You would love me if in fact God were your Father,” Jesus replied.

8:42b

for: The word for here introduces the reason that they would love Jesus if they were God’s children.

I have come here from God: This clause means that God sent Jesus into the world. This is why those who love God as their Father love Jesus also. In some languages it may be possible to put the emphasis on God. For example:

it is from God that I have come

General Comment on 8:42b

In the Greek, this verse part is more literally, “for I have come from God and am here.” In some languages, it may be natural to combine the two clauses in 8:42b, as the Berean Standard Bible has done. In other languages, it may be natural to follow the Greek and use two clauses. For example:

for I came from God. Here I am. (CEB)
-or-
I came from God and now I am here with you. (Easy English Bible)

8:42c

I have not come on My own: This clause means that Jesus did not decide to come to earth by himself. For example:

I have not come by my own decision
-or-
I did not come by my own authority (New Century Version)

but: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but here connects a negative statement (“I have not come on My own”) to a positive statement (“He sent Me”). This kind of sentence emphasizes the positive statement. (The emphasis on “on my own” and “he” adds to the emphasis on 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 Berean Standard Bible.

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

I did not come here by my own decision, rather/instead he is the one who sent me.

• Do not use a conjunction. For example:

I am not here on my own. He sent me.

• Change the order of the clauses. For example:

He decided to send me; I am not here because I decided to come.

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

He sent Me: The word He refers to God. In some languages it is natural to make this explicit. For example:

God sent me (New Century Version)

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