18:19a

Why do you call Me good?: This is a rhetorical question. It probably indicates that Jesus wanted the man to think about what he meant when he said that Jesus was good. In 18:19b Jesus indicated that only God is good. He wanted the man to recognize that the goodness that he saw in Jesus was from God. Jesus was not implying that he is not good.

Some ways to translate this mild rebuke are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

What do you mean when you say that I am good?
-or-
What is your reason for saying that I am good?

• As a statement. For example:

You should consider what you mean when you say that I am good.

Translate this rhetorical question in a way that is natural in your language.

Jesus replied: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as replied is literally “said.” The Berean Standard Bible has placed the phrase Jesus replied in the middle of Jesus’ reply. In the Greek text it comes at the beginning of the verse. For example:

And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good?…” (New American Standard Bible)

Place this phrase where it is natural in your language.

18:19b

No one is good except God alone: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as No one is good except God alone means “God is the only one who is truly good.” Here Jesus was encouraging the rich man to think about what he meant when he called Jesus “good.” Some other ways to translate this are:

⌊Absolutely⌋ no one is good but God only.
-or-
Only God is truly good. (New Living Translation (2004))

General Comment on 18:19a–b

In some languages it may be more natural to reverse the order of clauses in this verse. For example:

19aJesus replied, 19b“No one is good—except God alone, 19a⌊so⌋ what do you mean when you call me good?”

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