Translation commentary on Mark 8:35

Exegesis:

The use and meaning of psuchē ‘life,’ ‘soul’ in vv. 35-37 is a matter of dispute (cf. 3.4). As Lagrange points out, the word has a three fold meaning, ‘life,’ or ‘soul,’ or ‘oneself.’ In these verses there is an interplay between natural life, life in the flesh (which is clearly the meaning in v. 35) and true, spiritual life, future life (which is the sense demanded in vv. 36-37). The Old Testament concept of nefesh, which furnishes the basis for the meaning of the New Testament word psuchē, bears no resemblance to the Greek idea of psuchē ‘soul’ as the spiritual part of man, distinct and separate from his material make-up, his fleshly body. Rather the basic O.T. concept of nefesh (for which Septuagint psuchē generally stands) is that of ‘breath,’ ‘life,’ and is used of the individual (animal or man) in his quality as a breathing, living being. From this the word comes to mean the individual himself, ‘person,’ ‘oneself’ (cf. Koehler). Passages which speak of killing or destroying nefesh mean, of course, to kill a person or persons (cf. Nu. 31.19; 35.11, 15, 30; Ezek. 13.19; 22.27; Lev. 7.20, 21, 25, 27; 23.30; etc.); while, conversely, to save nefesh means to save one’s life, oneself (cf. Gen. 19.17; 32.31; Job 33.28; Ps. 72.13, etc.).

Most English translations (American Standard Version, Revised Standard Version, Translator’s New Testament, The Modern Speech New Testament, Manson, Montgomery, Goodspeed, Berkeley) have ‘life’ in all three verses; some have ‘life’ in 35 and ‘soul’ in 36-37 (Moffatt; also Le Nouveau Testament. Version Synodale, Lagrange, O Novo Testamento de Nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo. Revisdo Autorizada); Zürcher Bibel has ‘life’ in all three verses, but in v. 36 introduces ‘future’ in parentheses before ‘life.’ The word ‘soul’ should not be used if it reflects the Greek concept rather than the Hebraic; ‘life’ adequately represents the word: in vv. 36-37, however, it must mean more than simple physical existence, ordinarily denoted by the word (‘true life’ or ‘real life’ is the sense required); perhaps ‘oneself,’ ‘himself’ or ‘true self’ would adequately convey the meaning in those two verses.

sōsai (cf. 3.4) ‘save,’ ‘preserve,’ ‘keep.’

apolesei (cf. 1.24) ‘he will lose.’

sōsei (cf. 3.4) ‘he will save’ in the theological sense.

Translation:

Save his life involves more than merely ‘living.’ There must be some means of indicating the concern of the man for his continued existence. Otherwise, the whole expression has no special meaning. This problem is met in a number of different ways, e.g. ‘he who wants to just keep on living’ (Central Mazahua), ‘he who wants to not die’ (Cashibo-Cacataibo), ‘he who wants to make his life safe’ (Rincon Zapotec), and ‘he who wishes to always keep living’ (Tzotzil).

Will lose it is equivalent to ‘die,’ but there is something else also involved, – namely, the loss of the very thing for which he had been concerned. This meaning is suggested in the Tzeltal as follows: ‘he who wants his life, all will go to loss, together with his life,’ implying his total life will be lost. This last phrase adds the necessary elements to make the reader understand that this is not merely existence, but life and all its values.

Loses his life is equivalent to ‘dies.’

Will save it may be rendered as ‘will really keep it’ or ‘will really live,’ in order to indicate that life in this instance involves some degree of qualitative distinction from life as it used previously in the verse.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of Mark. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1961. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator's Notes on Mark 8:35

8:35–37

life: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as life is literally “soul.” It is used in two different ways in these verses:

(a) It refers to a person’s life on this earth, that is, to the person’s physical life that ends when he or she dies. It is used in this way in 8:35a and 8:35b, where the Berean Standard Bible translates it as “life.”

(b) It refers to a person’s spiritual life. It is used in this way in 8:36b and 8:37, where the Berean Standard Bible translates it as “soul.” The pronoun “it” in 8:35a and 8:35b also refers to a person’s spiritual life. A person’s spiritual life is his true life or eternal life with God.

Notice that because of these two different meanings, you may need to translate the word in different ways in your language. The following notes will give suggestions for each context.

8:35a

For: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For introduces the reason or explanation for Jesus’ commands in 8:34. A person should obey these commands because whoever avoids following Christ because he wants to save his physical life will not gain true life with God. However, a person who becomes a disciple and dies because of it will experience true life with God.

In some languages, it may be more natural to use a phrase to express this connection. For example:

The reason is, whoever wants…
-or-
The reason why a person should do this is that whoever wants…
-or-
Because whoever doesn’t follow Me because he wants… (Translator’s Reference Translation)

In other languages an explicit connecting word or phrase may not be needed. Show this connection in a way that is natural in your language.

whoever wants to save his life: The phrase whoever wants to save his life refers here to a person who wants to protect his physical life in the world. He does not want to die for Jesus. He is not willing to become a disciple by denying himself and being ready to die (8:35b).

Here are some other ways to translate this:

whoever wants to protect his own life
-or-
if you want to guard your life on this earth
-or-
whoever tries to save himself so that he will not have to die for me

his life…it: In this part of the verse, the word life and the pronoun it refer to two different meanings of “life.” The word life refers to a person’s physical life in this world. The pronoun it refers to a person’s eternal life with God.

will lose it: The phrase lose it refers to losing true life, that is, life with God that lasts forever. The person will fail to experience that life either here on earth or in heaven after he dies. He will eventually lose his physical life because no one can live forever. He will also lose the opportunity to gain true life with God.

In some languages, a literal translation of “lose” may imply that a person misplaces something and is unable to find it. It may also imply that a person who already has eternal life will lose it. Be careful to avoid both these implications.

Here are some other ways to express the correct meaning:

will forfeit true life
-or-
will lose the opportunity to gain eternal life
-or-
will not gain life with God

8:35b

whoever loses his life: The phrase whoever loses his life refers to anyone who loses his physical life, that is, who dies or is killed.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

But if you give up your life (New Living Translation)
-or-
But if people kill you
-or-
But if you die

for My sake: The phrase for My sake gives a reason for which a disciple must be willing to die. He must be ready to die because of his faith in Christ and his desire to obey Christ.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

because you believe in me
-or-
on account of his loyalty to me
-or-
because of his following/serving me

Be careful not to translate the phrase for My sake in the sense of “for my benefit” or “in my place.” That is often the correct meaning in the context of Christ dying for us. It is not correct in the context of a disciple dying for Christ.

and for the gospel: This phrase gives a related reason for which a disciple must be willing to die. He must be ready to die because he tells other people about the gospel. The TRT has another way to translate this phrase:

because he is teaching others the good news about me

the gospel: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the gospel means “the good news.” In Mark, this phrase refers to the good news about Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God.

Here are some other ways to translate gospel:

good/sweet news
-or-
good news about Jesus Christ
-or-
good news from God
-or-
message/report that causes joy

Be sure that the term you choose does not refer only to a news report or to a story that is not true.

will save it: The pronoun it refers to a person’s eternal life with God, as in 8:35a. The person who gives up his earthly life for Jesus will save himself from spiritual death. He will gain true life with God forever.

Here are some other ways to translate will save it:

will find/have true life (New Living Translation, 1996 edition, New Century Version)
-or-
will have life
-or-
will gain/experience life that is forever

General Comment on 8:35a–b

In some languages it may be unnatural or impossible to translate “life” as a noun here. It also may not be natural to refer to it as something that can be lost or kept.

Here is an example of how to translate life as a verb:

For whoever is determined to keep on living on this earth will not be able to live forever with God. Whoever is willing to die because he believes in me and wants to tell others the good news about me, will live forever with God.

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