1:23 John 11 said, “I am the voice of one shouting in the wilderness, ‘Make straight 12 the way for the Lord,’ 13 as Isaiah the prophet said.”
5:28 “Do not be amazed at this, because a time 14 is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice
1 tn Grk “And when.”
2 sn The purpose of the loud voice was probably to ensure that all in the crowd could hear (compare the purpose of the prayer of thanksgiving in vv. 41-42).
3 tn Or “someone whom they do not know.”
4 tn Grk “know.”
5 tn Or “the voice of someone they do not know.”
5 tn Or “from the sky” (see note on 1:32).
6 tn “It” is not in the Greek text. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
7 tn “It” is not in the Greek text. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
7 tn Grk “Jesus answered and said.”
8 tn Or “for my sake.”
9 tn Grk “He”; the referent (John the Baptist) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
10 sn This call to “make straight” is probably an allusion to preparation through repentance.
11 sn A quotation from Isa 40:3.
11 tn Grk “an hour.”
13 tn The word “people” is not in the Greek text, but is supplied to clarify that the following verbs (“heard,” “seen,” “have residing,” “do not believe”) are second person plural.
14 sn You people have never heard his voice nor seen his form at any time. Compare Deut 4:12. Also see Deut 5:24 ff., where the Israelites begged to hear the voice no longer – their request (ironically) has by this time been granted. How ironic this would be if the feast is Pentecost, where by the 1st century
15 tn Or “porter” (British English).
16 tn The words “the door” are not in the Greek text but are implied. Direct objects in Greek were often omitted when clear from the context.
17 tn Grk “For this one.”
18 tn Grk “And he.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
19 sn He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. Some interpreters have suggested that there was more than one flock in the fold, and there would be a process of separation where each shepherd called out his own flock. This may also be suggested by the mention of a doorkeeper in v. 3 since only the larger sheepfolds would have such a guard. But the Gospel of John never mentions a distinction among the sheep in this fold; in fact (10:16) there are other sheep which are to be brought in, but they are to be one flock and one shepherd.
17 tn The word “sheep” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.
18 tn Grk “because they know.”
19 tn The same Greek word, πνεύματος (pneumatos), may be translated “wind” or “spirit.”
20 sn Again, the physical illustrates the spiritual, although the force is heightened by the word-play here on wind-spirit (see the note on wind at the beginning of this verse). By the end of the verse, however, the final usage of πνεύματος (pneumatos) refers to the Holy Spirit.
21 tn Grk “rejoices with joy” (an idiom).
22 tn Grk “Therefore this my joy is fulfilled.”
23 tn Grk “Truly, truly, I say to you.”
24 tn Grk “an hour.”
25 tn Grk “And I have.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
26 tn Or “that do not belong to”; Grk “that are not of.”
27 sn The statement I have other sheep that do not come from this sheepfold almost certainly refers to Gentiles. Jesus has sheep in the fold who are Jewish; there are other sheep which, while not of the same fold, belong to him also. This recalls the mission of the Son in 3:16-17, which was to save the world – not just the nation of Israel. Such an emphasis would be particularly appropriate to the author if he were writing to a non-Palestinian and primarily non-Jewish audience.
28 tn Grk “they will hear my voice.”
29 tn Grk “voice, and.”
30 tn The word “and” is not in the Greek text, but must be supplied to conform to English style. In Greek it is an instance of asyndeton (omission of a connective), usually somewhat emphatic.
27 tn Grk “said to him.”
28 tn Or “obeys”; Grk “hears.”