9:1 Now as Jesus was passing by, 1 he saw a man who had been blind from birth. 9:2 His disciples asked him, 2 “Rabbi, who committed the sin that caused him to be born blind, this man 3 or his parents?” 4 9:3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man 5 nor his parents sinned, but he was born blind so that 6 the acts 7 of God may be revealed 8 through what happens to him. 9 9:4 We must perform the deeds 10 of the one who sent me 11 as long as 12 it is daytime. Night is coming when no one can work. 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 13
1 tn Or “going along.” The opening words of chap. 9, καὶ παράγων (kai paragwn), convey only the vaguest indication of the circumstances.
2 tn Grk “asked him, saying.”
3 tn Grk “this one.”
4 tn Grk “in order that he should be born blind.”
5 tn Grk “this one.”
6 tn Grk “but so that.” There is an ellipsis that must be supplied: “but [he was born blind] so that” or “but [it happened to him] so that.”
7 tn Or “deeds”; Grk “works.”
8 tn Or “manifested,” “brought to light.”
9 tn Grk “in him.”
10 tn Grk “We must work the works.”
11 tn Or “of him who sent me” (God).
12 tn Or “while.”
13 sn Jesus’ statement I am the light of the world connects the present account with 8:12. Here (seen more clearly than at 8:12) it is obvious what the author sees as the significance of Jesus’ statement. “Light” is not a metaphysical definition of the person of Jesus but a description of his effect on the world, forcing everyone in the world to ‘choose up sides’ for or against him (cf. 3:19-21).