1 tn The aorist participle ἀκούσαντες (akousante") has been taken temporally, reflecting action antecedent (prior to) that of the main verb.
2 sn There is a tenacity that is a part of spiritual fruitfulness.
3 sn In an ancient context, the qualifier good described the ethical person who possessed integrity. Here it is integrity concerning God’s revelation through Jesus.
4 sn Given the pressures noted in the previous soils, bearing fruit takes time (steadfast endurance), just as it does for the farmer. See Jas 1:2-4.
5 tn Grk “said.”
6 sn This is another reference to hearing and doing the word of God, which here describes Jesus’ teaching; see Luke 8:21.
7 tn Grk “answered and said to him.”
8 tn Or “will keep.”
9 tn Grk “we will come to him and will make our dwelling place with him.” The context here is individual rather than corporate indwelling, so the masculine singular pronoun has been retained throughout v. 23. It is important to note, however, that the pronoun is used generically here and refers equally to men, women, and children.
10 tn Grk “Remember the word that I said to you.”
11 tn See the note on the word “slaves” in 4:51.
12 sn A slave is not greater than his master. Jesus now recalled a statement he had made to the disciples before, in John 13:16. As the master has been treated, so will the slaves be treated also. If the world had persecuted Jesus, then it would also persecute the disciples. If the world had kept Jesus’ word, it would likewise keep the word of the disciples. In this statement there is the implication that the disciples would carry on the ministry of Jesus after his departure; they would in their preaching and teaching continue to spread the message which Jesus himself had taught while he was with them. And they would meet with the same response, by and large, that he encountered.
13 tn Or “if they kept.”
14 tn Or “they will keep.”
15 tn The word “this” is used to translate the Greek article τῆς (ths), bringing out its demonstrative force.
16 tn The word “aloud” has been supplied to indicate that in the original historical setting reading would usually refer to reading out loud in public rather than silently to oneself.
17 tn The words “blessed are” are repeated from the beginning of this verse for stylistic reasons and for clarity.
18 tn Grk “keep.” L&N 36.19 has “to continue to obey orders or commandments – ‘to obey, to keep commandments, obedience.’”
19 sn The time refers to the time when the things prophesied would happen.
20 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present here.
21 tn On the elliptical expression ὅρα μή ({ora mh) BDAG 720 s.v. ὁράω B.2 states: “Elliptically…ὅρα μή (sc. ποιήσῃς) watch out! don’t do that! Rv 19:10; 22:9.”
22 tn Grk “fellow slave.” Though σύνδουλος (sundoulos) is here translated “fellow servant,” the word does not bear the connotation of a free individual serving another. See the note on the word “servants” in 1:1.
23 tn Grk “keep” (an idiom for obedience).