8:34 Then 1 Jesus 2 called the crowd, along with his disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to become my follower, 3 he must deny 4 himself, take up his cross, 5 and follow me. 8:35 For whoever wants to save his life 6 will lose it, 7 but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the gospel will save it.
1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
2 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
3 tn Grk “to follow after me.”
4 tn This translation better expresses the force of the Greek third person imperative than the traditional “let him deny,” which could be understood as merely permissive.
5 sn To bear the cross means to accept the rejection of the world for turning to Jesus and following him. Discipleship involves a death that is like a crucifixion; see Gal 6:14.
1 tn Or “soul” (throughout vv. 35-37).
2 sn The point of the saying whoever wants to save his life will lose it is that if one comes to Jesus then rejection by many will certainly follow. If self-protection is a key motivation, then one will not respond to Jesus and will not be saved. One who is willing to risk rejection will respond and find true life.
1 sn A quotation from Deut 6:5.
2 sn A quotation from Lev 19:18.