John 20:18

20:18 Mary Magdalene came and informed the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them ¹  what ²  Jesus ³  had said to her. ⁴ 

John 20:25

20:25 The other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, ⁵  “Unless I see the wounds ⁶  from the nails in his hands, and put my finger into the wounds from the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe it!” ⁷ 

John 20:29

20:29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are the people ⁸  who have not seen and yet have believed.” ⁹ 

[20:18]  ¹ tn The words “she told them” are repeated from the first part of the same verse to improve clarity.

[20:18]  ² tn Grk “the things.”

[20:18]  ³ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) is specified in the translation for clarity.

[20:18]  ⁴ tn The first part of Mary’s statement, introduced by ὅτι (Joti), is direct discourse (ἑώρακα τὸν κύριον, Jewraka ton kurion), while the second clause switches to indirect discourse (καὶ ταῦτα εἶπεν αὐτῇ, kai tauta eipen auth). This has the effect of heightening the emphasis on the first part of the statement.

[20:25]  ⁵ tn Grk “but he said to them.”

[20:25]  ⁶ tn Or “marks.”

[20:25]  ⁷ tn The word “it” is not in the Greek text but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context. The use of “it” here as direct object of the verb πιστεύσω (pisteusw) specifies exactly what Thomas was refusing to believe: that Jesus had risen from the dead, as reported by his fellow disciples. Otherwise the English reader may be left with the impression Thomas was refusing to “believe in” Jesus, or “believe Jesus to be the Christ.” The dramatic tension in this narrative is heightened when Thomas, on seeing for himself the risen Christ, believes more than just the resurrection (see John 20:28).

[20:29]  ⁹ tn Grk “are those.”

[20:29]  ¹⁰ tn Some translations treat πιστεύσαντες (pisteusante") as a gnomic aorist (timeless statement) and thus equivalent to an English present tense: “and yet believe” (RSV). This may create an effective application of the passage to the modern reader, but the author is probably thinking of those people who had already believed without the benefit of seeing the risen Jesus, on the basis of reports by others or because of circumstantial evidence (see John 20:8).