ris3n's Apologetics Codex

Passage

John 12.48

Book: John · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

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ASV (ASV)

"46. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me may not abide in the darkness. 47. And if any man hear my sayings, and keep them not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world."

"48. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day."

"49. For I spake not from myself; but the Father that sent me, he hath given me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50. And I know that his commandment is life eternal: the things therefore which I speak, even as the Father hath said unto me, so I speak." (John 12:46-50, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"46. I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in the darkness. 47. If anyone listens to my sayings, and doesn’t believe, I don’t judge him. For I came not to judge the world, but to save the world."

"48. He who rejects me, and doesn’t receive my sayings, has one who judges him. The word that I spoke, the same will judge him in the last day."

"49. For I spoke not from myself, but the Father who sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50. I know that his commandment is eternal life. The things therefore which I speak, even as the Father has said to me, so I speak.”" (John 12:46-50, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"46. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. 47. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world."

"48. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day."

"49. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak." (John 12:46-50, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"46. I a light to the world have come, that every one who is believing in me, in the darkness may not remain; 47. and if any one may hear my sayings, and not believe, I, I do not judge him, for I came not that I might judge the world, but that I might save the world."

"48. 'He who is rejecting me, and not receiving my sayings, hath one who is judging him, the word that I spake, that will judge him in the last day,"

"49. because I spake not from myself, but the Father who sent me, He did give me a command, what I may say, and what I may speak, 50. and I have known that His command is life age-during; what, therefore, I speak, according as the Father hath said to me, so I speak.'" (John 12:46-50, YLT)

Setting

  • Speaker: John the Apostle (traditionally) / narrator + Jesus's direct teaching
  • Audience: later Christian audience (high-Christological emphasis; against early gnosticism)
  • Location: first-century Palestine (events); possibly Ephesus (composition)
  • Time period: events c. 26-33 AD (3-Passover chronology); composed c. AD 85-95

Theological reading

Key words

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

  • ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
  • WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
  • KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
  • YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.