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| PentecostalTheology.comI’ve done a decent amount of study from theologians and teachers of the Word regarding John 6:37-40, I’ve even studied it apart from the teachers. It seems most apparent and obvious that Jesus will succeed in losing none out of all that the Father gives to Him for eternal life (John 6:40). Most people will assume passages in Hebrews contradicts this, I’ve researched the arguments either for or against perseverance there, but we are not talking about Hebrews right now. My question is: How can we interpret Jesus’ confidence and words in John 6:39 from the Greek text? I am asking specifically with reference to Jesus saying He "should lose nothing/will lose nothing" quote
Some translations make it seem like Jesus is saying "Well, things should turn out this way, but they might not, in John 6:39.
A good example of this is to compare the NKJV which has the word "should" which might be supplied from the Greek text to the English for clarity?
"All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes
to Me I will by no means cast out. 38 For I have come down from
heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39
This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given
Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last
day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who
sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will
raise him up at the last day.” NKJV (New King James Version)
On the other hand the LEB translation says:
"Everyone whom the Father gives to me will come to me, and the one who
comes to me I will never throw out, 38 because I have come down from
heaven not that I should do my will, but the will of the one who sent
me. 39 Now this is the will of the one who sent me: that everyone
whom he has given me, I would not lose any of them, but raise them up
on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone
who looks at the Son and believes in him would have eternal life, and
I will raise him up on the last day.” LEB (Lexham English Bible)
Yet again, the NASB makes Jesus sound even more confident:
"And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of everything that He
has given Me I will lose nothing, but will raise it up on the last
day." NASB (New American Standard Bible)
So how do we understand our Lord?
- "I should lose nothing"
- "I would not lose any of them"
- "I will lose nothing"
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