Yohanes 3:31

3:31 The one who comes from above is superior to all. ¹  The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. ²  The one who comes from heaven ³  is superior to all. ⁴ 

Yohanes 12:26

12:26 If anyone wants to serve me, he must follow ⁵  me, and where I am, my servant will be too. ⁶  If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

[3:31]  ¹ tn Or “is above all.”

[3:31]  ² tn Grk “speaks from the earth.”

[3:31]  ³ sn The one who comes from heaven refers to Christ. As in John 1:1, the Word’s preexistence is indicated here.

[3:31]  ⁴ tc Ì⁷⁵ א* D ˹ 565 as well as several versions and fathers lack the phrase “is superior to all” (ἐπάνω πάντων ἐστίν, epanw pantwn estin). This effectively joins the last sentence of v. 31 with v. 32: “The one who comes from heaven testifies about what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony.” On the other side, the phrase may have been deleted because of perceived redundancy, since it duplicates what is said earlier in the verse. The witnesses that include ἐπάνω πάντων ἐστίν in both places are weighty and widespread (Ì^36vid,66 א² A B L W^s Θ Ψ 083 086 ˹³ 33 Ï lat sy^s,p,h bo). On balance, the longer reading should probably be considered authentic.

[3:31]  tn Or “is above all.”

[12:26]  ⁵ tn As a third person imperative in Greek, ἀκολουθείτω (akolouqeitw) is usually translated “let him follow me.” This could be understood by the modern English reader as merely permissive, however (“he may follow me if he wishes”). In this context there is no permissive sense, but rather a command, so the translation “he must follow me” is preferred.

[12:26]  ⁶ tn Grk “where I am, there my servant will be too.”