Monday, April 21, 2025

A Translation of John 20:19-31 | Easter 2 | April 2025

 John 20:19-31 | A Translation

Use freely. Copyleft.



When it was evening

on that day–

the first day of the week– 


and the terror (φόβον) they felt 

toward their own–


toward their own people, 

toward their own neighbors and schoolmates, 

toward their own family in ancestry and in faith–


when that terror 

had fastened tightly

the doors


where the disciples were staying,


Jesus arrived.  


He stood. 

In the middle.


He stood in the middle of everyone. 


And Jesus said: 

“Peace be with you (εἰρήνη ὑμῖν).”


~~~


After saying this, 

Jesus showed them [too].


~~~


His hands.

His side.


Therefore, 


the disciples?


They rejoiced!


For they had seen.


The Lord (κύριον)!


The Lord! 


~~~


“Peace be with you (εἰρήνη ὑμῖν).”

(Jesus said it, again). 


“As the Father has sent me, 

I send you, in the same way.”


Having said this, 

Jesus breathed (ἐνεφύσησεν). 


Jesus breathed

on them!


Jesus breathed on them

while saying: 


“Receive

the Holy Spirit,

Blessed Wind,

Sacred Breath

(πνεῦμα ἅγιον).”


~~~


And then Jesus said: 


“If you let go of the sins of any,

if you let them loose,

untangle, untie them,

release them like a helium balloon:


well, then:


they are gone

let go

released

un-tangled-and-tied

set free

(ἀφίημι). 


If you hold onto the sins of any:

they, too will 

hang around,

hang on

hang onto

stick

be bound

(κρατέω)

?


~~~


Thomas, 

one of the twelve (δώδεκα)

(who was called twofold/twain/twin (Δίδυμος))

was not with them


when Jesus arrived.



“We have seen the Lord (κύριον).” 

The other disciples were telling him. 

As disciples do. 


“Unless I see

in his hands

the marks left by those nails”


Thomas replied, 


“and put my finger 

into the places

those nails penetrated,


as well as my hand

into his side,

I will not come to trust (πιστεύσω).”


After eight days

Jesus’ disciples were inside.


Again!


So was Thomas, this time. 


The doors? 

They were fastened tightly.


Still!


Nevertheless, there, 


Jesus arrived.


He stood. 

In the middle.


He stood in the middle of everyone. 


“Peace be with you (εἰρήνη ὑμῖν)!”

Jesus said. 


And to Thomas?


“Put your finger here.

See?

My hands! 


Reach out your hand!

Put it here.

Into my side.


Do not be voided 

of trust (ἄπιστος). 


But filled with it (πιστός).”


[Be filled.

Again.]


“My Lord.

My God!” 


Thomas responded. 


~~~


“Because you have seen me,

have you trusted me (πεπίστευκας)?” 


Jesus asked him. 


“Blessed/happy/full

are those who have not beheld with their eyes


but who have been filled with

(or beholden by)


trust (πιστεύσαντες),


nonetheless.”


~~~


Jesus did a ton of other signs 

while around his disciples.


They’re not written in this book.


But these ones are,

so that you may continue being gripped by (and filled with) trust


by Jesus


a messiah!


And Jesus, 

the Child 

of


the God,


and that through

trusting (πιστεύω)


you may hang onto (or be held by) 


Life (ζωὴν)


in/with/through


his name (ὀνόματι).


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