Jesus affirms "I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance."
(Jno. 10:10, Daly's New Testament Translation) Contextually, Jesus draws a
contrast between himself and "thieves, robbers, and hired hands" who do not
have the best interests of the sheep in their hearts. (verses 7-13) Jesus does. He
laid down his life for the sheep. (v. 15) The "hired hand" abandons the sheep and
runs away when the wolf attacks because he cares nothing for the sheep. (v. 13)
Jesus did not merely come that the sheep may have life, but that they may
"have it in abundance." The English phrase "have it in abundance" translates the
Greek phrase "perisson echosin." Grammatically, perisson is an accusative
neuter adjective form of perissos. It is used in such passages as (Mat. 5:47)
with the connotation of "extraordinary, in surplus;" (2 Cor. 9:1) where it means
"superfluous, not necessary;" (Mk. 6:51) with the meaning "extremely,
exceedingly."
Perissos is used in (Jno. 10:10) with the meaning "extraordinary, in surplus,
in abundance." Jesus did not come to bring gold, silver, houses and precious
jewels to his followers. In a sense he himself did not have those things on the
earth. (Lk. 9:58) He came to provide something that transcends all this
world has to offer. He came that humanity might have life (zoe), that is, an
experience transcending normal physical life. This sublime quality of "life"
that the Master came to provide exceeds earthly necessity! The NIV-2011
translates the sentence in (Jno. 10:10) in this way, "I have come that they may
have life, and have it to the full."
As the grand old song says, "Earthly wealth and fame may never come to me
and a palace fair here mine may never be, but let come what may, if Christ my
Lord does care, anywhere is home if he is only there!"
Let us seek "life in abundance." It is in Christ and in order to have it we must
be in Christ. We get into him by faith (Gal. 3:26-27), repentance (Acts 3:19),
confession (1 Tim. 6:12), and immersion (Rom. 6:3-4). Our sins will be forgiven
and we will "rise to walk in newness of life" on earth and have life "to the full."
R. Daly
Copyright 2012
(Jno. 10:10, Daly's New Testament Translation) Contextually, Jesus draws a
contrast between himself and "thieves, robbers, and hired hands" who do not
have the best interests of the sheep in their hearts. (verses 7-13) Jesus does. He
laid down his life for the sheep. (v. 15) The "hired hand" abandons the sheep and
runs away when the wolf attacks because he cares nothing for the sheep. (v. 13)
Jesus did not merely come that the sheep may have life, but that they may
"have it in abundance." The English phrase "have it in abundance" translates the
Greek phrase "perisson echosin." Grammatically, perisson is an accusative
neuter adjective form of perissos. It is used in such passages as (Mat. 5:47)
with the connotation of "extraordinary, in surplus;" (2 Cor. 9:1) where it means
"superfluous, not necessary;" (Mk. 6:51) with the meaning "extremely,
exceedingly."
Perissos is used in (Jno. 10:10) with the meaning "extraordinary, in surplus,
in abundance." Jesus did not come to bring gold, silver, houses and precious
jewels to his followers. In a sense he himself did not have those things on the
earth. (Lk. 9:58) He came to provide something that transcends all this
world has to offer. He came that humanity might have life (zoe), that is, an
experience transcending normal physical life. This sublime quality of "life"
that the Master came to provide exceeds earthly necessity! The NIV-2011
translates the sentence in (Jno. 10:10) in this way, "I have come that they may
have life, and have it to the full."
As the grand old song says, "Earthly wealth and fame may never come to me
and a palace fair here mine may never be, but let come what may, if Christ my
Lord does care, anywhere is home if he is only there!"
Let us seek "life in abundance." It is in Christ and in order to have it we must
be in Christ. We get into him by faith (Gal. 3:26-27), repentance (Acts 3:19),
confession (1 Tim. 6:12), and immersion (Rom. 6:3-4). Our sins will be forgiven
and we will "rise to walk in newness of life" on earth and have life "to the full."
R. Daly
Copyright 2012
