FUNCTIONAL FAITH
The Wording
The Pioneer Translation Rendering

John 14:1–14

The Way the Truth and the Life

1Do not let your heart be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me.

The verb *ταρασσέσθω* is a present passive imperative meaning "let it be troubled" — translated as a direct prohibition in plain English. *Πιστεύετε* can be read as either indicative ("you trust") or imperative ("trust") in both occurrences; the imperative reading fits the context of Jesus addressing troubled disciples with a command. The distinction between "God" and "me" is preserved without collapsing the two — Jesus directs trust toward the Father first, then toward himself, consistent with the sender/sent distinction throughout this Gospel.

6Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

The three nouns — ὁδός (way), ἀλήθεια (truth), and ζωή (life) — each carry the definite article in Greek, making them specific and exclusive claims. Crucially, the destination stated is "the Father" (πρὸς τὸν πατέρα), which is entirely consistent with the Pioneer framework: Jesus here identifies himself not as the destination but as the exclusive path *to* the Father, preserving the sender/sent distinction and the Father's supremacy throughout.

7If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him, and you have seen him.

The verse contains two distinct Greek verbs for knowing: *ἐγνώκειτε* (egnōkeite, experiential/relational knowledge) and *ᾔδειτε* (ēdeite, deeper settled knowing). The shift to present tense *γινώσκετε* ("you do know") at *ἀπʼ ἄρτι* ("from now on") marks a turning point — the disciples now have genuine knowledge of the Father through the Son. This preserves the Father/Son distinction: knowing the Son is the means of knowing the Father, not an equation of the two.

10Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you, I do not speak from myself. The Father, abiding in me, does his works.

"ῥήματα" (rhēmata) is translated "words" in its specific sense of spoken utterances, preserving that the content of Jesus' speech originates with the Father, not himself. "ἀπʼ ἐμαυτοῦ οὐ λαλῶ" — "I do not speak from myself" — is rendered plainly without softening, maintaining the clear sender/sent distinction: Jesus is the messenger, the Father is the source. "μένων" (abiding) is kept in its active participial force — the Father is the one acting, doing his own works through the Son.

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Berean Standard Bible

Goodspeed New Testament

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1

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe in Me as well.

“Your minds must not be troubled; you must believe in God, and believe in me.

2

In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

There are many rooms in my Father’s house; if there were not, I would have told you, for I am going away to make ready a place for you.

3

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am.

And if I go and make it ready, I will come back and take you with me, so that you may be where I am.

4

You know the way to the place where I am going. ”

You know the way to the place where I am going.”

5

“Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?”

Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?”

6

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Jesus said to him, “I am Way and Truth and Life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

7

If you had known Me, you would know My Father as well. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”

If you knew me, you would know my Father also. From now on you do know him and you have seen him.”

8

Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”

Philip said to him, “Master, let us see the Father, and it will satisfy us.”

9

Jesus replied, “Philip, I have been with you all this time, and still you do not know Me? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you, Philip, have not recognized me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Let us see the Father’?

10

Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you, I do not speak on My own. Instead, it is the Father dwelling in Me, performing His works.

Do you not believe that I am in union with the Father and the Father is in union with me? I am not the source of the words that I say to you, but the Father who is united with me is doing these things himself.

11

Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me—or at least believe on account of the works themselves.

You must believe that I am in union with the Father and that the Father is in union with me, or else you must believe because of the things themselves.

12

Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

I tell you, whoever believes in me will do such things as I do, and things greater yet, because I am going to the Father.

13

And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Anything you ask for as followers of mine I will grant, so that the Father may be honored through the Son.

14

If you ask Me for anything in My name, I will do it.

I will grant anything you ask me for as my followers.

Functional Faith Reading

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Sources

SBL Greek New Testament (SBLGNT)License

The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition

Copyright 2010 Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software.

Licensed CC BY 4.0.

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