John 12:23-25
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
23 [a]Jesus answered them,(A) “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 [b]Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat;(B) but if it dies, it produces much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life[c] loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.(C)
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- 12:23 Jesus’ response suggests that only after the crucifixion could the gospel encompass both Jew and Gentile.
- 12:24 This verse implies that through his death Jesus will be accessible to all. It remains just a grain of wheat: this saying is found in the synoptic triple and double traditions (Mk 8:35; Mt 16:25; Lk 9:24; Mt 10:39; Lk 17:33). John adds the phrases (Jn 12:25) in this world and for eternal life.
- 12:25 His life: the Greek word psychē refers to a person’s natural life. It does not mean “soul,” for Hebrew anthropology did not postulate body/soul dualism in the way that is familiar to us.
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