John 10:22-30

This passage is from the Revised Common Lectionary.  It appears during year C on the 4th Sunday of Easter, often called "Good Shepherd" Sunday (most recently 2025).

Summary:  So much promise.  Jesus knows us, Jesus gives us life, the Father holds us in his hands.   Still dreaming on this passage...

I think the Greek in this passage is not complex.  You are likely work through it with a little help.  Go for it.  The verb tenses are worth paying attention to.

Key terms
εγκαινια  (Hanukah; 10:22)  Most translators call this the Festival/Feast of Dedication.  Which is true, but it would be known to most English readers, certainly in America, as the Hanukah!  Just a reminder that Jesus is a practicing Jew.  In fact, the action in John typically revolves around Jesus celebrating and interpreting anew the Jewish feasts.  The original Hanukah involved a miracle that allowed the temple to stay lit throughout worship...over and against occupation.  So when they ask Jesus if he is the Messiah/Christ, it is a very loaded question.

Thought for 2025:  The word "εγκαινια" is how the Jewish Greek speakers translated "Hanukah" into English, for it means "dedicate."  The verb form of the word has a connotation in Greek of renewal, opening, innovating and inaugurating.  A reminder that any form of innovation will produce push back -- grief even.

στοα του Σολομωνος (Solomon's Colonnade/Porch/Stoa; 10:23)  There is a portico that comes up a few times in the New Testament, where Jesus gathers.  Here is a website that does a nice job giving a quick summary:  https://www.gotquestions.org/Solomon-Porch.html

εργα (works; 10:25, 33)  The NIV translates this word as "miracle"; the NET Bible as "deed" and the NRSV as "work."  I like "work" because it allows for Jesus to say in vs 33 "good works", which has a more biblical ring.  I also think that miracles has a specific Greek word from which it is typically translated (dynamis) and in John's Gospel is related to "signs."  Question to ponder:  What is the difference between "a work of" God and "a miracle"?

ἁρπάζω ("snatch"; 10:29)  The would be gods of this world, as Philippians 2 reminds us, are "snatchers."  They use people, leave them for dead and move on.  This is a powerful word of promise to those who have been abused or suffered addiction.  The grasp of Jesus is greater than the snatchers!

Verb tenses

It is important to pay attention to the verb tenses in this passage

• εκυκλωσαν αυτον .... ελεγον αυτω (10:24) [Aorist verb followed by imperfect verb] 

They encircled him (aorist = one time event) and they were saying to him (imperfect = action not complete, therefore on-going and typically begun in the past)

εκυκλωσαν (encircled; 10:24)  The people have encircled Jesus, not gathered around him!  

Also, they are speaking (ελεγον, imperfect tense) repeatedly to him.  There is conflict brewing!

• ειπον και ου πιστευετε (10:25)  [Aorist verb followed by present tense verb]
  

I spoke (aorist = one time event) and you are not believing (present meaning repeated action).  

Jesus speaking was an event in the past; the not believing is an on-going state of affair 

• A number of verbs are significantly in the present sense, meaning they are on-going actions:
  

γινοσκω ("know"; 10:27)    This word is kind of boring in Greek:  Know, recognize.  But it likely is a translation of the Hebrew "Yada," which has a more intimate meaning.  Regardless, worth pondering -- what does it mean for Jesus to know us!!

ακολουθουσιν (follow; 10:27). If we are to follow, this means that Jesus is leading.

διδωμι (give; 10:28) Jesus indicates he is always be giving us eternal life.  It is not a) not simply a future gift and b) is not a one time gift!  Jesus is always giving us life.