John 5:39
Does your translation say “you search the scriptures…”
translator the NKJV differ on how to treat the imperative Greek words reflect KJV and Pilgrims BIBLE (GNV) versions treat this verse as a command. You must investigate! while many modern translation philosophies. choice of word translation seems only a rebuke describing their blindness of the obvious perhaps due to hypocrisy? We are better off comparing multiple translations READ MORE THAN ONE
Does anyone see any meaningful difference?
NOTE: Two chapters later John 7: 52 reads using a different form of the verb Is this a challenge from Jesus to search further, modern translations NKJV most include the word you, which is a simple statement of observation just because of a word ending.
One (dated A.D. 140–160) contains this verse in a slightly different form, “And turning to the rulers, he said this word, ‘You search the Scriptures, in which you think you have life; these are [they] which testify concerning me.’ ” A few Old Latin manuscripts manuscript read essentially, “You search the Scriptures; these writings in which you think to have life are those which bear testimony of me.”In the end Jesus explains they do not have the love of God in them so a rebuke fits the context best
Thus, four witnesses provide this variation John 5:39, all of which exclude the word “eternal” that appears in all other witnesses after (“life”). It was customary to think that Jews would have considered that Scripture reading would enrich one’s spiritual life on earth, not give everlasting life. But several rabbis claimed that everlasting life could be found by studying the Scriptures. For example, Hillel said, “The more study of the law the more life, … if one has gained [by works] for himself. It was perfectly fitting for Jesus to have used “eternal life” in his reproach to the religious leaders who thought biblical studies gave them an entrance into eternity.
This nuance was picked up by an old Calvinist preacher
The Pilgrims bible reads, “Search the Scriptures: for in them ye think to have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me.” Geneva Bible (GNV)