John 8:34

Jesus responds to their Abrahamic claims, “Listen carefully, every single person who makes sin a way of life is a slave to sin.” John 8:34 EFP 

It is interesting how different translations choose to interpret this passage. This text is translated “everyone who commits sin” (ESV), “everyone who does evil” (BBE), “whosoever committeth sin” (KJV), “everyone who sins” (NIV), and so on. Most seem to imply that falling into temptation and sinning makes that person a slave to sin. But the original Greek text has a very clear construction that makes we wonder why the translators of these Bible version chose to translate it as they did. It makes all the difference in the world.

The verb “to practice” prefaces the noun “sin”. “To practice” is in present active participle form, meaning this passage should be translated “continues to practice sin”. The point Jesus is making remains strong, but it makes all the difference in the world to imply a failure makes one a slave to sin. Sin is my master when I choose to continue to practice sin, not when I have chosen to live a life that honors God and I fail along the way. Falling into sin does not invalidate my relationship with my heavenly Father; my choice to continue clinging to a lifestyle that eats away at my spiritual core makes a personal statement as to who is the master of my life. Those are sobering words to me and to every believer in Christ. The choice to believe in Christ is paramount. The choice to cozy up to lifestyle that is in direct conflict with the faith we claim to have in our Savior and Lord is equally essential. It is not something that gets internalized easily. I’m learning, but it’s a decision that needs to be made daily.