Luke 8:13-15

8:13 Those ¹  on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, ²  but ³  in a time of testing ⁴  fall away. ⁵  8:14 As for the seed that ⁶  fell among thorns, these are the ones who hear, but ⁷  as they go on their way they are choked ⁸  by the worries and riches and pleasures of life, ⁹  and their fruit does not mature. ¹⁰  8:15 But as for the seed that landed on good soil, these are the ones who, after hearing ¹¹  the word, cling to it ¹²  with an honest and good ¹³  heart, and bear fruit with steadfast endurance. ¹⁴ 

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¹ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

² sn This time of temporary faith represented by the description believe for a while is presented rather tragically in the passage. The seed does not get a chance to do all it can.

³ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

⁴ tn Traditionally, “temptation.” Such a translation puts the emphasis on temptation to sin rather than testing of faith, which is what the context seems to indicate.

⁵ sn Fall away. On the idea of falling away and the warnings against it, see 2 Tim 3:1; Heb 3:12; Jer 3:14; Dan 9:9.

⁶ tn Grk “What”; the referent (the seed) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁷ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

⁸ sn That is, their concern for spiritual things is crowded out by material things.

⁹ sn On warnings about the dangers of excessive material attachments, described here as the worries and riches and pleasures of life, see Luke 12:12-21; 16:19-31.

¹⁰ tn The verb τελεσφορέω (telesforew) means “to produce mature or ripe fruit” (L&N 23.203). Once again the seed does not reach its goal.

¹¹ tn The aorist participle ἀκούσαντες (akousante") has been taken temporally, reflecting action antecedent (prior to) that of the main verb.

¹² sn There is a tenacity that is a part of spiritual fruitfulness.

¹³ sn In an ancient context, the qualifier good described the ethical person who possessed integrity. Here it is integrity concerning God’s revelation through Jesus.

¹⁴ sn Given the pressures noted in the previous soils, bearing fruit takes time (steadfast endurance), just as it does for the farmer. See Jas 1:2-4.