12:8 “I 1 tell you, whoever acknowledges 2 me before men, 3 the Son of Man will also acknowledge 4 before God’s angels.
1 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
2 tn Or “confesses.”
3 tn Although this is a generic reference and includes both males and females, in this context “men” has been retained because of the wordplay with the Son of Man and the contrast with the angels. The same is true of the occurrence of “men” in v. 9.
4 sn This acknowledgment will take place at the judgment. Of course, the Son of Man is a reference to Jesus as it has been throughout the Gospel. On Jesus and judgment, see 22:69; Acts 10:42-43; 17:31.
5 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”
6 sn On receive see John 1:12.
7 sn The point of the comparison receive the kingdom of God like a child has more to do with a child’s trusting spirit and willingness to be dependent and receive from others than any inherent humility the child might possess.
8 tn The negation in Greek used here (οὐ μή, ou mh) is very strong.