Discovery BoxJohn 10:11 
Context10:11 “I am the good 1 shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life 2 for the sheep.
John 10:17-18
Context10:17 This is why the Father loves me 3 – because I lay down my life, 4 so that I may take it back again. 10:18 No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down 5 of my own free will. 6 I have the authority 7 to lay it down, and I have the authority 8 to take it back again. This commandment 9 I received from my Father.”
1 tn Or “model” (see R. E. Brown, John [AB], 1:386, who argues that “model” is a more exact translation of καλός [kalos] here).
2 tn Or “The good shepherd dies willingly.”
sn Jesus speaks openly of his vicarious death twice in this section (John 10:11, 15). Note the contrast: The thief takes the life of the sheep (10:10), the good shepherd lays down his own life for the sheep. Jesus is not speaking generally here, but specifically: He has his own substitutionary death on the cross in view. For a literal shepherd with a literal flock, the shepherd’s death would have spelled disaster for the sheep; in this instance it spells life for them (Compare the worthless shepherd of Zech 11:17, by contrast).
3 tn Grk “Because of this the Father loves me.”
4 tn Or “die willingly.”
5 tn Or “give it up.”
6 tn Or “of my own accord.” “Of my own free will” is given by BDAG 321 s.v. ἐμαυτοῦ c.
7 tn Or “I have the right.”
8 tn Or “I have the right.”
9 tn Or “order.”
