Discovery BoxJohn 6:27-29 
Context6:27 Do not work for the food that disappears, 1 but for the food that remains to eternal life – the food 2 which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has put his seal of approval on him.” 3
6:28 So then they said to him, “What must we do to accomplish the deeds 4 God requires?” 5 6:29 Jesus replied, 6 “This is the deed 7 God requires 8 – to believe in the one whom he 9 sent.”
1 tn Or “perishes” (this might refer to spoiling, but is more focused on the temporary nature of this kind of food).
sn Do not work for the food that disappears. Note the wordplay on “work” here. This does not imply “working” for salvation, since the “work” is later explained (in John 6:29) as “to believe in the one whom he (the Father) sent.”
2 tn The referent (the food) has been specified for clarity by repeating the word “food” from the previous clause.
3 tn Grk “on this one.”
4 tn Grk “the works.”
5 tn Grk “What must we do to work the works of God?”
6 tn Grk “answered and said to them.”
7 tn Grk “the work.”
8 tn Grk “This is the work of God.”
9 tn Grk “that one” (i.e., God).
