Discovery BoxJohn 10:10-11 
Context10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill 1 and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. 2
10:11 “I am the good 3 shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life 4 for the sheep.
John 10:15
Context10:15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life 5 for 6 the sheep.
John 10:17-18
Context10:17 This is why the Father loves me 7 – because I lay down my life, 8 so that I may take it back again. 10:18 No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down 9 of my own free will. 10 I have the authority 11 to lay it down, and I have the authority 12 to take it back again. This commandment 13 I received from my Father.”
1 tn That is, “to slaughter” (in reference to animals).
2 tn That is, more than one would normally expect or anticipate.
3 tn Or “model” (see R. E. Brown, John [AB], 1:386, who argues that “model” is a more exact translation of καλός [kalos] here).
4 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).
5 tn Or “I die willingly.”
6 tn Or “on behalf of” or “for the sake of.”
7 tn Grk “Because of this the Father loves me.”
8 tn Or “die willingly.”
9 tn Or “give it up.”
10 tn Or “of my own accord.” “Of my own free will” is given by BDAG 321 s.v. ἐμαυτοῦ c.
11 tn Or “I have the right.”
12 tn Or “I have the right.”
13 tn Or “order.”
