^8:34Then⁵⁰ Jesus⁵¹ called the crowd, along with his disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to become my follower,⁵² he must deny⁵³ himself, take up his cross,⁵⁴ and follow me. ^8:35For whoever wants to save his life⁵⁵ will lose it,⁵⁶ but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the gospel will save it.

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Footnotes

50 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
51 Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
52 Grk “to follow after me.”
53 This translation better expresses the force of the Greek third person imperative than the traditional “let him deny,” which could be understood as merely permissive.
54 To bear the cross means to accept the rejection of the world for turning to Jesus and following him. Discipleship involves a death that is like a crucifixion; see Gal 6:14.
55 Or “soul” (throughout vv. 35–37).
56 The point of the saying whoever wants to save his life will lose it is that if one comes to Jesus then rejection by many will certainly follow. If self-protection is a key motivation, then one will not respond to Jesus and will not be saved. One who is willing to risk rejection will respond and find true life.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Calling the crowd along with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me and the gospel will save it.

NLTNew Living Translation

Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And summoning the crowd together with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life on account of me and of the gospel will save it.

KJV 1900King James Version

And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

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