25
Whoeverὁholdsφιλῶνhis lifeτὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦdearφιλῶνlosesἀπολλύειit,αὐτήνandκαὶwhoeverὁhatesμισῶνhis lifeτὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦinἐνthis worldτῷ κόσμῳ τούτῳwill keepφυλάξειitαὐτήνforεἰςeternalαἰώνιονlife.ζωὴν
John 12:25
Study it in the app“Whoever holds his life dear loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”
With the Greek beneath
John 12:25, word by word
- holdsφιλῶνphilōn
hold dear
To be fond of someone, or like something.
Where else “philōn” appears- his lifeψυχὴνpsychēn
life
Literally "soul": one's being alive, which can be saved, lost or given.
Where else “psychēn” appears- losesἀπολλύειapollyei
lose
To be left without something or someone one had.
Where else “apollyei” appears- hatesμισῶνmisōn
love less
To love one less than another.
Where else “misōn” appears- this worldκόσμῳkosmōi
creation
Everything God made.
Where else “kosmōi” appears- will keepφυλάξειphylaxei
protect
To shield from evil, or beware of something.
Where else “phylaxei” appears- eternalαἰώνιονaiōnion
eternal
Without end, like the life God gives.
Where else “aiōnion” appears- lifeζωὴνzōēn
eternal life
What God gives to live with him without end.
Where else “zōēn” appears
The context
24Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
25 · This verse (above)
26If anyone serves me, let him follow me; and where I am, there my servant will be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
To study John 12 in a group
1. What it says
What does Mary do with the perfume at the dinner in Bethany, and what does Judas object? How does Jesus answer? (vv. 3-8)
2. What it means
Jesus says a grain of wheat, if it dies, bears much fruit (v. 24). What connection does he see between losing one's life and serving him? (vv. 24-26)
3. How I live it
Mary gave the best she had to Jesus (v. 3). What is the best you have, and how could you offer it with love today?