Berean Standard Bible
18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
The Great Commission
Jesus came near and spoke to them, saying: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."
The verb *edothē* is aorist passive — "was given" or "has been given" — and this is translated at face value. The passive voice is theologically significant: authority is given to Jesus by another (the Father), preserving the sender/sent distinction. No existing translation's softening of this passive construction is followed; the text plainly states that Jesus received authority rather than inherently possessing it.
Berean Standard Bible
18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
King James Version
18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying,All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Goodspeed New Testament
18And Jesus came up to them and said, “Full authority in heaven and on the earth has been given to me.
Translation for Translators
T4T was designed as a tool for Bible translators, not as a devotional text. It makes implicit meaning explicit and flags figurative language with abbreviations. Gold [brackets] indicate translation notes. ◄Triangles► mark alternative renderings.Read more about how to read T4T →18Then Jesus came close to us and said, “My Father has given me all authority over everything and everyone in heaven and on earth.
Berean Standard Bible
Goodspeed New Testament
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
And Jesus came up to them and said, “Full authority in heaven and on the earth has been given to me.
Berean Standard Bible
Goodspeed New Testament
King James Version
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
And Jesus came up to them and said, “Full authority in heaven and on the earth has been given to me.
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying,All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
SBL
18
καὶ and καί kaí apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too προσελθὼν come near προσέρχομαι prosérchomai from G4314 (πρός) and G2064 (ἔρχομαι) (including its alternate); to approach, i.e. (literally) come near, visit, or (fig ὁ the ὁ ho the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom) the, this, that, one, he, she, Ἰησοῦς Jesus Ἰησοῦς Iēsoûs of Hebrew origin (H03091); Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites Jesus ἐλάλησεν speak λαλέω laléō a prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. utter words preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter αὐτοῖς he αὐτός autós from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of G109 (ἀήρ) through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive λέγων say λέγω légō a primary verb; properly, to lay forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; wh · Ἐδόθη give δίδωμι dídōmi a prolonged form of a primary verb (which is used as an alternative in most of the tenses); to give (used in a very wide μοι I ἐγώ egṓ a primary pronoun of the first person I (only expressed when emphatic) I, me πᾶσα all πᾶς pâs including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole all (manner of, means), alw ἐξουσία power ἐξουσία exousía from G1832 (ἔξεστι) (in the sense of ability); privilege, i.e. (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or ( ἐν in ἐν en a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (mediall οὐρανῷ heaven οὐρανός ouranós perhaps from the same as G3735 (ὄρος) (through the idea of elevation); the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of Go καὶ and καί kaí apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too ἐπὶ on ἐπί epí a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (w ⸀ τῆς the ὁ ho the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom) the, this, that, one, he, she, γῆς earth γῆ gē contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe (includ ·
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
The Greek word translated "given" is edothē — a divine passive, meaning the Father is the one doing the giving. Authority is not inherent in this verse; it is transferred. That single verb carries the weight of the entire statement.
Most readers hear this declaration and assume it confirms that Jesus possessed all authority from eternity by nature. But edothē cuts directly against that reading. You do not give authority to someone who already holds it without limit from before all things. The giving itself assumes a Giver who stands above the one receiving.
This is the Pioneer receiving his full commission at the finish line. He walked the road, endured the wooden pole, was raised by the Father, and now stands as the Father's supreme agent over heaven and earth alike. His authority is real, total, and staggering — but it is delegated authority, the authority of one sent by the Father. That is exactly what makes him trustworthy. An ambassador who speaks for himself is dangerous. One who speaks faithfully for Jehovah is life itself.
For those walking the Way, this matters every day. The one you follow does not merely suggest a better path — he commands it with the full weight of heaven standing behind him.
Sit with this
If authority this complete had to be given, what does that tell you about the one who gave it?
Sources
SBL Greek New Testament (SBLGNT)License
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
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