John 6:28 BSB — MannaFest

John 6:28

Then they inquired, “What must we do to perform the works of God?”

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

They said therefore unto him, What must we do, that we may work the works of God?

KJV

Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

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Commentary

2 voices

Cyril of Alexandria

Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 3 (444)

Not of good purpose is the enquiry, nor yet as one might suppose does the question proceed from desire of knowledge on their part, but is rather the result of exceeding arrogance. For as if they would deign to learn nought beyond what they knew already, they well nigh say something of this sort, Sufficient, good Sir, to us are the writings of Moses: we know as much as we need of the things at which he who is skilful in the works of God ought to aim.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

John Gill

1697–1771

Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)

Then said they unto him,.... Understanding by what he said, that they must labour and work, though not for perishing food, yet for durable food; and as they imagined, in order to obtain eternal life by working: what shall we do that we might work the works of God?

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? - That is, such things as God will approve. This was the earnest inquiry of men who were seeking to be saved. They had crossed the Sea of Tiberias to seek him; they supposed him to be the Messiah, and they sincerely desired to be taught the way of life; yet it is observable that they expected to find that way as other sinners commonly do - by their works. The idea of doing something to merit salvation is one of the last that the sinner ever surrenders.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

12 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
εἶπον	eipon	They said	G2036 →
οὖν	oun	therefore	G3767 →
πρὸς	pros	to	G4314 →
αὐτόν·	auton	Him;	G846 →
τί	ti	What	G5101 →
ποιῶμεν	poiōmen	shall we do	G4160 →
ἵνα	ina	that	G2443 →
ἐργαζώμεθα	ergazōmetha	we may be doing	G2038 →
τὰ	ta	the	G3588 →
ἔργα	erga	works	G2041 →
τοῦ	tou	<the>	G3588 →
θεοῦ;¶	theou	of God?	G2316 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Luke 10:25
One day an expert in the law stood up to test Him. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
leads to
- Matthew 22:34–39
  And when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they themselves gathered together.
- Luke 18:18
  Then a certain ruler asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Through
Acts 9:6
“Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
leads to
- Acts 22:10
  Then I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ ‘Get up and go into Damascus,’ He told me. ‘There you will be told all that you have been appointed to do.’
  Reached by 3 independent paths from here.
Through
Acts 2:37
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
leads to
- Luke 3:10
  The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?”
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
Through
Matthew 19:16
Just then a man came up to Jesus and inquired, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to obtain eternal life?”
leads to
- Mark 10:17–30
  As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up and knelt before Him. “Good Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
- John 3:15
  that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.
- Luke 18:18–30
  Then a certain ruler asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
- Jude 1:21
  keep yourselves in the love of God as you await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you eternal life.