Luke 8:12-14 New English Translation

¹²Those along the path are the ones who have heard; then the devil^[a] comes and takes away the word^[b] from their hearts, so that they may not believe^[c] and be saved. ¹³Those^[d] on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while,^[e] but^[f] in a time of testing^[g] fall away.^[h] ¹⁴As for the seed that^[i] fell among thorns, these are the ones who hear, but^[j] as they go on their way they are choked^[k] by the worries and riches and pleasures of life,^[l] and their fruit does not mature.^[m]

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Footnotes

Luke 8:12 sn Interestingly, the synoptic parallels each use a different word for the devil here: Matt 13:19 has “the evil one,” while Mark 4:15 has “Satan.” This illustrates the fluidity of the gospel tradition in often using synonyms at the same point of the parallel tradition.
Luke 8:12 sn The word of Jesus has the potential to save if it germinates in a person’s heart, something the devil is very much against.
Luke 8:12 tn The participle πιστεύσαντες (pisteusantes) has been translated as a finite verb here. It may be regarded as an adverbial participle of attendant circumstance. From a logical standpoint the negative must govern both the participle and the finite verb.
Luke 8:13 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
Luke 8:13 sn This time of temporary faith represented by the description believe for a while is presented rather tragically in the passage. The seed does not get a chance to do all it can.
Luke 8:13 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
Luke 8:13 tn Traditionally, “temptation.” Such a translation puts the emphasis on temptation to sin rather than testing of faith, which is what the context seems to indicate.
Luke 8:13 sn Fall away. On the idea of falling away and the warnings against it, see 2 Tim 3:1; Heb 3:12; Jer 3:14; Dan 9:9.
Luke 8:14 tn Grk “What”; the referent (the seed) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
Luke 8:14 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
Luke 8:14 sn That is, their concern for spiritual things is crowded out by material things.
Luke 8:14 sn On warnings about the dangers of excessive material attachments, described here as the worries and riches and pleasures of life, see Luke 12:12-21; 16:19-31.
Luke 8:14 tn The verb τελεσφορέω (telesphoreō) means “to produce mature or ripe fruit” (L&N 23.203). Once again the seed does not reach its goal.

New English Translation (NET)