Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”
Parallel translations
- WEB They said therefore to 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?
- BSB Then they inquired, “What must we do to perform the works of God?”
- ESV Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?”
- NASB Therefore they said to Him, “What are we to do, so that we may accomplish the works of God?”
- NLT They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?”
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The crowd asks what works they must do to do the works of God. Their question reveals a works-based mindset that Jesus will correct.
Overview
Hearing Jesus speak of laboring, the people assume there is a set of deeds to perform to earn God's favor. Their question is sincere but rooted in self-effort. Jesus's answer will redefine 'the work of God' as faith, pointing toward the gospel of grace received by believing.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Acts 16:30brought them out, and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
- Luke 10:25Behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
- Acts 9:6But rise up, and enter into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
- Matt 19:16Behold, one came to him and said, “Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”
- Deut 5:27Go near, and hear all that Yahweh our God shall say, and tell us all that Yahweh our God tells you; and we will hear it, and do it.”
- Acts 2:37Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
- Mic 6:7–8Will Yahweh be pleased with thousands of rams? With tens of thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my disobedience? The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
- Jer 42:3–6that Yahweh your God may show us the way in which we should walk, and the thing that we should do.”
- Jer 42:20For you have dealt deceitfully against your own souls; for you sent me to Yahweh your God, saying, ‘Pray for us to Yahweh our God; and according to all that Yahweh our God shall say, so declare to us, and we will do it:’
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 6:28 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.