NOTES for Mat 17:5

This direct testimony of the Heavenly Father about Jesus Christ includes the words en o eudokesa, which are difficult to understand and translate. The Russian Synodal translation, "in whom I am well pleased," is far from perfect. The Slavonic "o Nemzhe blagovolikh" is closest to the Greek original, but this translation is not ideal either. The Latin in Quo Mihi bene conplacui ("in whom I found satisfaction"), followed by the translations into European languages, is not much better. It is clear that a translation that follows the Greek phrase exactly does not convey the meaning of the Almighty's words with enough clarity.

What, then, does God want to tell Christ's disciples about Jesus before commanding them to listen to Him? Each translation offers its own shades of meaning. Western translations imply that the Son is the only One obedient to the Father's will, the One who keeps "His commandment," as Jesus Himself says in the Gospel of John. This is important because only together with Him can we also fulfill the Father's commandment.

The Russian Synodal translation implies that in Jesus Christ, and only in Him, the Father's favor toward the world and toward people is given to us. The Father's love is expressed in His giving Him to us, as Jesus Himself also says in the Gospel of John. But beyond this, the Russian translation also implies what comes to the foreground with special brightness in the Slavonic text: "This is My beloved, whom I love," or, in other words, "This is My Son, My Love." What matters here is that the Father's love itself abides in the Son and comes to us in Him. St. John Damascene calls Christ "hypostatic Life"; using the same approach, one may, following Damascene, call Him "hypostatic Love." Then one can try to render this verse as: "This is My beloved Son, My Love; listen to Him."