After Jesus calls his students to him as say they must destroy their selves to save themselves.
Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Mark 8:36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?
Because what does it profit a man to save himself a profit, this whole society, and to be penalized that self of his?
There is no word meaning “good” here. The term translated as "good" means to gain an advantage” or “to make a profit.” This word is from the same root as the Greek word for "debt." The word translated as “gain” also means “to make a profit” but with the additional sense of to “save oneself.” “These are changed to hide the often very economic words Jesus really used. The word translated as "lose/forfeit" means to pay a penalty. The “profit” made is “the whole world. These words are changed to hide the often very economic words Jesus really used.
Again, from verse to verse here, the original Greek is much more consistent and makes more sense than the English translations. The Greek word that was translated as "life" in Mark 8:35 is translated here as "soul." The concept of "self" works better. This Greek word is discussed in detail in this article about this Greek word.
We cannot win by losing.
- WT --Wrong Tense - The English verb "verb" is the future tense, but Greek is the present tense.
- WV --Wrong Voice - The verb here is translated as passive but it is active.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "if" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "lose" is not the word translated as "lose" in the previous verse.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "lose" is not an active verb a passive one.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "that" before "soul" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "soul" is the word translated as "life" in the previous verse.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "good" should be something more like "will be helped."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "is" doesn't exist in the source.
- WP -- Wrongly Placed -- The word "for" doesn't appear here but begins the clause.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "someone" is not the common word usually translated as "someone."
- WF - Wrong Form - The "forfeit" is not an active verb but a passive one.
- WN - Wrong Number- The word "their" is translated as plural but the Greek word is singular.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "that" before "soul" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "soul" is the word translated as "life" in the last verse.
For --The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why." However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause".
what -- The word translated as "what" can also be translated as "who," or "how." The primary meaning of the word is "something" or "someone."
shall -- (WT, WV) This seems to indicate the the verb is in the future tense. It is not. Nor is it in the form of possibility, which the KJV also translates with "shall." This is the simple, present tense in the indicative, active voice.
it -- This could come from the form of the verb, but the subject of the sentence is the "what" that begins the verse.
profit -- The word translated as "profit"means being helped or aided. In the Luke version of this verse, the same word is translated as "to be advantages." This verb here is active. In the Matthew parallel, this verb is the future tense and passive. In the Luke version, this verb is either the passive or middle voice but the present tense.
a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
man, -- The Greek word for "man" means "man", "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men", "people", and "peoples".
if -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "if" in the Greek source. The word is in Matthew version.
he -- -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "he" in the Greek source. The form of the verb in Matthew requires it.
shall -- (WT, WF) This seems to indicate the verb is in the future tense. It is not. Nor is it in the form of possibility, which the KJV also translates with "shall." This is an infinitive not an active verb.
gain -- The word translated as "gain" means, interestingly enough, to gain in the sense of gain an advantage and, interestingly enough, "to derive a profit." Here it is an infinitive, "to gain". In Matthew, it was an active verb. In Luke, it was in an adjective form.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
whole -- The word translated as "whole" means something that is "complete" or "the whole" of something, and can mean "the whole universe" as well as being "safe and sound" in being kept "whole." It is used as an adverb, which can mean "wholly", "really", "entirely", or "generally speaking."
world, - The word translated as "world" doesn't mean the planet, but the idea, especially as Christ uses it, is more like we use the word "society," that is, the world of men, its power structures, and its values. More about this word and related words in this article.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as".
lose - (CW, WF) The word translated as "lose" doesn't means "lose" except in the sense of a financial loss. Its primary meaning is"to damage." It is passive, describing something that might happen. In English, we don't say "he might suffer a financial loss of a soul," but we would say, "it might cost." This is not the same, common Greek word as the "lose" in the previous verse. This is a rare word only used here and in its parallels in Matthew and Luke.
missing "that" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
his -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.
own -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "own" in the Greek source. To create this sense, a different word for "his" would be used.
soul? -- (CW) --The word translated here as "soul" is psyche, a common word in Greek, familiar in English, meaning "life," "soul," "consciousness," and "a sense of self." In the previous verse, it was translated as "life." Jesus uses it to mean our identity in our worldly life specifically, the role we play on earth, what we might call the "social self," or what we commonly call our "ego." See this article for detail about this word and related words.
What - The word translated as "what" can also be translated as "who," or "why." However, it usually acts as a question word in short phrases, not long sentences so we should see this first clause as short.
good - --- (WW)The word translated as "good" is a verb in the future passive that means "being helped or aided."
is --- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "is" in the Greek source.
it -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
for -- (WP) The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why." However, since this Greek word always appears in the second position in Greek.
someone -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "someone" means "man," "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men," "people," and "peoples." This is not the Greek word usually translated as "someone."
to -- This "to" is added because the infinitive form of the verb requires a "to" in English.
gain -- The word translated as "gain" means, interestingly enough, to gain in the sense of gain an advantage and, interestingly enough, "to derive a profit." Here it is an infinitive, "to gain". In Matthew, it was an active verb. In Luke, it was in an adjective form.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
whole -- The word translated as "whole" means something that is "complete" or "the whole" of something, and can mean "the whole universe" as well as being "safe and sound" in being kept "whole." It is used as an adverb, which can mean "wholly", "really", "entirely", or "generally speaking."
world, - The word translated as "world" doesn't mean the planet, but the idea, especially as Christ uses it, is more like we use the word "society," that is, the world of men, its power structures, and its values. More about this word and related words in this article.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as".
forfeit - (WF) The word translated as "forfeit " means lose in the sense of a financial loss. Its primary meaning is"to damage." It is passive, describing something that might happen. In English, we don't say "he might suffer a financial loss of a soul," but we would say, "it might cost." This is not the same Greek word as the "lose" in the previous verse. This is a rare word only used here and in its parallels in Mark and Luke. It is passive, not active.
missing "that" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
their -- (WN) The word translated as "their " is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. This pronoun follows the noun so "of his."
missing "that" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
soul? - (CW) --The word translated here as "soul" is psyche, a common word in Greek, familiar in English, meaning "life," "soul," "consciousness," and "a sense of self." In the previous verse, it was translated as "life." Jesus uses it to specifically mean our identity in our worldly life, the role we play on earth, what we might call the "social self," or what we commonly call our "ego." See this article for detail about this word and related words.
τί [252 verses]( irreg sg neut nom) "What " is from tis ( tis) which can mean "someone", "any one", "everyone", "many a one", "whoever," and so on. In a question, it can mean "who", "why," or "what."
γὰρ [205 verses](partic) "For" comes from gar (gar) which is the introduction of a clause explaining a reason or explanation: "for", "since," and "as." In an abrupt question it means "why" and "what."
ὠφελεῖ [8 verses](verb 3rd sg pres ind act) "Shall it profited" is from opheleo, which means "to help," "to aid," "to succor," "to be of use or service," and "to benefit."
ἄνθρωπον [209 verses](noun sg masc acc) "A man" is from anthropos, which is "man," and, in plural, "mankind." It also means "humanity" and that which is human and opposed to that which is animal or inanimate.
κερδῆσαι [8 verses] (verb aor inf act) "Gain" is from kerdainô, which means "to gain", "to derive profit", "to spare or save oneself," and to "gain an advantage." In a negative sense, it means "to reap a disadvantage from a thing."
τὸν [821 verses](article sg masc acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
κόσμον [63 verses](noun sg masc acc) "World" is from kosmos, which mean "order", "good order", "ruler", "world order", "universe," and "the world of men."
ὅλον . [23 verses](adj sg masc acc) "Whole" is from holos, which means "the whole", "entire", "the universe," and "safe and sound."
καὶ [1089 verses](conj) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even", "also," and "just." -
ζημιωθῆναι [3 verses](verb aor inf pass) "Lose" is from zêmioô, which means "to damage", "to cause loss", "to fine," and "to penalize." In the passive form it means "to be fined," and "to suffer a financial loss."
τὴν [821 verses](article sg masc acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
ψυχὴν [33 verses](noun sg fem acc) "Soul" is from psyche, which means "breath", "life", "self", "spirit," and "soul." It has the clear sense of the conscious self and is often translated as "life" in the Gospels. It is also used to describe "the spirit" of things. It is often translated as "soul."
αὐτοῦ; [41 verses](adj sg masc gen) "His" is from autos, which means "the same," and the reflexive pronouns, "myself", "yourself", "himself", "herself", "itself," or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him", "her," and "it." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord."
There are three Greek versions of this verse, one in each Synoptic Gospel, but this translation is close to the Greek of Matthew version than the Greek of Mark.
.Again, the larger context here is the problem with judging our lives by the standards of society. What Jesus is saying here is our consciousness gives our lives meaning, not society. Again, this continues the theme of the chapter, which focuses on the ignorance of society in knowing what is important, real, and true.