Teacher is literally “Rabbi” (see 1.38). This is the final occurrence of the word in the Greek text of John’s Gospel.

Just a short time ago (Jerusalem Bible and New English Bible “it is not long since”; Moffatt “only the other day”; New American Bible “only recently”) translates an adverb which normally means “now.” However, in classical Greek this adverb was sometimes used of events that had recently happened, and that is its use here. The reference is to 8.59 and 10.31. In some languages just a short time ago is best rendered “just a few days ago” or “it has not been many days since” or “we have only passed a few days since.”

And are you planning to go back? is literally “and you are going back there?” The verb at this stage expresses the intention of Jesus, since he has not yet started back. Good News Translation (so also Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch) includes the idea of intention (plan to). A question in the form are you planning to go back? may be misleading in some languages. A more appropriate equivalent may be “Why do you plan to go back there now?” or “Why do you go back there?”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .