Commentary on John Part 2 (No. F043ii)

John Chapters 5-8 (RSV)

Chapter 5

¹After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ²Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Hebrew called Beth-za'tha, which has five porticoes. ³In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed. ⁴* [^kNo text] ⁵One man was there, who had been ill for thirty-eight years. ⁶When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been lying there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?" ⁷The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going another steps down before me." ⁸Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your pallet, and walk." ⁹And at once the man was healed, and he took up his pallet and walked. Now that day was the sabbath. ¹⁰So the Jews said to the man who was cured, "It is the sabbath, it is not lawful for you to carry your pallet." ¹¹But he answered them, "The man who healed me said to me, 'Take up your pallet, and walk.'" ¹²They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Take up your pallet, and walk'?" ¹³Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. ¹⁴Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse befall you." ¹⁵The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. ¹⁶And this was why the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he did this on the sabbath. ¹⁷But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working still, and I am working." ¹⁸This was why the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the sabbath but also called God his Father, making himself equal with God. ¹⁹Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever he does, that the Son does likewise. ²⁰For the Father loves the Son, and shows him all that he himself is doing; and greater works than these will he show him, that you may marvel. ²¹For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. ²²The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, ²³that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. ²⁴Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. ²⁵"Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. ²⁶For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself, ²⁷and has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of man. ²⁸Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice ²⁹and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment. ³⁰"I can do nothing on my own authority; as I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. ³¹If I bear witness to myself, my testimony is not true; ³²there is another who bears witness to me, and I know that the testimony which he bears to me is true. ³³You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. ³⁴Not that the testimony which I receive is from man; but I say this that you may be saved. ³⁵He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. ³⁶But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father has granted me to accomplish, these very works which I am doing, bear me witness that the Father has sent me. ³⁷And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness to me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen; ³⁸and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe him whom he has sent. ³⁹You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to me; ⁴⁰yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. ⁴¹I do not receive glory from men. ⁴²But I know that you have not the love of God within you. ⁴³I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. ⁴⁴How can you believe, who receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? ⁴⁵Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; it is Moses who accuses you, on whom you set your hope. ⁴⁶If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote of me. ⁴⁷But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?"

[Footnote: ^k Other ancient authorities insert: wholly or in part, waiting for the moving of the water; ⁴for an angel went down at certain seasons into the pool, and troubled the water; whoever stepped in first after the troubling of the water was healed of whatever disease he had.]

Intent of Chapter 5

vv. 1-18 Jesus heals a lame man by the pool on the Sabbath

v. 3 after the word paralyzed later mss add an explanatory statement waiting for the movement of the water 4 for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and troubled the water: whoever stepped in first after the troubling of the water was healed of whatever disease he had. v. 7 When the water is troubled is explained by the addition to v. 3 Movement caused by an intermittent spring was attributed to divine action (per Oxf. Annot. RSV n.)

v. 13 Jesus had withdrawn to avoid publicity.

v. 14 Here Christ attributed his sickness to sin, which was unusual. He said to sin no more that nothing worse befall him.

Further development on the One True God and the Sons of God.

vv. 16-30 Jesus claims to be God’s Son

v. 16 The Jews The religious authorities opposed Jesus because of his break with their legalism in withholding healing on the Sabbath. v. 17 God continually gives life and judges evil as does Messiah (see Joshua, the Messiah, the Son of God (No. 134); Significance of the Term: the Son of God (No. 211)).

v. 18 Equal see 10:30-33.

5:19-29 Jesus’ relation to God

vv. 19-20 Jesus’ son-ship is tied completely to the identity of His will and actions to those of the Father. On this we identify the structure of monotheism with all wills in communion with that of the Father. The greater works are given life (v. 21) and judgment (v. 22). (see How God Became a Family (No. 187)). So also we see that Satan failed in his compliance with the Will of God, The First Commandment: The Sin of Satan (No. 153); Lucifer, Light Bearer and Morning Star (No. 223). So also the demons sinned in this aspect and will all be judged for that sin and all that flowed from it. God is ready to forgive all sin in the Sons of God (The Lost Sheep and the Prodigal Son (No. 199)).

v. 24 He who hears Christ and believes Him who sent him has Eternal Life (No. 133) (see also Jn. 17:3). This identification with God’s word leads one to baptism and entry to the Kingdom of God and then to eternal life in the First Resurrection (No. 143A).

v. 25 The coming age is already present in the Christ. God has granted Christ to have life in himself which he did not possess intrinsically before the incarnation. To hear with the comprehension of faith makes the spiritually dead live. This takes the called drawn to baptism into the kingdom and then to eternal life.

vv. 26-29 Note that in this text Christ makes a clear distinction between the two resurrections.

The Second Resurrection (of Judgment) (No. 143B) here is the resurrection of Krisis which is not one of condemnation but of correction where all those who are unaware of the Plan of Salvation (No. 001A) and the Commandments of God and the Faith and Testimony of Christ (Rev. 12:17; 14:12) will be re-educated and face The Second Death (No. 143C) if they do not repent and correct their behaviour.

vv. 31-47 Evidence of Jesus’ relationship to God.

v. 30 Christ does nothing on his own authority. As he hears he judges and his judgement is just because he seeks not his own will but that of the Father who sent him, and without respect of persons or error. With the Holy Spirit we will all judge the fallen host as Paul told us (1Cor. 6:3; Judgment of the Demons (No. 080)).

v. 32 Another – The Father.

5:33-40 God has provided witness to the Christ through the ministry of John the Baptist (vv. 33-35) as the first phase of the Sign of Jonah (No. 013); then through Jesus’ work (v. 36) and through the Scriptures. In v. 37 he says that His voice they have never heard and His form they have never seen (vv. 37-40). v. 40 Here Christ says that the Jews wrongly think that the Scriptures support them and in them they have eternal life when it is the Scriptures that bear witness to and support Christ.

5:41-47 Jesus Condemns the Jews

v. 41 Christ does not receive glory from men but from the One True God.

v. 42 They (the authorities) do not have the love of God within them. Christ came in the Father’s name and they do not receive him.

v. 44 Christ says here that they receive glory from one another and do not seek the Glory that comes from the Only God (cf. The God We Worship (No. 002); The Shema (No. 002B)).

v. 45 9:28; Rom. 2:17; v. 47 Lk. 16:29,31.

In this text Christ carries on from chapter 1 regarding there being only One True God and his relationship to Him as the subordinate God of Israel of Ps. 45:5-6; Heb. 1:8-9. The Nature of the One True God, who is the Father, and creator of all things, including all the sons of God and their Morning Stars (Job 38:4-7), is that no man has seen Him or ever can see him, as He is spirit. He alone is immortal (Jn. 1:18; 1Tim. 6:16; 1Jn 5:20).

The Law proceeds from His nature and is therefore immutable, as He is immutable or unchangeable (Gen. 21:33). He sent Jesus Christ and knowing Him and the Christ whom He sent is Eternal Life (No. 133) as is further developed here in chapter 5 (and also stated in Jn. 17:3). The Jews understood Christ’s statement as blasphemy, as in claiming to be the son of God, he was claiming to be the Subordinate God of Israel of Ps. 45:6-7 which was exactly what the NT said he was in Hebrews 1:8-9. The Father is his God and he is neither co-equal nor co-eternal with the One True God Eloah who is Ha Elohim. Further, Christ has comrades or partners in the other sons of God otherwise he could not save them. They are all of one origin (Heb. 2:11). Christ was faithful to the one making him (poeosanti) (Heb. 3:2) (rendered appointed by the Trinitarians to disguise the creation). He is the Monogenese Theos (B4) the Only Born God of Jn. 1:18. The Binitarian and later Trinitarian structure of the Baal worshippers of the Sun and Mystery cults had penetrated Israel from its movement out of Egypt to Sinai and its repetitive worship of the Sun and Mystery cults and hence Sin (The Golden Calf (No. 222)). Christ is telling the Apostles, and as related by John, that there is only One True God who is the Father of all. Baal worship has the Binitarianism of the gods Attis and Adonis, and, as in Egypt, with the triune system of Osiris, Isis and Horus, and as at Rome in its system of Jupiter, Juno and Minerva, and also the festival of the Mother goddess, which, in Baal worship, is Easter, or Ishtar, or Ashtaroth, consort of Baal. Christ is emphasising that there is no Binitarian or (later) Trinitarian structure in the Scriptures. To teach so is heresy, and thus he condemns the post Reformation churches that make Christ coequal and coeternal. Asserting co-eternality to Christ is blasphemy of the Sun and Mystery Cults, and the Scriptures speak against it continually, but it has even penetrated areas of the Churches of God in the Twentieth Century and has to be systematically rooted out over the next few years under the Witnesses, to save the elect, or they will all surely die.

Being the One True God means that the God cannot die, and He alone is immortal (1Tim. 6:16). The aim of the Creation is to extend eternal life to the creation. They do not have it intrinsically (see Plan of Salvation (No. 001A); and The Elect as Elohim (No. 001)). We see here that eternal life was extended to the Messiah and the Elect, making them coheirs and he and they did not possess it intrinsically. Hence the doctrine of the Immortal Soul is Gnostic error. (see The Soul (No. 092)). It is through the Holy Spirit (No. 117) that we are Consubstantial with the Father (No. 081)). It is the control of the Trinitarians over the religious teaching institutions and universities that has resulted in the scandalous failure to address the Bible texts comprehensively in dealing with the Unitarian structure of the Bible. This practice will end at the return of the Messiah in the near future.

Chapter 6

¹After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiber'i-as. ²And a multitude followed him, because they saw the signs which he did on those who were diseased. ³Jesus went up on the mountain, and there sat down with his disciples. ⁴Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. ⁵Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a multitude was coming to him, Jesus said to Philip, "How are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?" ⁶This he said to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. ⁷Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little." ⁸One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, ⁹"There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are they among so many?" ¹⁰Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place; so the men sat down, in number about five thousand. ¹¹Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. ¹²And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, "Gather up the fragments left over, that nothing may be lost." ¹³So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten. ¹⁴When the people saw the sign which he had done, they said, "This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world!" ¹⁵Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself. ¹⁶When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, ¹⁷got into a boat, and started across the sea to Caper'na-um. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. ¹⁸The sea rose because a strong wind was blowing. ¹⁹When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat. They were frightened, ²⁰but he said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid." ²¹Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. ²²On the next day the people who remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. ²³However, boats from Tiber'i-as came near the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. ²⁴So when the people saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Caper'na-um, seeking Jesus. ²⁵When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" ²⁶Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. ²⁷Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal." ²⁸Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" ²⁹Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." ³⁰So they said to him, "Then what sign do you do, that we may see, and believe you? What work do you perform? ³¹Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" ³²Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. ³³For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world." ³⁴They said to him, "Lord, give us this bread always." ³⁵Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst. ³⁶But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. ³⁷All that the Father gives me will come to me; and him who comes to me I will not cast out. ³⁸For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me; ³⁹and this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up at the last day. ⁴⁰For this is the will of my Father, that every one who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day." ⁴¹The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, "I am the bread which came down from heaven." ⁴²They said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?" ⁴³Jesus answered them, "Do not murmur among yourselves. ⁴⁴No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. ⁴⁵It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Every one who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. ⁴⁶Not that any one has seen the Father except him who is from God; he has seen the Father. ⁴⁷Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. ⁴⁸I am the bread of life. ⁴⁹Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. ⁵⁰This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die. ⁵¹I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh." ⁵²The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" ⁵³So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; ⁵⁴he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. ⁵⁵For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. ⁵⁶He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. ⁵⁷As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. ⁵⁸This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever." ⁵⁹This he said in the synagogue, as he taught at Caper'na-um. ⁶⁰Many of his disciples, when they heard it, said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" ⁶¹But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at it, said to them, "Do you take offense at this? ⁶²Then what if you were to see the Son of man ascending where he was before? ⁶³It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. ⁶⁴But there are some of you that do not believe." For Jesus knew from the first who those were that did not believe, and who it was that would betray him. ⁶⁵And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father." ⁶⁶After this many of his disciples drew back and no longer went about with him. ⁶⁷Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also wish to go away?" ⁶⁸Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; ⁶⁹and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God." ⁷⁰Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?" ⁷¹He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was to betray him.

Intent of Chapter 6

vv. 1-15 Jesus feeds Five Thousand (Mat. 14:13-21; (F040iii); Mk. 6:30-44 (F041ii); Lk. 9:10-17 (F042iii). The feeding of the Four Thousand and the Five Thousand have significance for the structure of the elect in the Churches of God and the world in the Resurrections and the Millennium as explained in the notes to the other texts also (see links). Feeding the 5000 is the only miracle recorded by all four gospels.

v. 1 Tiberias – named for the Emperor Tiberius.

v. 6 To test Philip’s faith.

v. 7 200 Denarii about 200 days wages for a labourer.

v. 9 Barley loaves – food of the poor.

v. 12 An act of reverential economy for the gift of God showing that nothing is to be lost of the acts of God in the harvest of salvation.

v. 13 Twelve baskets one for each disciple showing their future roles in the harvest of the Israel of God in the twelve tribes. (see Rev. Chapter 7 (F066ii)).

v. 14 The people saw he was indeed the Messiah, and they would have taken him by force.

v. 15 To make him king – as a political messiah opposing Rome, but Christ would not accept that situation (18:36).

vv. 16-21 Jesus walks on Water (Mat. 14:22-27; Mk. 6:45-51).

Jesus is greater than a political ruler (v. 15). He is lord of the elements (Ps. 107:29-30).

v. 17 Not yet come They seem to have expected to meet Jesus along the shore.

vv. 20-21 Jesus’ presence dispels fear.

6 :22-71 Jesus the Bread of Life.

6:22-25 The people came seeking more bread

v. 26 Signs pointing to Jesus as food for the development of Eternal Life.

v. 27 Son of man – see 1:51 n. seal – God’s authentication perhaps in the Baptism 1:32.

v. 28 Works 3:21; Rev. 2:26.

v. 29 Work - singular re multiple (v. 28) obedient trust is the one thing pleasing to God (1Jn. 3:23) him....sent, Jesus who reveals God.

v. 30 See – as a proof but faith cannot be proved.

v. 31 The Messiah was expected to reproduce the miracle of the manna (Ex. 16:4, 15; Num. 11:8; Ps. 78:24; 105:40).

6:36-40 Some saw Christ but did not believe. All that the Father gave to Christ will come to him, and he will not lose them, and will raise them up at the last days. Christ came down from heaven to do the will of the Father who sent him. That was to lose nothing that was given to him by the Father. The will of the Father is that everyone who sees the son, and believes in him, Christ will raise up at the Last Day, beginning with the First Resurrection (No. 143A) at the Return of Messiah, and then at the end of the Millennium for the Second Resurrection and the Great White Throne Judgment (No. 143B). Belief and the calling is determined by God’s Predestination (No. 296) (see also Rom. 8:29-30).

6:41-59 The Jews disagree that Jesus is from heaven

vv. 44-45 The drawing or call of God is not coercive, but the Holy Spirit draws the individual according to their Predestination (Rom. 8:29-30) and they are given to Christ in the faith and added to his body and are raised in the last days. Prophets Isa. 54:13 comp. Jl. 2:28-29. Had they learned God’s voice from the Scriptures they would have recognised the Messiah who alone is in total communion with God.

v. 51 The living bread...is my flesh He became flesh (assuming complete human nature 1.14) and offered himself to God in death in order to redeem mankind and the creation from death.

v. 53 The phrase regarding eating Christ’s flesh and drinking his blood was not understood and caused many to fall away, even Mark and Luke, who had to be restored to the faith by Peter and Paul respectively (see Gospel intros).

v. 54 He was referring to what became the Lord’s Supper in the Body of the Christ which is the elect who are bound by the sacraments and the annual Lord’s Supper (see Sacraments of the Church (No. 150)). This was the annual symbolic rebaptism in the faith and the effective residing in Christ and being at one with Christ in the church which is his body (v. 56). He said these things as he taught in the synagogue while at Capernaum.

vv. 60-71 Many disciples desert Jesus

There were many who did not understand, and as a result did not believe, and were cast aside from the Body. As we have seen, Mark and Luke were two of these who had to be restored, even to write two of the gospels. Faith and the Call of God into the Body of Christ is the greatest division in the sequence of Predestination. It is the Holy Spirit that calls the individual in the sequence and only occurs in the adult. That is why Infant Baptism is the greatest lie the demonic host perpetrated on mankind (see Repentance and Baptism (No. 052); see also No. 164E)).

Christ was the Holy One of God and yet even one of the twelve, whom he chose, was a demon. Thus the Scriptures were fulfilled.

Chapter 7

¹After this Jesus went about in Galilee; he would not go about in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him. ²Now the Jews' feast of Tabernacles was at hand. ³So his brothers said to him, "Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples may see the works you are doing. ⁴For no man works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world." ⁵For even his brothers did not believe in him. ⁶Jesus said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. ⁷The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify of it that its works are evil. ⁸Go to the feast yourselves; I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come." ⁹So saying, he remained in Galilee. ¹⁰But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private. ¹¹The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, "Where is he?" ¹²And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, "He is a good man," others said, "No, he is leading the people astray." ¹³Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him. ¹⁴About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. ¹⁵The Jews marveled at it, saying, "How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?" ¹⁶So Jesus answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me; ¹⁷if any man's will is to do his will, he shall know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. ¹⁸He who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. ¹⁹Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?" ²⁰The people answered, "You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?" ²¹Jesus answered them, "I did one deed, and you all marvel at it. ²²Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man upon the sabbath. ²³If on the sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the sabbath I made a man's whole body well? ²⁴Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." ²⁵Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, "Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? ²⁶And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? ²⁷Yet we know where this man comes from; and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from." ²⁸So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, "You know me, and you know where I come from? But I have not come of my own accord; he who sent me is true, and him you do not know. ²⁹I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me." ³⁰So they sought to arrest him; but no one laid hands on him, because his hour had not yet come. ³¹Yet many of the people believed in him; they said, "When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?" ³²The Pharisees heard the crowd thus muttering about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent officers to arrest him. ³³Jesus then said, "I shall be with you a little longer, and then I go to him who sent me; ³⁴you will seek me and you will not find me; where I am you cannot come." ³⁵The Jews said to one another, "Where does this man intend to go that we shall not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? ³⁶What does he mean by saying, 'You will seek me and you will not find me,' and, 'Where I am you cannot come'?" ³⁷On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and proclaimed, "If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink. ³⁸He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, 'Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.'" ³⁹Now this he said about the Spirit, which those who believed in him were to receive; for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. ⁴⁰When they heard these words, some of the people said, "This is really the prophet." ⁴¹Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "Is the Christ to come from Galilee? ⁴²Has not the scripture said that the Christ is descended from David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?" ⁴³So there was a division among the people over him. ⁴⁴Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. ⁴⁵The officers then went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, "Why did you not bring him?" ⁴⁶The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this man!" ⁴⁷The Pharisees answered them, "Are you led astray, you also? ⁴⁸Have any of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? ⁴⁹But this crowd, who do not know the law, are accursed." ⁵⁰Nicode'mus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, ⁵¹"Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?" ⁵²They replied, "Are you from Galilee too? Search and you will see that no prophet is to rise from Galilee." ⁵³They went each to his own house,

Intent of Chapter 7

vv. 1-13 Jesus goes to Feast of Tabernacles

Jesus moved about freely in Galilee but those in Judea sought his life.

v. 2 The Feast of Tabernacles or Booths occurs on the Fifteenth Day to the Twenty First day of the Month with the Last Great Day on the Twenty Second day of the Seventh month (Sept/Oct). It is the third and last commanded harvest feast of God of the year (Lev. 23:39-43; Deut. 16:13-15). The Last Great Day is a feast in its own right, given its symbolism of the Resurrections.

vv. 3-5 Jesus’ brothers (see Mat. 13:55 and notes and also The Virgin Maryam and the Family of Jesus Christ (No. 232). They challenge him to declare himself at the feast in Jerusalem, to verify his claims in the above chapters 5 and 6. The implications are astounding for all the world. v. 5 For even his brothers did not believe him. This text explains in part why the brothers were not with Maryam at Golgotha (No. 217) with John. They were thus converted later, perhaps even as late as the Resurrection. Although they may have been told to hide themselves at the execution.

vv. 6-8 Jesus’ time or hour v. 30; (see 2:4 n. 8:20; 12:23; 17:1) was the time for his final manifestation on the stauros or stake (see The Cross its Origin and Significance (No. 039)).

v. 10 Compare Jesus’ private journey with the public one in 12:12-15 and the reason for both in v. 8 and 12:23.

7:11-13 The people engaged in subdued debate as to his character for fear of the Jewish authorities (see 5:16 n).

vv. 14-24 Jesus teaches openly at the Temple

v. 15. His learning in spite of no formal study implied divine guidance (see also Mk. 1:22).

vv. 16-18 Christ then clarified his teaching was from God, as it was by God’s will that he spoke and taught, as can be recognized by one who wills to obey God’s will.

vv. 19-24 The Law of God (L1) as given through Moses condemns their desire to kill Jesus for healing on the Sabbath (5:18) for it enjoins circumcision even when the eighth day falls on a Sabbath (Lev. 12:3). Circumcision is at least a medical procedure. Why then not other healing?

vv. 25-44 Is Jesus the Christ?

vv. 25-31 Jesus’ origin was known and thus they denied the possibility of him being the Messiah, whereas they assumed that Messiah’s origin would be mysterious. His origin was determined from his Pre-existence (No. 243) and determined in God who sent him and whose authority he bears.

vv. 32-36 The chief priests who were Sadducees as a rule and who hated the Pharisees, nevertheless, they united in sending Temple Police to arrest Jesus, who then speaks of his death and his return to Him who sends him. They did not understand what he was saying in regard to going away and they could not find him. (contrast 8:21 with12:26; 17:24). They missed the point thinking that he would go to the dispersion, among the Gentile Greeks. This would later have serious ramifications under the Sign of Jonah... (No. 013) and the destruction of the Temple (see War with Rome and the Fall of the Temple (No. 298)).

vv. 37-39

For seven days water was carried in a golden pitcher from the pool of Siloam to the temple as a reminder of the water from the rock in the desert (Num. 20:2-13). The irony that it was Christ that gave the water from the Rock as we see from 1Cor. 10:1-4 and they carried it as a symbol of hope for the coming Messianic deliverance (Isa. 12:3). Jesus is the true water of life who turns the symbol into reality as he did at Sinai (Isa. 44:3; 55:1). So also he gave the Law to Moses (Acts 7:30-53). Father forgive them for they know not what they do to this day.

The Elect as members of the body become channels of the faith. Christ was killed and resurrected and ascended to the Father to enable the Holy Spirit to be given to the Elect as a power of the Messianic Age (Jl. 2:28-29; Acts 2:14-21).

vv. 40-44 The division in the people was unimportant. The critical issue was that he was from God. The prophet...the Christ (see 1:20-21 n). v. 42 Descended from David (2Sam. 7:12-13; Ps. 89:3-4; 132:11-12; Bethlehem Mic. 5:2.

vv. 45-53 Unbelief of Jewish Leaders

v. 49 Crowd The masses are indifferent to scrupulous Pharisaic observances.

v. 52 Sarcasm, - The Jerusalem aristocracy expressing contempt for Galilean peasants.

They then claimed that no prophet had come from Galilee which was untrue. Five prophets came out of Galilee: Jonah, Nahum, Hosea, Elijah, and Elisha. The most important in this sequence of the Sign of Jonah ... (No. 013) is indeed Jonah.

2Kings 14:25 indicates that Jonah is from Gath-Hepher - a small border town in ancient Israel (Galilee). Jonah was a well-known prophet during the reign of the Israelite King Jeroboam ben Joash of the northern kingdom of Israel (c. 786-746 BCE). The ignorance of these Temple scholars was truly amazing, or just wilful.

v. 53 They went each to his own house

Chapter 8

¹but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. ²Early in the morning he came again to the temple; all the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. ³the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst ⁴they said to him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. ⁵Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such. What do you say about her?" ⁶This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. ⁷And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." ⁸And once more he bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. ⁹But when they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the eldest, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. ¹⁰Jesus looked up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" ¹¹She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again." ¹²Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." ¹³The Pharisees then said to him, "You are bearing witness to yourself; your testimony is not true." ¹⁴Jesus answered, "Even if I do bear witness to myself, my testimony is true, for I know whence I have come and whither I am going, but you do not know whence I come or whither I am going. ¹⁵You judge according to the flesh, I judge no one. ¹⁶Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone that judge, but I and he who sent me. ¹⁷In your law it is written that the testimony of two men is true; ¹⁸I bear witness to myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness to me." ¹⁹They said to him therefore, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither me nor my Father; if you knew me, you would know my Father also." ²⁰These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. ²¹Again he said to them, "I go away, and you will seek me and die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come." ²²then said the Jews, "Will he kill himself, since he says, 'Where I am going, you cannot come'?" ²³He said to them, "You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. ²⁴I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he." ²⁵They said to him, "Who are you?" Jesus said to them, "Even what I have told you from the beginning. ²⁶I have much to say about you and much to judge; but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him." ²⁷They did not understand that he spoke to them of the Father. ²⁸So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority but speak thus as the Father taught me. ²⁹And he who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him." ³⁰As he spoke thus, many believed in him. ³¹Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, ³²and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." ³³They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham, and have never been in bondage to any one. How is it that you say, 'You will be made free'?" ³⁴Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, every one who commits sin is a slave to sin. ³⁵The slave does not continue in the house for ever; the son continues for ever.³⁶So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. ³⁷I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you. ³⁸I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father." ³⁹They answered him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do what Abraham did, ⁴⁰but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God; this is not what Abraham did. ⁴¹You do what your father did." They said to him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God." ⁴²Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I proceeded and came forth from God; I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. ⁴³Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. ⁴⁴You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. ⁴⁵But, because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. ⁴⁶Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? ⁴⁷He who is of God hears the words of God; the reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God." ⁴⁸The Jews answered him, "Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?" ⁴⁹Jesus answered, "I have not a demon; but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. ⁵⁰Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it and he will be the judge. ⁵¹Truly, truly, I say to you, if any one keeps my word, he will never see death." ⁵²The Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, as did the prophets; and you say, 'If any one keeps my word, he will never taste death.' ⁵³Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you claim to be?" ⁵⁴Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing; it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is your God. ⁵⁵But you have not known him; I know him. If I said, I do not know him, I should be a liar like you; but I do know him and I keep his word. ⁵⁶Your father Abraham rejoiced that he was to see my day; he saw it and was glad." ⁵⁷The Jews then said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?" ⁵⁸Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am." ⁵⁹So they took up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.

Intent of Chapter 8

vv. 1-11 Jesus forgives an adulterous woman

This account is omitted in many ancient manuscripts but it appears to be an authentic incident in Jesus’ ministry though not belonging originally to John’s Gospel. v. 2 Early Lk. 21:38; Acts 5:21; sat down Mat. 5:1; 23:2; Mk. 9:35. v. 5 The Law of Moses (Lev. 20:10; Deut. 22:23-24). v. 7 Without sin Mat. 23:28; Rom. 2:1. v. 8 According to several later mss Jesus wrote...on the ground “The sins of each of them” comp. Jer. 17:13.

v. 11 Do not sin again 5:14.

8:12-59 Jesus the Light of Life

Great golden lamps were in the Temple Court and were lit during the Feast of Tabernacles (7:2) forming the basis and appropriateness of Jesus’ claim in v. 12 (Isa. 49:6; 60:1-3). The feast will resume in Jerusalem at the return of Messiah when the Sabbaths and New Moons and Feasts will be resumed on pain of death and the plagues of Egypt. Sunday worship, Christmas and Easter will be outlawed, as will Hillel, and they will carry the death penalty (see Isa. 66:23-24; Zech. 14:16-19) (see The Sabbath (No. 031); The New Moons (No. 125); Origins of Christmas and Easter (No. 235); God’s Calendar (No. 156)).

vv. 12-20 Jesus is the light of the world

vv. 13-18 Jesus again spoke to them and answered the objection to his bearing self witness: (a) he came from the world above and thus alone among men understands who he is (Mat. 11:27) and (b) The joint witness of he and the Father fulfils the legal requirement of the two witnesses under the Law of God (Deut. 19:15).

v. 19 The question shows judgment according to the flesh (v. 15); thus they have no ears to hear God speaking through the Holy Spirit in Jesus, but then, nor did they under the prophets before him.

vv. 21-29 Jesus warns of coming Judgment

v. 22 They were considering that, by his comments, he may commit suicide, and thus save them the trouble ahead.

vv. 23-24 Jesus reiterates his source being from above and from God. Thus to believe in him is the only escape from sin and death, through the Resurrection.

vv. 25-27 Here he makes an indirect claim to oneness with God, that they do not understand (see also 1:18).

vv. 28-29 The oneness with God is based on obedience to God in His omniscience and is continuous even unto the death Christ was to experience on the stauros and to the faith in the Resurrection (cf. Sign of Jonah...(No. 013) and also see The Timing of the Crucifixion and the Resurrection (No. 159)).

vv. 30-47 Jesus speaks about God’s true children to those who believed in Him of Judah.

v. 31 He tells them if they continue in his word they are truly his disciples and they will know the truth and the truth shall set them free. By this understanding the true Elect (No. 001) of the human sons of God are identified (see Rev. 12:17; 14:12 F066iii, iv).

v. 32 By truth he means not general knowledge but the truth that saves (14:6) through the Holy Spirit (No. 117).

vv. 33-38 As the descendants of Abraham through the sons of Jacob, Israel had the truth through the Patriarchs and the Law of Moses. However, without baptism as a repentant adult, with the laying on of hands, which was only available through the death and resurrection of Christ, no one was free of sin under the law, as they could not keep it without the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the conversion it brings, which only became available from Pentecost 30 CE. The Spirit began calling the elect from the beginning of Christ’s ministry but did not enter them until Pentecost (Acts 2:1-47 (F044), (see

also Repentance and Baptism (No. 052)). Only through Baptism into the Body of Christ does one become one of the Elect as sons of God in the Holy Spirit. That is why infant baptism is the greatest fraud ever perpetrated on mankind by the demons, as they are denied the First Resurrection (No. 143A).

vv. 39-47 The desire to kill the Messiah forfeits any claim to be heirs of Abraham under the Law of God and thus true Children of God. Thus they have to be taken out of the way and salvation given to the Gentiles under the Elect as the Body of Christ so that mankind can become Elohim (No. 001) as the inheritance of Messiah and Israel as the Vineyard of God (No. 001C) under the Plan of Salvation (No. 001A).

The unconverted resist the truth and turn always to calumny and defamation as Children of the devil (v. 44). The fault is in them and not here in Jesus (v. 46). This was the case here in v. 48, where they accused him of being a Samaritan and having a demon.

vv. 48-59 Jesus states his pre-existence

v. 49-51 Christ denied having a demon and stated he honoured the Father and they by their calumny dishonoured him, as all calumny dishonours the elect, either being given or received.

vv. 52-53 The Jews then attacked him over his claim that those who followed him would never see death. In this text he then went on to assert his pre-existence (see The Pre-existence of Jesus Christ (No. 243)). It has always been a constant doctrine of the Churches of God over the centuries that Christ was the pre-existent God of Israel subordinate to the Father who was his God, as the One True God Eloah, who was the Elyon, and who appointed Christ as the Elohim and messenger or angel to the patriarchs (see Deut. 32:8 (RSV); Ps. 45:6-7; Heb. 1:8-9; see The Angel of YHVH (No. 024)).

Eloah allows of no plurality whatsoever and is singular only, as is the Chaldean structure Elahh and the subsequent Aramaic and following Arabic in Allah’. Eloah created all the sons of God who were summoned to be present at the foundation of the world in Job 38:4-7 and who attended His Court and Satan was also among them (Job 1:6; 2:1).

Christ’s final statements in 8:58 “Before Abraham was I am” is a reference back to the reference of Ex. 3:14 “eyeh asher eyeh” meaning I will be what I will become, of which Yahovah (SHD 3068) is an honorific as a third person form of the verb meaning “He causes to be” used of and to the messengers of the Host including Christ referring to their position as delegates for the One True God, who sent Messiah (Jn. 17:3). Yahovih (SHD 3069) is only used of the Father as Ha Elohim, or The God, and when used, Elohim is spoken by Jewish rabbinical authorities. Yahovah (SHD 3068) is read as Adonai (see Strong’s comments to 3068 and 3069). That is done so as not to confuse the two entities (see also Zech. Ch. 2 and 12:8).

See also The Names of God (No. 116);

Dialogue on the Name and Nature of God (No. 116A); Binitarianism and Trinitarianism (No. 076);

Purpose of the Creation and the Sacrifice of Christ (No. 160).

*****

Bullinger’s Notes on John Chs. 5-8 (for KJV)

Chapter 5

Verse 1

After, &c. A phrase common in John. See John 21:1 . Ten times in the Revelation.

After . Greek. meta. App-104 .

this = these things,

a feast. Perhaps Purim, but uncertain.

the Jews. See note on John 2:13 .

Jesus. See App-98 .

to. Greek. eis. App-104 .

Verse 2

at = in. Greek.

en. App-104 .

by = upon, or at. Greek. epi. App-104 .

market, or gate . Compare Nehemiah 3:1 , Nehemiah 3:32 ; Nehemiah 12:39 , and App-68 . Joh 15:40 .

which is called. Greek. epilegomai. Only here and Acts

Bethesda . Aramaic. App-93 . Compare Siloam in the sixth sign, App-176 .

porches = arches, i, e. a colonnade, or cloister. Greek. stoa. Occurs only here, John 10:23 .Acts 3:11 ; Acts 5:12 . The Eng. "porch" is from the French porche, Latin. porticum = a gallery or door. All from Latin. portare = to carry-the wall being carried over by an arch.

Verse 3

In. Greek. en. App-104 .

halt = lame. Eng. from Anglo-Saxon healt = stop, be-cause of having to stop frequently from lameness.

waiting . From this word to the end of John 5:4 is omitted by T Tr. A WH R, but not the Syriac (see App-94 . note 3). If it be an addition it must have been a marginal note to explain the "troubling "of John 5:7 , which gradually got into the text.

Verse 4

For an angel. The water was intermittent from the upper springs of the waters of Gihon (see App-68 , and 2 Chronicles 32:33 , Revised Version) The common belief of the man expressed in John 5:7 is hereby described. All will be clear, if we insert a parenthesis, thus: "For [it was said that] an angel", &c.

at a certain season = from time to time. Greek. kata ( App-104 . kairon .

into. Greek. en. App-104 .

troubled . Greek. tarasso. Compare John 11:33 ; John 12:27 ; John 13:21 ; John 14:1 , John 14:27 .

whole = well or sound. Greek. hugies. Seven times in John. Compare John 7:23 .

he had = held him fast. See note on "withholdeth", 2 Thessalonians 2:6 .

Verse 5

And, &c. See App-176 .

man. Greek anthropos. App-123 .

thirty and eight years . The period of the wanderings. Compare "from birth", John 9:1 .

Verse 6

saw = seeing. App-133 . The Lord, in this and the sixth sign, takes the initiative (John 9:1 ).

knew = knowing. App-132 . See note on John 1:10 . Not the same word as in John 5:32 . a long time. Compare John 9:2 .

Wilt thou = Desirest thou to. Greek. thelo. App-102 .

Verse 7

Sir . Greek. kurios . App-98 . B. b. Supply the Ellipsis thus: "Sir [I am indeed willing, but] I have, "&c.

no. Greek. ou. App-105 .

to = in order that (Greek. hina) he may.

time = when.

into . Greek. eis. App-104 .

while = in (Greek. en) the

another . App-124 .

before . Greek. pro. App-104 .

Verse 8

Rise . App-178 .

The third sign . See App-176 .

bed . A rough cotton wool quilt called to-day khaf, the poor man's bed. The Greek krabbaton is a Latin word meaning a "pallet".

Verse 9

on . Greek. en. App-104 .

the same day . . . sabbath = that day a Sabbath. Compare John 9:14 and App-176 . This seems to imply that it was not the weekly sabbath, but the same as John 19:31 . See App-156 .

Verse 10

was cured = had been healed.

the sabbath day = a sabbath.

it is not lawful . A forced interpretation of Jeremiah 17:21 , &c., by the Rabbis, made the carrying of anything from a public place into a private place, or vice versa, unlawful (Talmud, Sabb. 6. a).

not. Greek ou. App-105 . Not the same word as in verses: John 5:23 , John 5:28 , John 5:45 .

carry = take up, as in John 5:8 .

Verse 11

the same = that one there. Greek. ekeinos, emph.

Verse 12

asked . Greek. erotao. App-134 .

What man . . . ? = Who is the man . . . ?

Verse 13

And = But.

was healed = had been healed.

wist = knew. App-132 . Anglo-Saxon wit an = to know.

conveyed Himself away = turned aside, as if to avoid a blow. Greek ekneuo. Occurs only here.

multitude = crowd.

that = the.

Verse 14

Afterward =

After these things. See note on John 5:1 .

findeth . Compare John 9:35 . See App-176 .

temple = the temple courts. See note on Matthew 23:16 .

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

art made = hast become.

sin, &c. = continue no longer (Greek. meketi) in sin.

sin. Greek. hamartano. App-128 . See John 9:24 , John 9:25 , John 9:31 , John 9:34 . App-176 .

lest = in order that . . . not Greek.

me. App-105 .

come unto thee = happen to thee, or befall thee.

Verse 16

therefore = on account of (Greek. dia. App-104 .John 5:2; John 5:2 ) this.

did . . . persecute = began to persecute. Beginning of open hostility.

sought = were seeking. Most texts, not Syriac, omit this clause.

Verse 17

My Father . See note on John 2:16 .

worketh . Compare John 9:4 , and see App-176 .

hitherto until now ; referring to the O.T. Dispensation. Now Jehovah was speaking "by His Son "(Hebrews 1:2 ).

and I work = I also am working [now].

Verse 18

to kill Him . Note three attempts on the Lord's life, all connected with His claim to Deity, here; John 8:58 , Joh 8:69 ; John 10:30 , John 10:31 .

because He not only. The 1611 edition of the Authorized Version reads "not only because He".

had broken = was breaking.

said also that God was His Father = -also called God His own Father.

God. App-98 .

His = His own.

Verse 19

Then = Therefore.

Verily, verily. The fifth occurance. See note on John 1:51 .

do . His works were like His words. See note on John 7:16 .

nothing . Greek. ou ouden. A double negative.

of = from. Greek. apo. App-104 .

but = if not. Greek. ean me.

seeth. Greek. blepo. App-133 .

the Father . See note on John 1:14 .

do = doing.

these also . Read "also "after "Son".

likewise = in like manner.

Verse 20

loveth . Greek phileo. One of the characteristic words of this Gospel. See page 1511, and App-135 .

works . See note on John 4:34 .

that = in order that. Greek. Nina.

Verse 21

raiseth = awaketh. Greek egeiro. App-178 .

the dead = corpses. See App-139 .

quickeneth = giveth life to. Occurs in John only here, twice, and John 6:63 . Then universally believed by the Jews.

them. Supply the Ellipsis (complex, App-6 .), thus: "quickeneth [whom He will]; so the Son also [raiseth the dead, and] quickeneth whom He will. "

the Son = the Son also.

Verse 22

For . . . no man = For not even . . . any

one . Greek. oude oudeis. A double negative.

judgeth . One of the characteristic words of this Gospel. See App-122 and the Characteristic Words chart for John book comments.

committed = given.

judgment . Greek. krisis. App-177 .

Verse 23

even as . Greek kathos.

not . Greek one. App-105 .

sent . Greek pempo. App-174 . One of the characteristic words of this Gospel. See note on John 1:22 and the Characteristic Words chart for John book comments.

Verse 24

word. Greek. logos. See note on Mark 9:32 .

believeth on . See App-150 .

everlasting. Greek aionios. App-161 .

life . See note on John 1:4 .

condemnation = judgment, as in John 5:22 .

is = has.

from = out of. Greek. ek. App-104 .

unto . Same as "into", above.

Verse 25

The hour = An hour. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), App-6 , for a definite and special time. now is. Because, had the nation repented, "all that the prophets had spoken" would have been fulfilled according to Acts 3:21 , including the resurrection foretold in Ezekiel 37:0 , and Isaiah 26:19 , &c.

the Son of God. App-98 . This title is associated with resurrection, as in John 5:27 judgment is with the Son of man.

shall live. See note on John 4:50 .

Verse 26

as = even as. Greek. hosper.

hath He given = He gave (in eternity past).

Verse 27

authority . Greek. exousia. See App-172 .

the Son of man (see App-98 ). The only occurance in John without the Article (except Revelation 1:13 ; Revelation 14:14 ). Compare Daniel 7:13 .

Verse 28

the graves = the tombs. Therefore they are not in heaven or hell.

Verse 29

done = wrought. Greek. poieo = accomplished (referring to the object, aim or end of the act), and generally associated with good.

good = good things (Plural)

the = a. resurrection. Greek. anastasis. App-178 .

done (Greek. prasso. Compare John 3:20 , John 3:21 ) = practised (referring to the means by which the object is obtained) and is associated with evil, as are four out of six occurrences of the noun praxis (= deed), Matthew 16:27 . Luke 23:51 .Acts 19:18 . Romans 8:13 ; Romans 12:4 .Colossians 3:9 .

evil = evil things (plural) Same word as in John 3:20 .

damnation = judgment. Greek. krisis, as in John 5:22 .

Verse 30

will. Greek. thelema. App-102 .

the Father . All the texts read "Him".

Verse 31

If. Assuming the condition, where experience will decide. App-118 .

I. Emphatic = I alone.

bear witness . See note on John 1:7 .

of = concerning. Greek. peri. App-104 . The emphasis being on "Myself". Greek. emautou.

witness . See note on John 1:7 .

true . App-175 . Referring to Deuteronomy 19:15 . Compare John 8:14 . See p. 1511.

Verse 32

There is . See John 5:31 with John 7:28 ; John 8:26 .

know. Greek. oida. App-132 .

Verse 33

sent = have sent. Greek. apostello. App-174 . unto. Greek. pros. App-104 .

he bare = he hath borne.

truth. See note on John 1:14 .

Verse 34

from . Greek. para. App-104 .

Verse 35

a . . . light = the . . . lamp. Greek. luchnos. App-130 . A common Rabbinic idiom for a famous man. In contrast with Christ (John 8:12 ).

for. Greek. pros. App-104 .

season . Greek. hour, put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6 , for a brief period. Compare John 12:23 .

light. Greek. phos. App-130 .

Verse 36

greater witness = the witness, greater.

to finish = in order that I should complete them.

Verse 37

hath sent = sent (at a definite time).

hath borne . And still bears.

neither . . . nor. Greek. oute . . . oute.

seen. Greek. horao. App-133 .

shape = form. Greek. eidos. Compare Luke 3:22 ; Luke 9:39 .

Verse 38

abiding . See note on John 1:32 .

hath sent = sent.

Verse 39

Search . Greek. ereunao = to search as a lion or hound tracks by the scent. Not the same word as in Acts 17:11 . Here the Verb may be the imperative or indicative mood; but the indicative never commences a sentence without the pronoun or some other word, while the imperative is so used. See John 7:52 ; John 14:11 (Believe); John 15:20 (Remember).

the scriptures = the (sacred) writings.

eternal. App-151 . as in John 5:24 .

testify . See note on John 1:7 .

Verse 40

will not come = do not will (John 5:6 ) to come.

to. Greek. pros. App-104 .

might = may.

Verse 41

honour . Greek. doxa = approval, here, as in John 5:44 ; or "praise", as in John 9:21 ; John 12:43 . 1 Peter 4:11 . See p. 1511.

Verse 42

love of God = love toward God. Genitive of Relation. App-17 . Occurs in the Gospels elsewhere only in Luke 11:42 .

you = yourselves, as in John 6:53 .Mark 4:17 . 1 John 5:10 .

Verse 43

him , &c. Compare 2 Thessalonians 2:4 .

Verse 44

believe . App-150 .

one of another = from (Greek. para. App-104 ) one another.

the. Note the Art. here, and not in the preceding clause.

God only = the only God ( App-98 .) Compare 1 Timothy 1:17 .

Verse 45

Moses. See note on John 1:17 .

in = on. Greek. eis. App-104 .

ye trust = ye have set your hope.

Verse 46

had ye = if ( App-118 . a) ye had.

wrote . See App-47 .

Me . See note on Luke 24:27 .

Verse 47

if . App-118 .

writings. Greek. Plural of gramma = letters, used of written characters, or of a document. For the former, see Luke 23:38 . 2 Corinthians 3:7 ; or the letter of Scripture contrasted with its spirit (Romans 2:27 , Romans 2:29 ; Romans 7:6 . 2 Corinthians 3:6 ). For the latter see Luke 16:6 , Luke 16:7 (where it is a debtor's account), and Acts 28:21 (where it is an ordinary letter). in John 7:15 and Acts 26:24 , it is used for learning (compare Isaiah 29:11 , Isaiah 29:12 .Acts 4:13; Acts 4:13 ). In 2 Timothy 3:15 it is used for the sacred writings as a whole. Hence the Scribes were called grammateis.

words . Greek. rhema (plural) See note on Mark 9:32 .

Chapter 6

Verse 1

After these things . This expression occurs seven times in John's Gospel; and "after this" three times.

After. Greek. meta. App-104 . Compare John 5:1 .

Jesus. See App-98 .

went = went away.

of. The Genitive of Relation. See App-17 .

which is the sea of. This is the rendering of the Genitive "of "Tiberias.

Tiberias . The city is still in existence. It was not visited by the Lord, and therefore not guilty of rejecting Him. All the cities which did reject Him have perished.

Verse 2

multitude = crowd.

followed = was following. saw = beheld. Greek horao. App-133 . Not the same word as in verses: John 6:5 ; John 6:14 ; John 6:19 ; John 6:22 ; John 6:24 ; John 6:26 ; John 6:30 ; John 6:40 ; John 6:62 , but same as in verses: John 6:36 , John 6:46 , John 6:46 . L Tr. A WI R. read theoreo, App-133 ., as in John 6:19 .

His. All the texts omit "His".

miracles = signs. See note on John 2:11 . App-176 .

did = was doing, or working.

on . Greek. epi. App-104 .

Verse 3

into . Greek. eis. App-104 .

a mountain = the mountain, i.e. the one overlooking the lake.

sat = was sitting [when He saw the crowds approach ing].

with = amid. Greek. meta. App-104 .

Verse 4

And = Now.

passover . Greek. pascha. Aramaic. App-94 .

a = the.

feast of the Jews . See note on John 2:13 .

Jews . See note on John 1:19 .

Verse 5

When . . . lifted up = having lifted up.

then = therefore. Compare John 6:15 , and see App-176 .

saw = having seen. Greek. theaomai, App-133 .

a great . . . come = that a great . . . is coming.

company = crowd, as in John 6:2 .

unto = toward. Greek pros. App-104 . Not the same word as in verses: 16, 27.

Philip. Because Bethsaida ( App-169 ) was a neighbouring town. Compare John 1:44 ; John 12:21 . See App-141 .

bread = loaves.

that = in order that. Greek. hina.

Verse 6

to prove = proving, i.e. putting him to the test. knew. Greek. oida. App-132 . See note on John 1:26 .

would do = was about to do.

Verse 7

pennyworth . See App-51 .

not. Greek ou. App-105 .

every . . . little . Recorded only in John.

Verse 8

of . Greek. ek. App-104 .

Andrew . App-141 . He appears with Philip in John 1:44 ; John 12:22 .

Simon Peter . App-141 .

Verse 9

a lad = a little boy. Greek. paidarion. App-108 . The "baker boy", with his basket of barley-loaves, is still to be seen where people congregate.

five. See App-10 .

barley . Greek. krithinos. Occurs only here and John 6:13 . Compare Judges 7:13 . 2 Kings 4:42 .Ezekiel 13:19 .

small fishes . Greek. opsarion. Occurs only here, John 6:11 , and John 21:9 , John 21:10 , John 21:13 .

among = for. Greek. eis. App-104 .

Verse 10

men. App-123 .

sit down = recline.

Now, &c. See note on "and we", John 1:14 . in. Greek en. App-104 .

Verse 11

to the disciples , and the disciples. Om. by all the texts and Syriac.

and likewise = likewise also, as much as they would. Recorded only in John.

would = wished. App-102 .

Verse 12

When = But when.

filled . Not the same word as in John 6:26 .

remain = remain over, as in John 6:13 .

Verse 13

twelve , one for each of the apostles.

baskets . Greek. kophinos = a wicker hand-basket, not the same as in Matthew 15:37 . Mark 8:8 .

unto them that had eaten . Recorded only by John.

eaten = fed. Greek. bibrosko. Occurs only here. Root of our "browse", to feed in the open.

Verse 14

Then = Therefore. A supplementary note by John.

those = the.

seen . Greek. eidon. App-133 .

of a truth = truly.

that prophet that should come = the prophet who is coming. See John 1:21 .

world . See note on John 1:9 .

Verse 15

perceived . See note on John 1:10 . App-132 .

would come = were about to come.

to = in order that (Greek. hina) they might.

departed = withdrew. Greek. anachoreo. Only here in John.

Verse 16

even . . . come = it became late.

unto . Greek. epi. App-104 . Not the same word as in verses: John 5:27 , John 5:34 , John 5:45 , Joh 5:65 .

Verse 17

a ship = a fishing-smack. Greek. ploion. Not ploiarion, as in John 6:22 .

went = were going.

toward . Greek. eis. App-104 .

Capernaum. See App-169 .

was = had become.

now = already.

not. Greek. ou, but all the texts read oupo, " not yet".

to. Greek. pros. App-104 .

Verse 18

arose = was rising.

wind. Greek. anemos. Only here in John.

that blew = [that was] blowing.

Verse 19

five and twenty . . . furlongs ( App-51 ). About half way. see. Greek. theoreo. App-133 .

Verse 20

It is I = I am [He]. Compare John 4:26 ; John 8:24 , John 8:28 , John 8:58 ; John 13:19 ; John 18:5 , John 18:6 , John 18:8 . Mark 13:6 . Luke 21:8 .

not. Greek. me. App-105 . Same word as in verses: John 6:27 , John 6:43 . Not the same as in verses: John 6:7 , John 6:17 , John 6:22 , John 7:24 , John 7:26 , John 7:32 , John 7:36 , John 7:38 , John 7:42 , John 7:46 , Joh 7:56 , Joh 7:64 , Joh 7:70 .

Verse 21

willingly received = were willing to receive.

and . . . went . Recorded only by John.

was = became. at. Greek. epi. App-104 .

land , or shore. Greek. ge . App-129 .

whither = to (Greek. eis)) which.

went = were bound.

Verse 22

people = crowd.

the other side . The eastern. In John 6:26 , the western; Compare John 6:39 .

none. Greek. ouk. App-105 .

other . App-124 .

boat = dinghy. Greek. ploiarion. The one belonging to the ploion of John 6:17 (which had gone away). Ploiarion occurs only here, verses: John 6:23 , John 6:24 , John 21:8 . John 6:8 . Mark 3:9 ; Mark 4:36 . Ploion, here = smack, is the usual word for "ship"; ploiarion = the dinghy belonging to it.

whereinto = into (Greek. eis. As in John 6:3 ) which.

were gone = went away.

Verse 23

Howbeit. See note on "and we beheld", John 1:14 .

from = out from. Greek. ek. App-104 .

the Lord. See App-98 . B.C.

Verse 24

they = themselves. Emphatic.

took shipping = entered into (Greek. eis, v. 3) the boats (ploia), but all the texts read ploiaria.

to = unto. Greek. eis, as in John 6:3 .

Verse 25

the other side . The western. In John 6:22 , the eastern.

Rabbi . See App-98 .

camest Thou hither = hast Thou got here.

Verse 26

Verily, verily . The eighth occurance. See note on John 1:51 .

the miracles = signs. No Art.

were filled = satisfied. Not the same word as in John 6:12 .

Verse 27

Labour not . . . but = Labour for the latter rather than for the former. Figure of speech Heterosis (of Degree). App-6 .

meat . Greek brosis, the act of eating (Matthew 6:19 , Matthew 6:20 = "rust "). Not broma = food (John 4:34 ). Compare also 1 Corinthians 8:4 .

endureth . Greek. meno. Same as "dwelleth", John 6:56 . See note on "abode", John 1:32 .

unto . Greek. eis. App-104 . Not the same as in verses: John 6:5 ,

everlasting. Greek. aionios. See App-151 .

life . Greek. zoe. See note on John 1:4 , and App-170 . the Son of man. See App-98 .

him hath God the Father sealed = for Him (= this One) the Father, even God, sealed.

God . See App-98 .

the Father . See note on John 1:14 .

sealed . The Jews discussed "the seal of God", e.g. "What is the seal of the Holy, Blessed God? Rabbi Bibai answered, ' Truth'. But what is 'truth'? Rabbi Bon saith, ' the living God and King eternal'. Rabbi Chaninah saith . ., 'truth is the seal of God'. " Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedr., quoted by Lightfoot, vol. xii, p. 291 (Pitman's ed.)

Verse 28

What shall we do . . . ? = What are we to do . . . ?

work the works . Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-8 .

works . See note on John 4:34 .

Verse 29

answered and said . See App-122 ., and note on Deuteronomy 1:41 .

believe on. See App-150 ., and note on John 1:7

sent. Greek. apostello. App-174 .

Verse 30

therefore. In consequence of the Lord's claim.

What sign, &c. The emphasis is on "Thou". sign See note on John 2:18 .

believe Thee . See App-150 . , and note on John 1:7 .

what . . . ? = what [sign], &c. ?

Verse 31

Our fathers , &c. See Exodus 16:15 . Over half a million able for war; probably three millions in all. Numbers 2:32 .

manna = the manna.

as = according as.

He gave , &c. Quoted from Psalms 78:24 . This was their hope and belief; and this was the "sign "looked for in "the days of Messiah". So the Midrash (a Commentary on Ecc.): "The former Redeemer [Moses] caused manna to descend for them; in like manner shall our latter Redeemer [Messiah] cause manna to come down, as it is written: ' There shall be a handful of corn in the earth' (Psalms 72:16 ). "See Lightfoot, vol. ail, p. 293.

heaven. Singular. See note on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .

Verse 32

Moses. The fifth of seven references to Moses. See note on John 1:17 . The Gemarists affirm that "manna was given for ' the merits of Moses'".

that bread = the [true] bread.

My Father . See note on John 2:16 .

true . Greek. alethinos. See note on John 1:9 , and App-175 .

Verse 33

He , or "That". the world. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6 , for its inhabitants. Used in John to show that Gentiles will be included in Israel's blessing.

Verse 34

Lord . App-98 .

evermore. Greek. pantote, see notes on John 6:35 .

Verse 35

am the bread of life . A form of expression peculiar to this Gospel. The Figure of speech Metaphor ( App-6 ), which carries over, and asserts that one thing is, i.e. represents the other; thus differing from Simile, and Hypocatastasis ( App-6 ). See App-159 . Note the seven ( App-10 ) examples in this Gospel: I am the Bread of Life (John 6:35 , John 6:41 , John 6:48 , John 6:51 ); the Light of the world (John 8:12 ; John 9:5 ); the Door of the sheep (John 10:7 , John 10:9 ); the Good Shepherd (John 10:11 , John 10:14 ); the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25 ); the true and living Way (John 14:6 ); the true Vine (John 15:1 , John 15:5 ).

never = in no wise. Greek. ou me. App-105 .

never thirst = in no wise at any time (Greek. ou me . . . popote) thirst. Greek.supply the Ellipsis by repeating "popote" after "hunger". Both Authorized Version and Revised Version renderings are inadequate. The Authorized Version includes the Greek popote in the second "never". The Revised Version weakens the first "never" by rendering it "not". Neither Authorized Version nor Revised Version give the force of the strong negative ou me.

Verse 36

ye also have seen Me = ye have seen Me also; with emphasis on "seen".

and = yet.

believe . App-150 .

Verse 37

All = Whatever (Neut. singular)

come . . . cometh. "come" = reach, denoting arrival; "cometh" denotes the act and process.

in no wise . Greek. ou me. App-105 . As "never" in John 6:35 .

cast out. Referring to the Divine Supplement "send away" in Matthew 14:15 . Put by Figure of speech Tapeinosis ( App-6 ) for giving blessing to such.

out = without.

Verse 38

I came down = I am come down.

will. Greek. thelema. App-102 .

sent. See note on John 1:22 .

Verse 39

of all = whatever, as in John 6:37 . Compare John 6:44 , and John 12:32 .

lose nothing = not ( App-105 ) lose any of (Greek. ek. App-104 ) it.

raise . App-178 .

at the last day . An expression found only in John (five times): here; verses: John 6:44 , John 6:54 , John 11:24 ; John 12:48 . Compare 1 John 2:18 . It refers to the coming of Messiah, and was used idiomatically for "the age to come", at the end of that dispensation (see Lightfoot, vol. xii, p. 294. Pitman's ed.) It would then have taken place had Israel repented. See Acts 3:19-21 .

at = in. Greek. en. App-104 .

Verse 40

the Son. Compare John 8:36 .

may = should.

and will = and (that) I should.

Verse 41

murmured = were murmuring. Greek gonguzo, the Septuagint word for Israel's murmuring in the wilderness. See 1 Corinthians 10:10 . Compare Jude 1:16 .

at = concerning. Greek. peri. App-104 .

Verse 42

they said = were saying.

Verse 43

among yourselves = with (Greek. meta. App-104 ) one another.

Verse 44

No man = No ( App-105 ) one.

can come = is able to come (two verbs).

except . Greek. ean me. App-118 and App-105 .

draw him. Those thus drawn are defined in John 6:37 as "all "those who are given (without exception). In John 12:32 the "all" are not thus defined, and denote "all" (without distinction).

Verse 45

It is written = It standeth written.

the prophets . See Isaiah 54:13 .Jeremiah 31:34 .

all. Here it denotes "all" without exception. See note on "draw him", John 6:44 .

taught of God . In 1 Thessalonians 4:9 the words are compounded (theodidaktos).

of = from. Greek. para. App-104 ., implying close intimacy. See John 6:46 .

Verse 46

any man = any one.

save . Greek. ei me = if not. App-118 and App-105 .

of = from (beside). Greek. para. App-104 . Implying past and present union. Compare John 7:29 ; John 9:16 , John 9:33 .

Verse 47

hath = possesseth. Not, of course, in himself (or he would never die), but by faith in Christ.

Verse 48

that = the.

Verse 49

did eat = ate.

are dead = died.

Verse 50

a man = any one: i.e. without distinction.

thereof = of (Greek. ek. App-104 .) it.

Verse 51

living . See note on John 4:10 .

if. For the condition, see App-118 .

this bread = this [One before you]. One of three passages in which "this" indicates the speaker. Compare John 2:19 . Matthew 16:18 .

he shall live ; in and by resurrection. See note on John 4:50 , John 4:51 , John 4:53 .

for ever = unto the age. See App-151 . a.

and the bread that I will give = but the bread, moreover, which I will give. The omission of the particle (" de") in Authorized Version hides the line of the discussion: (1) I will give this bread; (2) This bread is My flesh; (3) My flesh is My body which I will give up in death.

My flesh = Myself. Put by the Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), App-6 , for the whole person, as in Genesis 17:13 .Psalms 16:9 (Acts 2:26-31 ). Proverbs 14:30 . Matthew 19:5 . Rom 3:20 . 1 Corinthians 1:29 . 2 Corinthians 7:5 ; and for Christ's own person, Joh 1:14 . 1 Timothy 3:16 . 1 Peter 3:18 . Heb 10:20 . 1 John 4:2 . Just as "My soul" is also put for the whole person (Numbers 23:10 . Judges 16:30 . Psalms 3:2 ; Psalms 16:10 ; Psalms 33:19 ; Psalms 103:1 .Isaiah 58:5 .Acts 2:31 .Romans 13:1; Romans 13:1 ). In view of the Jews' unbelief, the Lord used the Figure of speech Synecdoche here. To take a figure of speech literally, and treat what is literal as a figure, is the most fruitful source of error.

flesh . See note on John 1:13 .

I will give. All the texts omit this, but not the Syriac. See App-94 .

for. Greek huper. App-104 .

Verse 52

strove = were contending. Greek. machomai. Only here, Act 7:26 . 2 Timothy 2:24 .James 4:2 . An advance on "murmuring" in John 6:41 .

among themselves = with (Greek. pros. App-104 .) one another.

Verse 53

eat . . . drink, &c. The Hebrews used this ex pression with reference to knowledge by the Figure of speech Me tonomy (of the Subject), App-6 , as in Exodus 24:11 , where it is put for being alive; so eating and drinking denoted the operation of the mind in receiving and "inwardly digesting" truth or the words of God. See Deuteronomy 8:3 , and p. Jeremiah 15:16 . Ezekiel 2:8 . No idiom was more common in the days of our Lord. With them as with us, eating included the meaning of enjoyment, as in Ecclesiastes 5:19 ; Ecclesiastes 6:2 ; for "riches "cannot be eaten; and the Talmud actually speaks of eating (i.e. enjoying) "the years of Messiah", and instead of finding any difficulty in the figure they said that the days of Hezekiah were so good that "Messiah will come no more to Israel; for they have already devoured Him in the days of Hezekiah" (Lightfoot, vol. xii, pp 296, 297). Even where eating is used of the devouring of enemies, it is the enjoyment of victory that is included. The Lord's words could be understood thus by hearers, for they knew the idiom; but of "the eucharist" they knew nothing, and could not have thus understood them. By comparing verses: John 6:47-48 with verses: John 6:53-54 , we see that believing on Christ was exactly the same thing as eating and drinking Him.

flesh . . . blood. By the Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), App-6 , this idiom is put for the whole Person. See note on "flesh", John 1:13 , and compare Matthew 16:17 . 1 Corinthians 15:50 . Galatians 1:1 , Galatians 1:16 . . Ephesians 6:12 .Hebrews 2:14 .

no = not. App-105 .

Verse 54

eateth =

feedeth on (so as to enjoy). Greek. trogo, as in verses: John 6:56 , John 6:57-58 . Not the same word as in verses: John 6:5 , John 6:13 , John 6:23 , John 5:26 , John 5:31 , Joh 5:49 , Joh 5:50 , Joh 5:53 , Joh 5:58 -. See the two words in John 6:58 .

eternal . Greek. aionios. App-151 .

Verse 55

indeed = truly. Greek. alethos. All the texts read alethes ( App-175 ) but not the Syriac.

Verse 56

dwelleth = abideth. Same as "endureth "in John 6:27 . See note on "abode" in John 1:32 .

Verse 57

As = According as. See John 13:15 . 1Jn 2:6 ; 1 John 2:4 .

live. See note on John 4:50 .

by = through. Greek. dia. App-104 .John 6:2 .

Verse 58

This , &c. Compare John 6:50 , and see on Matthew 16:18 .

live for ever. This is the opposite of death (John 6:49 ), and is to be only by and through resurrection (verses: John 6:39 , John 6:40 , John 6:44 ).

Verse 59

synagogue . See App-120 .

Verse 60

Many. Other than the twelve (John 6:70 ).

This is an hard saying . The emphasis is on "hard" by the Figure of speech Hyperbaton ( App-6 ).

saying . Greek. logos. See note on Mark 9:32 .

Verse 61

it = this.

offend = cause to stumble.

you? Emph.; i.e. you, as well as those Jews.

Verse 62

What and if, &c.? The Apodosis which is wanting (by Ellipsis) must be supplied thus: "If" (as in John 6:51 ) therefore ye should behold the Son of man ascending up where He was before [will ye be offended then]? "

ascend = ascending.

Verse 63

the spirit. App-101 .

quickeneth = giveth life. Greek. zoopoieo. See note on John 5:21 .

the flesh . See note on John 1:13 .

nothing . Greek. ouk ouden. A double negative. words. Greek. rhema. See note on Mark 9:32 .

speak = have spoken, and do speak.

spirit . See App-101 .

Verse 64

from the beginning. First occurance of "ex arches" in John. As in John 1:1 , the Ellipsis of dependent noun must be supplied here, and in the only other occurrence (John 16:4 ): "from the beginning [of the Lord's ministry]". For the occurance of arche with other prepositions, see notes on John 1:1 ; John 8:44 , and Hebrews 1:10 .

believed not = would not believe. Note the subjective emphasis of' me. App-105 . See also App-150 .

should = would.

Verse 65

Therefore = For this cause. Greek. dia ( App-104 .John 6:2; John 6:2 ) touto.

Verse 66

that time = this cause. It is the same cause to this day. back. Greek. eis ta opiso.

walked = walked about.

no more . Compound of ou. App-105 .

Verse 67

Will ye also go away? = Surely ye also do not (Greek. me. App-105 ) wish ( App-102 ) to go away? Implying a negative answer,

Verse 69

believe = have believed. App-150 .

are sure = have got to know. Greek. ginosko See App-132 . See note on John 1:10 .

that Christ = the Messiah. App-98 .

the Son of . . . God . Thus, the second portion of the Lords ministry ends with a similar declaration on the part of Simon Peter, as in Matthew 16:16 , though not the same occasion. So the Syriac reads, showing that the various readings of the Greek need not be heeded. See App-94 .

the living God . This expression always implies the contrast with all other gods.

Verse 70

Have I not chosen = Did I not choose. Compare 13. 14, 15, 16, 19. Luke 6:13 .

twelve = the twelve. See App-141 .

Verse 71

He spake = But, or Now He was speaking.

Judas . App-141 .

Iscariot = a man of Kerioth, which was in Judah (Joshua 15:25 ). Kerioth now probably Khan Kureitin.

the son of Simon . So designated only here, John 12:4 ; John 12:13 , John 12:2 , John 12:26 . The only apostle not a Galilean. Compare John 12:6 .

that should betray Him = [who] was about to betray Him. Note the two verbs. Thus ends the second por tion of the Lord's ministry ( App-119 ), and thus is ushered in the third.

Chapter 7

Verse 1

After these things. See note on John 6:1 . Marking a new subject.

Jesus . See App-98 .

walked = was walking. Greek. peripateo. Compare John 6:18 .

in. Greek. en. App-104 .

Galilee. App-169 .

would not walk = did not desire ( App-102 .) to walk. Note the two verbs.

not. Greek. ou. App-105 .

Jewry. Greek. Ioudaia. In Middle Eng. Jewerie, from the Old French Juierie = "Jewry", a Jews' district. Occurs elsewhere only in Daniel 5:13 .

the Jews, i.e. the hostile party. See note on John 1:19 .

sought = were seeking to kill Him. Thus is introduced the third subject of the Lord's ministry. App-119 .

Verse 2

the Jews' feast. See note on John 2:13 .

of tabernacles = of booths. Not sleaze, as in Septuagint. (Leviticus 23:34 .Deuteronomy 16:13 . 2 Chronicles 8:13 .Ezra 3:4; Ezra 3:4 ); but skenopegia = booth-making, as in Deuteronomy 16:16 ; Deuteronomy 31:10 . Zechariah 14:16 , Zechariah 14:18 , Zechariah 14:19 . Only direct reference to this feast in N.T. See App-179 .

at hand = near.

Verse 3

His brethren . Compare John 2:12 and Mark 3:21 , Mark 3:31 .

unto . Greek. pros. App-104 .

into . Greek eis. App-104 .

that = in order that. Greek hina.

see = be spectators of. Greek. theoreo. App-133 .

works, See note on John 4:34 .

Verse 4

no man = no one. Greek. oudeis (compound of App-105 ).

openly . Greek. parrhesia, literally in plain language.

If. Assuming the fact. App-118 . Not the same word as in verses: John 7:17 , John 7:37 .

shew. Greek. phaneroo. App-106 . Compare John 1:31 ; John 2:11 .

world . Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6 , for its inhabitants. See note on John 1:9 , and App-129 .

Verse 5

neither = not even. Greek. oude. App-105 . See note on "And we beheld", &c., John 1:14 .

believe in. App-150 . See note on John 1:12 .

Verse 6

Then = Therefore. Not the same word as in John 7:10 .

time = seasonable moment.

not yet . Greek. oupo. A compound of ou ( App-105 ). The Lord's death was accomplished by Himself. See John 10:17 , John 10:18 . Luke 9:31 . Until that hour (the right hour) came, He was immune (verses: John 7:8 , John 7:30 , John 7:20 ) At length it was "at hand "(Matthew 26:45 ); and came, according to His word (John 12:23 , John 12:27 ; John 13:1 ; John 17:1 . Compare Mark 14:41 ).

your = your own. Greek humeteros. Emph.

Verse 7

cannot = is not ( App-105 ) able to.

testify = bear witness See note on John 1:7 .

of = concerning. Greek. peri. App-104 .

evil, Greek. poneros. App-128 .

Verse 8

Go . . . up. Greek anabaino, the technical word for going up with others as in a caravan. See John 11:55 . Matthew 20:17 , Matthew 20:18 . Mark 10:32 , Mark 10:33 .Luke 2:42 ; Luke 18:31 (compare John 7:35 ); John 19:4 , John 19:28 , John 11:55 , Acts 21:15 .

unto. Greek eis. App-104 .

this = the,

is not yet full come = has not yet been fulfilled. Compare Luke 21:24 .Acts 7:23 .

Verse 9

words = things.

abode . See note on John 1:32 ,

Verse 10

when. Not a note of time but of sequence, as in John 2:9 , John 2:23 ; John 2:4 , John 2:1 , Joh 2:40 ; John 6:12 , John 6:16 ; John 11:6 , John 11:32 , John 11:38 .

Verse 11

at = in. Gr en. App-104 .

he = that man. Emphatic.

Verse 12

murmuring . See note on John 6:41

among. Greek. en. App-104 .

people = crowds.

concerning . Greek peri. App-104 .

said = were saying.

Nay . Greek. ou. App-105 .

deceiveth = leadeth astray. Compare Mark 13:5-6 ; 1 Timothy 4:1 .Jude 1:13 .

people = crowd.

Verse 13

for = on account of. Greek. dia. App-104 .John 7:2 .

Verse 14

about the midst, &c. Expression Occurs only here. temple. Greek. hieron. See note on Matthew 23:16 .

taught = began to teach (Imperf. tense).

Verse 15

marvelled = were wondering.

knoweth . Greek. oida. App-132 . See note on 1.

letters . Greek. Plural of gramma. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for what is written; e.g. an account (Luke 16:6 , Luke 16:7 ); the Pentateuch (John 5:47 ); Epistles (Acts 28:21 ); the whole Scripture (2 Timothy 3:15 ). Hence, used of general literature such as the Talmudical writings (here, and in Acts 26:24 ). Compare our term, "man of letters", and see Acts 4:13 .

never = not. Greek. me. App-105 .

Verse 16

answered . . . and said . See note on Deuteronomy 1:41 and App-122 . The 1611 edition of the A. Y. omitted "and said".

My doctrine, &c. The first of seven declarations that the Lord spoke only the Father's words (See John 8:28 , John 8:47 ; John 12:49 ; John 14:10 , John 14:24 ; John 17:8 ).

doctrine = teaching.

sent . See note on John 5:23 .

Verse 17

If , &c. For the condition, see App-118 .

will do = desire ( App-102 .) to do.

will. Greek. thelema. App-102 .

know = get to know. Greek. ginosko. App-132 . See note on John 1:10 .

of. Greek. ek. App-104 .

of = from. Greek. apo. App-104 .

Verse 18

glory. See note on John 1:14 .

His glory , &c. = the glory of Him that sent.

the same = He.

true. See note on John 3:33 .

unrighteousness. See App-128 .

Verse 19

Moses . See note on John 1:17 .

keepeth = doeth.

go . . . about = seek.

Verse 20

devil = demon. Compare Matthew 11:18 .

Verse 21

have done = did.

one. A Hebrew idiom for "a". See John 1:3 .

Verse 22

therefore gave unto you = for this cause (dia [ App-104 .John 7:2; John 7:2 ] touto) has given you. circumcision. Moses mentioned the precept only in Exodus 12:44 , Exodus 12:48 . Leviticus 12:3 . The Law not given by Moses, but based on Genesis 17:9-14 .

the fathers . That is, Abraham. on. Greek. en. App-104 .

man. Greek. anthropos. App-123 .

Verse 23

are ye angry? Greek cholao (from chole = bile). Occurs only here.

every whit = entirely (in contrast with one member).

whole = sound (in contrast with wound).

Verse 24

Judge . See note on John 5:22 and App-122 .

not . Greek. me. App-105 . according to. Greek. kata. App-104 .

appearance = sight; i.e. objective or outward appearance.

judge . . . judgment . Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6 .

righteous = the righteous.

judgment . App-177 .

Verse 25

Jerusalem. See note on Matthew 15:1 . Compare Mark 1:5 .

seek = are seeking.

Verse 26

But = And.

lo. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 . Greek. ide. App-133 .

boldly = openly, as in John 7:4 .

nothing. Greek ouden. Compound of ou.

Do the rulers know indeed? = The rulers have not ascertained, have they?

indeed. Greek. alethos = truly or really.

very . Same as "indeed" above. All the texts omit "very", but not the Syriac. See App-94 . note 3, p. 136.

Christ = the Messiah. Ste App-98 .

Verse 27

Howbeit = But, or And yet.

this man = this one.

when = whenever.

cometh = may come.

whence He is : i.e. how He may come. The Rabbis taught that He would come from Bethlehem and then be hid, but none knew where. See Lightfoot, vol. xii, pages 303-4.

Verse 28

cried = cried aloud.

taught = was teaching.

true. Greek. alethinos ( App-175 .) See note on John 1:9 .

Verse 29

from = from beside. Greek para. App-104 .

sent . Greek apostello. App-174 . Not the same word as in verses: John 7:16 , John 7:18 , John 7:28-33 ; but the same word as in John 7:32 .

Verse 30

sought = were seeking.

take = arrest. See in verses: John 7:32 , John 7:44 , and Acts 12:4 . 2 Corinthians 11:32 .

Verse 31

cometh = shall have come.

will He . . . ? = He will not (Greek. meti), will He? The texts read me.

miracles = signs. Greek. Semeion. See note on John 2:11 , and App-176 .

hath done = did.

Verse 32

Pharisees . See App-120 .

that . . . murmured = murmuring. Greek. gonguzo. Occurs elsewhere in John only in John 6:41 , John 6:43 , John 6:61 .

officers , or servants; as in John 18:36 . Compare 18.; John 19:6 , and Matt, . Joh 26:58 . Mark 14:54 , Mark 14:65 ,

to. See John 6:15 .

Verse 33

with. Greek meta. App-104 .

I go = I withdraw. Compare John 6:21 , John 6:67 .

Verse 34

shall = will.

I am. The formula of Divine and eternal existence. See note on John 6:35 , and p. John 8:58 .

Verse 35

among = to. Greek pros. App-104 .

will he go? = is He about to go? (Two verbs.)

the dispersed. Greek Diaspora = the Dispersion. Occurs three times; here, 1 Peter 1:1 ("scattered "), and James 1:1 ("which are scattered abroad"; literally "in the Dispersion").

among = of:

Gentiles . So called from the Latin yentas = nations (as distinguished by race); hence, used of nations, as distinct from the one nation Israel (Genesis 12:2 . Compare John 14:1 , s); Hebrew = goyim: rendered in Authorized Version "nations" 371 times, "heathen "143 times, "Gentiles" 30 times, and "people "11 times. In N.T. days, Greece being the great dominating nation in arms, literature, and language, the word Hellenes became the N.T. word for all non-Jews, Hellen, the son of Deucalion, being the legendary ancestor of the Greek nation (Homer, Iliad, ii. 684). Hellen had been already used in the Septuagint Version, of the "Philistines" (Isaiah 9:12 ), and of "the sons of Javan" (Zechariah 9:13 .Zechariah 9:1; Zechariah 9:1 Macc. 8.18. 2 Macc. 4.36. Josephus (Antiquities I. vi. 1). Hellenes in the N.T. never means Jews, but is always distinguished from them. See John 12:20 . Acts 14:1 ; Acts 16:1 , Acts 16:3 ; Acts 18:4 ; Acts 19:10 , Acts 19:17 ; Acts 20:21 .Romans 1:16 ; Romans 2:9 , Romans 2:10 ; Romans 8:9 ; Romans 10:12 . 1 Corinthians 1:24 ; 1 Corinthians 10:32 .Galatians 1:2 , Galatians 1:3 ; Galatians 3:28 . Col 8:11 . On the other hand, the Greek Hellenistes = Hellenized, and speaking Greek, is used of those who were Jews by birth, but spoke Greek. It occurs three times, and is rendered "Grecians". See Acts 6:1 ; Acts 9:29 ; Acts 11:20 .

Verse 36

saying . Greek. logos. See note on Mark 9:32 .

Verse 37

In = Now on. Greek. en, as in John 7:1 .

the last day. See Leviticus 23:34-36 .

that = the.

drink = let him drink.

Verse 38

He that = that. Read this in connection with the previous verse: "let him drink that believeth on Me".

as = according as.

hath said = hath said [concerning Me]. App-107 .

out of . Greek. ek. App-104 . as in verses: John 7:41 , John 7:52 . Not the same word as in John 7:42 .

His belly . Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), App-6 , for the whole person, for emphasis = Himself. Here referring to Messiah (the Giver), not to the believer. He is, and will be, the Source of all spiritual blessing "as the Scripture hath said": Isaiah 12:3 ; Isaiah 55:1 ; Isaiah 58:11 .Ezekiel 47:1 .Joel 3:18 . Zechariah 13:1 ; Zechariah 14:8 . See App-107 .

His . Referring not to the believer (the receiver), but to the Lord (the Giver).

shall flow. Greek. rheo. Occurs only here in N.T. rivers. This is the emphatic word, by the Figure of speech Hyperbaton ( App-6 ), implying abundance. See Numbers 20:11 . 1 Corinthians 10:4 ,

living. See note on John 4:10 .

Verse 39

But this , &c. See note on "And we" (John 1:14 ). Here the true interpretation is given.

this spake He of the Spirit . Not of the believer.

the Spirit . Referring to the gift of pneuma hagion (in the next clause), of which He was the Giver, and believers the recipients. See App-101 .

receive. And which would be "in him" (the receiver) "springing up" in him, not flowing out as a river from him, for the supply of others. See the ref's. on John 7:38 .

the Holy Ghost . Greek. pneuma hagion. App-101 . There are no Articles. It denotes the gift given by the Giver and received by the believer, as promised in Acts 1:5 and fulfilled in Acts 2:4 .

glorified : i.e. ascended. Compare John 16:7 , Psalms 68:18 , and Acts 2:33 . One of the characteristic words of this Gospel. See p. 1511.

Verse 40

Of a truth . Greek. alethos. See note on "indeed" (John 1:47 ).

Verse 41

Others. See App-124 .

some = others. As before.

Shall. come = What, doth Christ come? (Present tense.)

Verse 42

the seed of David . Psalms 110:0 ; Psalms 132:0 .Isaiah 11:1 , Isaiah 11:10 . Jeremiah 23:5 , &c.

Bethlehem. See Micah 5:2 .

Verse 43

So = Therefore.

was = arose

a division . The first of three instances. See John 9:16 , and John 10:19 .

because of Him . Not only in the three cases noted above, but down to the present day.

because of = on account of. Greek. dia. App-104 .John 7:2 .

Verse 44

would have taken Him = desired to take Him (two verbs). Luke 7:17 . See App-102 .

Verse 45

came . "Sent", in John 7:32 .

to . Greek pros. App-104 .

Verse 46

never . Greek. oudepote

like = thus, as. Some texts omit this last clause, but not Syriac. See note 3, p. 1511. Compare John 4:29 .

Verse 47

Are ye, &c. ? = Have ye also been led astray (John 7:12 )? Referring to action rather than to thought.

Verse 48

Have . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

rulers. Members of the Sanhedrin.

Verse 49

cursed = laid under a curse. Greek epikataratos. Only here and Galatians 1:3 , Galatians 1:10 , Galatians 1:13 . Found often in the Septuagint and in the Papyri. See Deissmann's Light, &c. p. 93.

Verse 50

Nicodemus . See John 3:2 with John 19:39 .

he that came . See note on "and we" (John 1:14 ). Some texts omit this clause, but not the Syriac. ( App-94 , note 3, p. 136).

Verse 51

before = except (Greek. ean me) first.

it hear = it has heard.

Verse 52

Search = Search [the Scriptures], as in John 5:39 .

look = see. App-133 . If they had looked, they would have found that Jonah and Hosea arose out of Galilee, and perhaps Elijah, Elisha, and Amos.

Verse 53

And every man, &c. From John 7:53 -- John 8:11 is omitted by L T Tr. [A] The Revised Version note questions it. WH place it in double brackets at the end of the Gospel. As to ancient MSS., A (the Alexandrine, London) and C (Ephraemi, Paris), are defective here, so that the oldest omitting it are (Sinaitic, Cent. v), B (Vatican, Cent. iv). The oldest containing it is D (Bezae, Cent. vi). It is contained in the Vulgate (383), and Jerome (378-430) testifies (adv. Pelag. ii. p. 762) that it is found in many Greek and Latin Codices. It is also found in the Jerusalem Syriac (Cent. v), the Memphitic (Cent. iii or iv), Aethiopic (Cent. iv). Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea (315-320), quotes (Hist. Ecc. iii. 39) Papias, Bishop of Hierapolis (in Phrygia, 130), as refering to it. Ambrose (374-397) quotes it, as does Augustine (395-430), de adult. coniugiis (lib. ii, cap. 7). Though WH omit it, Dean Burgon (1883) quotes: "Drs. W. and H. remark that 'the argument which has always told most in its favour in modern times is its own internal character. The story itself has justly seemed to vouch for its own internal truth, and the words in which it is clothed to harmonize with other Gospel narratives' ( The Revision Revised, p. 311, note). We may ask: How is it that all the MSS. which do contain it (including 300 Cursives) agree in placing it here? It was another attempt following on John 7:32 , and referred to in John 8:15 .

Chapter 8

Verse 1

Jesus = But Jesus. Connecting John 8:1 with Joh 7:63 . See App-98 .

unto . Greek. eis. App-104 .

Verse 2

early in the morning = at dawn.

into = unto, as in John 8:1 .

temple . Greek. hieron. See note on Matthew 23:16 .

people. Greek. laos. In John's Gospel only here, John 11:50 ; John 18:14 . Not ochlos, or plethos.

unto . Greek. pros. App-104 .

sat down . . . and = having sat down.

taught = was teaching.

Verse 3

Pharisees . See App-120 .

brought = bring.

taken = having been taken. in. Greek. en. App-104 ,

Verse 4

Master =

Teacher . App-98 . John 8:1 .

in the very act . Greek. ep' ( App-104 .) autophoro. Autophoros means self-detected.

Verse 5

Moses. See note on John 1:17 .

commanded . . . stoned . This law referred only to a "betrothed damsel "(Deuteronomy 22:24 ); and to show that the Lord knew their thoughts, and knew also that this was another man's "wife". He complied with the law prescribed in "such" a case (Numbers 5:11-31 ), and stooped down and wrote the curses (as required in John 8:23 ) on the ground.

but = therefore.

Verse 6

tempting = testing. The temptation was in the word "such", and of two cases they mention the punishment without defining what it was: for the one in Deuteronomy 22:23 , Deuteronomy 22:24 (a virgin) the death was stoning; but in the case of a "wife" the punishment was not stoning, but required a special procedure (Numbers 5:11-31 , which left the punishment with God.

that = in order that. Greek. hina.

on, &o. = into (Greek eis. App-104 .) [the dust of] the earth ( App-129 .).

Verse 7

asking. App-134 .,

lifted up . Greek. anakupto. Only here, John 8:10 . Luke 13:11 ; Luke 21:28 .

without sin = sinless. Greek. anamartetos. Compare App-128 . Occ, nowhere else in the N.T.

a stone = the stone, i.e. the heavy stone for execution. Compare Joh 8:69 .

at = upon. Greek. epi. App-104 .

Verse 8

wrote . The curses, as before.

Verse 9

convicted , &c. By the manifestation of the Lord's knowledge of what was in their hearts and of what they were concealing for the purpose of tempting Him. Greek. elencho. Same word as in John 8:46 ; John 5:20 ; John 16:8 .

by. Greek. hupo. App-104 .

at = from. Greek. apo. App-104 .

eldest = elders.

unto = as far as.

Verse 10

saw . App-133 .

none . Greek. medeis.

but = except. Greek. plen,

no man = no one. Greek. oudeis.

condemned. App-122 .

Verse 11

Lord . See App-98 . B. a.

thee . He does not say "thy sin". He speaks judicially.

sin . App-128 .

Verse 12

Then = Therefore.

again . This section has no necessary connection with Joh 7:62 , but refers to a subsequent occasion in "the Treasury" (John 8:20 ).

I am . See note on John 6:35 ,

light. Greek. phos ( App-130 .) Not luchnos as in John 5:36 ( App-130 .) One of the characteristic words of this Gospel. See note on John 1:4 .

world . App-129 . See note on John 1:9 . Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of the Subject), App-6 , for its inhabitants without distinction, implying others than Jews.

not = in no wise. Greek. ou me. App-105 .

shall have = not merely see it, but possess it.

life = the life. App-170 . See note on John 1:4 .

Verse 13

bearest record . See note on John 1:32 .

of = concerning. Greek. peri. App-104 .

record. See note on John 1:19 .

not . Greek. ou ( App-105 ).

true . Greek. alethes. See App-176 and note on John 3:33 .

Verse 14

answered and said . See App-122 and note on Deuteronomy 1:41 .

Though = Even if. App-118 .

know. Greek. oida. App-132 . See note on John 1:26 .

cannot tell = know (Greek. oida) not ( App-105 ).

and. All the texts read "or".

Verse 15

judge . See App-122 and note on John 5:22 .

after = according to. Greek. kata. App-104 .

flesh . See note on John 1:13 .

Verse 16

if . Assuming the condition. App-118 .

judgment. App-177 .

the Father . See note on John 1:14 .

sent. See App-174 and note on John 1:22 .

Verse 17

It is . . . written = It has been (and standeth) written.

also . . . law = law also, your law.

your your own. Greek. humeteros. Emphatic Compare John 7:49 .

testimony . Gr, marturia. See note on "record", John 8:13 .

two. See Deuteronomy 19:16 .

Verse 18

bear witness . Same as "bear record" in John 8:13 . See note on John 1:7 .

Verse 19

neither . . . nor. Greek. oute, compound of ou. App-105 .

My Father . See note on John 2:16 .

if. A true hypothesis. App-118 .

should = would.

Verse 20

words. Greek. rhema. See note on Mark 9:32 .

the treasury. A part of the Temple, in the court of the women. Occurs in Mark 12:41 , Mark 12:43 .Luke 21:1 , and John only here.

as He taught = teaching.

laid hands = arrested. See John 7:30 , John 7:32 , John 7:44 .

not yet come . See note on John 7:6 .

Verse 21

go My way = withdraw Myself.

shall = will.

sins = sin. See App-128 . The sin of rejecting Him.

cannot = are not (Greek. ou) able to.

Verse 22

Jews. See note on John 1:19 ,

'Will He kill Himself? = Surely He will not (Greek. met) kill Himself?

Verse 23

ye are from beneath ; i.e. of the earth. See 1 Corinthians 15:47 . The phrase occurs only in this Gospel.

from = out from. Greek. ek. App-104 . Compare John 1:46 .

from above . Greek ek ton ano (plural) = the heavens. See John 3:13 , John 3:31 ; John 6:33 , John 6:38 , 2 Chronicles 3:1; 2 Chronicles 3:1 2 Chronicles 3:1

of . Gr ek, as above.

Verse 24

believe . See note on John 1:7 , and App-150 .

I am He = I am. There is no "He "in the Greek See note on John 6:35 .

sins. Plural here. See John 8:21 .

Verse 25

Even the same that . . . beginning = He Whom I say also to you at the beginning [of this colloquy, verses: John 8:12-20 ]. Compare Septuagint, Genesis 43:18 , Genesis 43:20 = at the beginning [of our coming down] = at the first.

from the beginning . There is no "from" in the Gr See note on John 8:44 .

Verse 26

speak . Greek. lego. All the texts read "say". Greek laleo.

to = unto. Greek. eis. App-104 .

of = from [beside]. Greek. para. App-104 .

Verse 27

understood not = did not get to know. App-132 . See note on John 1:10 .

spake = was speaking. Not "saying", as in John 8:26 .

Father . See note on John 1:14 .

Verse 28

When . . . then . Revealing that, after that, men would believe in the truth of His Deity,

have = may, or shall have,

lifted up . Compare John 3:14 ; John 12:34 .

Son of man . App-98 .

know . App-132 . , as in John 8:27 . I do, &c. Note the complex Ellipsis ( App-6 ) = "Of Myself I do nothing [nor speak); but according as the Father taught Me, these things I speak [and do them]".

nothing . Greek ouden.

of = from. Greek. apo. App-101 .

hath taught = taught.

I speak , &c. See note on "My doctrine", John 7:16 .

Verse 29

with . Greek. meta. App-104 .

alone. Compare John 8:16 .

I do always, &c. = I do the things pleasing to Him always. The last word in the sentence in the Greek emphasized by the Figure of speech Hyperbaton ( App-6 ).

Verse 30

words = things. believed on. See note on John 1:7 , and App-150 . Compare John 8:31 .

Verse 31

said = spake, as in John 8:27 , John 8:28 .

to. Greek pros, App-104 .

believed on = had believed. App-160 . Thus distinguishing these Jews from the true believers of John 8:30 . Note the emphatic word "ye" in next clause.

continue = abide. See note on John 1:32 .

My word = the word which is Mine. Greek. logos. See note on Mark 9:32 .

are ye = ye are.

indeed = truly. Greek. alethos, See note on John 1:47 .

Trusting in Him , not merely admitting His claims.

Verse 32

truth. See note on John 1:14 ,

make = set.

Verse 33

were never. any man , &c. Have been in bondage to no one ( App-105 ) at any time. Thus ignoring all historical facts. These were "the Jews" who believed in John 8:31 , and thus proved themselves not "believers indeed".

Verse 34

Verily, verily . Called forth by this manifest misrepresentation of the truth. The twelfth occurance. See John 1:51 .

Whosoever = Every one who.

committeth = doeth or practiseth.

sin. Not a single act, but a life of sin itself. Same as "sin "in John 8:21 .

the servant = a bondservant.

Verse 35

abideth . See note on John 1:32 .

for ever . See App-151 . a, He may be sold or manumitted.

the Son. Greek huios. App-108 . Never used of believers in this Gospel. This word is reserved for Christ only. See note 2, p. 1511.

ever = for ever, as above.

Verse 36

ye shall be free indeed = ye will be really free. indeed. Greek. ontos. Not the same word as in John 8:31 . Compare 1 Timothy 6:19 , Revised Version.

Verse 37

hath no place = findeth no entrance. Compare Thess. John 2:13 .

no = not. Greek. ou. App-105 .

Verse 38

have seen. Greek. horao. App-133 .

with. Greek. para. App-104 .

ye have seen . All the texts read = ye have heard. But not the Syriac. See App-94 . note 8, p. 136.

Verse 39

children . Greek. Plural of teknon. App-108 . See note 2.

works . See note on John 4:34 .

Verse 40

a Man . Greek. anthropos. App-123 . Used by the Lord of Himself only here, and in contrast with the "manslayer "of John 8:44 .

God . App-98 .

Verse 41

do = are doing.

deeds = works, as in John 8:39 .

be not born = have not been begotten (see Matthew 1:2 ).

Verse 42

love . Greek agapao. App-136 .

came = am here.

neither = not even. Greek. oude.

came I = am I come.

sent . Greek. apostello. App-174 .

Verse 43

understand = get to know. App-132 .

speech. Referring to the form of the discourse.

hear. Hebrew idiom = understand, receive, or believe, as in John 9:27 ; John 10:3 ; John 12:47 . Acts 3:22-23 .Galatians 1:4 , Galatians 1:21 .

word. Denoting the subject of the discourse.

Verse 44

devil. Greek. diabolos. Thrice in this Gospel: here, John 6:70 ; John 13:2 . Not the same word as in verses: John 8:48 , John 8:49 .

lusts = strong desires of all kinds. Compare Mark 4:10 . The only occurance of epithumia in John's Gospel. Occurs in 1 John 2:16 , 1 John 2:17 , and Revelation 18:14 .

will do = will ( App-102 .) to do (two verbs).

murderer = manslayer. Occurs only here and in 1 John 3:15 . Because death came through him. Compare Hebrews 2:14 .

from the beginning . Greek. ap' archies. The expression occurs twenty-one times, and the dependent noun must be supplied. In Matthew 19:4 , Matthew 19:8 ; Matthew 24:21 .Mark 10:6 ; Mark 13:19 . 2 Peter 3:4 , we must supply "from the beginning [of the creation]". Here we must supply "[of the human race]". In Luke 1:2 , John 15:27 . 1 John 1:1 we must supply "[of the Lord's ministry]". In Acts 26:4 , supply "[of my public life]". 1 John 2:7 ; 1 John 2:7 (all the texts, with Syriac, omit), 13, 14, 24, 24; 1 John 3:11 [or John 3:11 ?]; 2John [Chapters?] 5, 6 supply "[of your hearing ]".

abode not = stood not. His fall must have taken place before Genesis 3:1 . Probably in "the world that then was "(Genesis 1:1 . 2 Peter 3:6 ).

a = the. Compare 2 Thessalonians 2:11 .

his own . Compare John 15:19 .

Verse 45

And = But

tell you = speak.

believe Me . App-150 . See note on John 1:7 .

Verse 46

convinceth = convicteth. Compare John 8:9 ; John 3:20 ; John 16:8 ("reprove").

Verse 47

He that, &c. Note the Introversion in the structure of John 8:47 ,

words = sayings. Greek. rhema. See note on Mark 9:32 .

Verse 48

devil = demon. Greek daimonion. Compare John 7:20 .

Verse 49

honour. Compare John 5:23 .

Verse 50

glory. See note on John 1:14 .

Verse 51

keep. Greek. area, implying watching rather than guarding. See notes on John 17:12 .

saying = word. Greek. logos. See note on Mark 9:32 .

never see death = by no means (Greek. ou me. App-105 ) see ( App-133 ) death for ever (Greek. eis ton aiona. App-151 ): i.e. eternal death, because he will have part in the "resurrection unto life" as declared by the Lord in John 11:25 . See notes there.

see death . The expression Occurs only here in N.T.

Verse 52

is dead = died.

taste of death . They altered the Lord's words. Not an O.T. term. Occurs five times: here; Matthew 16:28 . Mark 9:1 .Luke 9:27 . Hebrews 2:9 .

Verse 54

honour = glorify. Greek doxazo. See p. 1511.

honour = glory. See note on John 5:41 .

Verse 56

rejoiced = leaped for joy. Greek. agalliao. Compare John 5:35 .

to = in order that (Greek. hina) he might.

see. App-133 . Therefore Abraham must have heard of it from Jehovah, for "faith cometh by hearing" (Romans 10:17 ).

My day = the day, Mine; i.e. the day of My promised coming.

he saw = he saw [it, by faith]. App-133 .

was glad = rejoiced. Greek. chairo. Compare John 3:29 .

Verse 58

was = came into existence: i.e. was born.

I am . See note on John 6:35 .

Verse 59

took . . . up stones . And thus would murder the great Prophet Himself. Compare John 10:31 , John 10:39 and Matthew 23:31 , Matthew 23:37 . stones, i.e. heavy stones. Compare John 8:7 . The Temple was not yet finished, and stones would be lying about. Lightfoot, vol. xii, pp. 247-9, 324.

at = upon. Greek. epi. App-104 .

went = went forth.

out of . Greek. ek. App-104 .

through . Greek dia. App-104 .John 8:1 .

passed by . All the texts omit this clause, but not, the Syriac. See note 3, p. 1511, and on John 9:1 .

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