In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. As the Fourth Gospel was not written until the other three had become the household words and daily bread of the Church of Christ-thus preparing it, as babes are by milk, for the strong meat of this final Gospel-so, e... [ Continue Reading ]
The same was in the beginning with God. THE SAME WAS IN THE BEGINNING WITH GOD. Here the first and second statements are combined into one; emphatically reiterating the eternal distinctness of the Word from God ("the Father"), and His association with Him in the Unity of the Godhead. But now wha... [ Continue Reading ]
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. ALL THINGS WERE MADE BY HIM - that is, "all things" in the most absolute sense; as the next clause is intended to make evident; AND WITHOUT HIM WAS NOT ANY THING MADE THAT WAS MADE, [ oude (G3761) hen (G1520) ho... [ Continue Reading ]
In him was life; and the life was the light of men. IN HIM WAS LIFE. From simple creation, or calling into existence, the Evangelist now advances to a higher idea-the communication of life. But he begins by announcing its essential and original existence in Himself, virtue of which He became the... [ Continue Reading ]
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. AND THE LIGHT SHINETH IN DARKNESS - that is, in this dark fallen world; for though the Life was the light of men," they were "sitting in darkness and the shadow of death" when He came of whom our Evangelist is about to spea... [ Continue Reading ]
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. THERE WAS A MAN SENT FROM GOD, WHOSE NAME WAS JOHN. In approaching his grand thesis-the historical manifestation of the Word-our Evangelist begins with him who was at once a herald to announce Him and a foil to set off His surpassing glory. Thi... [ Continue Reading ]
The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. THE SAME CAME FOR A WITNESS [ eis (G1519 ) marturian (G3141 ), RATHER, 'FOR WITNESS,'] TO BEAR WITNESS OF THE LIGHT, THAT ALL MEN THROUGH HIM (JOHN) MIGHT BELIEVE.... [ Continue Reading ]
He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. HE WAS NOT THAT LIGHT [RATHER, 'THE LIGHT' to (G3588 ) Foos (G5457 )], BUT [WAS SENT] TO BEAR WITNESS OF THAT (OR 'THE') LIGHT. Noble testimony this to John, that it should be necessary, or even pertinent, to explain that he was n... [ Continue Reading ]
That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. THAT WAS THE TRUE LIGHT, WHICH LIGHTETH EVERY MAN THAT COMETH INTO THE WORLD. So certainly this verse may be rendered (with most of the Fathers and the Vulgate; and of the moderns, with Luther, Erasmus, Calvin, Beza, Be... [ Continue Reading ]
He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. HE WAS IN THE WORLD (AS ALREADY HINTED, AND PRESENTLY TO BE MORE EXPLICITLY ANNOUNCED), AND THE WORLD WAS MADE BY HIM - for, as has been said "all things were made by him," AND THE WORLD (THAT IS, THE INTELLIGENT W... [ Continue Reading ]
He came unto his own, and his own received him not. HE CAME UNTO HIS OWN [ ta (G3588 ) idia (G2398 )], AND HIS OWN [ hoi (G3588) idioi (G2398)]. It is impossible to give in English the full force of this verse. In the first clause it is 'His own [things]'-meaning 'His own Messianic rights and po... [ Continue Reading ]
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: BUT AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM as many individuals out of the mass of that "disobedient and gainsaying BUT AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM - as many individuals, out of the mass of that "dis... [ Continue Reading ]
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. WHICH WERE BORN, [ egenneetheesan (G1080)]. Observe this word "born," or begotten.' It was not a name only, a dignity only, which Christ conferred on them: it was a new birth, it was a change of natu... [ Continue Reading ]
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. AND THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH - or 'made man,' or took Human Nature in its present state of frailty and infirmity-in contrast both with what it was b... [ Continue Reading ]
John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. JOHN BARE WITNESS OF HIM, AND CRIED - in testimony of the certainty and grandeur of the truth he was proclaiming, and the deep interest of all in it. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. AND OF HIS FULLNESS - that is, of grace and truth; resuming the thread of John 1:14, which had only been interrupted for the purpose of inserting that testimony of John. HAVE ALL WE RECEIVED, AND GRACE FOR GRACE, [ charin (G5485) ant... [ Continue Reading ]
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. FOR THE LAW WAS GIVEN BY MOSES, BUT GRACE AND TRUTH CAME BY JESUS CHRIST. The law is here placed in opposition both to "grace" and to "truth" - but in different respects, of course. The law is opposed to grace only in that... [ Continue Reading ]
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. NO MAN [`NO ONE' oudeis (G3762 )] HATH SEEN GOD AT ANY TIME - that is, by immediate gaze; by direct, naked perception. In the light of this emphatic negation of all creature vision... [ Continue Reading ]
And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? AND THIS IS THE RECORD (OR 'TESTIMONY,') OF JOHN, WHEN THE JEWS SENT PRIESTS AND LEVITES FROM JERUSALEM TO ASK HIM, WHO ART THOU? By "the Jews" here, and almost always in this Gospel,... [ Continue Reading ]
And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. AND HE CONFESSED, AND DENIED NOT; BUT CONFESSED, I AM NOT THE CHRIST. In thus disclaiming the Messiahship for himself, he resisted a strong temptation; because many were ready to hail the Baptist as himself the Christ. But as... [ Continue Reading ]
And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. AND THEY ASKED HIM, WHAT THEN? ART THOU ELIAS? AND HE SAITH, I AM NOT - that is, not Elijah in his own proper person, whom the Jews expected, and still expect, before the coming of... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? THEN SAID THEY UNTO HIM, WHO ART THOU? THAT WE MAY GIVE AN ANSWER TO THEM THAT SENT US. WHAT SAYEST THOU OF THYSELF?... [ Continue Reading ]
He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. HE SAID, I AM THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS. His Master was "The Word;" the herald was but a voice crying through the Judean desert, Make ready for the coming Lord!... [ Continue Reading ]
And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. AND THEY WHICH WERE SENT WERE OF THE PHARISEES. Since the Sadducees could hardly be expected to take much interest in such matters, this explanation is probably intended to do more than tell the reader that this deputation was of the other sect. It... [ Continue Reading ]
And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? AND THEY ASKED HIM, AND SAID UNTO HIM, WHY BAPTIZEST THOU THEN, IF THOU BE NOT THAT ('THE') CHRIST, NOR ELIAS, NEITHER THAT ('THE') PROPHET? Thinking that he disclaimed an... [ Continue Reading ]
John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; JOHN ANSWERED THEM, SAYING, I BAPTIZE WITH WATER - with water only; the higher, internal, baptism with the Holy Spirit being the exclusive prerogative of his Master. (See the note at .) BUT TH... [ Continue Reading ]
He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. HE IT IS, WHO COMING AFTER ME, IS PREFERRED BEFORE ME - see the note at . WHOSE SHOE'S LATCHET I AM NOT WORTHY TO UNLOOSE - see the note at ,... [ Continue Reading ]
These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. THESE THINGS WERE DONE IN BETHABARA, [ beeyt (H1004) `ªbaaraah (H5679)] - 'ferry-house' or 'crossing-place.' But the true reading, as nearly all the best and most ancient MSS. attest, is 'Bethany:' not, of course, the w... [ Continue Reading ]
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. THE NEXT DAY - the crowd, as we take it, having dispersed, and only his own disciples being present, JOHN SEETH JESUS COMING UNTO HIM. This was probably immediately after t... [ Continue Reading ]
This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. THIS IS HE OF WHOM I SAID, AFTER ME COMETH ... - recalling the testimony he had borne before, and recorded in .... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND I KNEW HIM NOT: BUT THAT HE SHOULD BE MADE MANIFEST TO ISRAEL, THEREFORE AM I COME BAPTIZING WITH WATER._ No JFB commentary on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. AND JOHN BARE RECORD, SAYING, I SAW, [ tetheamai (G2300)] - or 'I have seen' "the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.... [ Continue Reading ]
And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. AND I KNEW HIM NOT: BUT HE THAT SENT ME TO BAPTIZE WITH WATER, THE SAME SAID UNTO ME, UP... [ Continue Reading ]
And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. AND I SAW [OR 'HAVE SEEN' - heooraka (G3708 )] THAT THIS IS THE SON OF GOD. There is some appearance of inconsistency between the First and the Fourth Gospels, as to the Baptist's knowledge of his Master before the descent of the Holy Spirit... [ Continue Reading ]
Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; AGAIN, THE NEXT DAY AFTER, JOHN STOOD, [ heisteekei (G2476)] - or 'was standing;' probably at his accustomed place. The reader will do well to observe that here, and in John 1:29, we have the beginning of that chronological precision... [ Continue Reading ]
And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! AND LOOKING, [ emblepsas (G1689 ), FIXING HIS EYES WITH SIGNIFICANT GAZE] UPON JESUS AS HE WALKED. Observe, it is not said this time that Jesus was coming to John. To have done that once (John 1:29) was humility enough, as B... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND THE TWO DISCIPLES HEARD HIM SPEAK, AND THEY FOLLOWED JESUS._ No JFB commentary on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? THEN JESUS TURNED, AND SAW THEM FOLLOWING, [ kai (G2532 ) theasamenos (G2300 ) autous (G846 ) akolouthountas (G190 ), 'AND LO... [ Continue Reading ]
He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. HE SAITH UNTO THEM, COME AND SEE - His second utterance; more winning still. THEY CAME AND SAW WHERE HE DWELT, [ menei (G3306)] - 'where He stayed' or 'abode,' AND... [ Continue Reading ]
One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. ONE OF THE TWO WHICH HEARD JOHN SPEAK, AND FOLLOWED HIM, WAS ANDREW, SIMON PETER'S BROTHER. It would appear that Andrew was Peter's older brother. The other was certainly our Evangelist himself-because oth... [ Continue Reading ]
And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. AND HE BROUGHT HIM TO JESUS. Happy brothers, thus knit together by a new tie! If Peter soon outstripped not only Andrew but all the r... [ Continue Reading ]
The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. THE DAY FOLLOWING JESUS WOULD GO FORTH, [ eetheleesen (G2309)] - or, 'was minded to go forth' INTO GALILEE. From the time when He "came from Nazareth" to be baptized of John, He had lived in... [ Continue Reading ]
Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. NOW PHILIP WAS OF [RATHER, 'FROM' apo (G575 )] BETHSAIDA, THE CITY, [ ek (G1537) tees (G3588) poleoos (G4172)] - it should be 'of the city' "of Andrew and Peter" OF ANDREW AND PETER - the city of their birth probably; because their plac... [ Continue Reading ]
Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. PHILIP FINDETH NATHANAEL. For the evidence that this disciple was no other than "Bartholomew," in the catalogues of the Twelve, see the no... [ Continue Reading ]
And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. AND NATHANAEL SAID UNTO HIM, CAN THERE ANY GOOD THING COME OUT OF NAZARETH? Bethlehem, he perhaps remembered, was Messiah's predicted birthplace: Nazareth as a town had no place in pr... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! JESUS SAW NATHANAEL COMING TO HIM, AND SAITH OF HIM, BEHOLD AN ISRAELITE INDEED, IN WHOM IS NO GUILE! - not only no hypocrite, but, with a guileless simplicity not always found even in God's own... [ Continue Reading ]
Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. NATHANAEL SAITH UNTO HIM, WHENCE KNOWEST THOU ME? Conscious that his very heart had been read, and that at this critical moment that... [ Continue Reading ]
Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. NATHANAEL ANSWERED AND SAITH UNTO HIM, RABBI, THOU ART THE SON OF GOD; THOU ART THE KING OF ISRAEL - the one denoting His Personal, the other His Official dignity. How much loftier this than anythi... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO HIM, BECAUSE I SAID UNTO THEE, I SAW THEE UNDER THE FIG TREE, BELIEVEST THOU? 'So quickly convinced, Nathanael, and on... [ Continue Reading ]
And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. AND HE SAITH UNTO HIM, VERILY, VERILY, I SAY UNTO YOU, HEREAFTER. [This phrase "hereafter" - ap' (G575) arti (G737) - is excluded from th... [ Continue Reading ]