Kretzmann's Popular Commentary
John 1:48
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? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee.
Verse 48. _WHENCE KNOWEST THOU ME?_] He was not yet acquainted with the divinity of Christ, could not conceive that he could search his heart, and therefore asks how he could acquire this knowledge of...
WHENCE KNOWEST THOU ME? - Nathanael was not yet acquainted with the divinity of Christ, and supposed that he had been a stranger to him. Hearing him express a favorable opinion of him, he naturally in...
ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS I. The Only-begotten, the Eternal Word; His Glory and His Manifestation -- Chapter 1:1-2:22 CHAPTER 1 __ 1. The Word: the Creator, the Life and the Light. (John 1:1 .)...
THE BAPTIST'S DISCIPLES AND JESUS. On the morrow to two of his disciples John bears similar witness. The account in its details suggests the recollections of one to whom the incident bad been the turn...
WHENCE KNOWEST THOU ME? Nathanael, who had never met Jesus before, was surprised to hear himself spoken of as one known. WHEN THOU WAST UNDER THE FIG TREE. There was Something about this answer tha...
On the next day Jesus determined to go away to Galilee; and there he found Philip. Jesus said to him: "Follow me!" Now Philip came from Bethsaida, which was the town from which Andrew and Peter came....
THE WORD (John 1:1-18)...
ANSWERED AND SAID. Hebrew idiom. See Deuteronomy 1:41. App-122. BEFORE. Greek. _pro._ App-104. UNDER. Greek. _hupo._ App-104....
_under the fig tree_ This probably means -at home," in the retirement of his own garden (1 Kings 4:25; Micah 4:4; Zechariah 3:10); the Greek implies _motion to_under. Nathanael had perhaps been prayin...
ΕἾΔΕΝ … ἘΡΧΌΜΕΝΟΝ. This shews that Jesus did not overhear Nathanael’s question. S. John represents his knowledge of Nathanael as miraculous: as in John 1:42 He appears as the searcher of hearts. ἈΛΗΘΩ...
PHILIP AND NATHANAEL...
THE TESTIMONY OF DISCIPLES This section falls into two divisions, each occupying a day; (1) the call of Andrew, John, Peter, and perhaps James; (2) that of Philip and Nathanael. Of these Peter and Ja...
Ver 47. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! 48. Nathanael said to him, Whence know you me? Jesus answered and said to him, Before that...
_THE ETERNAL WORD KNOWS THE HEARTS OF MEN -- JOHN 1:43-51:_ The Lord knows both a Philip and a Nathanael. (John 1:43-51) With the simple words "follow me" Philip was called to Jesus. Nathanael was mov...
ΠΌΘΕΝ (G4159) откуда, ΓΙΝΏΣΚΕΙΣ _praes. ind. act. от_ ΓΙΝΏΣΚΩ (G1097) знать, ΆΠΕΚΡΊΘΗ _aor. ind. pass. (dep.) от_ ΆΠΟΚΡΊΝΟΜΑΙ, _см._ John 1:21. ΦΩΝΉΣΑΙ _aor. act. inf. от_ ΦΩΝΈΩ (G5455) звать. _Inf...
WHENCE KNOWEST THOU ME?— "I am a perfect stranger to thee: how is it then that thou canst at once undertake to answer for the most secret part of a stranger's character?" _Jesus replied;_ "I am not so...
THE CALL OF PHILIP AND NATHANAEL _Text 1:43-51_ 43 On the morrow he was minded to go forth into Galilee, and he findeth Philip: and Jesus saith unto him, Follow me. 44 Now Philip was from Bethsai...
EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF JOHN John 1:35-51 We first submit a brief Analysis of the passage which is to be before us. We would divide it as follows:— 1. John points to Christ as God’s Lamb, John...
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...
Government and education are still the panaceas proposed by the majority of priest-craft. But John wisely withdraws himself from their notice, and as the Voice, heralds the coming of the Messiah Himse...
THE DIVINITY AND INCARNATION OF THE WORD. WITNESS OF JOHN. THE FIRST DISCIPLES 1-18. Preface, declaring (1) that the Word was God, (2) that He was made man, (3) that He revealed the Father. This subl...
PRELIMINARY CALL OF FIVE APOSTLES, ANDREW, JOHN, PETER, PHILIP, AND BARTHOLOMEW (peculiar to Jn). This account, so far from conflicting with the (later) call described Matthew 4:18; Mark 1:15; (cp. Lu...
I SAW THEE] implies supernatural knowledge. Perhaps Jesus alludes to some recent prayer or resolution which Nathanael made under the figtree....
JOHN TELLS THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT JESUS GOSPEL OF JOHN _MARION ADAMS_ THE AUTHOR Most people agree that John, Jesus’ *disciple, wrote the 4th *Gospel. John’s father was called Zebedee. And John had...
The natural explanation of the verse seems to be that Nathanael was at his own house when Philip called him to hear the glad news of the Messiah. The words rendered “under the fig-tree” include the go...
CHAPTER 4 THE FIRST DISCIPLES. “Again on the morrow John was standing, and two of his disciples; and he looked upon Jesus as He walked, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard...
εἶδεν … δόλος οὐκ ἔστιν. The honesty shown in his coming to Jesus is indicated as his characteristic. He had given proof that he was guileless. In Genesis 27:35 Isaac says to Esau, “Thy brother has co...
_Further manifestations of Jesus as Messiah_....
THE DOUBTER BECOMES A DISCIPLE John 1:43-51 The Apostles were attracted to the Master in different ways. Some came to Him through preaching, as when John proclaimed His rank and sacrifice. Others wer...
The Gospel of John brings us into the profoundest facts concerning the Person of Jesus. The first eighteen verses constitute the introduction to the whole Book. The main declaration is found by bringi...
(21) 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. (21) The purpose of miracles is...
VER. 48. “ _Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him and says of him: Behold a true Israelite, in whom there is no guile._ ” Nathanael is one of those upright hearts who have only to see Jesus in order to be...
II. SECOND GROUP: JOHN 1:44-51. The following narrative seems to be contrived for the purpose of driving to despair, by its conciseness, the one who attempts to account for the facts from an external...
SECOND SECTION: 1:38-52. BEGINNINGS OF THE WORK OF JESUS. BIRTH OF FAITH. Testimony is the condition of faith. For faith is, at the outset, the acceptance of a divine fact on the foundation of testimo...
The day following, Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me, (44) Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. (45) Philip findeth Nathanael,...
The opening verses (John 1:1-18) introduce the most glorious subject which God Himself ever gave in employing the pen of man; not only the most glorious in point of theme, but in the profoundest point...
48._Whence knowest thou? _Though Christ did not intend to flatter him, yet he wished to be heard by him, in order to draw forth a new question, by the reply to which he would prove himself to be the S...
The first chapter asserts what He was before all things, and the different characters in which He is a blessing to man, being made flesh. He is, and He is the expression of, the whole mind that subsis...
NATHANAEL SAITH UNTO HIM, WHENCE KNOWEST THOU ME?.... This he said as one surprised, that he, who was a stranger to him, should hit upon his general character, and describe the internal state and fram...
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. Ver. 48. _Before that Philip, &c._]...
_Jesus saw Nathanael coming_ “Nathanael, being a man of a candid disposition, resolved to go and converse with Jesus, that he might judge with the more certainty concerning his pretensions. He was com...
I SAW THEE; he saw him in a supernatural way. This manifestation of his supernatural knowledge led Nathanael to the confession in the following verse. In secret communion with God, though unseen by me...
CHRIST THE LIVING WORD (vs.1-5) Revelation 19:13, speaking of the Lord Jesus, says, "His name is called the Word of God." As such He had no beginning: in the beginning He was there. In person He is...
43-51 See the nature of true Christianity, it is following Jesus; devoting ourselves to him, and treading in his steps. Observe the objection Nathanael made. All who desire to profit by the word of G...
Nathanael wonders how Christ should know him, having not been of his familiar acquaintance. Christ tells him he saw him under the fig tree, before ever Philip called him. That was a very hot country,...
John 1:48 Nathanael G3482 said G3004 (G5719) Him G846 How G4159 know G1097 (G5719) me G3165 Jesus...
JOHN THE BAPTISER'S TESTIMONY TO JESUS AND THE CALLING OF DISCIPLES (JOHN 1:19). The portrayal of John the Baptiser by the writer is in interesting contrast to the John the Baptiser portrayed in the o...
DISCIPLES BEGIN TO GATHER TO JESUS (JOHN 1:35). The great teachers of Israel would often have bands of ‘disciples' who gathered round them to learn from them, and then to pass on their teaching. Here...
‘Nathaniel says to him, “From where do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree I saw you”. Nathaniel is puzzled by Jesus' first state...
John 1:48. NATHANAEL SAITH UNTO HIM, WHENCE KNOWEST THOU ME? The words of Jesus had been spoken while Nathanael was drawing near, and the latter heard them. He does not deny the truth of the commendat...
The same general subject is continued in this section Jesus taking His place on the stage of history. We pass now, however, from the witness of the Baptist, given on two successive days, to the manife...
WHENCE KNOWEST THOU ME? (Ποθεν με γινωσκεισ;). Nathanael is astonished at this tribute, at any knowledge about himself by Jesus. He had overheard Christ's comment and longed to know its source.BEFO...
John 1:45 The First Disciples Nathanael. I. Look first at the preparation a soul brought to Christ by a brother. "Philip findeth Nathanael." Nathanael's prejudice was but the giving voice to a fault...
John 1:19. _And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou ? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ._ «I...
John 1:29. _The next day_ This chapter is a record of the events that occurred on different days. Sometimes God does great things in a single day; one extraordinary day may have more in it than a hun...
CONTENTS: Deity of Christ. Ministry of John the Baptist. Jesus announced as the Lamb of God, and the first converts to Him. CHARACTERS: God, Jesus, John the Baptist, Moses, Elias, Isaiah, Pharisees,...
John 1:1. _In the beginning was the Word._ Εν αρχη ο λογος. John begins the new creation with the words of Moses of the old creation, and continues to speak of Christ in the running language of all th...
HOW DO YOU KNOW ME? Nathanael had never met Jesus before this. WHEN YOU WERE UNDER THE FIG TREE. Johnson believes that Nathanael had some unusual experience under the fig tree, of which we are told no...
_The next day_ THE FIRST UTTERANCES OF THE WORD 1. A searching question. 2. A gracious invitation. 3. An encouraging promise. 4. A Divine command. 5. A heart revelation. 6. An assurance of a p...
_Philip findeth Nathanael._ The equivalent of Theodore. He is probably to be identified with Bartholomew, for 1. The mention of him here and in John 21:2, shows that he occupied a prominent position...
_When thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee._ What was he doing there? Something good evidently. The following suggestions have been made: I. THAT HE WAS THERE FOR GRATEFUL CONTEMPLATION. A tradi...
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 1:48 I SAW YOU. Jesus displays supernatural knowledge, thus confirming his identity as the Messiah. The FIG TREE often is a symbol for Israel. See note on Mark 11:13–14.
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 1:19 Signs of the Messiah, with Teaching about Life in Him. The first half of John’s Gospel features Jesus’ demonstration of his messianic identity through several selected “signs” ...
THE HOLY GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, ACCORDING TO JOHN. T HIS is the title in the Greek and Latin codices. In the Syriac it is as follows, _The Holy Gospel, the Preaching of Jouchanon_ (John), _which...
_ Was made_ : not that the Word was changed into flesh, or flesh into the Word, for, as S. Chrysostom says, "far from that immortal nature is transmutation." For how could flesh become God, that is, h...
_EXPLANATORY AND CRITICAL NOTES_ John 1:45. NATHANAEL = Theodorus. The gift of God (נְתַנְאֵל). Probably this is the disciple mentioned afterward as Bartholomew (Matthew 10:3). How quickly did those e...
EXPOSITION THE title of the book is differently given in the manuscripts and ancient versions, and the differences are so considerable that they cannot be referred to the original text. The simplest f...
Shall we turn in our Bibles to the gospel according to John. The gospel of John was the last of the gospels that were written. It was written towards the close of that first century, written by John,...
1 Corinthians 14:25; 1 Corinthians 4:5; Genesis 32:24; Isaiah 65:24;...
FOLLOWING CHRIST John 1:36 INTRODUCTORY WORDS We delight in the study of John the Baptist. Christ said that he was the greatest man born of woman, yet he was not self-centered or proud. Had he been...
Under the fig tree I saw thee — Perhaps at prayer....
Were the apostles called at this time or later? PROBLEM: John records that Jesus called Andrew, Peter, Philip, Nathanael, and another disciple at this time. However, the other Gospels record their cal...
Observe here, How Nathanael wondereth that Christ should know him, having (as he thought) never seen him. Christ gives him to understand, that by his all-seeing eye he had seen him, when he was not se...