John 2:25

ἵνα τις μαρτ. See on John 1:7-8 : that any should bear witness concerning man; comp. John 16:30. The article with ἀνθρώπου is generic.

αὐτὸς γὰρ ἐγ. For He of Himself knew: note the repetition of αὐτός in John 2:23-24. We have instances of this supernatural knowledge in the cases of Peter (John 1:42), Nathanael (John 1:47-48), Nicodemus (John 3:3), the Samaritan woman (John 4:29), the disciples (John 6:61; John 6:64), Judas (John 6:70; John 13:11), Peter (John 13:38; John 21:17), Thomas (John 20:27). It is remarkable that the word here used for this supernatural knowledge is γινώσλκειν, ‘to come to know, perceive,’ rather than εἰδέναι, ‘to know’ absolutely (comp. John 5:42; John 10:14-15; John 10:27; John 17:25). This tends to shew that Christ’s supernatural knowledge was in some degree analogous to ours. Both verbs are used, 1. in reference to facts, knowledge of which Christ might have obtained in the ordinary manner (γινώσκειν, John 4:1; John 5:6; John 6:15; εἰδέναι, John 6:61); 2. in reference to facts, knowledge of which must have been supernatural (γινώσκειν John 2:24-25; John 10:14; John 10:27; εἰδέναι, John 6:64; John 13:1; John 13:11; John 18:4); 3. in reference to divine things transcending human experience (γινώσκειν, John 17:25; εἰδέναι, John 3:11; John 5:32; John 7:29; John 8:14; John 8:55; John 11:42; John 12:50; John 13:3; John 19:28). These references shew that the distinction, though not quite absolute, is very marked between knowledge which in some sense can be regarded as acquired (γινώσκειν) and that which is simply regarded as possessed.