John 3:14

τὸν ὄφιν. We here have some evidence of the date of the Gospel. The Ophitic is the earliest Gnostic system of which we have full information. The serpent is the centre of the system, at once its good and evil principle. Had this form of Gnosticism been prevalent before this Gospel was written, this verse would scarcely have stood thus. An orthodox writer would have guarded his readers from error: an Ophitic writer would have made more of the serpent.

οὕτως. Christ here testifies to the prophetic and typical character of the O.T. Both Jewish and Christian writers vary much in their explanations of the Brazen Serpent. It is safest in interpreting types and parables to hold fast to the main features and not insist on the details. Here the main points are the lifting up of a source of life to become effectual through the faith of the sufferer. All these points are expressed in John 3:14-15. Nicodemus lived to see the fulfilment of the prophecy (John 19:39).

ὑψωθῆναι. On the Cross, as in John 8:28. The exaltation of Christ to glory by means of the Cross (crux scala coeli) is probably not included: for this δοξασθῆναι would be the more natural term. In John 12:32 the Ascension is possibly included by ἐκ τῆς γῆς and in Acts 2:33; Acts 5:31 by τῇ δεξιᾷ τ. Θεοῦ: here and in John 8:28 there is no such addition. Moreover, to include the Ascension spoils the comparison with the Brazen Serpent.

δεῖ. It is so ordered in the counsels of God (Hebrews 2:9-10). Comp. John 3:30; John 9:4; John 10:16; John 12:34; John 20:9; Matthew 16:21; Matthew 26:54; Mark 8:31; Luke 9:22; Luke 17:25; Luke 22:37; Luke 24:7; Luke 24:26; Luke 24:44.