IN THE BEGINNING - This expression is used also in Genesis 1:1. John evidently has allusion here to that place, and he means to apply to “the Word” an expression which is there applied “to God.” In both places it clearly means before creation, before the world was made, when as yet there was nothing... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SAME - The Word, or the λόγος Logos. WAS IN THE BEGINNING WITH GOD - This seems to be a repetition of what was said in the first verse; but it is stated over again to “guard the doctrine,” and to prevent the possibility of a mistake. John had said that he existed before the creation, and that... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THINGS - The universe. The expression cannot be limited to any part of the universe. It appropriately expresses everything which exists - all the vast masses of material worlds, and all the animals and things, great or small, that compose those worlds. See Revelation 4:11; Hebrews 1:2; Colossian... [ Continue Reading ]
IN HIM WAS LIFE - The evangelist had just affirmed John 5:3 that by the λόγος Logos or “Word” the world was originally created. One part of that creation consisted “in breathing into man the breath of life,” Genesis 2:7. God is declared to be “life,” or the “living” God, because he is the source or... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LIGHT SHINETH IN DARKNESS - Darkness, in the Bible, commonly denotes ignorance, guilt, or misery. See Isaiah 9:1; Matthew 4:16; Acts 26:18; Ephesians 5:8, Ephesians 5:11; Romans 13:12. It refers here to a wicked and ignorant people. When it is said that “the light shineth in darkness,” it is mea... [ Continue Reading ]
A MAN SENT FROM GOD - See Matthew 3. The evangelist proceeds now to show that John the Baptist was not the Messiah and to state the true nature of his office. Many had supposed that he was the Christ, but this opinion he corrects; yet he admits that he was “sent from God” - that he was divinely comm... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR A WITNESS - To give testimony. He came to prepare the minds of the people to receive him Matthew 3; Luke 3; to lead them by repentance to God; and to point out the Messiah to Israel when he came, John 1:31. OF THE LIGHT - That is, of the Messiah. Compare Isaiah 60:1. THAT ALL MEN ... - It was t... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WAS THE TRUE LIGHT - Not John, but the Messiah. He was not a false, uncertain, dangerous guide, but was one that was true, real, steady, and worthy of confidence. A false light is one that leads to danger or error, as a false beacon on the shores of the ocean may lead ships to quicksands or roc... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WAS IN THE WORLD - This refers, probably, not to his pre-existence, but to the fact that he became incarnate; that he dwelt among human beings. AND THE WORLD WAS MADE BY HIM - This is a repetition of what is said in John 1:3. Not only “men,” but all material things, were made by him. These facts... [ Continue Reading ]
HE CAME UNTO HIS OWN - His own “land” or “country.” It was called his land because it was the place of his birth, and also because it was the chosen land where God delighted to dwell and to manifest his favor. See Isaiah 5:1. Over that land the laws of God had been extended, and that land had been r... [ Continue Reading ]
TO AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM - The great mass; the people; the scribes and Pharisees rejected him. A few in his lifetime received him, and many more after his death. “To receive him,” here, means to “believe” on him. This is expressed at the end of the verse. GAVE HE POWER - This is more appropriatel... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH WERE BORN - This doubtless refers to the “new birth,” or to the great change in the sinner’s mind called regeneration or conversion. It means that they did not become the children of God in virtue of their natural birth, or because they were the children of “Jews,” or because they were descend... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH - The word “flesh,” here, is evidently used to denote “human nature” or “man.” See Matthew 16:17; Matthew 19:5; Matthew 24:22; Luke 3:6; Romans 1:3; Romans 9:5. The “Word” was made “man.” This is commonly expressed by saying that he became “incarnate.” When we say that a... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN BARE WITNESS OF HIM - The evangelist now returns to the testimony of John the Baptist. He had stated that the Word became incarnate, and he now appeals to the testimony of John to show that, thus incarnate, he was the Messiah. HE THAT COMETH AFTER ME - He of whom I am the forerunner, or whose... [ Continue Reading ]
OF HIS FULNESS - In John 1:14 the evangelist has said that Christ was “full of grace and truth.” Of that “fullness” he now says that all the disciples had received; that is, they derived from his abundant truth and mercy grace to understand the plan of salvation, to preach the gospel, to live lives... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LAW WAS GIVEN - The Old Testament economy. The institutions under which the Jews lived. BY MOSES - By Moses, as the servant of God. He was the great legislator of the Jews, by whom, under God, their polity was formed. The law worketh wrath Romans 4:15; it was attended with many burdensome rites... [ Continue Reading ]
NO MAN HATH SEEN GOD AT ANY TIME - This declaration is probably made to show the superiority of the revelation of Jesus above that of any previous dispensation. It is said, therefore, that Jesus “had an intimate knowledge of God,” which neither Moses nor any of the ancient prophets had possessed. Go... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS THE RECORD - The word “record” here means “testimony,” in whatever way given. The word “record” now commonly refers to “written” evidence. This is not its meaning here. John’s testimony was given without writing. WHEN THE JEWS SENT - John’s fame was great. See Matthew 3:5. It spread from the... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM NOT THE CHRIST - This confession proves that John was not an impostor. He had a wide reputation. The nation was expecting that the Messiah was about to come, and multitudes were ready to believe that John was he, Luke 3:15. If John had been an impostor he would have taken advantage of this exci... [ Continue Reading ]
ART THOU ELIAS? - This is the Greek way of writing Elijah. The Jews expected that Elijah would appear before the Messiah came. See the notes at Matthew 11:14. They supposed that it would be the real Elijah returned from heaven. In this sense John denied that he was Elijah; but he did not deny that h... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM THE VOICE ... - See the notes at Matthew 3:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE OF THE PHARISEES - For an account of this sect, see the notes at Matthew 3:7. Why they are particularly mentioned is not certainly known. Many of the “Sadducees” came to his baptism Matthew 3:7, but it seems that they did not join in sending to him to know what was the design of John. This circ... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY BAPTIZEST THOU THEN ... - Baptism on receiving a proselyte from “paganism” was common before the time of John, but it was not customary to baptize a “Jew.” John had changed the custom. He baptized “all,” and they were desirous of knowing by what authority he made such a change in the religious c... [ Continue Reading ]
I BAPTIZE - He did not deny it; nor did he condescend to state his authority. That he had given. He “admitted” that he had introduced an important “change” in the rites of religion, and he goes on to tell them that this was not all. Greater and more important changes would soon take place without th... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSE SHOE’S LATCHET - See the notes at Matthew 3:11. The “latchet” of sandals was the string or thong by which they were fastened to the feet. To unloose them was the office of a servant, and John means, therefore, that he was unworthy to perform the lowest office for the Messiah. This was remarkab... [ Continue Reading ]
IN BETHABARA - Almost all the ancient manuscripts and versions, instead of “Bethabara” here, have “Bethany,” and this is doubtless the true reading. There was a Bethany about 2 miles east of Jerusalem, but there is said also to have been another in the tribe of Reuben, on the east side of the river... [ Continue Reading ]
THE NEXT DAY - The day after the Jews made inquiry whether he was the Christ. BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD - A “lamb,” among the Jews, was killed and eaten at the Passover to commemorate their deliverance from Egypt, Exodus 12:3. A lamb was offered in the tabernacle, and afterward in the temple, every mor... [ Continue Reading ]
I KNEW HIM NOT - John was not personally acquainted with Jesus. Though they were remotely related to each other, yet it seems that they had had heretofore no personal acquaintance. John had lived chiefly in the hill country of Judea. Jesus had been employed with Joseph at Nazareth. Until Jesus came... [ Continue Reading ]
BARE RECORD - Gave testimony. I SAW THE SPIRIT ... - See the notes at Matthew 3:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SAME SAID ... - This was the sign by which he was to know the Messiah. He was to see the Spirit descending like a dove and abiding on him. It does not follow, however, that he had no intimation before this that Jesus was the Christ, but it means that by this he should know it infallibly. From Ma... [ Continue Reading ]
THE NEXT DAY - The day after his remarkable testimony that Jesus was the Son of God. This testimony of John is reported because it was the main design of this evangelist to show that Jesus was the Messiah. See the introduction. To do this, he adduces the decided and repeated testimony of John the Ba... [ Continue Reading ]
LOOKING UPON JESUS ... - Fixing his eyes intently upon him. Singling him out and regarding him with special attention. Contemplating him as the long-expected Messiah and Deliverer of the world. In this way all ministers should fix the eye upon the Son of God, and direct all others to him. AS HE WAL... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY FOLLOWED JESUS - They had been the disciples of John. his office was to point out the Messiah. When that was done, they left at once their master and teacher, John. and followed the long-expected Messiah. This shows that John was sincere; that he was not desirous of forming a party or of buildi... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT SEEK YE? - This was not asked to obtain “information.” Compare John 1:48. It was not a harsh reproof, forbidding them to follow him. Compare Matthew 11:28. It was a kind inquiry respecting their desires; an invitation to lay open their minds, to state their wishes, and to express all their feel... [ Continue Reading ]
COME AND SEE - This was a kind and gracious answer. He did not put them off to some future period. Then, as now, he was willing that they should come at once and enjoy the full opportunity which they desired of his conversation. Jesus is ever ready to admit those who seek him to his presence and fav... [ Continue Reading ]
HE FIRST FINDETH - He found him and “told him about Jesus” before he brought him to Jesus. WE HAVE FOUND THE MESSIAS - They had learned from the testimony of John, and now had been more fully convinced from conversation with Jesus, that he was the Messiah. The word “Messiah,” or “Messias,” is Hebrew... [ Continue Reading ]
CEPHAS - This is a Syriac word, meaning the same as the Greek word Peter, a stone. See the notes at Matthew 16:17. The stone, or rock, is a symbol of firmness and steadiness of character - a trait in Peter’s character after the ascension of Jesus that was very remarkable. before the death of Jesus h... [ Continue Reading ]
WOULD GO FORTH - Was about to go. INTO GALILEE - He was now in Judea, where he went to be baptized by John. He was now about to return to his native country. FINDETH PHILIP - This does not refer to his calling these disciples to be “apostles,” for that took place at the Sea of Tiberias Matthew 4:1... [ Continue Reading ]
OF BETHSAIDA - See the notes at Matthew 11:21. THE CITY OF - The place where Andrew and Peter dwelt.... [ Continue Reading ]
MOSES, IN THE LAW - Moses, in that part of the Old Testament which he wrote, called by the Jews “the law.” See Deuteronomy 18:15, Deuteronomy 18:18; Genesis 49:10; Genesis 3:15. AND THE PROPHETS - Isaiah 53:1; Isaiah 9:6; Daniel 9:24;... [ Continue Reading ]
CAN ANY GOOD THING ... - The character of Nazareth was proverbially bad. To be a Galilean or a Nazarene was an expression of decided contempt, John 7:52. See the notes at Matthew 2:23. Nathanael asked, therefore, whether it was possible that the Messiah should come from a place proverbially wicked.... [ Continue Reading ]
AN ISRAELITE INDEED - One who is really an Israelite - not by birth only, but one worthy of the name. One who possesses the spirit, the piety, and the integrity which become a man who is really a Jew, who fears God and obeys his law. Compare Romans 9:6; Romans 2:28. NO GUILE - No deceit, no fraud, n... [ Continue Reading ]
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 inquired by what means he had any knowledge of him. His conscience testified to the truth of what Jesu... [ Continue Reading ]
RABBI - Master. Applied appropriately to Jesus, and to no one else, Matthew 23:10. THE SON OF GOD - By this title he doubtless meant that he was the Messiah. His conscience told him that he had judged right of his character, and that therefore he must know the heart and the desires of the mind. If... [ Continue Reading ]
GREATER THINGS - Fuller proof of his Messiahship, particularly what is mentioned in the following verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
VERILY, VERILY - In the Greek, “Amen, amen.” The word “amen” means “truly, certainly, so be it” - from the Hebrew verb to confirm, to establish, to be true. It is often used in this gospel. When repeated it expresses the speaker’s sense of the importance of what he is saying, and the “certainty” tha... [ Continue Reading ]