John 1 - Introduction
_THE DIVINITY, HUMANITY, AND OFFICE OF JESUS CHRIST. THE TESTIMONY OF JOHN. THE CALLING OF ANDREW, PETER, &C._ _Anno Domini 26._... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE DIVINITY, HUMANITY, AND OFFICE OF JESUS CHRIST. THE TESTIMONY OF JOHN. THE CALLING OF ANDREW, PETER, &C._ _Anno Domini 26._... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD,— _"In the beginning,_ before the foundation of the world, or the first production of any created being, a glorious Person _existed,_ who may properly be called _the Word_ of God, not only because God the Father at first created, and still governs, all things by him, bu... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SAME WAS IN THE BEGINNING WITH GOD.— The Socinians, who have laboured hard to subvert the authority of this stubborn portion of scripture, most perversely understand this passage of Christ's being taken up into heaven after his baptism, in order to be instructed in the will of God; for which the... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THINGS WERE MADE BY HIM;— Although the word _make_ is capable of an extensive sense, yet, as in other passages Jesus is said to have _created all things,_ Colossians 1:16 we cannot doubt that St. John uses the word εγενετο in the sense of _creation,_ a meaning which it often has in the Jewish sc... [ Continue Reading ]
IN HIM WAS LIFE,— The most ancient fathers who quote this text, so generally join the words at the end of the last verse, ο γεγονεν, which we render _that was made,_ with this 4th verse; and St. John uses so frequently to begin the following sentence with what ended the foregoing, that many judiciou... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LIGHT SHINETH IN DARKNESS;— We have observed in the former verse, that Christ is the fountain of all spiritual light, so that nothing can be spiritually discerned but by his Spirit. This light shone in the heathen world, and under the dispensation of Moses, and still shineth _in darkness,_ e... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE WAS A MAN SENT FROM GOD,— The evangelist, in giving the history of the Baptist's ministry, tells us, in the first place that he was merely _a man,_ in opposition to article 10 in the argument wherein Cerinthus represents John as superior to our Saviour, whom the apostle has already shewn to be... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SAME CAME FOR A WITNESS,— _To bear testimony._ The next sentence may be understood as explanatory of that which goes before, _He came for a testimony,_ that is, _to bear testimony concerning_ that _light._ Some commentators apply the word _Him,_ in the next clause, to the _Light_ here spoken of,... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WAS THE TRUE LIGHT,— "The _true light_ of which he spake, _was_ Christ, even _that_ Sun of righteousness and source of truth, _which coming into the world, enlighteneth every man;_ dispersing his beams, as it were, from one end of the heavens to the other, to the _Gentile_ world, which was in m... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WAS IN THE WORLD, &C.— The Word and Son of God came down to earth; and though the world was made by him, all the inhabitants thereof being the work of his hands, yet that very world, that is, those inhabitants of it, did not _know_ and acknowledge him as their Creator, and as the Word sent to rev... [ Continue Reading ]
HE CAME UNTO HIS OWN,— "He came to the Jewish nation, who were under the most distinguished obligations to him, and to whom he had been expressly promised as their Messiah: _yet his own people did not receive him,_ as they ought, but, on the contrary, treated him in the most contemptuous and ungrate... [ Continue Reading ]
_JOHN 1:12 GAVE HE POWER,_ &C.— _Gave he the privilege to become sons,_ &c. Doddridge, &c. See the 12th position in the argument. The word _name_ is frequently used, as we have had occasion to observe, for the person or man who bears it; as likewise for that characteristic by which he is distinguish... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH WERE BORN, NOT OF BLOOD,— They who thus believed on him, became possessed of this privilege; not in consequence of their being _born of blood,_ or of their being descended from the loinsof the holy patriarchs, or sharing in circumcision and the blood of the sacrifices; _nor_ could they ascribe... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH,— This divine and eternal Word was made flesh;uniteditselftoourinferiormiserablenature,withallitsinnocent infirmities, (see the 9th article in the argument;) and not made a transient visit, but for a considerable time _pitched his tabernacle among us,—_εσχηνωσεν, which ma... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN BARE WITNESS OF HIM, &C.— This might probably happen at the time when Jesus made his first appearance amongthose who came to be baptized by John; when at this offering to receive his baptism, though John had been a stranger to him before, and knew him not by any personal acquaintance with him,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND OF HIS FULNESS, &C.— _"And_ I, (John the apostle) who had the honour of being numbered among his most intimate friends, would with pleasure, in my own name, and that of my brethren; add my testimony to that of the Baptist, as I and they have the greatest reason to do; for _of his_ overflowing _f... [ Continue Reading ]
GRACE AND TRUTH CAME BY JESUS CHRIST, &C.— The word εγενετο, rendered _came,_ here implies, that _grace and truth were exhibited,_ or _appeared._ This verse is delivered in opposition to the Ebionites, who preferred Moses to the Lord Jesus. The gospel is here, as in other places, called _grace._ The... [ Continue Reading ]
NO MAN HATH SEEN GOD AT ANY TIME;— Neither Moses nor any of the prophets, who in former ages delivered the will of God to men, ever saw the divine Being in his essence, and therefore they could not make a full discovery of his perfections and counsels to men. The only Person who ever enjoyed this pr... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THIS IS THE RECORD OF JOHN, &C.— These verses would be better rendered thus, _Now this is the testimony of John,_ (mentioned John 1:15.) When the Jews _sent priests,_ &c. John 1:20 _then he confessed,_ &c. The rulers at Jerusalem having been informed, that the Baptist's extraordinary sanctity, z... [ Continue Reading ]
ART THOU ELIAS? AND HE SAITH, I AM NOT.— It is plain by this question, that they were strangers to the parentage of John the Baptist: and with regard to the reply that he makes to this inquiry,there is no scruple to be made, but that the Baptist might justly deny that he was Elijah; that is, the tru... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM THE VOICE, &C.— It is to be feared that Clemens of Alexandria, and Archbishop Fenelon, lay too great a stress on the word φωνη, _voice,_ when the _former_ of these excellent men says, "Does not John call men to salvation, and is he not entirely an exhortatory voice?"—And then the _latter_ endea... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY BAPTIZEST THOU THEN,— The Jews, it seems, had conceived an opinion that they were all to be baptized, either by Messiah himself, or by some of his retinue; which they drew from Zechariah 13:1.though that prophecy is to be taken in a most spiritual sense. The decisions of the _Pharisees_ were hel... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN ANSWERED THEM, SAYING, &C.— _"I baptize,_ to shew you the nature and necessity of repentance; but it is _with water_ only, which cannot cleanse you from your sins, as the washing predicted by Zechariah will do" (see the preceding note). "That more efficacious baptism will be dispensed unto you... [ Continue Reading ]
THE NEXT DAY JOHN SEETH JESUS, &C.— It seems Jesus returned from the wilderness about the time that the priests and Levitesarrived at Bethabara; for the day after they proposed their questions, he happened to pass by while the Baptist was standing with the multitude on the banks of the Jordan. The g... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE WAS BEFORE ME.— _For he existed before me._ See John 1:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I KNEW HIM NOT:— "St. Matthew relates, Matthew 3:14." says Dr. Clarke, "that when Christ came to be baptized, _John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?_ By the history, as given by St. Matthew, John seems to have known Christ before hehad baptized him:... [ Continue Reading ]
TWO OF HIS DISCIPLES:— It appears from John 1:40 that Andrew was one of these, and perhaps John himself might be the other; who frequently conceals his own name in his gospel. See Ch. John 13:23 and John 20:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND LOOKING UPON JESUS— _Looking steadfastly on Jesus,_ seems the exact signification of the original εμβλεψας. See on John 1:29.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY FOLLOWED JESUS, &C.— As Jesus was a person who had no attendants, and was a stranger, as it were, in this country, we may conclude that he had only some obscure and private lodging here, which must have been at no great distance from the place where John baptized, as may be gathered from hi... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH HEARD JOHN SPEAK,— _Who had received information from John;_ namely, that mentioned John 1:36.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE FIRST FINDETH HIS OWN BROTHER SIMON,— Hence it should seem that both these disciples sought St. Peter different ways. He may perhaps be called Andrew's _own brother,_ to distinguish him from some other who belonged to the family, and who possibly might be his brother-in-law, or was related to him... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU ART SIMON, &C.— Though Jesus had never seen Simon before, immediately on his coming in, he saluted him, in full proof of his omniscience, by his own and his Father's name; adding, in proof of his being possessed of the gift of prophesy, that he should afterwards be called _Cephas,_ which means... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS WOULD GO FORTH— _Jesus determined to depart thence._ The force of the word θελω seems to be greater than our translation expresses, and perhaps may here intimate, that our Lord on this occasion broke through the importunity of some, who would rather have persuaded him to continue at Bethabara,... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW PHILIP WAS OF BETHSAIDA,— As it appears from the subsequent part of the history, that Philip was already acquainted with our Lord's character, and believed on him, this observation is made by the evangelist to shew by what means he was brought to Jesus. His townsmen Andrew and Peter had done him... [ Continue Reading ]
OF WHOM MOSES—AND THE PROPHETS, DID WRITE,— _Whom,_ &c. _have described._ The verb Γραφω is frequently used in the same sense elsewhere; and in particular is justly rendered thus, Romans 10:5. It seems, Peter and Andrew, in their conversation with Philip, had persuaded him to believe on Jesus, byshe... [ Continue Reading ]
CAN THERE ANY GOOD THING COME OUT OF NAZARETH?— Philip, not knowing that Jesus was born at Bethlehem, calls him _Jesus of Nazareth:_ upon which occasion Nathanael applies a proverb, by which the rest of the Israelites ridiculed the Nazarenes; and he applied it the rather, as the Messiah's nativity h... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS SAW NATHANAEL— 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 coming therefore with Philip on this errand, when Jesus, who knew his thoughts, honoured him with the amiable ch... [ Continue Reading ]
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 entire a stranger to thy character as thou art ready to suppose: nor do I take it merely from uncer... [ Continue Reading ]
RABBI, THOU ART THE SON OF GOD,— It is not improbable but Nathanael had been praying under the fig-tree, and that in his prayer he had made confession of his sins in such a particular and ample manner, as to claim, in that respect, the character which Christ gave of him. Accordingly, when Jesus insi... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE I SAID UNTO THEE, I SAW THEE— _"You believe, because I told you that I had seen you under the fig-tree: You shall see greater things than these."_ It is supposed that, under the fig-tree, Nathanael had some revelation or divine impression upon his mind concerning the Messiah, to which our Lo... [ Continue Reading ]
HEREAFTER YE SHALL SEE, &C.— Instead of _hereafter,_ many commentators translate the Greek απ αρτι,— _from this time—henceforth,—"_From this time you shall see the whole frame of nature subject to my commands, and such a surprising train of miracles wrought by me, in the course of my succeeding mini... [ Continue Reading ]