Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 7:15
And the Jews marveled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?
15. And the Jews marvelled ] According to the best MSS., The Jews therefore marvelled. ‘Therefore’ should also be inserted in Joh 7:16; Jesus therefore answered them. S. John’s extreme fondness for this particle in narrative is worth keeping in view.
How knoweth this man letters ] Or, this fellow, as in Joh 6:42. Their question is so eminently characteristic, that it is very unlikely that a Greek writer of the second century would have been able to invent it for them; he would probably have made them too cautious to commit themselves to any expression of astonishment about Him. The substance of His doctrine excites no emotion in them, but they are astounded that He should possess learning without having got it according to ordinary routine. He had never attended the schools of the Rabbis, and yet His interpretations of Scripture shewed a large amount of biblical and other knowledge. That does excite them. In Act 26:24, ‘much learning doth make thee mad,’ the word there translated ‘learning’ is the same as the one here translated ‘letters.’
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Knoweth this man letters – The Jewish letters or science consisted in the knowledge of their Scriptures and traditions. Jesus exhibited in his discourses such a profound acquaintance with the Old Testament as to excite their amazement and admiration.
Having never learned – The Jews taught their law and tradition in celebrated schools. As Jesus had not been instructed in those schools, they were amazed at his learning. What early human teaching the Saviour had we have no means of ascertaining, further than that it was customary for the Jews to teach their children to read the Scriptures. 2Ti 3:15; from a child thou (Timothy) hast known the holy scriptures.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 15. How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?] The Jewish learning consisted in the knowledge of their own scriptures, and the traditions of their elders. In this learning our blessed Lord excelled. No person ever spoke with more grace and dignity, or knew better how to make a more proper use, or a happier application, of Jewish allegories and parables; because none ever penetrated the sense of the Scriptures as he did; none ever cited them more successfully, or ever showed their accomplishment in so complete and satisfactory a manner. As these branches of learning were taught at the Jewish schools, and our Lord had never attended there, they were astonished to find him excelling in that sort of learning, of which they themselves professed to be the sole teachers.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Having never sat as a constant disciple at the feet of any of the Jewish doctors, nor been educated in their schools of the prophets, they wonder how he should come by such knowledge of the law of God, as he discovered in his discourses; wherein he made it appear, that he did not only know the letter of the law, but the more mysterious sense of it, the great mysteries of the kingdom of God.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
15. How knoweth . . .letterslearning (Ac 26:24).
having never learnedatany rabbinical school, as Paul under Gamaliel. These rulers knew wellenough that He had not studied under any human teacheranimportant admission against ancient and modern attempts to trace ourLord’s wisdom to human sources [MEYER].Probably His teaching on this occasion was expository,manifesting that unrivalled faculty and depth which in the Sermon onthe Mount had excited the astonishment of all.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the Jews marvelled,…. Both at the matter, and manner of his doctrine; it was such, as never man spake; his words were so gracious, and there were such truth and evidence in them, and they were delivered with such power and authority, that they were astonished at them:
saying, how knoweth this man letters? or “the Scriptures”, as the Arabic and Persic versions render it; which are called “holy letters”, 2Ti 3:15; according to which, the sense is, that they were surprised at his knowledge of the Scriptures, that he should be conversant with them, and be able to interpret them, and give the sense and meaning of them, in so full and clear a manner, as he did: or else the sense is, how came this man to be such a learned man? whence has he this wisdom, and all this learning which he shows? as in Mt 13:54. So a learned man is in Isa 29:11, said to be one that , , “knows letters”, as the Septuagint there translate the Hebrew text; but how Christ should know them, or be a learned man,
having never learned, was surprising to them: that is, he had not had a liberal education, but was brought up to a trade; he was not trained up at the feet of any of their Rabbins, in any of their universities, or schools of learning; and in which they were certainly right. Modern Jews pretend to say he had a master, whom they sometimes call Elchanan o, but most commonly they make him to be R. Joshua ben Perachiah p: with whom they say, he fled into Alexandria in Egypt, for fear of Jannai the king: and one of their writers q, on this account, charges the evangelist with a falsehood: but who are we to believe, the Jews who lived at the same time with Jesus, and knew his education and manner of life, or those that have lived ages since?
o Toldos Jesu, p. 5. p Juchasin, fol. 159. 1. Ganz Tzemach David, par. 1, fol. 21. 1. & 24. q R. Isaac Chizzuk Emuna, par. 2. c. 46. p. 435.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Marvelled (). Picturesque imperfect active of , “were wondering.” After all the bluster of the rulers (verse 13) here was Jesus teaching without interruption.
Knoweth letters ( ). Second perfect active indicative used as present. , old word from , to write, is originally the letters formed (Ga 6:11), then a letter or epistle (Ac 28:21), then the sacred Scriptures (John 5:47; 2Tim 3:15), then learning like Latin litterae and English letters (Acts 26:24; John 7:15). “The marvel was that Jesus showed Himself familiar with the literary methods of the time, which were supposed to be confined to the scholars of the popular teachers” (Westcott).
Having never learned ( ). Perfect active participle of with , the usual negative (subjective) with the participle. It is not the wisdom of Jesus that disconcerted the Jewish leaders, but his learning (Marcus Dods). And yet Jesus had not attended either of the rabbinical theological schools in Jerusalem (Hillel, Shammai). He was not a rabbi in the technical sense, only a carpenter, and yet he surpassed the professional rabbis in the use of their own methods of debate. It is sometimes true today that unschooled men in various walks of life forge ahead of men of lesser gifts with school training. See the like puzzle of the Sanhedrin concerning Peter and John (Ac 4:13). This is not an argument against education, but it takes more than education to make a real man. Probably this sneer at Jesus came from some of the teachers in the Jerusalem seminaries. “Christ was in the eyes of the Jews a merely self-taught enthusiast” (Westcott).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Letters [] . See on 5 47.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And the Jews marveled, saying,” (ethaumazon oun hoi loudaioi legontes) “Then the Jews marvelled, repeatedly saying,” one to another, among themselves, not only at His boldness but also at His manner of teaching and what He taught. Those who did this were the Rabbis, the Jewish scholars.
2) “How knoweth this man letters,” (pos houtos grammata oiden) ”How does this man (they wouldn’t call his name) know letters;- The question was asked in derision and contempt, to try to turn people away from listening to what He had to say. What did He really know about the letters of the law? Act 26:24.
3) “Having never learned?” (me memathekos) “Having never learned at all?” That is, from their fine, approved, or accredited Rabbis or Rabbinical schools, seems to be the idea. He was no student of the schools of Hillel or Gamaliel they knew. So how could He know the writings of their fathers and the Scriptures, they pondered, not realizing who He was. See also Mat 13:54.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
15. And the Jews wondered Those who think that Christ was received in such a manner as to be esteemed and honored are mistaken; for the wonder or astonishment of the Jews is of such a nature, that they seek occasion from it to despise him. For such is the ingratitude of men that, in judging of the works of God, they always seek deliberately an occasion of falling into error. If God acts by the usual means and in the ordinary way, those means which are visible to the eyes are — as it were — veils which hinder us from perceiving the Divine hand; and therefore we discern nothing in them but what is human. But if an unwonted power of God shines above the order of nature and the means generally known, we are stunned; and what ought to have deeply affected all our senses passes away as a dream. For such is our pride, that we take no interest in any thing of which we do not know the reason.
How doth this man know letters? It was an astonishing proof of the power and grace of God, that Christ, who had not been taught by any master, was yet eminently distinguished by his knowledge of the Scriptures; and that he, who had never been a scholar, should be a most excellent teacher and instructor. But for this very reason the Jews despise the grace of God, because it exceeds their capacity. Admonished by their example, therefore, let us learn to exercise deeper reverence for God than we are wont to do in the consideration of his works.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(15) How knoweth this man letters?Their spirit is seen in that at which they marvel. It is not the substance of His teaching that excites their attention, but the fact that He who has never been technically trained as a Rabbi is acquainted with the literature of the schools. (See Act. 26:24, much learning, where learning represents the word here rendered letters.) He is to them as a layman and unlearned (comp. Note on Act. 4:13), not known in the circles of the professional expoundersa demagogue, who deceived the multitude; and they hear Him speaking with a learning and wisdom that excites their wonder, and unlocking mysteries of which they thought that they only possessed the key.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
15. Jews marvelled Before they have time to adopt any measures these Judaists have, in spite of themselves, heard the discourse of Jesus, and a strange wonder arises, how one not a trained rabbi can discourse so learnedly and wisely.
Letters Sacred literature was all the letters or learning which the Jews had.
Reply of Jesus to the query how he learned to teach, 16-24.
His teaching or doctrine is direct from God, and is by him kept, 16-19; they too have a law from God through Moses, but break it in seeking his life. Then occurs a base interruption, 20; which disregarding, Jesus proceeds to illustrate their breach of law and his observance of it in the miracle at Bethesda, 21-34.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘The Judaisers therefore marvelled saying, “How does this man know letters, having never learned?” ’
As they listened to Him even His enemies were impressed. They were amazed. They could not understand how He had such wide knowledge and understanding of the Scriptures when He had never been through the Rabbinical schools. His wide knowledge of the Scriptures and of current ideas about them impressed them and for a while held them back from acting against Him. Jesus thus taught many things of which we may well know nothing.
‘Know letters’ – to have the ability and training to be a teacher. ‘Never learned’ – had not been through the Rabbinical schools.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Joh 7:15 . ] as in Joh 7:11 ; Joh 7:18 . The teaching of Jesus produces a feeling of astonishment even in the hierarchy; but how? Not through the power of His truth, but because He is learned without having studied . And with a question upon this point , they engage in conversation with Him, without touching upon what He had taught. The admission , indeed, which is contained in their question, and that, too, face to face with the people, is only to be explained from the real impression produced upon their learned conceit, so that they ask not in the spirit of shrewd calculation, but from actual amazement.
] not the O. T. Scriptures (Luther, Grotius, and many), but literas , (theological) knowledge , which, however, consisted in scriptural erudition . Jesus had doubtless exhibited this knowledge in His discourse by His interpretations of Scripture . Comp. Act 26:24 ; Plato, Apol . p. 26 D: , and the citations in Wetstein. Upon , used of teachers, see Dissen, ad Dem. de cor . p. 299.
.] though he has not learned them (Buttmann, N. T. Gk . p. 301 [E. T. p. 350 f.]), perhaps in a Rabbinical school as Paul did from Gamaliel. The members of the Sanhedrim do not thus speak in conformity with the author’s representation of the Logos (Scholten); they know , doubtless, from information obtained concerning the course of His life, that Jesus had not studied; He was reckoned by them among the and , Act 4:13 . This tells powerfully against all attempts, ancient and modern, to trace back the wisdom of Jesus to some school of human culture. Well says Bengel: “non usus erat schola; character Messiae .” This autodidactic character does not necessarily exclude the supposition that during His childhood and youth He made use of the ordinary popular, and in particular of the synagogal instruction (Luk 2:45 ). Comp. Schleiermacher, L. J . p. 120 f., and in particular Keim, Gesch. J . I. p. 427 ff.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
15 And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?
Ver. 15. And the Jews marvelled ] As well they might; but this marvel of theirs came to nothing. Look how a swine, finding a precious jewel, grunts only, and goes his way: so here.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
15 24. ] His teaching is from the Father .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
marvelled = were wondering.
knoweth. Greek. oida. App-132. See note on 1.
letters. Greek. Plural of gramma. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6, for what is written; e.g. an account (Luk 16:6, Luk 16:7); the Pentateuch (Joh 5:47); Epistles (Act 28:21); the whole Scripture (2Ti 3:15). Hence, used of general literature such as the Talmudical writings (here, and in Act 26:24). Compare our term, “man of letters”, and see Act 4:13.
never = not. Greek. me. App-105.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
15-24.] His teaching is from the Father.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Joh 7:15. , letters) i.e. [literary] studies. For He was teaching, Joh 7:14.- , without having learned) He had had no occasion for a school. It was the very characteristic of the Messiah.[180]
[180] To teach and preach, without human learning, as the anointed Prophet-E. and T.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Joh 7:15
Joh 7:15
The Jews therefore marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?-The familiarity of Jesus with the Jewish law and his readiness in applying it and explaining the teachings were matters of wonder and surprise to all, as these things were usually learned in some of the schools. As Paul attended the school of Gamaliel, Jesus attended none of these schools, hence his teaching in these things was a surprise to all who knew it.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
marvelled: Joh 7:46, Mat 7:28, Mat 7:29, Mat 22:22, Mat 22:33, Luk 2:47
How: Mat 13:54, Mar 6:2, Mar 6:3, Luk 4:22, Act 2:7-13, Act 4:11, Act 4:12
letters: or, learning, Amo 7:14, Amo 7:15
Reciprocal: 1Sa 10:11 – Is Saul Psa 22:6 – a reproach Isa 29:12 – I am not Isa 50:4 – as the Joh 7:27 – we know Act 4:13 – were 1Co 14:16 – unlearned
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
5
Letters is from a Greek word that means something that has been written by an educated person. Jesus had never taken a course of instruction in any of their institutions of learning, hence it baffled the Jews to hear him speaking like an educated man on matters of such great concern pertaining to human conduct.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Joh 7:15. The Jews therefore marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never leaned? The marvelling on the part of the Jews (see note on chap. Joh 5:20) is not an astonishment that compels further inquiry and leads towards belief. They are baffled, and forced to acknowledge against themselves what they would fain have denied. It was only after a long series of years spent in study that the Jewish scholar was permitted to become a teacher, and was solemnly ordained a member of the community of doctors of the law. Jesus, it was known, had not been taught in the rabbinical schools, nevertheless He was proving Himself, in such a manner that His enemies could not gainsay the fact, a skilled and powerful teacher. Jewish learning dealt chiefly with the letter of the written Word (especially the Law), and with the body of un written tradition. The words which crown our Lords teaching at this feast enter into the very heart and express the inmost spirit of the whole Old Testament revelation (Joh 7:38-39).
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
It was quite common for Jewish males to read and write. The people do not appear to have expressed amazement at Jesus’ ability to do that. The Judean Jews (cf. Joh 1:19) marveled at Jesus’ understanding of religious matters (cf. Mat 7:28-29; Mar 1:22). They knew He had not had a formal theological education under the rabbis (cf. Act 4:13).
"To the Jews there was only one kind of learning-that of Theology; and only one road to it-the Schools of the Rabbis." [Note: Ibid.]