Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 12:45
And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
45. seeth ] Or, beholdeth, contemplateth. The same verb is used Joh 6:40; Joh 6:62, Joh 7:3 and frequently in S. John.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Seeth me … – This verse is a strong confirmation of his equality with God. In no other way can it be true that he who saw Jesus saw him that sent him, unless he were the same in essence. Of no man could it be affirmed that he who saw him saw God. To say this of Paul or Isaiah would have been blasphemy. And yet Jesus uses this language familiarly and constantly. It shows that he had a consciousness that he was divine, and that it was the natural and proper way of speaking when speaking of himself. Compare Joh 5:17.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
No man hath seen God at any time; but he that by the eyes of his mind knows, and understands, and believeth in me, seeth him that sent me: or, he that seeth me in my works which I do, seeth also him that sent me, by whom I do these mighty works. Thus, afterward, Joh 14:9, he saith to Philip, He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; he that hath seen me, hath not indeed seen the Divine nature and essence, but hath seen that Person who is one with the Father; the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, as the apostle speaks, Heb 1:3.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And he that seeth me, seeth him that sent me. Not with bodily eyes, for there were many that saw Christ, who never saw the Father: they saw Christ as a mere man, and were offended at the meanness of his outward appearance; they saw nothing divine in him, nor the glory of the Father through him; but with the eyes of the understanding, whoever saw or perceived the glory of Christ in his miracles, saw the glory of God in them also, for the Father that dwelt in him did the works, Joh 2:11, and whoever truly sees Christ with an eye of faith, sees his glory, as the glory of the only begotten of the Father, as the brightness of his Father’s glory, as having the fulness of the Godhead dwelling in him, the same perfections as in the Father; so that he that hath seen the one, hath seen the other also, Joh 14:9.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Seeth [] . Rev., properly, beholdeth. Compare Joh 14:9. The word is purposely chosen to mark an intent, continuous contemplation of Christ, issuing in ever larger knowledge of the Father.
I am come [] . The perfect tense, pointing to the abiding result of His manifestation. Compare Joh 5:43; Joh 7:28; Joh 8:42; Joh 16:28; Joh 18:37. Abide in darkness. The phrase occurs only here. Compare 1Jo 2:9, 11; also 1Jo 8:12; 1Jo 12:35.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And he that seeth me,” (kai ho theoron eme) “And the one who beholds me,” as the wise men saw Him, worthy of worship, as John the Baptist saw Him, anointed of God, Mat 2:11-12; Joh 1:29-34; Joh 6:40.
2) “Seeth him that sent me.” (theorei ton pempsanta me) “Beholds the one who has sent me,” recognizes the true and living God who has sent me here among you all, Joh 14:9, whom to know is eternal life, Joh 5:24; Joh 17:3; Jer 9:23-24. For I and my Father are one, Joh 10:31. Jesus was a transparency through which His Father was seen, the very express image of His Father, Heb 1:3.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
45. And he who seeth me. The word see is here taken for knowledge; for, in order to give true and thorough tranquillity to our consciences, which would otherwise have been constantly liable to various agitations, he sends us to the Father. The reason why the stability of faith is firm and secure is, that it is stronger than the world, and is above the world. (34) Now, when Christ is truly known, the glory of God shines in him, that we may be fully persuaded that the faith which we have in him does not depend on man, but that it is founded on the eternal God; for it rises from the flesh of Christ to his Divinity. And, if it be so, not only must it be fixed perpetually in our hearts, but it must likewise show itself boldly in the tongue, when it is necessary.
(34) “ Pource qu’elle est plus forte que le monde, et pardessus le monde.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(45) He that believeth on me, believeth not on me.These words do not occur literally in any discourse of our Lord which we now have, but the thought has met us again and again. (Comp. Joh. 5:36; Joh. 7:16; Joh. 7:29; Joh. 8:19; Joh. 10:38.) We are not to weaken the words not on Me but, into not (only) on Me but, as is often done. Jesus came not in His own name (Joh. 5:43), but in that of the Father. The Son claimed no position independent of the Father. He was the representative of the Father, and those who believed in Him believed not in the representative as apart from, but in that He represented, the Sender. The same thought occurs in Mar. 9:37. (Comp. Note there.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
(45) And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.The word means to see, in the sense of behold, contemplate, gaze upon. Better, therefore, And he that beholdeth Me beholdeth Him that sent Me. The form of the expression is different from that of the previous verse, passing from the negative to the positive, in accord with the difference of thought. He that beholdeth Christ doth behold Him, and in Him beholds the impression of the substance of God. The same thought has occurred in the words of the Evangelist in Joh. 1:14, and occurs in the words of our Lord in Joh. 14:9.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
45. Seeth him that sent me He that seeth my outward shape seeth the manifest person of God himself.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
Ver. 45. Seeth him that sent me ] For God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, and in him the Godhead dwelt bodily, Col 2:9 . So that in all our addresses we must fix the eye of faith on the human nature of Christ, and there speak as to our God. Like as where I see the body of a man, there I know his soul is, and therefore I speak to his understanding when and where I see his body, because they are not severed; so, viewing by faith Christ’s manhood now glorified, I there see and speak to the great God, because I know he is there personally united.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Joh 12:45 . Here He adds : “he who beholds me, beholds Him that sent me”; so Joh 14:9 ; cf. Joh 6:40 . Jesus was the perfect transparency through whom the Father was seen: the image in whom all the Father was represented.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
seeth. Greek. theoreo. App-133.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Joh 12:45. , he that seeth) with that vision which faith accompanies: ch. Joh 6:40, This is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting Life.-) Me, the Light, Joh 12:46.-, seeth) By the looking to Me, He reaches the Father: ch. Joh 14:9. There is not added here [as in Joh 12:44], he seeth not Me, but. For believing and seeing, though joined together, stand on a different footing. In Joh 12:47 there is added the idea of hearing, If any man hear My words, etc.- , Him that sent Me) This passage is to be commended to the consideration of those, who are in doubt as to how they ought to set God before them in calling on Him in prayer. Add ch. Joh 14:9.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Joh 12:45
Joh 12:45
And he that beholdeth me beholdeth him that sent me.-He was only the representative of the Father who sent him, and in hearing and seeing him they saw the Father who sent him.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Joh 12:41, Joh 14:9, Joh 14:10, Joh 15:24, 2Co 4:6, Col 1:15, Heb 1:3, 1Jo 5:20
Reciprocal: Job 42:5 – mine Dan 2:22 – and the Mar 9:37 – receive me Luk 9:48 – Whosoever shall receive this Joh 5:20 – greater 2Co 4:4 – the image
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
5
This verse embraces the same principle as the preceding, but the difference is due to the personalities of the two. In order for man to see Jesus, he had to take on himself the fleshly body. But in spirit and purpose they are the same, so that seeing Jesus was virtually equivalent to seeing God.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Joh 12:45. And he that beholdeth me, beholdeth him that sent me. In chap. Joh 6:40 (see note) we have the same combination as in these verses: He that beholdeth the Son and believeth in Him. A little later the same thought finds fuller expression in words addressed to disciples (chap. Joh 14:9). Compare chap. Joh 1:18, Joh 15:24.