Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 20:9
For as yet they knew not the Scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
9. they knew not the scripture ] S. John’s belief in the Resurrection was as yet based only on what he had seen in the sepulchre. He had nothing derived from prophecy to help him. The candour of the Evangelists is again shewn very strongly in the simple avowal that the love of Apostles failed to grasp and remember what the enmity of the priests understood and treasured up. Even with Christ to expound Scripture to them, the prophecies about His Passion and Resurrection had remained a sealed book to them (comp. Luk 24:25-27).
he must ] Comp. Joh 3:14, Joh 12:34; Mat 16:21; Mat 26:54; Mar 8:31; Luk 9:22; Luk 17:25; Luk 22:37; Luk 24:7; Luk 24:26; Luk 24:44. The Divine determination meets us throughout Christ’s life on earth, and is pointed out with increasing frequency towards the close of it. Comp. Eph 3:11.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 9. They knew not the scripture] Viz. Ps 16:9-10: Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell – ki lo taazob naphshi l’sheol – For thou wilt not abandon my life to the grave, nor suffer thy Holy One to see corruption. It was certainly a reproach to the disciples that they had not understood this prophecy, when our Lord had given them often the most direct information concerning it. Christ had referred to the history of Jonah, Mt 12:40, which was at once the type and the proof of his own resurrection. However, this ingenuous confession of John, in a matter so dishonourable to himself, is a full proof of his sincerity, and of the truth of his narration.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
That is, they did not fully understand those scriptures of the Old Testament, Psa 2:2; 16:10; 110:1-7, and the types of the Old Testament, by which Christs resurrection was foretold and prefigured.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
9. For as yet they knewthatis, understood.
not the scripture that hemust rise again from the deadIn other words, they believed inHis resurrection at first, not because they were prepared byScripture to expect it; but facts carried resistlessconviction of it in the first instance to their minds, and furnisheda key to the Scripture predictions of it.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For as yet they knew not the Scripture,…. Meaning not some particular passage of Scripture, but the writings of the Old Testament in general, and the various places in it, which spoke of the resurrection of Christ, either in a way of type, or prophecy; such as Ge 22:3 and though our Lord had often referred to some of them, at least as in Mt 12:40 yet such was the dulness of the disciples, or such their prejudices in favour of the Messiah being to continue, and set up a temporal kingdom, that even John, who leaned on his breast, and Peter, who was so inquisitive and desirous of knowing our Lord’s meaning in everything, did not understand the sense of his words, nor of those places of Scripture he had reference to:
that he must rise again from the dead: so it was determined, thus it was predicted, and the justification and salvation of God’s elect required it; and yet they knew not the thing, nor the necessity and importance of it.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
For (). Explanatory use of .
The Scripture ( ). Probably Ps 16:10. Jesus had repeatedly foretold his resurrection, but that was all forgotten in the great sorrow on their hearts. Only the chief priests and Pharisees recalled the words of Jesus (Mt 27:62ff.).
Must (). For this use of concerning Christ’s death and resurrection see Mark 8:31; Matt 26:54; Luke 9:22; Luke 17:25; Luke 22:37; Luke 24:7; Luke 24:26; Luke 24:44; John 3:14; John 12:34; Acts 1:16. Jesus had put emphasis on both the fact and the necessity of his resurrection which the disciples slowly perceived.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
The scripture [ ] . The passage of scripture. See on 5 47. The reference may be to Psa 16:10.
Must. On this necessity attaching in the divine counsel to the sufferings, death, and resurrection of Jesus, see Mt 26:54; Mr 8:31; Luk 9:22; Luk 17:25; Luk 22:37; Luk 24:7, 26, 44; Joh 3:14; Joh 12:34; Act 1:16.
11 – 18. Compare Mr 16:12, 13; Luk 24:13 – 35.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “For as yet they knew not the scripture,” (oudepo gar edeiasn ten graphen) “For they did not yet know or comprehend the scripture,” the Old Testament prophecies regarding His resurrection, Luk 24:24-27; Luk 24:44-45. He believed first because of physical testimony.
2) “That he must rise again from the dead.” (hoti dei auton ek nekron anastenai) “That it was necessary for him to rise again out of and from among the dead,” from among dead corpses, Psa 16:8-11; Act 2:25; Act 2:31; Act 13:34-35. The empty tomb, neatly rolled burial linen strips, and the folded napkin were enough physical evidence to convince him of the certain resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
9. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. They had often heard from the mouth of Christ what they now saw with their eyes, but this flowed from their hearts. Being now warned by the sight of a strange spectacle, they begin to think of Christ as having something Divine, though they are still far from having a clear and accurate knowledge of him. John, therefore, accuses himself, when he acknowledges that the first time that he believed was, when he beheld the proofs of Christ’s resurrection.
Besides, he represents more strongly his own guilt and that of his brethren, by adding, that they not only had forgotten the words of Christ, but that they did not believe the Scriptures; for to this ignorance he ascribes the deficiency of their faith. Hence, too, we may draw a useful instruction, that we ought, to ascribe it to our carelessness, when we are ignorant of what we ought to know about Christ, because we have not profited as we ought to have done by the Scriptures, which clearly reveal the excellence of Christ.
Not to go farther for an instance of this, it may be thought that the resurrection of Christ is taught in them obscurely, and only under figures; but the attentive reader will find abundantly clear testimonies. Paul proves (Act 13:34) that Christ must have risen from the dead, because God declares by the prophet Isaiah, (Isa 55:3) that, under his reign, the mercy promised to David would be sure. An unskilful person might imagine that what Paul quotes is not at all to the purpose; but they who believe the principles of fkith, and are well acquainted with the Scriptures, have no difficulty in perceiving the force of this argument; for, in order theft Christ may secure to us for ever the grace of God, Christ himself; must live for ever.
There are many passages of the same kind, which it is not, now necessary to collect. Let us therefore rest satisfied with the three following. It is written,
Thou wilt not permit thy Holy One to see corruption, (Psa 16:10.)
Peter and Paul explain this prediction as referring to Christ, (Act 2:27, and Act 13:35,) and justly; for there is not one of all the sons of Adam who is not of himself liable to corruption. Consequently, the immortality of Christ is there declared. It is likewise beyond all doubt that the following passage refers to Christ,
The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thy enemies thy footstool, (Psa 110:1.)
Now, death will not be destroyed till the last day. The kingdom is titan given to Christ till the end of the world, and this kingdom cannot exist without his life. But Isaiah speaks more clearly than all the rest when, after having foretold the death of Christ, he immediately adds, that it impossible to declare his age, (Isa 53:8.) In short we ought to believe that the doctrine of Scripture is so full and complete in every respect that whatever is defective in our faith ought justly to be attributed to ignorance of the Scriptures.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(9) For as yet they knew not the scripture.This explains in what sense it was that St. John now believed. Up to this time they knew not the meaning of the Scripture which foretold the Resurrection; but from that moment at least they recognised in the fact of the absent body of Christ the truth that He must rise again. (Comp. Notes on Joh. 2:21-22.)
That he must rise again from the dead.Comp. especially Notes on Luk. 24:26; Luk. 24:44.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
9. The scripture rise again See note on Luk 24:26.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Joh 20:9-10 . ] Had they already possessed this understanding of Scripture at that time, the inspection made in the empty grave would not have been first needed, that there might be faith in the accomplishment of the resurrection.
] , . See on Joh 2:18 , Joh 9:17 , Joh 11:51 , Joh 16:9 .
] Divine necessity. Comp. Luk 24:26 ; Luk 24:44 ; Luk 9:22 . This knowledge of Scripture (comp. 1Co 15:4 ) first arose in their minds by means of the Risen One Himself (Luk 24:27 ; Luk 24:46 ff.; Act 1:3 ), and subsequently in completeness through the outpouring of the Spirit (Act 2:24 ff.). Moreover, the personal previous declarations of Christ concerning His resurrection first became clear to them ex eventu (Joh 2:21-22 ), hence they are not indeed to be called in question, but they (comp. Joh 10:17-18 ) cannot have been so definite in their purport as in the Synoptics (see on Mat 16:21 ).
] Since they had now convinced themselves of the fact of the resurrection, they must now await further events.
] home , , Euth. Zigabenus. Comp. Luk 24:12 and Kypke thereon, also Wetstein on the present passage.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
Ver. 9. For as yet they knew not the Scripture ] Which yet was clear enough in this point, Psa 16:10 ; Psa 110:1 ; Isa 53:10-11 . The resurrection of our Saviour was not obscurely shadowed out in Adam waking out of sleep, Isaac received after a sort from the dead, Joseph drawn out of prison to be Lord of Egypt, Samson bearing away the gates of Gaza, David advanced to the kingdom, where there was but a step between him and death; Jonah preserved in the whale’s belly, &c.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Joh 20:9 . The emptied and orderly grave convinced him, ; it was not an expectation founded on scripture which prompted belief in the resurrection; but only those matter-of-fact observations, the empty grave and the folded napkin.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
as yet . . . not = not yet. Greek. oudepo, as in Joh 19:41.
the scripture. Compare Psa 16:10, Psa 16:11, &c.
must. Compare Joh 3:14; Joh 12:34, rise again. Greek. anistemi. App-178.
from the dead. Greek. ek nekron. App-139.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Joh 20:9
Joh 20:9
For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.-[Scriptures mentioned include Psa 16:10; Isa 53:10-11. John desires to emphasize the fact that his faith was founded on what he witnessed with no previous expectations founded on scripture.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
they: Mat 16:21, Mat 16:22, Mar 8:31-33, Mar 9:9, Mar 9:10, Mar 9:31, Mar 9:32, Luk 9:45, Luk 18:33, Luk 18:34, Luk 24:26, Luk 24:44-46
that: Psa 16:10, Psa 22:15, Psa 22:22-31, Isa 25:8, Isa 26:19, Isa 53:10-12, Hos 13:14, Act 2:25-32, Act 13:29-37, 1Co 15:4
Reciprocal: Mat 22:29 – not Mar 12:24 – Do Joh 2:22 – and they Joh 20:2 – They have taken
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION
They knew not the scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.
Joh 20:9
There are two plain reasons why Christ must rise again from the dead. The first was that He might overcome Satan in every part of his dominion over men. The second is that we might know for certain that Christ had done so.
Every day that we say our Creed we profess our belief that He rose again the third day from the dead. Why do we do this?
It is just this great fact that is our stay in the battle of life and in the hour of death.
I. It is our stay in the battle of life.Suppose that you are in a great temptation, that your perseverance is growing slack, that you feel you cannot keep your heart pure, that you are going back to worldly and selfish living, or uncharitable feelings towards your neighbourswhat are you to do? I answer, look to the risen Christ. The Devil thought he had gained the victory over our Lord once and for all when he compassed His death. But it was not so. It only ended in Christ overcoming him, and taking His body back out of the grave, and making it more glorious than before, and carrying it back into heaven. So the Devil may think he is overcoming you now that you feel failing, but if you will call upon Christ to help you, He will snatch you back out of the Devils grasp, and give you even more strength than before, and carry you on in goodness until you, too, are led up to heaven. Whoever you are that now art all but lying in the grave of despair, remember that Satan cannot keep you in the death of sin, but that out of this very trouble you may rise through the power of Christ to a more thorough strength in goodness than if you had never known what trial was.
II. It is our hope and comfort in the hour of death.The best and holiest of us must have a certain fearful shrinking from the unknown trials which hover round the hour of our decease. To the purest and the most faithful there is an awe about that great going forth of the soul, when it must leave everything it has ever known to go out into a world where all is new and strange and unfamiliar. And then comes the thought of Satan and his evil ones. They will be about our bed. They know it is their last chance. Let the soul escape them and it is safe for ever. Satan has tempted you all your life long. Death is his last arrow, and he hopes to overcome you now. No wonder that earnest Christians feel a dread of that last conflict. No wonder that at every burial of friend and fellow-Christian we pray our Lord to take care lest at our last hour for any pains of death we fall from Him. And what is our hope? Is it not in the power of His Resurrection? We have to diebut He died and rose again. Whatever we shall have to go through, He went through. Whatever lions are about our dying path He has encountered and has subdued. And He has come back again to tell us that He did subdue them. After all, they are but beaten enemies; and He Who subdued them eighteen hundred years ago will walk with us through the dark valley, and make them keep their distance from our departing soul if we place ourselves in His hands.
So for life and for death it is the power of His Resurrection that is our stay.
Illustration
Yea, Thou God didst make an end,
Thou such help and strength didst send,
That I nevermore can praise
As I ought Thy matchless grace;
When I sought with anxious fear,
And could see no refuge here,
Lo! I found Thy help was near.
Now as long as here I roam,
On this earth have house and home,
Shall this wondrous gleam from Thee
Shine through all my memory?
To my God I yet will cling,
All my life the praises sing
That from thankful hearts outspring.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
9
Knew not means they did not realize the meaning of the scripture that predicted the rising from the dead. The writer makes this statement as an explanation of why it took these plain evidences to convince them that Jesus was really alive. The scripture prediction referred to is in Psa 16:8-10.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Joh 20:9. For not even yet knew they the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. The connection between this and the preceding verse is readily perceived:He saw and believed,sight was needed to evoke this faith,for not even yet had they learnt that thus it was written that the Christ should suffer and rise again from the dead (Luk 24:46). It may perhaps be doubted whether self-reproach is to be found in this statement,to the extent, at least, that is commonly supposed. The words seem rather to flow from the conviction which has so strong a hold of the Evangelist, that only in the presence of actual experience do the power and meaning of the Divine Word come forth. The fact was needed in order to illustrate and explain the scripture; and then that faith which has been resting on the inward perception of the glory of Jesus receives confirmation from the discovery that the truth received was long ago made known by God as a part of His own counsel. As in all other places (unless chap. Joh 19:28 be an exception, see note there) John uses the scripture in the sense of a particular passage of Scripture (see chap. Joh 2:22), we are here led to think of Psa 16:10 as probably being before his mind. It will be remembered that this was the scripture to which Peter first made appeal as a prophecy of the Resurrection of our Lord (Act 2:27).
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
John’s faith rested on the evidence that he had seen. [Note: See Zane C. Hodges, "Form-Criticism and the Resurrection Accounts," Bibliotheca Sacra 124:496 (October-December 1967):339-48.] Later he and the other disciples would have additional reasons for believing that Jesus had risen, namely, the prophetic Scriptures that the Resurrection fulfilled (e.g., Lev 23:11; Psa 16:10-11; Psa 110:1; Psa 110:4; Isa 53:11-12; Hos 6:2; cf. Act 2:24-31; 1Co 15:3-7). John’s faith took a step forward here, but it was not yet as strong as it would be (cf. Luk 24:25-27; Luk 24:32; Luk 24:44-47).
"The empty cross and the empty tomb are God’s ’receipts’ telling us that the debt has been paid." [Note: Wiersbe, 1:387.]