Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 4:2
(Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
2. Jesus himself baptized not ] Because baptizing is the work of a minister, not of the Lord. Christ baptizes with the Holy Spirit (Joh 1:33).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Though Jesus himself baptized not – The reason why Jesus did not baptize was probably because, if He had baptized, it might have made unhappy divisions among his followers: those might have considered themselves most worthy or honored who had been baptized by Him. Compare 1Co 1:17.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 2. Jesus himself baptized not] See Clarke on Joh 3:22.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
For he himself did not personally baptize any, but left it to his disciples, himself attending to the greater work of preaching the gospel, by which men and women were made fit for the ordinance of baptism.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. Jesus baptized notJohnbeing a servant baptized with his own hand; Christ as the Master,”baptizing with the Holy Ghost,” administered the outwardsymbol only through His disciples.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Though Jesus himself baptized not,…. And therefore as Nonnus observes, it was a false report that was made to the Pharisees; at least in part, so far as concerns the act of baptizing: though it may be this is observed, not so much to show the falsehood of that report, as to correct what is said of Christ’s baptizing; lest it should be understood, as if he baptized in his own person; whereas he did not, that not so, well comporting with his greatness and majesty: wherefore “the king did not baptize in water”, as Nonnus expresses it, but left that for his disciples and servants to do; he had other and greater work to perform, as to preach the Gospel, and work miracles, heal diseases, cast out devils, c. And besides, had another sort of baptism, of a more excellent nature to administer, namely, the baptism of the Spirit and since water baptism is administered in his name, as well as in the name of the Father and of the Spirit, it does not seem that it would have been administered with that propriety by himself, in his own name; add to which, as is also observed by others, it might have occasioned contentions and disputes among the baptized, had some, been baptized by Christ, and others by his disciples; the one valuing themselves on that account, above the others. The Persic version indeed suggests, as if both Christ and his disciples baptized, rendering the words thus, “Jesus was not alone who baptized, but the disciples also baptized”: whereas the truth of the matter is, that Christ did not baptize in water at all:
but his disciples; they baptized in his name, and by his orders, such who were first made disciples by him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Although Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples ( ‘ ). Parenthetical explanation that applies also to 3:22. Imperfect tense means that it was not the habit of Jesus. This is the only N.T. instance of (and yet indeed), compound conjunction ( in Acts 14:17; Heb 4:3) with intensive particle added. This is the last mention of baptism under the direction of Jesus till the Great Commission (Mt 28:19). It is possible that Jesus stopped the baptizing because of the excitement and the issue raised about his Messianic claims till after his resurrection when he enjoined it upon his disciples as a rite of public enlistment in his service.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Though [] . Literally, and yet. The report of Jesus ‘ baptizing brought to the Baptist by his disciples is corrected.
Baptized. The imperfect tense : it was not His practice to baptize.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “(Though Jesus himself baptized not,” (kaitoi ge lesous autos ouk ebaptizen) “Although Jesus himself did not baptize,” or administer baptism, did not do the immersing of those who repented, believed in Him, and became disciples to company with Him.
2) “But his disciples,” (all’ hoi mathetat autou) “But instead his disciples did;- Jesus left it to His disciples to do the baptizing, thereby providing for its continuance, after He was gone. Thus a precedence was set as a ground for His later mandate to His church disciples to continue the ordinance as an admission rite to the church, Mat 28:16-20.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
2. Though Jesus himself baptized not. He gives the designation of Christ ’ s Baptism to that which he conferred by the hands of other, in order to inform us that Baptism ought not to be estimated by the person of the minister, but that its power depends entirely on its Author, in whose name, and by whose authority, it is conferred. Hence we derive a remarkable consolation, when we know that our baptism has no less efficacy to wash and renew us, than if it had been given by the hand of the Son of God. Nor can it be doubted that, so long as he lived in the world, he abstained from the outward administration of the sign, for the express purpose of testifying to all ages, that Baptism loses nothing of its value when it is administered by a mortal man. In short, not only does Christ baptize inwardly by his Spirit, but the very symbol which we receive from a mortal man ought to be viewed by us in the same light as if Christ himself displayed his hand from heaven, and stretched it out to us. Now if the Baptism administered by a man is Christ’s Baptism, it will not cease to be Christ’s Baptism whoever be the minister. And this is sufficient for refuting the Anabaptists, who maintain that, when the minister is a wicked man, the baptism is also vitiated, and, by means of this absurdity, disturb the Church; as Augustine has very properly employed the same argument against the Donatists.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(2) Though Jesus himself baptized not.This is a correction, not of the writers statement, but of the report carried to the Pharisees. The form of the report is quite natural. John did personally baptise, and when multitudes thronged him, it is probable that his disciples assisted. Greater numbers still (Joh. 3:26) were thronging to the baptism administered ministerially by the disciples of Jesus. (Comp. Act. 10:48; Act. 19:5; 1Co. 1:15-17.) They had been drawn to Him by His teaching and miracles in Jerusalem and the country round about, and they spoke of receiving His baptism. But the writer cannot let the report appear in his Gospel without correction. There was a reason which they did not know for the fact that Jesus did not baptise with water, for it was He which baptiseth with the Holy Spirit (Joh. 1:33). and this power His disciples had not yet received (Joh. 7:39).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. Jesus baptized not As baptism was a lower and external ministry, Jesus (as Paul subsequently) reserved himself for preaching and teaching. John does not say this to show that what the Pharisees heard was false, but to inform us that Jesus baptized by agents, according to the maxim Qui facit per alium facit per se, Whoso does by another does by himself. It was the office of Jesus to baptize with the Spirit; of his ministers to baptize with water. His was the real, theirs the symbolical baptism.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
Ver. 2. Jesus himself baptized not ] A sweet comfort, that Christ is said not to baptize those whom the disciples baptized. The sacraments administered by ministers are no less effectual than if we had received the same from Christ’s own hands.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2. ] Probably for the same reason that Paul did not baptize usually ( 1Co 1:14-16 ); viz. because His office was to preach and teach; and the disciples as yet had no office of this kind. To assume a further reason, e.g. that there might not be ground for those whom the Lord himself had baptized to boast of it, is arbitrary and unnecessary. “Johannes, minister, sua manu baptizavit; discipuli ejus, ut videtur, neminem. At Christus baptizat Spiritu Sancto.” Bengel.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Joh 4:2 . Here John inserts a clause corrective of one impression which this statement would make: . is slightly stronger than “although,” rather “although indeed”. Hoogeveen ( De Particulis , p. 322) renders “quanquam re vera”; see also Paley, Greek Particles , pp. 67 8. is the old form of , “hereby,” “truly,” “in fact”. The clause is inserted to remind us, as Bengel says, that “baptizare actio ministralis ( cf. Paul’s refusal to baptise). Johannes minister su manu baptizavit, discipuli ejus, ut videtur, neminem; at Christus baptizat spiritu sancto.” So too Nonnus, who says that the king did not baptise with water. “By leaving the baptism of water to the apostles, He rendered the rite independent of His personal presence, and so provided for the maintenance of it in His Church after His departure,” Godet.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Though = And yet.
baptized. It was not the practice of Jesus to baptize. Imperf. Tense.
not. Greek. ou. App-105. Compare Joh 3:22.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
2.] Probably for the same reason that Paul did not baptize usually (1Co 1:14-16); viz. because His office was to preach and teach;-and the disciples as yet had no office of this kind. To assume a further reason, e.g. that there might not be ground for those whom the Lord himself had baptized to boast of it, is arbitrary and unnecessary. Johannes, minister, sua manu baptizavit; discipuli ejus, ut videtur, neminem. At Christus baptizat Spiritu Sancto. Bengel.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Joh 4:2. , Jesus) So the [Vulg.] Lat. is the reading of the Greeks [B: also of the old Lat. ab: . is that of AD: and K inserts ]; , Chrysost.- , did not baptize) To baptize, a ministerial action: Act 10:48, He, Peter, commanded them to be baptized [sc. by subordinate ministers]; 1Co 1:17, Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel. John, being a minister [subordinate to Him], baptized with his own hand; his [Johns] disciples, as it seems, baptized none. But Christ baptizes with the Holy Spirit.[71]
[71] , but His disciples) It is delightful to observe in this passage, in what way the Saviour gradually led on His disciples to the discharge of ministerial duties. Their first province was that of baptizing (after the manner, as it were, of deacons), in this place: then also to announce the kingdom of the heavens (Mat 10:7, The kingdom of heaven is at hand): at length they were bound to publish abroad everywhere the full doctrine concerning Jesus Christ the Son of GOD, and His passion and resurrection.-Harm., p. 170.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Joh 4:2
Joh 4:2
(although Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples),-What the disciples did by the command of Jesus, Jesus did through them. The disciples baptized the people in obedience to Christ, and the Holy Spirit said that Jesus baptized them. Jesus was in his disciples teaching and baptizing persons during his lifetime. If those baptized by his disciples were baptized by Jesus, all acts performed by the disciples by direction of Jesus were performed by Jesus. Jesus was in his disciples working for the salvation of the world from sin. Just as God the Father was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself so was Christ in the disciples teaching and entreating the world to be reconciled to God through Christ.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Act 10:48, 1Co 1:13-17
Reciprocal: Jer 20:9 – I will Joh 3:22 – and baptized 1Co 1:17 – not to Heb 6:2 – the doctrine
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2
Things done by the dis- ciples of Jesus and under his supervision, are said to be done by Him. The original word for disciples has the nominative inflection, giving it the meaning as if it said, “Jesus himself did not baptize, but his disciples did.” The validity of baptism never did depend on the one doing the baptizing (except in the case of John the Baptist), therefore it was not necessary for Jesus personally to do this work. His first disciples had been baptized by John, who had come among the Jews to baptize them and prepare a people for the Lord. When Jesus took charge of these people prepared for him, it was proper that they should do the physical work of baptizing the new converts made under the teaching of Jesus. On the same principle, it was proper for the new disciples to assist in the work of baptizing the believers.