Bible Commentary

They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 33. They answered him ] Or, unto Him, according to the best MSS. ‘They’ must mean ‘the Jews who had believed Him’ ( Joh 8:31): it is quite arbitrary to suppose any … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 8:33”

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 32. the truth ] Both Divine doctrine (Joh 17:17) and Christ Himself (Joh 14:6) ‘whose service is perfect freedom.’ See on Joh 18:37. shall make you free ] Free from the moral slavery of sin. Comp. the Stoics’ dictum ‘The wise man … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 8:32”

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, [then] are ye my disciples indeed; 31. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him ] Better, Jesus said, therefore, to the Jews who had believed Him. There is a change in the expression respecting their belief. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 8:31”

As he spake these words, many believed on him. 30. many believed on him ] Nothing exasperated His opponents so much as His success; and therefore in leading us on to the final catastrophe, the Evangelist carefully notes the instances in which He won, though often only for a time, adherents and believers. See on … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 8:30”

And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. 29. the Father hath not left me alone ] Here again we have an aorist, not a perfect; ‘ He left Me not alone ’ (‘the Father’ being omitted in the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 8:29”

Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am [he,] and [that] I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. 28. Then said Jesus unto them ] Better, as so often (see on Joh 8:21), … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 8:28”

They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. 27. They understood not that he spake ] Better, they perceived not that He was speaking. This statement of the Evangelist has seemed to some so unaccountable after Joh 8:18, that they have attempted to make his words mean something else. But the meaning … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 8:27”

I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. 26. Here again we have a series of simple sentences, the precise meaning of which and their connexion with one another cannot be … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 8:26”

Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even [the same] that I said unto you from the beginning. 25. Then said they ] They said therefore. Who art thou? ] It is incredible that the Jews can have failed to understand. Christ had just declared that He was from … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 8:25”

I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am [he,] ye shall die in your sins. 24. ye shall die in your sins ] Here ‘die’ is emphatic, not ‘sin’ as in Joh 8:21. Moreover the plural is here correct; it is no longer … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 8:24”