Bible Commentary

He said, I [am] the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaiah. 23. I am the voice, &c.] Or, I am a voice. The Synoptists use these words of the Baptist as fulfilling prophecy. From this verse it would seem as if they … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 1:23”

Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 22. Who art thou? ] They continue asking as to his person; he replies as to his office. In the presence of the Messiah the personality of His Forerunner is lost. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 1:22”

And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elijah? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that Prophet? And he answered, No. 21. What then? ] ‘ What then are we to think?’ or, ‘ What then art thou?’ Art thou Elias? ] The Scribes taught that Elijah would come again before the coming … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 1:21”

And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 20. confessed, and denied not ] Antithetic parallelism, as in Joh 1:3. but confessed ] Rather, and he confessed, to introduce what he confessed. I am not the Christ ] ‘I’ is emphatic, implying that some one else not far distant is … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 1:20”

And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 19. the record ] Better, the witness; see on Joh 1:7 and comp. Joh 3:11, Joh 5:31. the Jews ] This term in S. John’s Gospel commonly means the opponents of Christ, a … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 1:19”

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him.] 18. The Evangelist solemnly sums up the purpose of the Incarnation of the Logos to be a visible revelation of the invisible God. It was in this way that ‘the truth … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 1:18”

For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 17. The mention of ‘grace’ reminds the Evangelist that this was the characteristic of the Gospl and marked its superiority to the Law; for the Law could only condemn transgressors, grace forgives them. For ] Better, Because. by Moses ] … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 1:17”

And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. 16. The testimony of the Baptist to the incarnate Word is confirmed by the experience of all believers. The Evangelist is the speaker. And ] The true reading gives Because. fullness ] The Greek word, pleroma, is ‘a recognised technical term in theology, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 1:16”

John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 15. bare witness ] Better, bears witness. At the end of a long life this testimony of the Baptist abides still fresh in the heart of … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 1:15”

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 14 18. The Incarnate Word’s revelation of the Father 14. And the Word was made flesh ] Or, became flesh. This is the gulf which … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 1:14”