ναί, κύριε. With these words she accepts Christ’s declaration respecting Himself, and then states the creed which has enabled her to accept it. The change from πιστεύω (the natural answer) to ἐγὼ πεπίστευκα is remarkable: I, even I whom thou art questioning, have believed; i.e. have convinced myself and do believe; comp. John 6:69; 1 John 4:16; 1 John 5:10. The full meaning of her confession she cannot have known: like the Apostles she shared the current imperfect views of the character and office of the Messiah. see on John 9:38.

ὁ εἰς τ. κ. ἐρχόμενος. (Even) He that cometh into the world: comp. John 6:14; Matthew 11:3; Luke 7:19; Deuteronomy 18:15. She believes that as the Messiah He has the powers mentioned John 11:25-26. How these will affect her own case, she does not know; but with a vague hope of comfort in store for them all she returns to the house. Ἔρχεσθαι εἰς τ. κόσμον is frequent in S. John (John 1:9; John 3:19; John 6:14; John 9:39; John 12:46; John 16:28; John 18:37): as applied to Christ it includes the notion of His mission (John 3:17; John 10:36; John 12:47; John 12:49; John 17:18). Not in the Synoptists.

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Old Testament