Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

John 12:32

κἀγὼ ἐὰν ὑψωθῶ. Ἐγώ in emphatic opposition to ὁ ἄρχων τ. κ. τ. The glorified Christ, raised to heaven by means of the Cross, will rule men’s hearts in the place of the devil. We need not, as in John 3:14; John 8:28, confine ὑψωθῶ to the Crucifixion; ἐκ τῆς γῆς seems to point to the Ascension. Yet the Cross itself, apparently so repulsive, has through Christ’s death become an attraction; and this may be the meaning here. For the hypothetical ἐὰν ὑψωθῶ comp. ἐὰν πορευθῶ (John 14:3). In both Christ is concerned not with the time but the results of the act; hence not ‘when’ but ‘if.’ Comp. 1 John 2:8; 1 John 3:2.

ἑλκύσω. Not συρῶ (see on John 6:44). There is no violence; the attraction is moral and not irresistible. Man’s will is free, and he may refuse to be drawn. Previous to the ‘lifting up’ it is the Father who ‘draws’ men to the Son (John 6:44-45). And in both cases all are drawn and taught: not only the Jews represented by the Twelve, but the Gentiles represented by the Greeks. Πρὸς ἐμαυτόν, unto Myself, up from the earth. The two verses (31, 32) sum up the history of the Church; the overthrow of Satan’s rule, the establishment of Christ’s.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

John 12:32

Old Testament

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