Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

John 14:7

εἰ ἐγνώκειτέ με, κ. τ. π. μ. ἐγνώκειτε ἄν. The better reading is ἂν ἤδειτε: If ye had learned to know Me, ye would know My Father also. The change of verb and of order are both significant. see on John 7:26; John 8:55; John 13:7. The emphasis is on ἐγνώκειτε and on πάτερα: ‘If ye had recognised Me, ye would know My Father also.’ Beware of putting an emphasis on ‘Me:’ an enclitic cannot be emphatic.

ἀπ' ἄρτι. To be understood literally, not proleptically (comp. John 13:19; Revelation 14:13). Hitherto the veil of Jewish prejudice had been on their hearts, obscuring the true meaning of Messianic prophecy and Messianic acts. But henceforth, after the plain declaration in John 14:6, they learn to know the Father in Him. Philip’s request leads to a fuller statement of John 14:6.

Φίλιππος. For the fourth and last time S. Philip appears in this Gospel (see notes on John 1:44-49; John 6:5-7; John 12:22). Thrice he is mentioned in close connexion with S. Andrew, who may have brought about his being found by Christ; twice he follows in the footsteps of S. Andrew in bringing others to Christ, and on both occasions it is specially to see Him that they are brought; ‘Come and see’ (John 1:45); ‘We would see Jesus’ (John 12:21). Like S. Thomas he has a fondness for the practical test of personal experience; he would see for himself, and have others also see for themselves. His way of stating the difficulty about the 5000 (John 6:7) is quite in harmony with this practical turn of mind. Like S. Thomas also he seems to have been somewhat slow of apprehension, and at the same time perfectly honest in expressing the cravings which he felt. No fear of exposing himself keeps either Apostle back: and the freedom with which each speaks shews how truly Christ had ‘called them friends’ (John 15:15).

δεῖξον ἡμῖν. He is struck by Christ’s last words, ‘Ye have seen the Father,’ and cannot find that they are true of himself. It is what he has been longing for in vain; it is the one thing wanting. He has heard the voice of the Father from Heaven, and it has awakened a hunger in his heart. Christ has been speaking of the Father’s home with its many abodes to which He is going; and Philip longs to see for himself. And when Christ tells him that he has seen he unreservedly opens his mind: ‘Only make that saying good, and it is enough.’ He sees nothing impossible in this. There were the theophanies, which had accompanied the giving of the Law through Moses. And a greater than Moses was here.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

John 14:7

Old Testament

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