John 3:34

34. Omit ὁ θεός (gloss) after δίδωσιν, with אBC1L against Acts 2D.

34. τὰ ῥήματα. S. John uses this word only in the plural (John 5:47; John 6:63; John 6:68; John 8:47; John 12:47; John 15:7); it means the separate utterances, as distinct from ὁ λόγος (John 6:60; John 8:43; John 8:51; John 12:48; John 15:3), which is the communication as a whole.

οὐ γὰρ ἐκ μ. Ὁ Θεός is a gloss of interpretation. Omitting it, we translate, He giveth not the Spirit by measure; or, the Spirit giveth not by measure. The former is better, and ‘He’ is probably God. ‘Unto Him’ should not be supplied, though there is a direct reference to Jesus. ‘Not by measure’ (first for emphasis) ‘giveth He the Spirit,’ least of all to Jesus, ‘for it pleased (the Father) that in Him the whole plenitude (of Divinity) should have its permanent abode’ (Colossians 1:19). Some make Christ the nominative, as giving the Spirit fully to His disciples; but this does not agree with John 3:35.