Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

John 3:36

ἔχει ζ. αἰώνιον. See on John 3:16. Present; ‘hath,’ not ‘shall have.’ Believers already have eternal life. We often think of it as something to be won; but it has already been given. The struggle is not to gain, but to retain: John 5:24; John 6:47; John 6:54; John 17:3. Winer, p. 332.

ὁ�. He that disobeyeth, rather than ‘he that believeth not.’ Unbelief may be the result of ignorance; disobedience must be voluntary. A similar correction of A.V. seems to be needed Acts 14:2; Acts 19:9; Romans 11:30 (margin). Comp. Hebrews 4:6; Hebrews 4:11; 1 Peter 4:1.

οὐκ ὄψεται. Has not seen and has no prospect of seeing.

ἡ ὀργὴ τ. θεοῦ. This phrase occurs nowhere else in the Gospels, and its unique character is against this passage (31–36) being the comment of the Evangelist and not the Baptist’s speech. The wrath of God is the necessary complement of the love of God. If there is love for those who believe, there must be wrath for those who refuse. Comp. Matthew 3:7; Luke 3:7; Romans 1:18; Romans 9:22; Romans 12:19; 1 John 3:14.

μένει, not μενεῖ; abideth, not ‘will abide.’ He is under a ban until he believes, and he refuses; therefore his ban remains (comp. 1 John 5:12). He, like the believer, not only will have, but has his portion. It rests with him also, whether the portion continues his. He has to struggle, not to avert a sentence, but to be freed from it. Thus the last-spoken words of O.T. prophecy resemble its last-written words. We have here the last utterance of the Baptist. Its sternness recalls and enforces the last solemn warning of Malachi:—‘lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.’

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

John 3:36

Old Testament

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