John 8:31

31. Besides the ‘many’ who had full faith in Him there were some of His opponents disposed to believe His statements. Their faith, poor as it proves, is better than that of the many in John 2:23; belief that results from teaching is higher than that which results from miracles. Jesus recognises both its worth and its weakness, and applies a test, which might have raised it higher, but under which it breaks down.

πεπιστ. αὐτῷ. The change from ‘believed on Him’ to the weaker had believed Him is significant, as if S. John would prepare us for their collapse of faith. The expression οἱ πεπ. αὐτῷ Ἰουδαῖοι is remarkable; in this Gospel it almost amounts to a contradiction in terms.

ἐὰν ὑμεῖς μ. If ye abide (John 1:33) in My word, ye are truly (John 1:48) My disciples. Emphasis on ‘ye’ and ‘My;’ ‘you on your part’—‘the word that is Mine.’ ‘If ye abide in My word, so that it becomes the permanent condition of your life, then truly are ye My disciples, and not merely in appearance under a passing impulse.’ Comp. John 5:38; John 6:56; John 15:4-10. The form of expression, ὁ λόγος ὁ ἐμός, the word that is Mine (John 8:43; John 8:51), is very frequent in this Gospel: comp. ἡ χαρὰ ἡ ἐμή (John 3:29; John 15:11; John 17:13), ἡ κρίσις ἡ ἐμή (John 5:30; John 8:16), τὸ θέλημα τὸ ἐμόν (John 5:30; John 6:38), ὁ καιρὸς ὁ ἐμός (John 7:6; John 7:8), ἡ εἰρήνη ἡ ἐμή (John 14:27), αἱ ἐντολαὶ αἱ ἐμαί (John 14:15), ὁ διάκονος ὁ ἐμός (John 12:26), ἡ� (John 15:9), ἡ δόξα ἡ ἐμή (John 17:24), ἡ βασιλεία ἡ ἐμή (John 18:36).