John 18:36

My kingdom There is a strong emphasis on -My" throughout the verse; -the kingdom that is Mine, the servants that are Mine;" i.e. those that are truly such (see on John 14:27). The word for -servants" here is the same as is rendered -officers" in John 18:3; John 18:12; John 18:18; John 18:33, John 7:32; John 7:45-46 (comp. Matthew 5:25), and no doubt contains an allusion to the officials of the Jewish hierarchy. In Luke 1:2, the only other place in the Gospels where the word is used of Christians, it is rendered -ministers," as also in 1 Corinthians 4:1, the only place where the word occurs in the Epistles. Comp. Acts 13:5.

is not of this world Has not its origin or root there so as to draw its power from thence. Comp. John 8:23; John 20:19; John 17:14; John 17:16.

if my kingdom In the original the order is impressively reversed; if of this world were My kingdom. For the construction comp. John 5:46.

fight Better, be striving (comp. Luke 13:24; 1 Corinthians 9:25). For the construction comp. John 5:46; John 8:19; John 8:42; John 9:41; John 15:19.

but now The meaning of -now" is clear from the context and also from John 8:40; John 9:41; John 15:22; John 15:24, -as it is," -as the case really stands." It does not mean -My kingdom is not of this world now, but shall be so hereafter;" as if Christ were promising a millenium.