Repetition of John 5:24 in a more definite form, with a cheering addition: John 5:24 says that whoever hears and believes God has eternal life; John 5:25 states that already some are in this happy case.

The hour is coming Better, There cometh an hour: comp. John 4:21; John 4:23.

and now is These words also exclude the meaning of a bodilyresurrection; the hour for which had not yet arrived. The few cases in which Christ raised the dead cannot be meant; (1) the statement evidently has a much wider range; (2) the widow's son, Jairus" daughter, and Lazarus were not yet dead, so that even of them -and now is" would not be true; (3) they died again after their return from death, and -they that hear shall live" clearly refers to eternallife, as a comparison with John 5:24 shews. If a spiritualresurrection be understood, -and now is" is perfectly intelligible: Christ's ministry was already winning souls from spiritual death.

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