1._In the beginning was the Speech_. In this introduction he asserts the eternal Divinity of Christ, in order to inform us that he is the eternal God, who _was manifested in the flesh_, (1 Timothy 3:16.) The design is, to show it to have been necessary that the restoration of mankind should be accom... [ Continue Reading ]
2._He was in the beginning_. In order to impress more deeply on our minds what had been already said, the Evangelist condenses the two preceding clauses into a brief summary, that _the Speech _always _was_, and that _he was with God_; so that it may be understood that _the beginning _was before all... [ Continue Reading ]
3._All things were made by him_. Having affirmed that the Speech is God, and having asserted his eternal essence, he now proves his Divinity from his works. And this is the practical knowledge, to which we ought to be chiefly accustomed; for the mere name of God attributed to Christ will affect us l... [ Continue Reading ]
4._In him was life_. Hitherto he has taught us, that by _the Speech _of God _all things were created_. He now attributes to him, in the same manner, the preservation of those things which had been created, as if he had said, that in the creation of the world there was not merely displayed a sudden e... [ Continue Reading ]
5._And the light shineth in darkness_. It might be objected, that the passages of Scripture in which men are called blind are so numerous and that the blindness for which they are condemned is but too well known. For in all their reasoning faculties they miserably fail. How comes it that there are s... [ Continue Reading ]
6._There was a man_. The Evangelist now begins to discourse about the manner in which the Son of God was manifested in flesh; and that none may doubt that Christ is the eternal Son of God, he relates that Christ was announced by _John _the Baptist, as his herald. For not only did Christ exhibit hims... [ Continue Reading ]
9._The true light was_. The Evangelist did not intend to contrast _the true light _with _the false_, but to distinguish Christ from all others, that none might imagine that what is called _light _belongs to him in common with angels or men. The distinction is, that whatever is luminous in heaven and... [ Continue Reading ]
10._He was in the world_. He accuses men of ingratitude, because of their own accord, as it were, they were so blinded, that the cause of the light which they enjoyed was unknown to them. This extends to every age of the world; for before Christ was manifested in the flesh, his power was everywhere... [ Continue Reading ]
11._He came into his own_. Here is displayed the absolutely desperate wickedness and malice of men; here is displayed their execrable impiety, that when the Son of God was manifested in flesh to the Jews, whom God had separated to himself from the other nations to be His own heritage, he was not _ac... [ Continue Reading ]
12._But to as many as received him_. That none may be retarded by this stumbling-block, that the Jews despised and rejected Christ, the Evangelist exalts above heaven the godly who believe in him; for he says that by faith they obtain this glory of being reckoned _the sons of God_. The universal ter... [ Continue Reading ]
14._And the Speech was made flesh_. The Evangelist shows what was that coming of Christ which he had mentioned; namely, that having been clothed with our flesh, he showed himself openly to the world. Although the Evangelist touches briefly the unutterable mystery, that the Son of God was clothed wit... [ Continue Reading ]
15._John testifieth_. He now relates what was the preaching of John. By using the verb _testifieth _( μαρτυρεῖ) in the present tense, (27) he denotes a continued act, and certainly this doctrine must be continually in force, as if the voice of John were continually resounding in the ears of men. In... [ Continue Reading ]
16._And out of his fullness_. He begins now to preach about the office of Christ, that it contains within itself an abundance of all blessings, so that no part of salvation must be sought anywhere else. True, indeed, the fountain of life, righteousness, virtue, and wisdom, is with God, but to us it... [ Continue Reading ]
17._For the Law was given by Moses_. This is an anticipation, by which he meets an objection that was likely to arise; for so highly was _Moses _esteemed by the Jews that they could hardly receive anything that differed from him. The Evangelist therefore shows how far inferior the ministry of _Moses... [ Continue Reading ]
18._No man hath ever seen God_. Most appropriately is this added to confirm the preceding statement; for the knowledge of God is the door by which we enter into the enjoyment of all blessings; and as it is by Christ alone that God makes himself known to us, hence too it follows that we ought to seek... [ Continue Reading ]
19._And this is the testimony_. Hitherto the Evangelist has related the preaching of John about Christ; he now comes down to a more illustrious testimony, which was delivered to the ambassadors of _the Priests_, that they might convey it to Jerusalem. He says, therefore, that John openly confessed f... [ Continue Reading ]
20._And he confessed, and denied not_. That is, _he confessed _openly, and without any ambiguity or hypocrisy. The word _confess_, in the first instance, means generally, that he stated the fact as it really was. In the second instance, it is repeated in order to express the form of the confession.... [ Continue Reading ]
21._Art thou Elijah _? Why do they name _Elijah _rather than Moses? It was because they learned from the prediction of Malachi 4:2, that when the Messiah, _the Sun of Righteousness_, should arise, _Elijah _would be the morning star to announce his approach. But the question is founded on a false opi... [ Continue Reading ]
23._The voice of him who crieth_. As he would have been chargeable with rashness in undertaking the office of teaching, if he had not received a commission, he shows what was the duty which he had to perform, and proves it by a quotation from the Prophet Isaiah 60:3. Hence it follows that he does no... [ Continue Reading ]
24._Were of the Pharisees_. He says that they were _Pharisees_, who at that time held the highest rank in the Church; and he says so in order to inform us, that they were not some contemptible persons of the order of the Levites, but men clothed with authority. This is the reason why they raise a qu... [ Continue Reading ]
25._Why then dost thou baptize _? By laying down those three degrees, they appear to form a very conclusive argument_: if thou art not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor a prophet_; for it does not belong to every man to institute the practice of _baptism_. The _Messiah _was to be one who possessed all aut... [ Continue Reading ]
26._I baptize with water_. This ought to have been abundantly sufficient for the correction of their mistake, but a reproof otherwise clear is of no advantage to the deaf; for, when he sends them to Christ, and declares that Christ is present, this is a clear proof not only that he was divinely appo... [ Continue Reading ]
27._Who coming after me_. Here he says two things; first, that Christ was behind him in the order of time; but, secondly, that he was far before him in rank and dignity, because the rather preferred him to all. Soon after he will add a third statement, that Christ was preferred to all others, becaus... [ Continue Reading ]
28._These things were done in Bethabara_. The place is mentioned, not only to authenticate the narrative, but also to inform us that this answer was given amidst a numerous assembly of people; for there were many who flocked to John’s baptism, and this was his ordinary place for baptizing. It is lik... [ Continue Reading ]
29._The next day_. There can be no doubt that John had already spoken about the manifestation of the Messiah; but when Christ began to appear, he wished that his announcement of him should quickly become known, and the time was now at hand when Christ would put an end to John’s ministry, as, when th... [ Continue Reading ]
30._This is he of whom I said. _He comprehends every thing in a few words, when he declares that Christ is the person who, he said, was to be preferred to him; for hence it follows that John is nothing more than a herald sent on his account; and hence again it is evident that Christ is the Messiah.... [ Continue Reading ]
31._And I knew him not. _That his testimony may not be suspected of having been given either from friendship or favor, he anticipates such a doubt, by affirming that he had no other knowledge of Christ than what he had obtained by divine inspiration. The meaning, therefore, amounts to this, that Joh... [ Continue Reading ]
32._I saw the Spirit, descending like a dove. _This is not a literal but a figurative mode of expression; for with what eyes could he _see the Spirit _? But as the _dove _was a certain and infallible sign of the presence of _the Spirit, _it is called _the Spirit, _by a figure of speech in which one... [ Continue Reading ]
33._Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending. _Here a difficult question arises; for if John _did not know Christ_, why does he refuse to admit him to baptism? To a person whom he did not know he would not say, _I ought rather to be baptized by thee_, (Matthew 3:14.) Some reply, that he knew h... [ Continue Reading ]
34._I saw and testified. _He means that what he declares is not doubtful; because God was pleased to make him fully and thoroughly acquainted with those things of which he was to be the witness to the world; and it is worthy of notice, that he _testified _that Christ was_the Son of God, _because he... [ Continue Reading ]
36._Behold the Lamb of God! _Hence appears more clearly what I have already stated, that when John perceived that he was approaching the end of his course, he labored incessantly to resign his office to Christ. His firmness too gives greater credit to his testimony. But by insisting so earnestly, du... [ Continue Reading ]
38._Rabbi. _This name was commonly given to persons of high rank, or who possessed any kind of honor. But the Evangelist here points out another use of it which was made in his own age, which was, that they addressed by this name the teachers and expounders of the word of God. Although, therefore, t... [ Continue Reading ]
39._It was about the tenth hour; _that is, the evening was approaching, for it was not more than two hours till sunset. The day was at that time divided by them into twelve hours, which were longer in summer and shorter in winter. But from this circumstance we infer that those disciples were so eage... [ Continue Reading ]
40._Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. _The design of the Evangelist, down to the end of the chapter, is to inform us how gradually the disciples were brought to Christ. Here he relates about Peter, and afterwards he will mention Philip and Nathanael. The circumstance of _Andrew _immediately bringing hi... [ Continue Reading ]
41._We have found the Messiah. _The Evangelist has interpreted the Hebrew word _Messiah _(_Anointed_) by the Greek word _Christ, _in order to publish to the whole world what was secretly known to the Jews. It was the ordinary designation of kings, (39) as _anointing _was observed by them as a solemn... [ Continue Reading ]
42._Thou art Simon. _Christ gives a name to _Simon, _not as men commonly do, from some past event, or from what is now perceived in them, but because he was to make him Peter, (_a stone_.) First, he says_, Thou art Simon, the son of Jonah. _He repeats the name of his father in an abridged form; whic... [ Continue Reading ]
43._Follow me. _When _Philip _was inflamed by this single word to follow Christ, we infer from it how great is the efficacy of the word of God; but it does not appear indiscriminately in all, for God addresses many without any advantage, just as if he struck their ears with a sound which vanished in... [ Continue Reading ]
44._Was of Bethsaida. _The name of the city appears to have been mentioned on purpose, that the goodness of God to the three Apostles may be more illustriously displayed. We know how severely, on other occasions, Christ threatens and curses that city, (Matthew 11:21; Luke 10:13.) Accordingly, when G... [ Continue Reading ]
45._Philip findeth Nathanael. _Though proud men despise these feeble beginnings of the Church, yet we ought to perceive in them a brighter display of the divine glory, than if the condition of the Kingdom of Christ had been in every respect, from the outset, splendid and magnificent; for we know to... [ Continue Reading ]
46._Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? _At first, _Nathanael _refuses, the place of Christ’s nativity (as described by _Philip_) having given him offense. But, first of all, he is deceived by the inconsiderate discourse of _Philip; _for what _Philip _foolishly believed _Nathanael _receives as... [ Continue Reading ]
47._Behold, one truly an Israelite. _It is not on Nathanael’s own account that Christ bestows on him this commendation, but under his person he holds out a general doctrine. For, since many who boast of being believers are very far from being actually believers, it is of great importance that some m... [ Continue Reading ]
48._Whence knowest thou? _Though Christ did not intend to flatter him, yet he wished to be heard by him, in order to draw forth a new question, by the reply to which he would prove himself to be the Son of God. Nor is it without a good reason that Nathanael asks _whence Christ knew him_; for to meet... [ Continue Reading ]
49._Thou art the Son of God. _That he acknowledges him to be _the Son of God _from his divine power is not wonderful; but on what ground does he call him_King of Israel _? for the two things do not appear to be necessarily connected. But Nathanael takes a loftier view. He had already heard that he i... [ Continue Reading ]
50._Jesus answered_. He does not reprove Nathanael as if he had been too easy of belief, but rather approving of his faith, promises to him and to others that he will confirm it by stronger arguments. Besides, it was peculiar to one man that _he was seen under a fig-tree _by Christ, when absent and... [ Continue Reading ]
51._You shall see heaven opened. _They are greatly mistaken, in my opinion, who anxiously inquire into the place where, and the time when, Nathanael and others _saw heaven opened_; for he rather points out something perpetual which was always to exist in his kingdom. I acknowledge indeed, that the d... [ Continue Reading ]