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Robertson's Word Pictures of the NT

John 3:21

That doeth the truth

(ο ποιων την αληθειαν). See 1 John 1:6 for this striking phrase.Comes to the light

(ερχετα προς το φως). Is drawn by the light, spiritual heliotropes, not driven from it.That may be made manifest

(ινα φανερωθη). Final ινα with first aorist passive subjunctive of φανεροω.They have been wrought in God

(εν θεω εστιν ειργασμενα). Periphrastic perfect passive indicative of εργαζομα. He does not claim that they are perfect, only that they have been wrought in the sphere of and in the power of God. Hence he wants the light turned on.

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See also John 3:21 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse John 3:21. _WROUGHT IN GOD._] In his presence, and through his assistance. This is the end of our Lord's discourse to Nicodemus; and though we are not informed here of any good effects produced...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    ARE THAT DOETH TRUTH - He who does right, or he that obeys the truth. Truth here is opposed to error and to evil. The sinner acts from falsehood and error. The good man acts according to truth. The si...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    II. ETERNAL LIFE IMPARTED: What it is and What it Includes Chapter 2:23-17 The second part of this Gospel contains the blessed teachings the Son of God gave concerning eternal life, how it is impart...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    THE CONVERSATION WITH NICODEMUS. Nicodemus is an example of those to whom the Lord could not trust Himself. The story shows how He tried to bring those whom His teaching had impressed to a truer conce...

  • B. W. Johnson's Bible Commentary

    HE THAT DOETH TRUTH COMETH TO THE LIGHT. Truth is not an abstract idea; it is something that must be lived. Many. life is. false one,. lie; many. life is. true one, an illustration of the truth. He t...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. He who believes in him is not condemned, but he who does not believe already stands con...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE MAN WHO CAME BY NIGHT (John 3:1-6)...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    DOETH. Actively produces, having regard to the object and end of the action. Greek. _poieo._ Compare the two verbs, _prasso_ and _poieo,_ in. similar connexion in John 6:29. TRUTH. the truth. Greek _...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    John 3:1-21. The discourse with Nicodemus This is the first of the eleven discourses of our Lord which form the main portion, and are among the great characteristics, of this Gospel. They have been u...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    John 2:13 TO JOHN 11:57. The Work We here enter on the second portion of the first main division of the Gospel, thus subdivided: The Work (1) among _Jews_, (2) among _Samaritans_, (3) among _Galilean...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    It is much disputed whether what follows is a continuation of Christ's discourse, or the comment of the Evangelist upon it. The fact that terms characteristic of S. John's theology are put into the mo...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _doeth truth_ Or, as in 1 John 1:6, _doeth_ THE _truth_, the opposite of -doing" or -making a lie," Revelation 21:27; Revelation 22:15. It is moral rather than intellectual truth that is meant. To -do...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΠΟΙΩ͂Ν Τ. ἈΛΉΘ. To _do_ THE _truth_ (1 John 1:6) is the opposite of ‘doing’ or ‘making a lie,’ ποιεῖν ψεῦδος (Revelation 21:27; Revelation 22:15). It is moral rather than intellectual truth that is me...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    16–21. It is much disputed whether what follows is a continuation of Christ’s discourse, or S. John’s comment upon it. That expressions characteristic of S. John’s diction appear (μονογενής, πιστεύειν...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    John 3:1-21. THE DISCOURSE WITH NICODEMUS This is the first of the discourses of our Lord which form the main portion, and are among the great characteristics, of this Gospel. They have been used as a...

  • Catena Aurea Commentary

    VER 19. AND THIS IS THE CONDEMNATION, THAT LIGHT IS COME INTO THE WORLD, AND MEN LOVED DARKNESS RATHER THAN LIGHT, BECAUSE THEIR DEEDS WERE EVIL. 20. FOR EVERY ONE THAT DOES EVIL HATES THE LIGHT, NEIT...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _JESUS AFFIRMS HIS DEITY -- JOHN 3:9-21:_ Nicodemus did not yet understand that if it is true that Jesus is God in the flesh that man's obligation was to obey him. Jesus proved His Divinity by saying,...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΠΟΙΏΝ _praes. act. part. от_ ΠΟΙΈΩ (G4160) делать, практиковать. Об обороте ΠΟΙΏΝ ΤΗΝ ΆΛΉΘΕΙΑΝ в свитках Мертвого моря _см._ 1QS 1:5; 5:3; 8:2. ΦΑΝΕΡΩΘΉ _aor. conj. pass._ от ΦΑΝΕΡΌΩ (G5319) проявлят...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 1612 MEN’S HATRED OF THE LIGHT John 3:19. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    HE THAT DOETH TRUTH— _He that practiseth truth:_ that is, "is exercised in righteousness and goodness." See Ephesians 5:9. This phrase often occurs as the character of a good man: compare. Psalms 119:...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    MORE HEAVENLY MYSTERIES _Text 3:16-21_ 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God sent...

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF JOHN John 3:9-21 We begin with an Analysis of the passage which is before us:— "Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?" (John 3:9). How this revea...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. BUT HE THAT DOETH [`THE'] TRUTH, [ teen (G3588) aleetheian (G225)] - whose one object...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    1 We have found an unholy temple, an unspiritual priesthood, and now we are introduced to an ignorant teacher! Intense application to a single text book for a whole life had not taught him the element...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    To 'do the truth,' means to live the Christian life, for Christian truth is more than a belief, it is a way of life. The phrase is peculiar to St. John: cp. 1 John 1:6. 22-36. Jesus leaves Jerusalem a...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE NEW BIRTH. JOHN'S TESTIMONY TO JESUS 1-15. Conversation with Nicodemus. The ministry at Jerusalem, though disappointing, was not fruitless. Christ's miracles and teaching had made an impression, n...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    JOHN TELLS THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT JESUS GOSPEL OF JOHN _MARION ADAMS_ CHAPTER 3 JESUS TEACHES NICODEMUS 3:1-21 V1-2 A *Jewish leader called Nicodemus came to speak to Jesus. Nicodemus was a *Pharis...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    HE THAT DOETH TRUTH is opposed to “him that practiseth evil.” With fixed purpose he doeth not that which is evil or worthless, but that which, when every veil by which it is hidden from himself or oth...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 8 THE BRAZEN SERPENT. “Nicodemus answered and said unto Him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou the teacher of Israel, and understandest not these things? Ver...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    ὁ δὲ ποιῶν … “On the other hand, he who does the truth” … This is one of John's comprehensive phrases which perhaps lose by definition. “To do the truth” is at any rate to live up to what one knows; t...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    LOVE'S GREAT GIFT: RECEIVED OR REJECTED John 3:9-21 Though physically on earth, our Lord was spiritually in touch with the heavenly realities. He was living among them and bore witness to them. Notic...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Nicodemus would seem to have been one of the finest products of Judaism. He was thoroughly sincere. Moreover, he was determined to investigate for himself, and so came to Jesus by night, not because h...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    But he that (s) doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought (t) in God. (s) That is, he that leads an honest life, and is void of all cunning and decei...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    CHAPTER 8 REGENERATION THE GREAT SINE QUA NON John 3:1-21. _“There was a man of the Pharisees, whose name was Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; the same came to Him by night, and said, Master, we know...

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    ADDITIONAL NOTES BY THE AMERICAN EDITOR. XIV. The passage from John 3:16 to John 3:21 is supposed by Westcott, and by Milligan and Moulton, among the most recent writers on this Gospel, as well as by...

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    VER. 21. “ _But he that doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest because they are wrought in God._ ” Sincere love of moral good predisposes to faith; for Jesus is the g...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? (10) Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? (11) Verily, verily, I say unto thee, W...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    The opening verses (John 1:1-18) introduce the most glorious subject which God Himself ever gave in employing the pen of man; not only the most glorious in point of theme, but in the profoundest point...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    21._But he who doeth truth _This appears to be an improper and absurd statement, unless you choose to admit that some are upright and true, before they have been renewed by the Spirit of God, which do...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    But there was a man (chapter 3) and that a Pharisee who was not satisfied with this inoperative conviction. His conscience was reached. Seeing Jesus, and hearing His testimony, had produced a sense of...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    BUT HE THAT DOTH TRUTH,.... That which is true, right and good: "he whose work is just", as the Ethiopic version renders it; or, "he that does that which is right", so the Persic; that which is accord...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. Ver. 21. _But he that doeth truth_] _Tenebriones Papistae male sibi conscii, aeternum a...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _For every one that doeth evil_ That is conscious to himself that he lives in known sin, and is inclined to continue to do so; _hateth the light_ Which would detect and expose his evil practices, and...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    DOETH TRUTH; acteth according to truth. WROUGHT IN GOD; by the aid of his Spirit, and according to his will....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The contrast between light and darkness:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    BUT HE THAT DOETH TRUTH COMETH TO THE LIGHT, THAT HIS DEEDS MAY BE MADE MANIFEST, THAT THEY ARE WROUGHT IN GOD. Jesus did not come to condemn the world, and yet the bulk of the world is condemned. Thi...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    NICODEMUS, AND NEW BIRTH (vs.1-21) Among the many who believed because of the miracles, there was however one individual who was more seriously affected. Nicodemus comes to the Lord by night, evident...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-8 Nicodemus was afraid, or ashamed to be seen with Christ, therefore came in the night. When religion is out of fashion, there are many Nicodemites. But though he came by night, Jesus bid him welco...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    OLBGrk; TRUTH here is put for true things. He who purposeth, designeth, and acteth nothing but what is just, and holy, and good, and what is consonant to the will of God; he is not afraid to bring his...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Tertullian On the Apparel of Women Book II , moreover, provided it be true and full, loves not darkness: it joys in being seen,[134]...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    John 3:21 But G1161 does G4160 (G5723) truth G225 comes G2064 (G5736) to G4314 light G5457 that...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God'. On the other hand those who do what is right have no fear of the truth about the...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    John 3:21. BUT HE THAT DOETH THE TRUTH COMETH TO THE LIGHT, THAT HIS WORKS MAY BE MADE MANIFEST, BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN WROUGHT IN GOD. In contrast with those who commit evil is another class those wh...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    It is of much importance to keep the closing verses of chap. 2 in close connection with the opening verses of chap. 3 (see the commentary on John 3:1). Rejected by the theocracy of Israel Jesus turns...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    John 3:21 I. Let us endeavour to arrive at some distinct meaning of that remarkable expression doing truth. (1) The first thing in it is to be really in earnest. Until a man is thoroughly in earnest a...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Let us once more read together part of this blessed soul-saving chapter. I suppose that more souls have been saved through the reading of this chapter than through almost any other portion of Holy Wri...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    John 3:13. _And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that come down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven._ We are in the stairway now between heaven and earth; Christ has came dow...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    This is a very wonderful chapter, because, while it teaches the doctrine of regeneration, and the necessity of a great moral and spiritual change, it yet also reveals the doctrine of salvation by fait...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Nicodemus and the new birth. The last testimony of John the Baptist. CHARACTERS: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Nicodemus, John the Baptist, Moses, John's disciples. CONCLUSION: Since the natural...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    John 3:1. _Nicodemus, a ruler of the jews._ This rabbi is named by John as defending our Saviour in the council, and as attending the crucifixion. A gospel of the passion and the resurrection of Chris...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    BUT WHOEVER DOES WHAT IS TRUE. Those who LIVE _truth_ LOVE the _light_ are pleased to come to Jesus. God's call makes no sense, if men and women cannot respond to it (see notes on Revelation 22:17)....

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _For every one that doeth evil hateth the light … but he that doeth truth cometh to the light_ THE REPELLING AND ATTRACTIVE INFLUENCE OF LIGHT These words may have taken their form from the fact tha...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 3:19 LOVED THE DARKNESS. See John 1:5, John 1:10....

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    1-36 CHAPTER 3 _There was a man_, &c. Nicodemus means in Greek _the conqueror of the people._ Such was this man; who, overcoming the fear of the people, the Pharisees, and the priests, believed in Ch...

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    _But he that doeth... in God_, _i.e._, according to God's will and law, and by His guidance, light, and help. _The_ _truth, i.e._, practically by doing what is right and just, and pleasing to God. For...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _EXPLANATORY AND CRITICAL NOTES_ John 3:16. These verses are confidently held by many to contain the reflections of the Evangelist, and not to be a continuation of our Lord’s discourse. But (1) there...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION This is the first of the eleven discourses recorded by this evangelist, and for the most part addressed to the cultivated, hierarcical party in Jerusalem, who questioned him in an unfriend...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Have we got a message for you tonight from the Word of God! John chapter 3 and 4, oh my, how rich! How blessed! There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews (John 3:1). We k...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 15:10; 1 John 1:6; 1 John 2:27; 1 John 4:12; 1 John 4:1

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Doeth the truth [π ο ι ω ν τ η ν α λ η θ ε ι α ν]. The phrase occurs only here and in 1 John 1:6. Note the contrasted phrase, doeth evil (ver. 20). There the plural is used : doeth evil things; evil b...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    He that practiseth the truth (that is, true religion) cometh to the light — So even Nicodemus, afterward did. Are wrought in God — That is, in the light, power, and love of God....

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Old Testament