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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - John 5:37 - 5:37
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He hath borne witness (ekeinos memarturēken). Ekeinos (that one; cf. Joh 5:35, Joh 5:38), not autos. Perfect active indicative of martureō, the direct witness of the Father, besides the indirect witness of the works. Jesus is not speaking of the voice of the Father at his baptism (Mar 1:11), the transfiguration (Mar 9:7), nor even at the time of the visit of the Greeks (Joh 12:28). This last voice was heard by many who thought it was thunder or an angel. The language of Jesus refers to the witness of the Father in the heart of the believers as is made plain in 1Jo 5:9, 1Jo 5:10. God’s witness does not come by audible “voice” (phōnēn) nor visible “form” (eidos). Cf. Joh 1:18; Joh 6:46; 1Jo 4:12. Akēkoate is perfect active indicative of akouō, to hear, and heōrakate is perfect active indicative of horaō, to see. It is a permanent state of failure to hear and see God. The experience of Jacob in Peniel (Gen 32:30) was unusual, but Jesus will say that those who have seen him have seen the Father (Joh 14:9), but here he means the Father’s “voice” and “form” as distinct from the Son.