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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - John 5:39 - 5:39
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Ye search (eraunāte). Proper spelling as the papyri show rather than ereunāte, the old form (from ereuna, search) as in Joh 7:52. The form here can be either present active indicative second person plural or the present active imperative second person plural. Only the context can decide. Either makes sense here, but the reason given “because ye think” (hoti humeis dokeite, clearly indicative), supports the indicative rather than the imperative. Besides, Jesus is arguing on the basis of their use of “the Scriptures” (tas graphas). The plural with the article refers to the well-known collection in the Old Testament (Mat 21:42; Luk 24:27). Elsewhere in John the singular refers to a particular passage (Joh 2:22; Joh 7:38; Joh 10:35).
In them ye have eternal life (en autais zōēn aiōnion echein). Indirect assertion after dokeite without “ye” expressed either as nominative (humeis) or accusative (humas). Bernard holds that in John dokeō always indicates a mistaken opinion (Joh 5:45; Joh 11:13, Joh 11:31; Joh 13:29; Joh 16:20; Joh 20:15). Certainly the rabbis did make a mechanical use of the letter of Scripture as a means of salvation.
These are they (ekeinai eisin hai). The true value of the Scriptures is in their witness to Christ (of me, peri emou). Luke (Luk 24:27, Luk 24:45) gives this same claim of Jesus, and yet some critics fail to find the Messiah in the Old Testament. But Jesus did.