John Bengel Commentary - John 1:7 - 1:7

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John Bengel Commentary - John 1:7 - 1:7


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Joh 1:7. Εἰς μαρτυρίαν, for a witness) The evangelist again touches on this, Joh 1:15, and again, Joh 1:19. But with the fullest and most tender feeling he interweaves with this testimony of the Forerunner his own testimony as an apostle, by means of most noble digressions, in which he states the nature and grounds of the Baptist’s office, and partly premises, partly subjoins an explanation of his [the Baptist’s] brief sentences, and declares the full complement of his testimony [gives a clear filling up of it]: [thus forming a kind of succinct prelude to our Lord’s own speeches, which He was about to set forth in this very Gospel.-Harm., p. 153.] What Matthew, Mark, and Luke term a Gospel, this John for the most part terms a testimony or witness: the former term expresses the relation to the promise, that went before: the latter expresses the altogether certain knowledge of him, who announces it: the former is used in reference to Christ as He was manifested; the latter, with reference to the Glory of Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD, when raised from the dead: accordingly, in the Acts and Epistles of the Apostles, both are often employed. Testimony applies to a thing, known for certain by witnesses, a thing not falling under the eyes at least of the hearers, and yet all important to them: accordingly to it answers faith. There follows immediately the declaration, that he might bear witness of the Light: and the words, that he might bear witness, are handled forthwith: the words, of the Light, are handled at Joh 1:9.-ἳνα μαρτυρήσῃ, that he might bear witness) The sum of his testimony was: He, who comes after me, etc., Joh 1:15.-περί τοῦ Θωτός, concerning the Light) John comprises under the appellation of the Light, the things which he wrote, Joh 1:1-5.-ἳνα, in order that) They need Testimony, who were in darkness.-πάντες, all men) to whom He had come.[14]-ΔἸ ΑὐΤΟῦ, through him) through John, not εἰς αὐτόν, not in John, but in Christ, Joh 1:12.[15] The power of John’s testimony extended itself so as even to come under the knowledge of the Gentiles, Act 10:37 [Peter addressing the Gentiles, Cornelius and others, “That word ye know, which was published throughout all Judea, etc., after the baptism, which John preached.”] Διά, through, in a higher sense, is said of Christ, 1Pe 1:21 [Who by Him do believe in God.]

[14] May it not express the grace of God, “who will, θέλει, have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth,” 1Ti 2:4.-E.

[15] Grot. wrongly understands διʼ αὐτοῦ through Him, the Light, which would confuse the whole, by rendering it necessary to understand εἰς θεόν after πιστεύσωσι.-E.