John Bengel Commentary - John 14:1 - 14:1

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John Bengel Commentary - John 14:1 - 14:1


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Joh 14:1. Μή) In some copies there is prefixed this clause, καὶ εἶπε τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ· and this the distinguished D. Hauber supports, especially in den harmonischen Anmerkungen, p. 206. Erasmus was the first to edit the passage so; and Luther, following either Erasmus, or the Vulgate, which contains a similar interpolation, translates it so. The whole voice of antiquity refutes this addition, as I had shown in my Apparatus, p. 595 [Ed. ii. 263]. The principle of an adequate reason, which D. Hauber uses as if favouring its insertion, I will use on the other side, so as to say with Erasmus himself, Lucas Brugensis, and Mill, that one or two transcribers, at the commencement of a Pericopa, or portion appointed for Church reading, prefixed this formula, as they most frequently have done.[343]-μὴ ταρασσέσθω, let not-be troubled) on account of My departure: ch. Joh 13:33, “Yet a little while I am with you: ye shall seek Me,” etc.; Joh 16:6, “Because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.” He takes away from the disciples their trouble of heart before that He alludes to the causes of that trouble. The Lord knew what these were in the case of the disciples, ch. Joh 13:33, and unfolds them in detail more openly in the following parts of His discourse. This [comforting of the disciples] is repeated, and with additional emphasis, at Joh 14:27. [And it is not merely in ch. 13., but further also in ch. 14., a reply is given to the question proposed by Peter, ch. Joh 13:36, “Lord, whither goest Thou?”-V. g.]-πιστεύετε-πιστεύετε, believe ye-believe ye) The Imperative, just as in the parallel expression, μὴ ταράσσεσθω, let not-be troubled. The sum and substance of this sermon is this, Believe ye: and this exhortation, Believe, at Joh 14:11, and subsequently, is urged until [His exhortation becoming effectual] it is made into the Indicative, ch. Joh 16:31; Joh 16:30, “Do ye now believe? By this we believe that Thou camest forth from God:” and when this was effected, the Saviour prays and departs. [Hence is evident the very close connection which there is of the chapters 14., 15., 16., between one another.-Harm., p. 506.] It might be thus punctuated, πιστεύετε· εἰς τὸν Θεὸν καὶ εἰς ἐμὲ πιστεύετε· whereby the verb would first be placed by itself, equivalent to a summary of what follows, as in ch. Joh 16:31; then next the same would be repeated with an explanation; with which comp. ch. Joh 13:34, note [That ye love, first put simply, then repeated with Epitasis, or explanatory augmentation]. But the received punctuation seems to me preferable, and moreover to be understood so as that the accent in pronunciation should in the former clause fall chiefly on the words believe ye; in the second clause, on in Me: so that the ancient faith in God, may be as it were seasoned [dyed] with a new colour, by their believing in Jesus Christ.-εἰς ἐμέ, in Me) who am come from God; ch. Joh 16:27, “The Father Himself loveth you, because ye-have believed that I came out from God.”

[343] Dabcd and some copies of the Vulg. support the words. But the mass of authorities is against them.-E. and T.