John Bengel Commentary - John 14:2 - 14:2

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John Bengel Commentary - John 14:2 - 14:2


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Joh 14:2. Οἰκίᾳ, house) He shows already whither He is going.-V. g.] A rare appellation of the heavenly habitation: a house of residence, into which are admitted children, and in which the Father dwells. Jesus looks beyond His sufferings to the goal. Comp. Heb 12:2, “Who, for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross;” 2Ti 4:7, [so Paul in a dungeon before his martyrdom] “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”-τοῦ Πατρός μου, of My Father) In the beginning of this sermon, Jesus often adds the pronoun to the mention of His Father; but as He gets forward in it, and at its close, after that He has taken precaution to establish His own pre-eminence above believers, and has stirred up the disciples to faith, He speaks as it were more in common, calling God, the Father, namely, Mine, and at the same time also yours.-μοναί, mansions) This refers to place, not to time [places of abode; not times of abode]; and it is said in the plural, on account of the multitude of those whom that common mansion contains.-πολλαί) many, so as to contain angels and your predecessors in the faith, and you, and very many more. By the plural number itself there appears also to be implied a variety of the mansions: for He does not say, a great mansion, but many mansions. Comp. Rev 21:16, note, “The city lieth four-square,” etc.-εἰσίν, there are) already now, and from the beginning.-εἰ δὲ μή, but if it were not so) If there were not already [many mansions].-εἷπον ἄν) I would tell, or rather, I would have told you. Concerning the pluperfect, comp. ch. Joh 4:10, note [σὺ ἂν ᾔτησας-καὶ ἔδωκεν ἄν]. “What would He have told them? This very thing, which follows, πορεύομαι, I go. Parodying [an adaptation of] the very similar passage, ch. Joh 16:26, illustrates the sentiment here: I have not said to you, that I would prepare a place for you; for already there ARE mansions, and those numerous.-πορεύομαι, I go) to the home of My Father.-ἑτοιμάσαι, to prepare) He does not altogether deny that He prepares the place, with which comp. the following verse, where He Himself affirms it: but each of the two statements mutually qualifies the other. But see, what force there may lie in the order of the words: in Joh 14:2 it is said, τόπον ὑμῖν, a place for you; in Joh 14:3, ὑμῖν τόπον, for you a place: the first word in each instance respectively containing the emphasis, as in 1Co 7:22, note [κληθεὶς-ἀπελεύθερος,-ἐλεύθερος κληθείς]. The place itself is already prepared: but for you it has yet to be prepared. The one preparation is absolute, the other relative. The beginning of the third verse, καὶ ἐάν, and if, does not depend on εἶπον, I would have told you, but stands by itself.