Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJohn Bengel Commentary - John 6:37 - 6:37
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Joh 6:37. Πᾶν) all. A most weighty word, and, in comparing with it those things which follow, most worthy of consideration; for, in the discourses of Jesus Christ, what the Father hath given to the Son Himself, that is termed, both in the singular number and neuter gender, all [omne]: those who come to the Son Himself, are described in the masculine gender, or even the plural number, every one [omnis], or they [illi]. The Father hath given, as it were, the whole mass, in order that all whom He hath given, may be a unity [unum]: that whole the Son evolves individually [one by one], in the carrying out of the Divine plan. Hence that expression, ch. Joh 17:2, that ALL which [πᾶν ὅ, omne quod] THOU HAST GIVEN Him, HE SHOULD GIVE THEM [αὐτοῖς, eis] eternal life. In the Greek style of the New Testament, especially of John, wheresoever fastidious minds would say the construction was a solecism, an elegance truly divine, which to the Hebrews never seemed harsh, is usually found to lie beneath. That remark especially holds good of this passage. It is owing to it that this 37th verse has two members, which are presently handled, the same words being repeated; and indeed the former of the two, at Joh 6:38-39, where the all [πᾶν ὃ δέδωκε, omne, etc.] is mentioned in conjunction with the Father; the second member, at Joh 6:40, “This is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life;” where the every one [πᾶς, omnis] is mentioned in conjunction with the Son. The former, by means of the ὅτι, for [Joh 6:38], and the latter, by means of the γάρ, for [Joh 6:40 : δέ is the common reading; but γάρ, [128][129][130][131][132][133][134] Vulg.], are connected with Joh 6:37.-δίδωσι μοί, giveth Me) by means of that drawing, Joh 6:44, “No man can come unto Me, except the Father, which hath sent Me, draw him.” The present tense. Afterwards the past, Joh 6:39, “This is the Father’s will,-that of all which He hath given Me, I should lose nothing,” with reference to their preservation. The Father giveth to the Son: the Son chooseth, i.e. gives as it were to Himself; Joh 6:70, “Have I not chosen you twelve?” Believers are given; it is given to believers; Joh 6:32; Joh 6:65, “My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.-No man can come unto Me, except it were given unto him of My Father.”-πρὸς ἐμέ) The emphasis rests on this; in other places it is usually written πρός με.-ἥξει) shall come. It is only that all [which the Father giveth Me] which shall come unto Me. Jesus speaks those things, which [such-as] if the Jews would receive, they would be believers in reality: and, after their unbelief has been brought home to them, He now offers them faith: and what He had before spoken under a figure, He now declares plainly.-οὐ μὴ ἐκβάλω ἔξω, I will not cast out) This signifies not merely the first reception, but the lasting preservation, through all changes and progressive steps in their course, even up to the resurrection-that goal, which takes for granted all things anterior to it; Joh 6:39-40, “This is the Father’s will, that-I should lose nothing, but raise it up again at the last day;-that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life; and I will raise Him up, etc.;” Joh 6:44; Joh 6:54. There is a Litotes [the meaning is stronger than the literal words]: I will not cast him out, but by all means will preserve him; ch. Joh 10:28, etc., “They shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and none is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand:” a passage which closely corresponds to the passage here. Comp. ἔξω, out, ch. Joh 15:6, “Cast forth as a branch, and is withered;” ἐβλήθη ἔξω.
[128] the Alexandrine MS.: in Brit. Museum: fifth century: publ. by Woide, 1786-1819: O. and N. Test. defective.
[129] Cod. Basilianus (not the B. Vaticanus): Revelation: in the Vatican: edited by Tisch., who assigns it to the beginning of the eighth century.
[130] Ephræmi Rescriptus: Royal libr., Paris: fifth or sixth cent.: publ. by Tisch. 1843: O. and N. T. def.
[131] Bezæ, or Cantabrig.: Univ. libr., Cambridge: fifth cent.: publ. by Kipling, 1793: Gospels, Acts, and some Epp. def.
[132] Vercellensis of the old ‘Itala,’ or Latin Version before Jerome’s, probably made in Africa, in the second century: the Gospels.
[133] Veronensis, do.
[134] Colbertinus, do.