Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJohn Bengel Commentary - Matthew 16:16 - 16:16
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Mat 16:16. Ἀποκριθεὶς, answering) Peter everywhere, from the warmth of his disposition, took the lead among the apostles in speaking.-Σίμων Πέτρος, Simon Peter) On this solemn occasion his name and surname are joined. It is clear that Simon acknowledged, the Son of God more quickly and fully, and outshone his fellow-disciples.-Σὺ εἶ, Thou art) He says firmly, Thou art, not I say that Thou art. It behoved that Peter should first believe this, and then hear it on the Mount of Transfiguration; see ch. Mat 17:5. Peter had already uttered a similar confession; see Joh 6:69; but this is mentioned with greater distinction, since he delivered it after so many temptations,[736] on being so solemnly interrogated.-Ὁ ΧΡΙΣΤῸς, Ὁ ΥἹῸς ΤΟῦ ΘΕΟῦ ΤΟῦ ΖῶΝΤΟς, the Christ, the Son of the living God) These two appellations, therefore, are not exactly synonymous, as John Locke[737] pretended, though the one is implied in the other (see Act 9:20); and there is a gradation here; for the knowledge of Jesus as the Son of God is sublimer than that of Him as the Christ.
[736] Joh 7:10.-E. B.
[737] The Author of the Essay concerning “The human understanding;” born at Wrington in 1632, died in 1704.-(I. B.)