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Joh_12:35-36. Jesus does not enter upon the question raised, but directs the questioners to that one point which concerns them, with the intensity and seriousness of one who is on the point of taking His departure. To follow this one direction must indeed of itself free them from all those doubts and questions.
ἐν ὑμῖν ] among you.
περιπ . ὡς τὸ φῶς ἔχετε ] On the reading ὡς , see the critical notes. Walk as you have the light, i.e. in conformity with the fact that you have among you the possessor and bearer of the divine truth (comp. on Joh_8:12); be not slothful, but spiritually active, and awake in the enjoyment of this relation, just as one does not rest and lie still when he has the bright light of day, but walks in order to attain the end in view before the darkness breaks in (see what follows). On ὡς as assigning the motive (in the measure that), comp. generally on Joh_13:34, and here especially on Gal_6:10. Ellendt aptly says, Lex. Soph. II. p. 1008: “nec tamen causam per se spectatam, sed quam qnis, qualis sit, indicat.” The signification quamdiu (Baeumlein) is not borne by ὡς , not even in Soph. Aj. 1117 (see, Schneidewin in loc.), Phil. 635. 1330.
ἵνα μὴ σκοτία , κ . τ . λ .] in order that—which would smite you as a penal destiny in retribution of your μὴ περιπατεῖν —darkness (the element opposed to the divine truth of salvation, which still at present shines upon you) may not seize you, like a hostile power. Comp. Joh_1:21 : ἐσκοτίσθη ἡ ἀσύνετος αὐτῶν καρδία . On καταλάβῃ , comp. 1Th_5:4; also in the classics very frequently of danger, misfortune, and the like, which befall any one. Arrian, Alex. i. 5. 17 : εἰ νὺξ καταλήψεται αὐτούς .
καὶ ὁ περιπ ., κ . τ . λ .] and how dangerous would this condition be! This is brought home in a sentence from ordinary life; comp. Joh_11:9, Joh_9:4.
ποῦ ὑπάγει ] whither he is departing, Joh_3:8. Thus the ἐσκοτισμένος goes away, without knowing the unhappy end, into everlasting destruction; comp. 1Jn_2:11. For the opposite of this ποῦ ὑπάγει , see Joh_8:14; Joh_8:21, Joh_16:5, et al.
ὡς τ . φῶς ἔχετε ] Repeated and placed first with great emphasis.
πιστεύετε εἰς τ . φῶς , ἵνα , κ . τ . λ .] More minute designation of that which was previously intended by the figurative περιπατεῖτε .
υἱοὶ τοῦ φῶτ .] Enlightened persons. See on Luk_16:8; Eph_5:8.
γένησθε ] not be, but become. Faith is the condition and the beginning of it; comp. Joh_1:12.
ἐκρύβη ἀπʼ αὐτῶν ] The situation in Joh_8:59 is different. He now, according to the account of John, withdraws from them into concealment, probably to Bethany, in order to spend these last days of life, before the arrival of His hour, in the quiet confidential circle, not as a prelude, “summi judicii occultationis Domini” (Lampe, Luthardt), which is not indicated, and is all the more without support, that the last discourse was not condemnatory, but only hortatory.