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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadHeinrich Meyer Commentary - John 5
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Joh_5:2. ἐπὶ τῇ προβατικῇ ] ἐν τ . πρ . is more weakly attested (though sanctioned by A. D. G. L. à .**). Only à .* Cursives, some Verss. and Fathers have simply προβατική . A change following another construction (sheep-pool). Unnecessary, and unsupported on critical grounds, is the conjecture of Gersdorf: ἡ προβατικὴ κολυμβήθρα ἡ λεγομένη Ἐβρ . Βηθ . Tisch. following à .* has τὸ λεγόμενον instead of ἠ ἐπιλεγομένη .
Joh_5:3. τολύ ] wanting in B. C. D. L. à . Cursives, and some verss. Bracketed by Lachmann, deleted by Tisch. A strengtheningaddition that might easily present itself.
The words ἐκδεχομ . τὴν τοῦ ὓδατος κίνησιν , together with the whole of Joh_5:4, are wanting in B. C.* D. à . 157, 314, Copt. Ms. Sahid. Syrcu. Those words are wanting only in A. L. 18; the fourth verse only in D. 33, Arm. Mss. Codd. It. Aug., Nonnus (who describes the stirring, but does not mention the angel), and is marked as doubtful in other witnesses by an obelus or asterisks. There is, moreover, great variation in particular words. For κατέβαινεν , A. K. Verss. have even ἐλούετο , which Grotius approves. The entire passage from ἐκδεχομ . to the end of Joh_5:4, though recognised by Tertullian (Origen is silent), is a legendary addition (so also Lücke, Olshausen, Baeumlein, and now even Brückner, reject it), though left in the text by Lachmann in conformity with his principles, but deleted by Tisch.; by de Wette not decidedly rejected; vindicated on various grounds by B. Crusius, Hahn, Theol. N. T. I. 303, Lange, Reuss, and Hengstenberg; left doubtful by Luthardt. Had the passage been genuine, its contents would have led more easily to its being retained than to its being omitted; moreover, the comparatively numerous ἅπαξ λεγόμενα in it make it suspicious, viz. κίνησιν , ταραχή , δήποτε (instead of ᾧ δήποτε Lachmann has οἱῳδηποτοῦν ), νόσημα . When it is judged (de Wette) that John would hardly have ended the sentence with ξηρῶν , and then have immediately proceeded with ἦν δέ τις , etc., this is really arbitrary, for we would miss nothing if nothing had been there; ὅταν ταραχθῇ τὸ ὕδωρ , Joh_5:7, by no means makes a preceding explanation “almost necessary,” but probably states the original form of the popular belief, out of which the legend soon developed itself and found its way into the text. This also against Hofmann, Schriftbeweis, I. 327 f., whose vindication of Joh_5:4 is approved by Hilgenfeld, Evang. p. 268. Ewald (so also Tholuck and Godet) rejects Joh_5:4, but defends the words ἐχδεχομένων … κίνησιν in Joh_5:3 for the sake of Joh_5:7; Hofmann, in loc., follows an opposite course. But the critical witnesses do not sanction such a separation.
Joh_5:5. καὶ is wanting in the Elz., and is bracketed by Lachmann, but adopted by Tisch., and this upon preponderating evidence.
ἀσθεν .] B. C.* D. L. à . Cursives, Codd. It. Vulg. Copt. Sahid. Arm. Cyr. Chrys. append αὐτοῦ , which Lachmann puts in brackets, and Tisch. receives. Rightly; between ἀσθενει A and ΤΟΥτον the superfluous ΑΥΤΟΥ might easily escape notice.
Joh_5:7. For βάλῃ Elz. has βάλλῃ , against decisive evidence.
Joh_5:8. ἔγειρε ] Elz.: ἔγειραι , against the best Codd. See the critical notes on Mar_2:2.
Joh_5:12. τὸν κράββ . σου is wanting in B. C.* L. à . Sahid. An addition from Joh_5:8; Joh_5:11. Deleted by Tisch.
Joh_5:13. ἰαθείς ] Tisch., following D. and Codd. of the It., reads ἀσθενῶν , apparently original, but inappropriate after τῷ τεθεραπευμμένῳ in Joh_5:10; to be regarded as a subject added to Joh_5:7, and besides this too weakly supported.
Joh_5:15. ἀνήγγειλε ] C. L. à . Syr. Syrcu. Copt. Cyr. read εἶπεν ; D. K U. D. Cursives, Chrys.: ἀπήγγ . The latter reading might easily arise by joining ἀνήγγ . with ἀπῆλθεν ; but this makes the testimonies against εἶπεν , which Tisch. adopts, still stronger.
Joh_5:16. After Ἰουδαῖοι , Elz., Scholz (bracketed by Lachmann), read καὶ ἐζήτουν αὐτὸν ἀποκτεῖναι , against decisive witnesses. A supplement borrowed from Joh_5:18.
Joh_5:20. Tisch.: θαυμάζετε , which is far too weakly supported by L. à .
Joh_5:25. ζήσονται ] Lachmann and Tisch.: ζήσουσιν , following B. D. L. à . Cursives, Chrys. Rightly; the more usual form crept in.
Joh_5:30. After με Elz. has πατρὸς , an addition opposed by decisive witnesses.
Joh_5:32. οἶδα ] Tisch. οἴδατε , following only D. à . Codd. It. Syrcu. Arm.
Joh_5:35. The form ἀγαλλιαθῆναι (Elz., following B.: ἀγαλλιασθῆναι ) has preponderating evidence in its favour.