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Joh_5:35. What a manifestation he was, yet how lightly ye esteemed him!
ἦν and ἠθελ . point to a manifestation already past.
ὁ λύχνος ] not τὸ φῶς , Joh_1:8, but less; hence φῶς in the second clause is used only predicatively. The article denotes the appointed lamp which, according to O. T. promise, was to appear, and had appeared in John as the forerunner of the Messiah, whose vocation it was to inform the people of the Messianic salvation (Luk_1:76-77). The figure of the man who lights the way for the approaching bridegroom (Luthardt) is very remote. Comp. rather the similar image, though not referred to here, of the mission of Elias, Sir_48:1. The comparison with a lamp in similar references was very common (2Sa_21:17; Rev_21:23; 2Pe_1:19). Comp. also Strabo, xiv. p. 642, where Alexander the rhetorician bears the surname ὁ Λύχνος .
καιόμενος καὶ φαίνων ] is not to be interpreted of two different properties (burning zeal and light-giving); in the nature of things they go together. A lamp burns and shines; this it does of necessity, and thus it is represented. Comp. Luk_12:35; Rev_4:5.
ὑμεῖς δὲ , κ . τ . λ .] striking description of the frivolous worldliness which would gratify its own short-lived excitement and pleasure in this new and grand manifestation, instead of making use of it to obtain saving knowledge, and allowing its full solemnity to operate upon them. The Jews flocked in great crowds to the Baptist (Mat_3:5; Mat_11:7 ff.), as to the messenger of the approaching glorious kingdom of the Messiah; but instead of finding what they desired ( ἠθελήσ .), they found all the severity of the spirit of Elias calling to repentance, and how soon was the concourse over! In like manner, the Athenians hoped to find a new and passing divertissement when the Apostle Paul came among them. “Johanne utendum erat, non fruendum,” Bengel.
πρὸς ὥραν ] τοῦ εὐκολίαν αὐτῶν δεικνύντος ἐστὶ καὶ ὅτι ταχέως αὐτοῦ ἀπεπήδησαν , Chrysostom. Comp. Gal_2:5; Phm_1:15. The main feature of the perverted desire does not lie in πρὸς ὥραν , which more accurately describes the ἀγαλλ . according to its frivolity, so soon changing into satiety and disgust, but in ἀγαλλ . itself, instead of which μετάνοια should have been the object of their pursuit.
ἐν τῷ φωτὶ αὐτοῦ ] in, i.e. encompassed by his light, the radiance which shone forth from him. Comp. 1Pe_1:6; and for χαίρειν ἐν , see on Php_1:18.