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Joh_7:18. Here is the characteristic proof and token, given almost in syllogistic form, that He spoke not of Himself.
τὴν δόξ . τ . ἰδ . ζητ .] that is, among others. Comp. Joh_5:41.
ὁ δὲ ζητῶν , κ . τ . λ .] minor premiss and ( οὗτος , κ . τ . λ .) conclusion, in which, instead of the negative, “He speaks not of Himself,” we have the positive, “the same is true,” etc. But this positive conclusion is logically correct, both in itself, because ἀφʼ ἑαυτοῦ λαλεῖν is throughout the context regarded as something untrue and immoral (Grotius: “sua cogitata proferens, cum Dei mandatum prae se ferat”), and with reference to the hierarchy, and some of the people, who took Jesus to be a deceiver. Observe further, that ὁ δὲ ζητῶν , κ . τ . λ ., is in the form of a general proposition, corresponding with the opposite proposition, ὁ ἀφʼ ἑαυτοῦ λαλῶν , κ . τ . λ .; but it is derived exclusively from the relation of Jesus, and is descriptive therefore of no other than He.
ἀδικία ] improbitas, immorality of nature, a stronger antithesis to ἀληθής than ψεῦδος , for which τινὲς in Euthymius Zigabenus, Grotius, Bengel, B. Crusius, Maier, and many take it,—a view which cannot be justified by the inexact LXX. translation of Job_36:4 (Psa_52:4; Theod. Mic_6:12). Ἀδικία is the inner ( ἐν αὐτῷ ) moral basis of the ψεῦδος . For the contrast between ἀλήθεια and ἀδικία , see Rom_1:18; Rom_2:8; 1Co_13:6; 2Th_2:12; see also on Joh_8:46. An allusion to the charge of breaking the Sabbath (Godet) is not indicated, and anticipates what follows, Joh_7:21.