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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - John 1:34 - 1:34
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34. ἑώρακα. I have seen, in joyous contrast to ‘I knew Him not,’ Joh 1:31; Joh 1:33. See on Joh 1:18. The perfects indicate that the results of the seeing and of the testimony remain: comp. Joh 1:51, Joh 3:21; Joh 3:26; Joh 3:29.
μεμαρτύρηκα. have borne witness. Our translators have obscured S. John’s frequent use of μαρτυρεῖν, as of μένειν, by capriciously varying the rendering. This is all the more regrettable, because these words serve to connect together the Gospel, the First Epistle, and the Apocalypse. Μαρτυρεῖν is translated ‘bear witness,’ Joh 1:7; Joh 1:18; Joh 1:15, Joh 3:26; Joh 3:28, Joh 5:31-33; Joh 5:36-37, Joh 8:18, Joh 10:25, Joh 15:27, Joh 18:23; 1Jn 1:2; 1Jn 5:6; ‘bear record,’ Joh 1:32; Joh 1:34, Joh 8:13-14, Joh 12:17, Joh 19:35; 1Jn 5:7; Rev 1:2; ‘give record,’ 1Jn 5:10; ‘testify,’ Joh 2:25, Joh 3:11; Joh 3:32, Joh 4:39; Joh 4:44, Joh 5:39, Joh 7:7, Joh 13:21, Joh 15:26, Joh 21:24; 1Jn 4:14; 1Jn 5:9; Rev 22:16; Rev 22:18; Rev 22:20 : in Joh 15:26-27 the translation is changed in the same sentence. Μαρτυρία is rendered ‘witness,’ Joh 1:7, Joh 3:11, Joh 5:31-33; Joh 5:36; 1Jn 5:9-10; Rev 20:4; ‘record,’ Joh 1:19, Joh 8:13-14, Joh 19:35, Joh 21:24; 1Jn 5:10-11; ‘testimony,’ Joh 3:32-33, Joh 5:34, Joh 8:17; Rev 1:2; Rev 1:9; Rev 6:9; Rev 11:7; Rev 12:11; Rev 12:17; Rev 19:10 : in 1Jn 5:10 we have two different renderings in the same verse. Neither μαρτύριον nor μάρτυς, found in all three Synoptists, occurs in this Gospel.
ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ. The incarnate Λόγος, the Messiah (Joh 1:18). These words of the Baptist confirm the account of the voice from heaven (Mat 3:17). The whole passage (Joh 1:32-34) shews that S. John does not, as Philo does, identify the Logos with the Spirit.