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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - John 1:46 - 1:46
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46. εὑρίσκει Φ. Thus the spiritual λαμπαδηφορία proceeds: the receivers of the sacred light hand it on to others, Et quasi cursores vitai lampada tradunt (Lucr. ii. 77).
Ναθαναήλ = ‘Gift of God.’ The name occurs Num 1:8; 1Ch 2:14; 1Es 1:9; 1Es 9:22. Nathanael is commonly identified with Bartholomew; (1) Bartholomew is only a patronymic and the bearer would be likely to have another name (comp. Barjona of Simon, Barnabas of Joses); (2) S. John never mentions Bartholomew, the Synoptists never mention Nathanael; (3) the Synoptists in their lists place Bartholomew next to Philip, as James next his probable caller John, and Peter (in Matt. and Luke) next his caller Andrew; (4) all the other disciples mentioned in this chapter become Apostles, and none are so highly commended as Nathanael; (5) all Nathanael’s companions named in Joh 21:2 were Apostles (see note there). But all these reasons do not make the identification more than probable. The framers of our Liturgy do not countenance the identification: this passage appears neither as the Gospel nor as a Lesson for S. Bartholomew’s Day.
ὃν ἔγραψεν Μ. κ.τ.λ. Luthardt contrasts this elaborate profession with the simple declaration of Andrew (Joh 1:42). The divisions of the O.T. here given are quite in harmony with Jewish phraseology. Moses wrote of Him not merely in Deu 18:15, but in all the various Messianic types and promises.
τοῦ Ἰωσὴφ τ. ἀπὸ Ν. The words are Philip’s, and express the common contemporary belief about Jesus. As His home was there, τὸν ἀπὸ Ναζαρέτ was both natural and true: and τοῦ Ἰωσὴφ was natural enough, if untrue. That the Evangelist is ignorant of the birth at Bethlehem, or of its miraculous character, in no way follows from this passage. Rather he is an honest historian, who records exactly what was said, without alterations or additions of his own. “Here we observe for the first time a peculiarity in the narrative of S. John. It seems that the author takes pleasure in recalling certain objections to the Messianic dignity of Jesus, leaving them without reply, because every one acquainted with the Gospel history made short work of them at once; comp. Joh 7:27; Joh 7:35; Joh 7:42, &c.” (Godet.)