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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - John 3:29 - 3:29
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29. John explains by a figure his subordination to the Messiah.
τὴν νύμφην. Here only in this Gospel does this well-known symbol occur. It is frequent both in O.T. and N.T. Isa 54:5; Hos 2:19-20; Eph 5:32; Rev 19:7; Rev 21:2; Rev 21:9. Comp. Mat 9:15; Mat 25:1. In O.T. it symbolizes the relationship between Jehovah and His chosen people, in N.T. that between Christ and His Church. By ‘the friend of the bridegroom’ is meant the special friend, appointed to arrange the preliminaries of the wedding, to manage and preside at the marriage-feast. Somewhat analogous to our ‘best man,’ but his duties were very much more considerable. A much closer analogy may be found among the lower orders in the Tyrol at the present day. Here the Messiah is the Bridegroom and the Church His Bride; John is His friend who has prepared the heart of the Bride and arranged the espousal. He rejoices to see the consummation of his labours.
ἑστηκὼς καὶ ἀκούων. In the attitude of a devoted attendant.
χαρᾷ χαίρει. A Hebraism: comp. Luk 22:15; Act 4:17; Act 5:28; Act 23:14; Jam 5:17; Mat 13:14; Mat 15:4 (from LXX., where the idiom is common). Winer, p. 584. It is in the marriage festivities that the Bridegroom’s voice is heard.
πεπλήρωται. Has been fulfilled and still remains complete: comp. Joh 3:18; Joh 3:21; Joh 3:26, Joh 1:34; Joh 1:51, &c. To speak of joy being fulfilled is an expression peculiar to S. John (Joh 15:11, Joh 16:24, Joh 17:13; 1Jn 1:4; 2Jn 1:12): the active occurs Php 2:2.