Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - John 8:33 - 8:33

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Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - John 8:33 - 8:33


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33. ἀπεκρίθησαν πρὸς αὐ. They answered unto Him. The subject is οἱ πεπιστευκότες αὐτῷ Ἰ. (Joh 8:31): it is quite arbitrary to suppose any one else. The severe words which follow (Joh 8:44) are addressed to them, for turning back, after their momentary belief, as well as to those who had never believed at all.

σπέρμα Ἀβρ. Comp. ‘kings of peoples shall be of her’ (Sarah), and ‘thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies’ (Gen 17:16; Gen 22:17). On texts like these they build the proud belief that Jews have never yet been in bondage to any man. But passion once more blinds them to historical facts (see on Joh 7:52). The bondage in Egypt, the oppressions in the times of the Judges, the captivity in Babylon, and the Roman yoke, are all forgotten. “They have an immovable love of liberty, and maintain that God is their only ruler and master” (Josephus, Ant. XVIII. i. 6). Some, who think such forgetfulness incredible, interpret ‘we have never been lawfully in bondage.’ ‘The Truth’ would not free them from enforced slavery. It might free them from voluntary slavery, by teaching them that it was unlawful for them to be slaves. ‘But we know that already.’ This, however, is somewhat subtle, and the more literal interpretation is not incredible. The power which the human mind possesses of keeping inconvenient facts out of sight is very considerable. In either case we have another instance of gross inability to perceive the spiritual meaning of Christ’s words. Comp. Joh 3:4, Joh 4:15, Joh 6:34.