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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - John 4:39 - 4:42
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Joh_4:39-42
39From that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me all the things that I have done." 40So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. 41Many more believed because of His word; 42and they were saying to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world."
Joh_4:39 "many of the Samaritans believed in Him" John uses the verb "believe" in combination with several other terms: "believe in" (en), "believe that" (hoti), and, most often, "believe into" (eis) or put trust in (cf. Joh_2:11; Joh_2:23; Joh_3:16; Joh_3:18; Joh_3:36; Joh_6:29; Joh_6:35; Joh_6:40; Joh_7:5; Joh_7:31; Joh_7:38; Joh_7:48; Joh_8:30; Joh_9:35-36; Joh_10:42; Joh_11:25-26; Joh_11:45; Joh_11:48; Joh_12:11; Joh_12:37; Joh_12:42; Joh_12:44; Joh_12:46; Joh_14:1; Joh_14:12; Joh_16:9; Joh_17:20). Originally the Samaritans believed because of the woman's testimony (Joh_4:39), but after they heard Jesus they personally received His testimony (Joh_4:41-42). Jesus came to the lost sheep of Israel, but His gospel was for all mankind: Samaritans, Syro-Phoenician women, and Roman soldiers (cf. Rom_10:12; 1Co_12:13; Gal_3:28-29; Col_3:11). See Special Topic at Joh_2:23.
▣ "because of the word of the woman who testified" If God used the witness of this heretical and immoral woman, He can also use mine and yours! This verse shows the significance of a personal testimony. See hyperlink at Joh_1:8.
Joh_4:40
NASB, NRSV "asking"
NKJV "urged"
TEV, NJB "begged"
This is a strong Greek term and should be translated "urged" or "begged." The intensity of this term can be seen in its use in Joh_4:47 (cf. Luk_4:38).
Joh_4:42 "the Savior of the world" This same universal title is used in 1Jn_4:14. It is also used in the universal sense of God's love for all mankind (cf. 1Ti_2:6; Heb_2:9; 1Jn_2:2). The promise of Gen_3:15 has been fulfilled! In the first century this phrase was often used of Caesar. Roman persecution occurred because Christians used this title exclusively for Jesus. This title also shows how the NT authors attributed God the Father's titles to the Son: Tit_1:3 - Tit_1:4; Tit_2:10 - Tit_2:13; Tit_3:4 - Tit_3:6.
The Jews had rejected Jesus (cf. Joh_1:11), but the Samaritans quickly and easily received Him (cf. Joh_1:12)!