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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Joh_5:31-47
31If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not true. 32There is another who testifies of Me, and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true. 33You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. 34But the testimony which I receive is not from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35He was the lamp that was burning and was shining and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish-the very works that I do-testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me. 37And the Father who sent Me, He has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form. 38You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent. 39You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; 40and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. 41I do not receive glory from men; 42but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. 43I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God? 45Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. 46For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. 47But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?
Joh_5:31 In the Old Testament there was a need for two witnesses to confirm a matter (cf. Num_35:30; Deu_19:15). In this context Jesus gives five witnesses to Himself.
1. the Father (Joh_5:32; Joh_5:37)
2. John the Baptist (Joh_5:33, cf. Joh_1:19-51)
3. Jesus' own works (cf. Joh_5:36)
4. Scripture (cf. Joh_5:39)
5. Moses (cf. Joh_5:46) which reflects Deu_18:15-22
See Special Topic at Joh_1:8.
▣ "If" This is a third class conditional sentence which speaks of potential action.
▣ "My testimony is not true" This seems to contradict Joh_8:14. Context shows that these statements are made in different settings. Here Jesus shows how many other witnesses there are, but in Joh_8:14 He asserts that only His is necessary!
For "true" see Special Topic: Truth in John at Joh_6:55.
Joh_5:32 "There is another who testifies of Me" This refers to God the Father (cf. 1Jn_5:9) because of the use of the term allos, which means "another of the same kind" in contradistinction to heteros, which means "one of a different kind," although this distinction was fading in Koine Greek. See hyperlink at Joh_1:8.
Joh_5:33 "You have sent to John" This refers to John the Baptist (cf. Joh_1:19).
Joh_5:34 "I say these things so that you may be saved" This is an aorist passive subjunctive. The passive voice implies the agency of God or the Spirit (cf. Joh_6:44; Joh_6:65). Remember the Gospels are evangelistic proclamations (i.e., tracts), not historical biographies. There is an evangelistic purpose in all that was recorded (cf. Joh_20:30-31).
Joh_5:35 "he was the lamp" This is another emphasis on light, here John's preparatory message(cf. Joh_1:6-8).
Joh_5:36 "the very works that I do-testify about Me" Jesus' actions were fulfillments of OT prophecies about the Messiah. The Jews of His day should have recognized these miraculous signs-healing the blind, feeding the poor, restoring the lame (cf. Isa_29:18; Isa_32:3-4; Isa_35:5-6; Isa_42:7). The power of Jesus' teachings, lifestyle righteousness, compassion, and mighty miracles (cf. Joh_2:23; Joh_10:25; Joh_10:38; Joh_14:11; Joh_15:24) bore a clear witness to who He was, where He came from, and Who sent Him.
Joh_5:37 "He has borne witness of Me" The "He" refers to the Father. In context this phrase seems to refer to OT Scripture (cf. Heb_1:1-3). This would involve all the Messianic references in the OT (cf. Joh_5:39).
▣ "You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form" Jesus was asserting that although the Jews should have known God through the Scriptures and personal experiences in worship, they did not really know Him at all (cf. Joh_8:43; Isa_1:1-15; Isa_6:9-10; Isa_29:13; Jer_5:21).
In the OT, seeing Deity was thought to bring death. The only person who spoke to YHWH face to face was Moses and even then the encounter was through the veil of the Cloud. Many have thought that Exo_33:23 contradicts Joh_1:18. However, the Hebrew terms in Exodus means "after glory," not physical form.
Joh_5:38 "His word abiding in you" These are two powerful metaphors in John's writings. God's word (logos) must be received, once received (cf. Joh_1:12) it must remain (abide, cf. Joh_8:31; Joh_15:4-7; Joh_15:10; 1Jn_2:6; 1Jn_2:10; 1Jn_2:14; 1Jn_2:17; 1Jn_2:24; 1Jn_2:27-28; 1Jn_3:6; 1Jn_3:14-15; 1Jn_3:24). Jesus is God's full revelation (cf. Joh_1:1-18; Php_2:6-11; Col_1:15-17; Heb_1:1-3). Salvation is confirmed by a continuing relationship (Hebrew sense of "know" cf. Gen_4:1; Jer_1:5) and the affirmation of gospel truths (Greek sense of "know" cf. 2Jn_1:9).
This term "abiding" is used in the sense of intimate, personal relationship with perseverance. Abiding is a condition of true salvation (cf. chapter 15) It is used in several senses in John.
1. the Son in the Father (cf. Joh_10:38; Joh_14:10-11; Joh_14:20-21; Joh_17:21)
2. the Father in the Son (cf. Joh_10:38; Joh_14:10-11; Joh_14:21; Joh_17:21; Joh_17:23)
3. believers in the Son (cf. Joh_14:20-21; Joh_15:5; Joh_17:21)
4. believers in the Son and the Father (cf. Joh_14:23)
5. believers in the word (cf. Joh_5:38; Joh_8:31; Joh_15:7; 1Jn_2:14).
See Special Topic at 1Jn_2:10.
Joh_5:39 "You search the Scriptures" This can be a present active indicative or a present active imperative. Since it is in a list of witnesses that the Jews had rejected it is probably an indicative.
Here is the tragedy of the Jewish leaders: they had the Scriptures, read them, studied them, memorized them, and yet missed the person to whom they point! Without the Spirit, even the Scriptures are ineffective! True life comes only through a personal, obedient faith relationship (i.e., Deu_4:1; Deu_8:13; Deu_30:15-20; Deu_32:46-47).
▣ "these that testify about Me" This refers to the OT Scriptures, which Jesus fulfills (i.e., Joh_1:45; Joh_2:22; Joh_5:46; Joh_12:16; Joh_12:41; Joh_19:28; Joh_20:9). Most of the early sermons of Peter (cf. Act_3:18; Act_10:43) and Paul (cf. Act_13:27; Act_17:2-3; Act_26:22-23; Act_26:27) in Acts use fulfilled prophecy as an evidence of Jesus' Messiahship. All but one passage (1Pe_3:15-16), which affirms the authority of Scripture found in the NT (cf. 1Co_2:9-13; 1Th_2:13; 2Ti_3:16; 1Pe_1:23-25; 2Pe_1:20-21), refer to the OT. Jesus clearly saw Himself as the fulfillment and goal (and proper interpreter, cf. Mat_5:17-48) of the OT.
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Joh_5:41-44 These verses seem to reflect the fact that the Jewish religious leaders enjoyed the applause from their peers. They gloried in quoting rabbis from the past, but because of spiritual blindness they missed the greatest of all teachers, who was in their midst. This is one of Jesus' strong denunciations of first-century rabbinical Judaism (also note the parable in Mat_21:33-46; Mar_12:1-12; Luk_20:9-19).
Joh_5:41
NASB, NRSV "I do not receive glory from men"
NKJV "I do not receive honor from men"
TEV "I am not looking for human praise"
NJB "Human glory means nothing to me"
The term "glory," doxa, is difficult to translate consistently (see Special Topic at Joh_1:14). It reflects the Hebrew, "glory," kabodh, which was used as a way to express God's radiant, brilliant presence (cf. Exo_16:10; Exo_24:17; Exo_40:34; Act_7:2) and to praise and honor God for His character and acts. A good verse that combines these connotations is 2Pe_1:17.
This brilliant aspect of God's very presence and character is related to
1. angels (cf. Luk_2:9; 2Pe_2:10)
2. supremacy to Jesus (cf. Joh_1:14; Joh_8:54; Joh_12:28; Joh_13:31; Joh_17:1-5; Joh_17:22; Joh_17:24; 1Co_2:8; Php_4:21)
3. derivatively to believers (cf. Rom_8:18; Rom_8:21; 1Co_2:7; 1Co_15:43; 2Co_4:17; Col_3:4; 1Th_2:12; 2Th_2:14; Heb_2:10; 1Pe_5:1; 1Pe_5:4)
It is also interesting to note that John refers to Jesus' crucifixion as His being glorified (cf. Joh_7:39; Joh_12:16; Joh_12:23; Joh_13:31). However, it can also be translated as "honor" or "thanksgiving" (cf. Luk_17:18; Act_12:23; Rom_4:20; 1Co_10:31; 2Co_4:15; Php_1:11; Php_2:11; Rev_11:13; Rev_14:7; Rev_16:9; Rev_19:7). This is how it is used in this context.
Joh_5:43 "you do not receive Me" Throughout the Gospel of John, the focus of believing in Jesus is not a prescribed theological creed but a personal encounter with Him (i.e., Joh_5:39-40). Belief begins with a decision to trust Him. This starts a growing personal relationship of discipleship that culminates in doctrinal maturity and Christlike living.
▣ "if another shall come in his own name" This is a third class conditional sentence.
▣ "you shall receive him" This is a play on the rabbis' study methods of comparing teachers from differing rabbinical schools from the Talmud.
Michael Magill, New Testament TransLine, has a good quote:
"The Jewish leaders will receive a human teacher or rabbi who does not claim to be sent by God. With a human teacher, they are in a reciprocal relationship of peers, exchanging glory on an equal basis. With a prophet sent from God, they must be in a subordinate position, hearing and obeying. This has always been at the root of why God's prophets were rejected" (p. 318).
Joh_5:44 See note at Joh_17:3.
Joh_5:45-47 Jesus is asserting that the writings of Moses revealed Him. This is probably a reference to Deu_18:15-22. In Joh_5:45 Scripture is personified as an accuser. It was meant to be a guide (cf. Luk_16:31). The guide rejected, becomes an adversary (cf. Gal_3:8-14; Gal_3:23-29).
Joh_5:46-47 "if. . .if" Joh_5:46 is a second class conditional sentence called "contrary to fact," which asserts that Jewish leaders did not truly believe even in Moses' writings and that Jesus (the eschatological Moses [i.e., the Prophet of Deu_18:15-19]) would be their judge on the last day. The "if" of Joh_5:47 introduces a first class conditional sentence which is assumed to be true (NIV has "since").
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