Bible Commentaries
E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes
John 5
After, &c. A phrase common in John. See John 21:1. Ten times in the Revelation.
After. Greek. meta. App-104.
this = these things,
a feast. Perhaps Purim, but uncertain.
the Jews. See note on John 2:13.
Jesus. See App-98.
to. Greek. eis. App-104.
at = in. Greek.
en. App-104.
by = upon, or at. Greek. epi. App-104.
market, or gate. Compare Nehemiah 3:1, Nehemiah 3:32; Nehemiah 12:39, and App-68. John 15:40.
which is called. Greek. epilegomai. Only here and Acts
Bethesda. Aramaic. App-93. Compare Siloam in the sixth sign, App-176.
porches = arches, i, e. a colonnade, or cloister. Greek. stoa. Occurs only here, John 10:23. Acts 3:11; Acts 5:12. The Eng. "porch" is from the French porche, Latin. porticum = a gallery or door. All from Latin. portare = to carry-the wall being carried over by an arch.
In. Greek. en. App-104.
halt = lame. Eng. from Anglo-Saxon healt = stop, be-cause of having to stop frequently from lameness.
waiting. From this word to the end of John 5:4 is omitted by T Tr. A WH R, but not the Syriac (see App-94. note 3). If it be an addition it must have been a marginal note to explain the "troubling "of John 5:7, which gradually got into the text.
For an angel. The water was intermittent from the upper springs of the waters of Gihon (see App-68, and 2 Chronicles 32:33, Revised Version) The common belief of the man expressed in John 5:7 is hereby described. All will be clear, if we insert a parenthesis, thus: "For [it was said that] an angel", &c.
at a certain season = from time to time. Greek. kata (App-104. kairon.
into. Greek. en. App-104.
troubled. Greek. tarasso. Compare John 11:33; John 12:27; John 13:21; John 14:1, John 14:27.
whole = well or sound. Greek. hugies. Seven times in John. Compare John 7:23.
he had = held him fast. See note on "withholdeth", 2 Thessalonians 2:6.
And, &c. See App-176.
man. Greek anthropos. App-123.
thirty and eight years. The period of the wanderings. Compare "from birth", John 9:1.
saw = seeing. App-133. The Lord, in this and the sixth sign, takes the initiative (John 9:1).
knew = knowing. App-132. See note on John 1:10. Not the same word as in John 5:32. a long time. Compare John 9:2.
Wilt thou = Desirest thou to. Greek. thelo. App-102.
Sir. Greek. kurios. App-98. B. b. Supply the Ellipsis thus: "Sir [I am indeed willing, but] I have, "&c.
no. Greek. ou. App-105.
to = in order that (Greek. hina) he may.
time = when.
into. Greek. eis. App-104.
while = in (Greek. en) the
another. App-124.
before. Greek. pro. App-104.
Rise. App-178.
The third sign. See App-176.
bed. A rough cotton wool quilt called to-day khaf, the poor man's bed. The Greek krabbaton is a Latin word meaning a "pallet".
on. Greek. en. App-104.
the same day . . . sabbath = that day a Sabbath. Compare John 9:14 and App-176. This seems to imply that it was not the weekly sabbath, but the same as John 19:31. See App-156.
was cured = had been healed.
the sabbath day = a sabbath.
it is not lawful. A forced interpretation of Jeremiah 17:21, &c., by the Rabbis, made the carrying of anything from a public place into a private place, or vice versa, unlawful (Talmud, Sabb. 6. a).
not. Greek ou. App-105. Not the same word as in verses: John 5:23, John 5:28, John 5:45.
carry = take up, as in John 5:8.
And = But.
was healed = had been healed.
wist = knew. App-132. Anglo-Saxon wit an = to know.
conveyed Himself away = turned aside, as if to avoid a blow. Greek ekneuo. Occurs only here.
multitude = crowd.
that = the.
Afterward =
After these things. See note on John 5:1.
findeth. Compare John 9:35. See App-176.
temple = the temple courts. See note on Matthew 23:16.
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.
art made = hast become.
sin, &c. = continue no longer (Greek. meketi) in sin.
sin. Greek. hamartano. App-128. See John 9:24, John 9:25, John 9:31, John 9:34. App-176.
lest = in order that . . . not Greek.
me. App-105.
come unto thee = happen to thee, or befall thee.
therefore = on account of (Greek. dia. App-104. John 5:2) this.
did . . . persecute = began to persecute. Beginning of open hostility.
sought = were seeking. Most texts, not Syriac, omit this clause.
My Father. See note on John 2:16.
worketh. Compare John 9:4, and see App-176.
hitherto until now; referring to the O.T. Dispensation. Now Jehovah was speaking "by His Son "(Hebrews 1:2).
and I work = I also am working [now].
to kill Him. Note three attempts on the Lord's life, all connected with His claim to Deity, here; John 8:58, John 8:69; John 10:30, John 10:31.
because He not only. The 1611 edition of the Authorized Version reads "not only because He".
had broken = was breaking.
said also that God was His Father = -also called God His own Father.
God. App-98.
His = His own.
Then = Therefore.
Verily, verily. The fifth occurance. See note on John 1:51.
do. His works were like His words. See note on John 7:16.
nothing. Greek. ou ouden. A double negative.
of = from. Greek. apo. App-104.
but = if not. Greek. ean me.
seeth. Greek. blepo. App-133.
the Father. See note on John 1:14.
do = doing.
these also. Read "also "after "Son".
likewise = in like manner.
loveth. Greek phileo. One of the characteristic words of this Gospel. See page 1511, and App-135.
works. See note on John 4:34.
that = in order that. Greek. Nina.
raiseth = awaketh. Greek egeiro. App-178.
the dead = corpses. See App-139.
quickeneth = giveth life to. Occurs in John only here, twice, and John 6:63. Then universally believed by the Jews.
them. Supply the Ellipsis (complex, App-6.), thus: "quickeneth [whom He will]; so the Son also [raiseth the dead, and] quickeneth whom He will. "
the Son = the Son also.
For . . . no man = For not even . . . any
one. Greek. oude oudeis. A double negative.
judgeth. One of the characteristic words of this Gospel. See App-122 and the Characteristic Words chart for John book comments.
committed = given.
judgment. Greek. krisis. App-177.
even as. Greek kathos.
not. Greek one. App-105.
sent. Greek pempo. App-174. One of the characteristic words of this Gospel. See note on John 1:22 and the Characteristic Words chart for John book comments.
word. Greek. logos. See note on Mark 9:32.
believeth on. See App-150.
everlasting. Greek aionios. App-161.
life. See note on John 1:4.
condemnation = judgment, as in John 5:22.
is = has.
from = out of. Greek. ek. App-104.
unto. Same as "into", above.
The hour = An hour. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), App-6, for a definite and special time. now is. Because, had the nation repented, "all that the prophets had spoken" would have been fulfilled according to Acts 3:21, including the resurrection foretold in Eze 37, and Isaiah 26:19, &c.
the Son of God. App-98. This title is associated with resurrection, as in John 5:27 judgment is with the Son of man.
shall live.See note on John 4:50.
authority. Greek. exousia. See App-172.
the Son of man (see App-98). The only occurance in John without the Article (except Revelation 1:13; Revelation 14:14). Compare Daniel 7:13.
done = wrought. Greek. poieo = accomplished (referring to the object, aim or end of the act), and generally associated with good.
good = good things (Plural)
the = a. resurrection. Greek. anastasis. App-178.
done (Greek. prasso. Compare John 3:20, John 3:21) = practised (referring to the means by which the object is obtained) and is associated with evil, as are four out of six occurrences of the noun praxis (= deed), Matthew 16:27. Luke 23:51. Acts 19:18. Romans 8:13; Romans 12:4. Colossians 3:9.
evil = evil things (plural) Same word as in John 3:20.
damnation = judgment. Greek. krisis, as in John 5:22.
If. Assuming the condition, where experience will decide. App-118.
I. Emphatic = I alone.
bear witness. See note on John 1:7.
of = concerning. Greek. peri. App-104. The emphasis being on "Myself". Greek. emautou.
witness. See note on John 1:7.
true. App-175. Referring to Deuteronomy 19:15. Compare John 8:14. See p. 1511.
sent = have sent. Greek. apostello. App-174. unto. Greek. pros. App-104.
he bare = he hath borne.
truth. See note on John 1:14.
a . . . light = the . . . lamp. Greek. luchnos. App-130. A common Rabbinic idiom for a famous man. In contrast with Christ (John 8:12).
for. Greek. pros. App-104.
season. Greek. hour, put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6, for a brief period. Compare John 12:23.
light. Greek. phos. App-130.
hath sent = sent (at a definite time).
hath borne. And still bears.
neither . . . nor. Greek. oute . . . oute.
seen. Greek. horao. App-133.
shape = form. Greek. eidos. Compare Luke 3:22; Luke 9:39.
Search. Greek. ereunao = to search as a lion or hound tracks by the scent. Not the same word as in Acts 17:11. Here the Verb may be the imperative or indicative mood; but the indicative never commences a sentence without the pronoun or some other word, while the imperative is so used. See John 7:52; John 14:11 (Believe); John 15:20 (Remember).
the scriptures = the (sacred) writings.
eternal. App-151. as in John 5:24.
testify. See note on John 1:7.
honour. Greek. doxa = approval, here, as in John 5:44; or "praise", as in John 9:21; John 12:43. 1 Peter 4:11. See p. 1511.
love of God = love toward God. Genitive of Relation. App-17. Occurs in the Gospels elsewhere only in Luke 11:42.
you = yourselves, as in John 6:53. Mark 4:17. 1 John 5:10.
believe. App-150.
one of another = from (Greek. para. App-104) one another.
the. Note the Art. here, and not in the preceding clause.
God only = the only God (App-98.) Compare 1 Timothy 1:17.
Moses. See note on John 1:17.
in = on. Greek. eis. App-104.
ye trust = ye have set your hope.
if. App-118.
writings. Greek. Plural of gramma = letters, used of written characters, or of a document. For the former, see Luke 23:38. 2 Corinthians 3:7; or the letter of Scripture contrasted with its spirit (Romans 2:27, Romans 2:29; Romans 7:6. 2 Corinthians 3:6). For the latter see Luke 16:6, Luke 16:7 (where it is a debtor's account), and Acts 28:21 (where it is an ordinary letter). in John 7:15 and Acts 26:24, it is used for learning (compare Isaiah 29:11, Isaiah 29:12. Acts 4:13). In 2 Timothy 3:15 it is used for the sacred writings as a whole. Hence the Scribes were called grammateis.
words. Greek. rhema (plural) See note on Mark 9:32.
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