Observations from the Greek text in John's Gospel: John 7:4

John 7:4 is an interesting verse to read in Greek.  It was made by Jesus’ disciples who didn’t yet believe in him (verse 5).  Here is a literal translation:

For no one does anything in hidden and the same seeks to be in openness/boldness.  If you are doing these things, reveal yourself to the world.

Of course, something that is hidden is a “secret”.  What the disciples want Jesus to do is for him to do his signs “openly”.  Their definition of “openly” is for Jesus to perform his signs in Jerusalem.  So, a better translation would be:

For no one does anything in secret and the same seeks to be a public figure (in openness).

The big question is: Why didn’t his disciples believe in him when they had seen him do all of these signs?  Perhaps the reason is that they wanted him to openly declare himself in Jerusalem and do signs there.  In other words, perhaps they were looking for the leaders of Jerusalem to acknowledge Jesus as well.

Observations from the Greek text in John's Gospel: John 6:60

This verse comes off the heels of Jesus proclaiming that he is the bread of life that must be eaten in order to obtain eternal life.  In fact, Jesus says that both his “flesh” and “blood” must be consumed.  Verse 60 is the response that Jesus gets from many of his disciples.  Let’s take a look at it.

6:60 Πολλοὶ οὖν ἀκούσαντες ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ εἶπαν· σκληρός ἐστιν ὁ λόγος οὗτος· τίς δύναται αὐτοῦ ἀκούειν; 

6:60 Then, after hearing this, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard saying!  Who is able to hear it?”

First and foremost, “to hear it” here means “to accept it”.  These folks were astonished at what Jesus had just said.  

But that’s not all that’s implied in this text.  John actually creates what I would call “the ultimate word play”.  The literal translation of the first statement that the disciples say is this: “Hard is this THE word!”  Why have I translated it is such a way?  It’s because the article stands in front of “word” (ὁ λόγος).  Of course, this is the expression in 1:1, but it has also appeared through out John’s Gospel with the article implying more than its normal use.  Up unto this point, it has been used in 1:1 (3 times), 1:14, 2:22, 4:37, 4:39, 4:41, 4:50, 5:54, and 5:38.  Not all of them refer to Jesus or to what Jesus says, but John’s audience would not have lost sight of the use ὁ λόγος in 1:1 and 1:14.

In verse 60, not only do these many disciples reject what Jesus says, but by doing so, they reject Jesus (ὁ λόγος) himself.  All depart except the twelve, and one of them is διάβολός (adversary/devil).

Observations from the Greek text in John's Gospel: John 6:22-59

The “Bread of Life” story is a fascinating one.  In it, we learn that Jesus is bread of life and he will resurrect the one’s who believe in him at the last day.  Here are some of my observations about that text.

There are several “I am” statements.  They start in verse 35.

ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ἄρτος τῆς ζωῆς (I am the bread of life)

In verse 41, the leaders of the Jews restate it.

ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ἄρτος ὁ καταβὰς ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ (I am the bread which came down from heaven)

In verse 48:

Ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ἄρτος τῆς ζωῆς. (I am the bread of life.)

and in verse 51:

ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ἄρτος ὁ ζῶν ὁ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καταβάς (I am the living bread which came down from heaven)

Another interesting thing about this passage is the word play that is created around “to eat”.  Up unto verse 54, Jesus uses the Greek verb ἐσθίω (to eat).  In verse 54, Jesus changes to τρώγω which also means “to eat”.  He does use ἐσθίω again in verse 58, but it is directed to the Jewish fathers who ate manna in the wilderness and died.

Interesting.

To Bear Witness -John 1:6-13

John 1:6-13
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.



     The first witness of Christ comes into view.  This is the one foretold that would announce the coming and arrival of The Lord.  He would speak in our wilderness of that light that would soon break forth onto the world.

     His own people would not receive Him, but through them God would make a people into the children of God.  This rebellious house gave birth to the Savior of the world. The children of the promise are manifest.  The will and understanding of man is confounded by the wisdom of God.

     Receiving God is defined here for us. It is believing in His name, that is believing God. It is ingesting all that God is, in eating the bread of life, and drinking the living water.  Receiving Christ is the same thing as receiving God.  It is this one that is able to leave the darkness behind and step into the light.  It is this one that receives a new name.

     We are reminded in Isaiah 49 that Israel will embrace that light and will witness to the ends of the earth. This will happen at last times when the remnant of Israel is sealed with the Holy Spirit. The sealing of the 144,000 speaks to this. Israel will at last witness to the nations and many will be saved.

     The light is for all people, but many will hide in the shadow.



Isaiah 40:3-5
A voice cries:
 “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
 make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together,
 for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Malachi 3:1
1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.

Luke 1:15-17
for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

Isaiah 49:6
he says:
“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant
to raise up the tribes of Jacob
and to bring back the preserved of Israel;
 I will make you as a light for the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

1 John 2:8-9
At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.

1 John 5:20-21
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

1 Timothy 2:3-4
This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Matthew 10:40
40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.

Romans 9:6-8
But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.

Isaiah 56:5
I will give in my house and within my walls
a monument and a name
better than sons and daughters;
 I will give them an everlasting name
that shall not be cut off.

Observations from the Greek text in John's Gospel: 6:27-29

A couple of the features of John’s Gospel is how he uses the demonstrative pronouns “this one” and “that one” through out the text.  I should say that it was not uncommon for the Greeks to do this, but it is interesting.  Let me demonstrate that in 6:27-29.

27 “Don’t work for the food which perishes, but (work for) the food which endures into eternal life, which (the food) the Son of Man will give to you.  For God the Father has placed the seal of approval on this one (Jesus).”  28 Then they said to him, “What may we do so that we may accomplish (through work) the works of God?”  29 Jesus replied, “This is the work of God, that you may believe in who that one (God) has sent.”

One final thing about this passage.  At the end of verse 27, we have God “sealing” Jesus.  Of course, Jesus is speaking of the Holy Spirit as the “seal”, but it also carries the idea that he has been given “power from heaven” (BDAG, 980).

Observations from the Greek text in John's Gospel: Jesus’ “I am” Statements 2

Here’s another of Jesus’ “I am” statements in John.  This one happens while Jesus is walking on the water in 6:20.

20 ὁ δὲ λέγει αὐτοῖς· ἐγώ εἰμι· μὴ φοβεῖσθε.

20 Now he says to them, “I am.  Don’t be afraid”.

Of course, that makes little since in English.  Therefore it would be translated as: “It is I.  Don’t be afraid.”

John’s audience would have naturally understood this.

Observations from the Greek text in John's Gospel: Jesus’ “I am” Statements

One of the things that should be brought forth is the many “I am” statements that Jesus makes in John’s Gospel.  In doing so, I’m having to back up a little bit to the “Woman at the Well” story.

In that story, Jesus tells the Samaritan woman that true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit, that is truth.  She responds in verse 25: “We know that Messiah is coming who is called “Anointed”.  Whenever he comes, he will announce all things to us”.  Jesus responds to her in verse 26: ἐγώ εἰμι, ὁ λαλῶν σοι “I AM, the one speaking to you”.  

John’s Greek audience would have immediately picked up on the saying.

In The Beginning -John 1:1-5

John 1:1-5 ESV
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.


      John starts his Gospel linking it with the beginning of creation. In these four verses, John gives us a concise description concerning the divinity of this man Jesus and explains how He is the light in and of creation.  Not only is He the light of the world, it is through Him and for Him the world is made. This light has entered this dark world and has prevailed over the darkness.  The Spirit of God hovered above the waters prior to the light being introduced, just as the Holy Spirit hovered over Mary.  The world starts to take form and order emerges under this light.  The bright and morning star rises to His place in heaven.

     The Gospel gives an account of that victory and a witness to that life that brought life into the dominion of death.  That victory will be confirmed when Christ returns, just as we are told the word of The Lord will not return void.  John speaks of his own experience, of his personal interaction with the Son of God, and his witness of the glory of The Lord.  This is the beloved disciple, the one whose head rested on the bosom of Christ.



Revelation 19:13
He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.

2 Peter 1:16-18
16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.

Galatians 4:4-7
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Observations from the Greek text in John's Gospel: 6:1-15

There are a few interesting things about the Greek text in this passage.  The story, of course, is a wonderful story of Jesus feeding the 5000 people.

In verse 2, John calls the crowd a ὄχλος πολύς.  πολύς is normally translated as “much” when found in the singular as it is here.  The NIV11 translates this as “a great crowd”.  The NET as “a large crowd”.  Both of these capture what John was trying to say, but it really is “a much crowd”.

In verse 5, we have a wonderful way of stating things.

6:5 Ἐπάρας οὖν τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ θεασάμενος ὅτι πολὺς ὄχλος ἔρχεται πρὸς αὐτὸν λέγει πρὸς Φίλιππον· πόθεν ἀγοράσωμεν ἄρτους ἵνα φάγωσιν οὗτοι;

6:5 Then, after lifting up the eyes and seeing that the much crowd is coming to him, Jesus is saying to Philip, “From where may we buy bread so that these may eat?”

Most translations would render the first line as “Then, he looked up and saw the large crowd”.  A couple of other interesting things about this is that all is actual verbs are in the present tense: “is coming” and “is saying”.  This is probably John’s way of adding a bit of vividness to the passage as it would have been read out loud.

Finally, in verse 9, we have yet another way to say “child” or “boy”.  Back in 4:43-53, John created a word play for “son” and “child”.  See blog here.  In this passage, John uses παιδάριον “child”, “boy”, or “girl” to refer the boy who had the five barley loaves and the two fishes.  παιδάριον was not used in 4:43-53.