John 12:20

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - John 12:20-22

John 12:20-22. And there were certain Greeks A prelude of the Gentile Church. The phrase, τινες Ελληνες , here used, signifies properly, as translators have rendered it, certain Greeks. But all the Gentiles being thus named by the Jews, it was intended to denote their religion, rather than their country: they had been brought up heathen: they were not, however, now idolatrous Gentiles, but proselytes to the Jewish religion, and worshippers of the true God, persons who had come to... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - John 12:20-26

BETRAYAL, TRIAL AND CRUCIFIXION136. The seed must die (John 12:20-26)Among the crowds that went to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival were some Greeks. They had joined themselves to the synagogue communities where they lived, and now they wanted to see Jesus (John 12:20-22).When the Lord heard of the Greeks’ request, his response was to announce that the climax of his mission had arrived and he was now about to lay down his life. He apparently saw these Greeks as the firstfruits of a great... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - John 12:20

And , &c. This was the third day before the Passover, 12th of Nisan, our Sunday sunset to Monday sunset. Greeks . Greek. Hellenes: i.e. Gentiles, not Greek-speaking Jews, or Grecians (Acts 6:1 ; John 9:29 ). among = out of. Greek. ek. App-104 . came up = were coming up, according to custom. worship . Greek. proskuneo. App-137 . This would be in the outer court of the Temple, called the Court of the Gentiles. Compare Revelation 11:2 . at = in. Greek. en. App-104 . the feast . They... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - John 12:20

Now there were certain Greeks among those that went up to worship at the feast: these therefore came to Philip, who was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.THE COMING OF THE GREEKSAs Knox observed:The "Greeks" were Gentiles - we do not know from where - who had already become proselytes to Judaism or faithful friends of the synagogue (God-fearers) ... Notice that it is the desire of the Greeks to see Jesus which alone interests this writer. He does not tell... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - John 12:20

John 12:20. And there were certain Greeks— After the conquest of Darius by Alexander, all his successors of different nations were called Greeks, whence came the name of "the Grecian monarchy," otherwise called "the Syro-Macedonian." Thus Antiochus Epiphanes is said to have reigned in the hundred and thirty-seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks, Malachi 1:10; Malachi 1:10. St. Paul likewise often distinguishes all other nations from the Jews by the name of Greeks, Romans 1:16; Romans 2:9;... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - John 12:20

20-22. Greeks—Not Grecian Jews, but Greek proselytes to the Jewish faith, who were wont to attend the annual festivals, particularly this primary one, the Passover. The same came therefore to Philip . . . of Bethsaida—possibly as being from the same quarter. saying, Sir, we would see Jesus—certainly in a far better sense than Zaccheus ( :-). Perhaps He was then in that part of the temple court to which Gentile proselytes had no access. "These men from the west represent, at the end of Christ's... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 12:19-50

II. JESUS’ PUBLIC MINISTRY 1:19-12:50The first part of the body of John’s Gospel records Jesus’ public ministry to the multitudes in Palestine, who were primarily Jewish. Some writers have called this section of the Gospel "the book of signs" because it features seven miracles that signify various things about Jesus."Signs are miraculous works performed or mentioned to illustrate spiritual principles." [Note: Tenney, "The Symphonic . . .," p. 119. See also idem, "Topics from the Gospel of... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 12:20

The New Testament writers frequently referred to any Gentiles who came from the Greek-speaking world as Greeks (cf. John 7:35; et al.). We do not know where the Gentiles in this incident came from. They could have lived in one of the predominantly Gentile areas of Palestine such as northeastern Galilee or the Decapolis, or they could have come from farther away (cf. Matthew 2:1-12). These were God-fearing Gentiles who worshipped Yahweh along with the Jews (cf. the Ethiopian eunuch, Acts 8:27).... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 12:20-26

The kernel of wheat teaching 12:20-26 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 12:20-36

6. Jesus’ announcement of His death 12:20-36One example that Jesus was attracting people from other parts of the world follows. These individuals contrast with the Pharisees."This rather curious incident is rather peculiar to John. I say ’rather curious’ because it is unusual that we encounter Greeks in a narrative of events at Jerusalem, because the other Evangelists do not mention the incident, and because the Greeks simply say, ’Sir, we would like to see Jesus’ and then disappear from the... read more

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - John 12:20-22

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - John 12:20-26

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - John 12:20

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - John 12:20

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - John 12:20

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - John 12:20

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 12:19-50

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 12:20

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 12:20-26

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 12:20-36

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