John 5:31-6:21

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 5:31

If I bear witness of myself - If I have no other evidence than my own testimony about myself.My witness - My testimony; my evidence. The proof would not be decisive.Is not true - The word “true,” here, means worthy of belief, or established by suitable evidence. See Matthew 22:16; “We Know that thou art true” - that is, worthy of confidence, or that thou hast been truly sent from God, Luke 20:21; John 8:13, John 8:17. The law did not admit a man to testify in his own case, but required two... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - John 5:31-35

John 5:31-35. If I bear witness of myself my witness is not true Heylin and Wesley read, is not valid; Doddridge, is not [ to be admitted as ] true; and Campbell, is not to be regarded; observing, “In every country, where there are standing laws, and a regular constitution, there is what is called a forensic, or judicial use of certain words, which differs considerably from familiar use.” Thus the word δικαιος , rendered a just person, (Matthew 27:24,) seems to mean no more than,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - John 5:30-47

47. Witness to Jesus (John 5:30-47)Jesus acted with God’s authority, but he would not give evidence on his own behalf to try to convince the Jews. God was his witness, and Jesus accepted his witness even if the Jews did not (John 5:30-32). With God as his witness, Jesus needed no other, but if the Jews wanted earthly witnesses, they were available. Jesus gave them three, which would satisfy those who wanted to judge him according to the requirements for witnesses under Jewish law (cf.... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - John 5:31

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. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - John 5:31

John 5:31. If I bear witness of myself, &c.— These certainly were very grand assertions, which our Lord made of his own dignity. But he did not require his hearers to believe them merely on the authority of his own testimony; a circumstance by which the Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, isdistinguished from Mahomet and every other impostor. He told them, that he had the testimony of John given him in the hearing of their own deputies; but at the same time he observed, that the truth... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - John 5:31

31. If I . . . witness of myself—standing alone, and setting up any separate interest. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 5:30-47

4. The Father’s witness to the Song of Solomon 5:30-47Jesus now returned to develop a theme that He had introduced previously, namely, the Father’s testimony to the Son (John 5:19-20). Jesus proceeded to cite five witnesses to His identity, all of which came from the Father, since the Jews had questioned His authority."The train of argument in this section is like a court scene, reminiscent of the trial scenes in the OT, when witnesses are summoned by Yahweh to testify on behalf of the gods of... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 5:31-32

Jesus had said that the Son can do nothing independently of the Father (John 5:19; John 5:30). That includes even bearing witness. Jesus did not mean that if He said anything about Himself it must be false, though apparently some of the Jews thought He meant that (cf. John 8:13). He meant that the truthfulness of His claims about Himself did not rest on His own testimony exclusively. Jesus had said that He only said and did what the Father said and did. Therefore Jesus’ witness about Himself... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - John 5:1-47

Bethesda. Christ and the Sabbath1-47. A miracle at the Pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath Day, and a controversy arising therefrom. This miracle may be regarded as a parable illustrating the deadly effects of sin, and the power of the Saviour to deal with the most hopeless cases. This poor man in his youth had shattered his nervous system by a life of sensual indulgence (John 5:14), and had lain for thirty-eight years a hopeless paralytic (John 5:5). This being an extreme case, the usual order of... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - John 5:31

(31) If I bear witness of myself.—This verse is the link between the thoughts of Christ’s person (John 5:17-30) and the witness to Him (John 5:32-40). He can do nothing of Himself (John 5:30), and does not even bear witness of Himself. If He did, it would be on technical grounds not to be credited. He meets the objection then doubtless in their minds, and soon expressed in their words. (Comp. Notes on John 8:13-18.) read more

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