John 5:47

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 5:47

If ye believe not his writings - If you do not credit what he has written which you profess to believe, it is not to be expected that you will believe my declarations. And from this we may learn:That many men who profess to believe the Bible have really no regard for it when it crosses their own views and inclinations. It is our duty to study the Bible, that we may be established in the belief that Jesus is the Messiah. The prophecies of the Old Testament are conclusive proofs of the truth of... 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 5:47

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... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - John 5:46-47

John 5:46-47. For he wrote of me.— "Had you believed the writings of Moses, which are daily read in your synagogues, you would have believed me; for these writings describe me, as by a variety of striking types and figures, so likewise by many strong and direct prophesies: see the last note: But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? If you do not believe the testimony of your own lawgiver, I have no reason to be surprised that you do not credit me upon my testimony."... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - John 5:47

47. If ye believe not—(See :-). his writings . . . my words—a remarkable contrast, not absolutely exalting Old Testament Scripture above His own words, but pointing to the office of those venerable documents to prepare Christ's way, to the necessity universally felt for documentary testimony in revealed religion, and perhaps (as STIER adds) to the relation which the comparative "letter" of the Old Testament holds to the more flowing "words" of "spirit and life" which characterize the New... 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 5:47

Jesus’ critics did not believe Moses’ writings or they would have accepted Jesus. Since they rejected Moses’ writings it was natural that they would reject Jesus’ words. Both men spoke the words of God, who was their authority. The Jews rejection of Moses’ writings was essentially a rejection of God’s Word. Jesus believed that Moses wrote the Torah (Pentateuch), something many critical scholars deny.This discourse constituted a condemnation of Jesus’ critics and an invitation to believe on Him.... 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 5:47

(47) The emphasis of the contrast here is not between “writings” and “words,” but between “his” and “My.” It is a repetition of the thought of the previous verse, with an advance in time. They had not believed Moses, and therefore had not believed Him. They do not believe, for they do not read the spiritual meaning of the writings of Moses even now. What ground of hope is left? His words, revealing the deeper truths of the kingdom of God, will fall upon their ears as so many unmeaning sounds.... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - John 5:1-47

Bethesda , the House of Mercy John 5:2-3 I. I ask you to look, first, at that sad, sick crowd. There was gathered a 'great multitude of impotent folk, blind, halt, withered'. That is a parable of humanity, looked at from the highest point of view, and considered in the deepest reality of their condition. The world is a sad world; but that is not the deepest thought about it. (1) Men are sinners, and therefore they are sorrowful. (2) The disease is universal. (3) This disease is unconscious.... read more

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