The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:6-8
(a) The prophetic dispensation. read more
John-1:8-10-web
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:6-8
The witness of the Baptist to the true Light. We now come to the historic manifestation of the Word. I. THE PERSONALITY OF THE BAPTIST . "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John." 1 . He was the offspring of pious parents, and his birth was due to miraculous Divine interference. 2 . He was a Nazarite in the ascetic aspect of his life. 3 . He was the last prophet of the Old Testament dispensation—the link between the prophets of the old and the... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:6-13
(4) The general manifestation of the revealing Logos. read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:8
A solemn warning is given, which forever discriminates the ministry of man from the eternal ministry of the Logos. He (John, and with him all the prophetic, Levitical, ascetic teachers in all ages) was not the Light, but [ he was or came ] that he might bear witness of the Light. The ἵνα depends upon some unexpressed verbal thought; for even in the passages where it stands alone ( John 9:3 ; John 13:18 ; John 14:31 ; John 15:25 ) the reference is not obscure to some... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:9
(b) The illumination of the archetypal Light before incarnation. There are at least three grammatical translations of this verse. Either (1) with Meyer, we may give to ἦν the complete sense of existence, presence, and include in it the full predicate of the sentence; thus: "Existing, present (when John commenced his ministry), was the veritable Light which enlighteneth every man coming into the world." But the clause, "coming into the world," would here not only be superfluous, but... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:9
The true Light in its manifestation. I. THE NATURE OF THIS LIGHT . "There was the true Light." 1 . Christ was the true Light, as opposed to false or imperfect lights. He was the ideal Light, not subject to the vicissitudes of time and space. 2 . He was the true Light in opposition to ceremonial types and shadows. 3 . He was the true Light in opposition to all light that is borrowed from or communicated from another. II. THE EXTENT OF THIS LIGHT IN... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:9
The Divine daybreak. The evangelist writes as one who loves, admires, and venerates him of whom it is his office to inform his fellow men. He has one great figure to portray, one great name to exalt, one great heart to unfold. His language is such as would not be befitting were he heralding the advent even of a prophet or a saint. How bold, how beautiful, how impressive are his figures! John speaks of the Divine Word, uttering forth the thought and will of God in the hearing of mankind;... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:10
Of him who was evermore coming into the world, it is said, In the world he was, and the world was made (came into being) through him, and the world recognized him not . The κόσμος is a term specially used by St. John to denote the ordered whole of the universe, viewed apart from God (see Introduction). Sometimes this is emphasized by the pronoun, " This world," when it is contrasted with the higher and heavenly "order" to which the Lord's personality belonged, both before and after... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:10
The unrecognized Creator. We have here three facts briefly stated in the history of our Lord, which are full of interest and significance. I. HIS APPEARANCE IN THIS WORLD . This involves: 1 . The greatest wonder. "He was in the world." But was he not ever in the world since its creation? Yes; in its laws, order, and beauty; in its conscience, reason, and religion; by his Word, Spirit, and revelations. But these words announce his special presence. He was in the world as... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:1-51
The phrase, "according to," has been thought by some to suggest a type of doctrine or teaching with which the document might be supposed to harmonize, and therefore to set aside the idea of personal authenticity by its very form. This interpretation, seeing it applies to Mark and Luke as well as to John and Matthew, would lose its meaning; for Mark and Luke, by numerous traditionary notices, have been continuously credited, not with having personally set any special type of doctrine before... read more