John 1:12-13 NLT,NIV,ESV

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 1:13

The antecedent of "who" is those who believe in Jesus’ name (John 1:12). Their new life as children of God comes from God. It does not come because of their blood, namely, their physical ancestors. Many of the Jews believed that because they were Abraham’s descendants they were the spiritual children of God (cf. ch. 8; Romans 4; Galatians 3). Even today some people think that the faith or works of their ancestors somehow guarantees their salvation. However, God has no grandchildren. People... read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - John 1:12

1:12 right (h-12) Exousia . 'right to take that place.' see Matthew 10:1 . children (a-15) Teknon . see Note, Mark 7:27 . on (b-22) Eis . see Note. 2 Timothy 1:12 . read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:1-51

The Divinity and Incarnation of the Word. Witness of John. The First Disciples1-18. Preface, declaring (1) that the Word was God, (2) that He was made man, (3) that He revealed the Father.This sublime preface is intended to commend ’the truth as it is in Jesus,’ both to Jewish and Gentile minds. It describes our Lord’s person and office by a term familiar to both, that of the Logos or Word of God. ’Logos’ has two meanings in Greek: (1) reason or intelligence, as it exists inwardly in the mind,... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - John 1:12

(12) Yet the light ever shineth, and the better things lie hidden.As many as received him.—The words are less wide and yet more wide than “His own.” The nation as such rejected Him; individuals in it accepted Him; but not individuals of that nation only. All who according to their light and means accept Him, receive from Him an authority and in Him a moral power, which constitutes them members of the true none to which He came, and the true children of God. They receive in acceptance the right... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - John 1:13

(13) Which were born.—The result of receiving Him remains to be explained. How could they become “sons of God?” The word which has been used (John 1:12) excludes the idea of adoption, and asserts the natural relation of child to father. The nation claimed this through its descent from Abraham. But they are Abraham’s children who are of Abraham’s faith. There is a higher generation, which is spiritual, while they thought only of the lower, which is physical. The condition is the submissive... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - John 1:1-51

Agnosticism, Positivism and Materialism John 1:1 John outstrips Genesis. He begins the record of the world anew, but starts from a deeper starting-point. In Genesis the history of the world arises out of the God of Creation. In John there is a deeper starting-point: history commences with the God of redemption. I. This, then, is the first assertion we have to consider Redemption is older than Creation. God the Saviour is a more fundamental fact than God the Creator. Redemption was not an... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - John 1:1-18

Chapter 2RECEPTION CHRIST MET WITH.John 1:1-18.In describing the Word of God, John mentions two attributes of His by which His relation to men becomes apparent: “All things were made by Him,” and “the life was the light of men.” By whom were all things made? what is the originating force which has produced the world? how are we to account for the existence, the harmony, and the progress of the universe?-these are questions which must always be put. Everywhere in nature force and intelligence... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - John 1:1-51

Analysis and Annotations I. The Only-begotten, the Eternal Word; His Glory and His Manifestation -- Chapter 1:1-2:22 CHAPTER 1 1. The Word: the Creator, the Life and the Light. (John 1:1-4 .) 2. The Light and the Darkness. The Light not Known. (John 1:5-11 .) 3. The Word Made Flesh and Its Gracious Results. (John 1:12-18 .) 4. The Witness of John. (John 1:19-34 .) 5. Following Him and Dwelling With Him. (John 1:35-42 .) 6. The Next Day. Nathanael’s Unbelief and Confession. (John 1:43-49... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - John 1:12

1:12 {6} But as many as received him, to them gave he {s} power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:(6) The Son being shut out by the majority of his people, and acknowledged but by a few, regenerates those few by his own strength and power, and receives them into that honour which is common to all the children of God, that is, to be the sons of God.(s) He condescended to give them this power to take them to be his children. read more