John 1:18 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:18

The Divine Revealer. We have here— I. CHRIST AS THE REVEALER OF GOD . "He hath declared him." 1 . He brought much that was known of God into a clearer light. In this respect his revelation 2 . He revealed much that was new, which was not known before. Such as: (1) The spirituality of God. II. CHRIST AS A PERFECT REVEALER OF GOD . "He hath declared him." 1 . Perfect in the character of his knowledge. 2 . Perfect in his revealing... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 1:18

No man hath seen God at any time - This declaration is probably made to show the superiority of the revelation of Jesus above that of any previous dispensation. It is said, therefore, that Jesus “had an intimate knowledge of God,” which neither Moses nor any of the ancient prophets had possessed. God is invisible: no human eyes have seen him; but Christ had a knowledge of God which might be expressed to our apprehension by saying that he saw him. He knew him intimately and completely, and was... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - John 1:18

John 1:18. No man hath seen God at any time Nor, indeed, can see him as he is, an incorporeal, and, therefore, an invisible Being: but the only- begotten Son, &c. John, having spoken of the incarnation, now calls Christ by this name, and no more terms him the Word, in all his book; who is in the bosom of the Father And ever favoured with the most endearing and intimate converse with him. The expression denotes the highest unity, and the most perfect knowledge. He hath declared... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - John 1:1-18

JESUS BEGINS HIS MINISTRY14. The eternal Word (John 1:1-18)To Israelites of Old Testament times, God’s word was more than something merely written down or spoken out. It was something active, so that when God expressed his will, that will was carried out. God spoke, and it was done (Genesis 1:3; Psalms 33:9; Isaiah 55:10-11). By his active word, God created the universe (Genesis 1:6,Genesis 1:9,Genesis 1:14; Psalms 33:6). God’s word had such life and power that people thought of it almost as if... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - John 1:18

No man : i.e. no human eye. Greek. oudeis. Compound of ou. App-105 . hath seen . Greek horao. App-133 . the only begotten Son . Lm. Tr. WI. Rm., with the Syriac, read "God (i.e. Christ) only begotten". The readings vary between YC and OC. Which is = He Who is: like "was" in John 1:1 . in = into. Greek. eis. App-104 . This expresses a continued relationship. bosom. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 . Compare John 13:23 ; John 21:20 . he = That One. hath declared = revealed.... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - John 1:18

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.Westcott observed that "truth" and "knowledge of God" throughout this passage, as well as elsewhere in John, have reference to one and the same thing. This verse reveals Christ as the true basis of all genuine human enlightenment concerning God, but it begins by pointing out the inherent human limitation of being unable actually to see God (in the highest sense) while still in the... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - John 1:18

John 1:18. No man hath seen God at any time;— Neither Moses nor any of the prophets, who in former ages delivered the will of God to men, ever saw the divine Being in his essence, and therefore they could not make a full discovery of his perfections and counsels to men. The only Person who ever enjoyed this privilege was the Son of God, who is in the bosom of the Father: he always was and is the darling object of his tenderest affection, and the intimate partner of his counsels; and therefore... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - John 1:18

18. No man—"No one," in the widest sense. hath seen God—by immediate gaze, or direct intuition. in the bosom of the Father—A remarkable expression, used only here, presupposing the Son's conscious existence distinct from the Father, and expressing His immediate and most endeared access to, and absolute acquaintance with, Him. he—emphatic; As if he should say, "He and He only hath declared Him," because He only can. :-. THE BAPTIST'S TESTIMONY TO CHRIST. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 1:1-18

I. PROLOGUE 1:1-18Each of the four Gospels begins with an introduction to Jesus that places Him in the historical setting of His earthly ministry. Matthew connected Him with David and Abraham. Mark associated Him directly with John the Baptist. Luke recorded the predictions of His birth. John, however, declared Him to be the eternal Son of God. Many writers have referred to John’s prologue as a theological prologue because this evangelist stressed Jesus’ connection with the eternal God.As with... read more