John 18:9

9. The saying See John 18:12. Rationalistic commentators have pronounced this a very mistaken pretence of a fulfilment of Christ’s words. Christ spoke, say they, of preservation from final perdition, but this was preservation from bodily harm. It is a poor reply to these objectors to say, “but the bodily was typical of the spiritual.” The true reply is this: Christ was bound on his part to keep his disciples, both in body and in soul, for their future ministry. They were to be immortal until their work was done. He had preserved them not only from apostacy but from temporal death, for the future mission before them. Judas, on the other hand, perished in body and soul, and so was completely “the son of perdition.” And so now Jesus provides for their present safety, in literal fulfilment of his claim, that he had kept all and lost none save one.