Geneva Study Bible After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. {1} Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a {a} pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue {b} Bethesda, having five porches.
(1) There is no disease so old which Christ cannot heal. (a) Of which cattle drank, and used to be plunged in, since there was a great abundance of water at Jerusalem. (b) That is to say, the house of pouring out, because a great abundance of water was poured out into that place. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. {2} The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
(2) True religion is assaulted most cruelly by the pretence of religion itself. He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?
And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.
And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. {3} But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
(3) The work of God was never the breach of the sabbath, and the works of Christ are the works of the Father, both because they are one God, and also because the Father does not work except in the Son. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was {c} his Father, making himself equal with God.
(c) That is, his alone and no one else's, which they gather from his saying, And I work, applying this word work to himself which properly belongs to God, and therefore makes himself equal to God. Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing {d} of himself, but what he {e} seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son {f} likewise.
(d) Not only without his Father's authority, but also without his mighty working and power. (e) This must be understood of the person of Christ, which consists of two natures, and not simply of his Godhead: so then he says that his Father moves and governs him in all things, but yet nonetheless, when he says he works with his Father, he confirms his Godhead. (f) In like sort, jointly and together. Not because the Father does some things, and then the Son works after him and does the same, but because the might and power of the Father and the Son work equally and jointly together. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. {4} For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
(4) The Father makes no man partaker of everlasting life except in Christ, in whom alone also he is truly worshipped. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: For the Father {g} judgeth {h} no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
(g) This word judgeth is taken by the figure of speech synecdoche to represent all governing. (h) These words are not to be taken as though they simply denied that God governed the world, but rather they deny that he governed as the Jews imagined it, who separate the Father from the Son, whereas indeed, the Father does not govern the world, but only in the person of his Son, being made manifest in the flesh: so he says below in Joh 5:30, that he came not to do his own will: that his doctrine is not his own, that the blind man and his parents did not sin Joh 7:16 Joh 9:3, etc. That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. {5} Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
(5) The Father is not worshipped except by his Son's word apprehended by faith, which is the only way that leads to eternal life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. {6} Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
(6) We are all dead in sin and cannot be made alive by any other means, except by the word of Christ apprehended by faith. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. And hath given him {i} authority to execute judgment also, because he is {k} the Son of man.
(i) That is, high and sovereign power to rule and govern all things, in so much that he has power over life and death. (k) That is, he will not only judge the world as he is God, but also as he is man, he received this from his Father, to be judge of the world. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, {7} Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
(7) All will eventually appear before the judgment seat of Christ to be judged. And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. {8} And shall come {l} forth; they that have done good, unto the {m} resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
(8) Faith and infidelity will be judged by their fruits. (l) From their graves. (m) To that resurrection which has everlasting life following it: against which is set the resurrection of condemnation, that is, which is followed by condemnation. I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. {9} I can {n} of mine own self do nothing: {o} as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
(9) The Father is the author and approver of all things which Christ does. (n) See above in Joh 5:22. (o) As my Father directs me, who dwells in me. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not {p} true.
(p) Faithful, that is, worthy to be credited; see Joh 8:14. There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. {10} Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
(10) Christ is declared to be the only Saviour by John's voice, and infinite miracles, and by the testimonies of all the prophets. But the world, being addicted to false prophets, and desirous to seem religious, does not see any of these things. But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for {q} a season to rejoice in his light.
(q) A little while. But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
I receive not honour from men. I receive not honour from men.
But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. But I know you, that ye have not the {r} love of God in you.
(r) Love toward God. I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. {s} Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
(s) This denial does not set aside that which is said here, but corrects it, as if Christ said, the most severe accuser the Jews will have is Moses, not him. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.
But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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