New Testament Commentary

By

WILLIAM HENDRIKSEN

Exposition of the Gospel According to John

TWO VOLUMES COMPLETE IN ONE

BAKER BOOK HOUSE

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

The Gospel According to John

Volume I

Copyright 1953 by William Hendriksen

ISBN: 0-8010-4051-5

12 volume set, first available 2002

ISBN 0-8010-2606-7

All rights in the book are reserved. No part may be reproduced in any manner without permission in writing from the copyright holder, except brief quotations used in connections with reviews in a magazine or newspaper.

Table of Contents

Volume I

INTRODUCTION

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

INTRODUCTION TO THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN

Authorship, Date, and Place

Readers and Purpose

Characteristics

Grammar

Theme and Divisions

COMMENTARY ON CHAPTERS 1–6

Outline of Chapters 1–6

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Introduction

In writing this commentary it has been our aim to achieve the following objectives:

(1) A careful translation of the text. This translation must be in present-day, idiomatic English and must be true to the original. It should not be a mere paraphrase. On the contrary, it should follow the text very closely, bringing out its emphasis wherever it is possible to do so.

(2) A more thorough discussion of introductory problems than is found in many commentaries, with special emphasis on the problems of authorship.

(3) A brief analysis of the text, entering into its concepts and relationships. Central passages, such as 3:16, should be treated more fully than others.

(4) A synthesis at the close of each large thought-unit, so that the main ideas of a section are brought out clearly. Analysis should always be followed by synthesis. Exegesis includes both. Otherwise one sees the trees, but not the forest.

(5) A defence of the conservative position. We believe that the Gospel of John demands this.

(6) An up-to-date presentation. During recent years there has been advance along many lines of New Testament scholarship. Important books treating certain phases of the subject have appeared from time to time; also, excellent articles in religious journals, shedding new light on the meaning of certain words and phrases (e.g., John 2:4; 4:9). Doctoral dissertations have been submitted, dealing with concepts of frequent occurrence in the Fourth Gospel. Such materials have been utilized. We have prepared a Select Bibliography, and this we hope to include in the next volume (on John 7–21).

(7) A complete summary of certain grammatical constructions which have a high frequency rate in this Gospel. References throughout the text of the commentary to important points of grammar and syntax, without overloading the commentary with such material, so that one who is not conversant with Greek would have to lay it aside. An attempt to do justice to the valuable elements in the Aramaic theory, without assuming a written, Aramaic original.

We are well aware of the fact that these objectives have not been fully achieved. Nevertheless, ...