John Calvin Commentary John 4:42

"and they said to the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy speaking: for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Saviour of the world." — John 4:42 (ASV)

On account of your speech. Though I have followed Erasmus in rendering this word as oratio (speech), because loquela, which the ancient interpreter uses, is an unrefined term, I wish to warn my readers that the Greek word λαλία has the same meaning as the Latin word loquentia, that is, talk or talkativeness. The Samaritans appear to boast that they now have a stronger foundation than a woman’s tongue, which is, for the most part, light and trivial.

We believe. This more fully expresses the nature of their faith: that it has been drawn from the word of God itself, so that they can boast of having the Son of God as their Teacher. Indeed, it is on His authority alone that we can safely rely. True, He is not now visibly present, so as to speak to us face to face; but, by whomever we happen to hear Him, our faith cannot rest on any other than on Himself.

And from no other source proceeds that knowledge which is also mentioned. For the speech that comes from the mouth of a mortal man may indeed fill and satisfy the ears, but it will never confirm the soul in calm confidence of salvation, so that he who has heard may be entitled to boast that he knows. In faith, therefore, the first thing necessary is to know that it is Christ who speaks by His ministers; and the next is to give Him the honor which is due: that is, not to doubt that He is true and faithful, so that, relying on so undoubted a guarantee, we may rely safely on His doctrine.

Again, when they affirm that Jesus is the Christ and the Savior of the world, they undoubtedly have learned this from hearing Him. Hence we infer that, within two days, the sum of the Gospel was more plainly taught by Christ than He had until now taught it in Jerusalem. And Christ testified that the salvation, which He had brought, was common to the whole world, so that they might understand more fully that it belonged to them also. For He did not call them on the ground of their being lawful heirs, as the Jews were, but taught that He had come to admit strangers into the family of God, and to bring peace to those who were far off (Ephesians 2:17).