John Calvin Commentary Luke 1:70

"(As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old)," — Luke 1:70 (ASV)

As he spoke, so that the salvation said to have been brought by Christ may not be considered doubtful because of its newness, he cites as witnesses all the Prophets, who, although raised up at different times, yet teach with one accord that salvation is to be expected from Christ alone. Nor was it Zacharias's sole purpose to celebrate the truth and faithfulness of God in performing and fulfilling what He previously promised. His purpose, rather, was to draw the attention of believers to the ancient predictions, so that they might embrace with greater certainty and cheerfulness the salvation offered to them, to which the Prophets had testified from the beginning. When Christ comes forth, adorned,⁷³ with the testimonies of all the Prophets, our faith in Him rests on a truly solid foundation.

He calls them holy prophets, to secure greater authority and reverence for their words. They were not insignificant or ordinary witnesses but were of the first rank,⁷⁴ equipped with a public commission, having been separated from the common people for that purpose by divine authority. To inquire in detail how each of the prophets testified to Christ would lead us into a long discussion.

For now, let it suffice to say that they all uniformly make the people's hope—that God would be gracious to them—rest entirely on that covenant between God and them which was founded on Christ, and thus speak plainly enough of the future redemption manifested in Christ. To this end, there are many striking passages that contain no obscure prophecies about Christ, but point Him out, as it were, with a finger. But our chief attention is due to the signature of the divine covenant; for whoever neglects this will never understand anything in the prophets, just as the Jews wander wretchedly⁷⁵ in reading the Scripture because they focus their entire study on words and stray from the main design.

⁷³ “Ornatus;” — “;” — “revestu et garni d'excellens tesmoignages de tous les Prophetes;” — “clothed and adorned with excellent testimonies of all the Prophets.”;” — “clothed and adorned with excellent testimonies of all the Prophets.”

⁷⁴ “Classicos testes.” This is a fine allusion to the Roman division into .” This is a fine allusion to the Roman division into classes, (mentioned by Livy, 1:43,) from the first of which classes, as carrying greater weight and respectability, “(mentioned by Livy, 1:43,) from the first of which classes, as carrying greater weight and respectability, “testes,” ,” witnesses were selected for signing Testaments, — a department of Conveyancing, which all civilized nations have guarded by the most careful provisions, and in which authenticity is peculiarly and indispensably necessary. Calvin's vernacular brings out, though with less elegance, the meaning in which were selected for signing Testaments, — a department of Conveyancing, which all civilized nations have guarded by the most careful provisions, and in which authenticity is peculiarly and indispensably necessary. Calvin's vernacular brings out, though with less elegance, the meaning in which classicos testes is here used, — “ is here used, — “bons, suffisans, et sans reproche;” — “good, sufficient, and without reproach.” — ;” — “good, sufficient, and without reproach.” — Ed.

⁷⁵ “Misere vagantur.” — “.” — “Les Juifs ne font que tracasser et se tormenter sans profit toute leur vie;” — “the Jews do but vex and tease themselves without advantage all their life.”;” — “the Jews do but vex and tease themselves without advantage all their life.”