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I didn`t recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water, he said to me, `On whoever you will see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.`
Verse Takeaways
1
God's Sign, Not John's Guess
Commentators highlight that when John said, "I knew him not," he wasn't claiming to be a stranger to Jesus, his relative. Rather, his official testimony as a prophet could not be based on personal knowledge or intuition. God gave him a specific, objective sign—the Spirit descending and remaining on Jesus—to provide an infallible, divinely-authorized confirmation of the Messiah's identity. This underscores that faith rests on God's revelation, not human opinion.
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John
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17
18th Century
Presbyterian
The same said ... - This was the sign by which he was to know the Messiah. He was to see the Spirit descending like a dove and abiding on …
He said (εκεινος ειπεν). Explicit and emphatic pronoun as in verse 8, referring to God as the one who sent John (verse 6).
…
19th Century
Anglican
I saw.—Better, I have seen, or beheld. The vision is in its result ever present, and is all-conclusive …
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Baptist
Of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.…
The second aspect of John’s witness to Jesus (see comment on v.29) concerned the title “Son of God.” This aspect was related to the work of the Hol…
16th Century
Protestant
Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending. Here a difficult question arises; for if John did not know Christ, why does he re…
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17th Century
Reformed Baptist
And I knew him not That is, before he came to be baptized by him; when it was secretly suggested to him who he was, …
John saw Jesus coming to him and pointed him out as the Lamb of God. The paschal lamb, in the shedding and sprinkling of its blood, the roasting an…
13th Century
Catholic
Previously, John had testified about Christ when he was questioned. Here, he gives a voluntary testimony.
This section is divided …
