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Verse Takeaways
1
A Legal Concession
Commentators explain that when Jesus says his witness is 'not true,' he isn't admitting to being untruthful. He is making a legal argument based on Jewish law, which did not accept self-testimony as valid proof. He is meeting his critics on their own terms, acknowledging that by their standards, his word alone is not enough. The word 'true' here means 'legally valid' or 'admissible as evidence.'
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John
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Commentaries
8
Albert Barnes
On John 5:31
18th Century
Theologian
If I bear witness of myself. If I have no other evidence than my own testimony about myself.
My witness. My testimony; my …
AT Robertson
On John 5:31
If I bear witness of myself (Εαν εγω μαρτυρω περ εμαυτου). Condition of third class, undetermined with prospect of determination (…
Charles Ellicott
On John 5:31
19th Century
Bishop
If I bear witness of myself.—This verse is the link between the thoughts of Christ’s person (John 5:17–30) an…
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Charles Spurgeon
On John 5:31
19th Century
Preacher
He bore witness to himself by his miracles, but that was not the witness on which he relied, nor was it the only witness to the truth of his missio…
Expositor's Bible Commentary
On John 5:31
Because the authority of Jesus was questioned by his critics, he summoned witnesses to vouch for him. “Witness” or “testimony,” whether verb (GK 34…
John Calvin
On John 5:31
16th Century
Theologian
If I testify concerning myself. He does not here take anything away from the credit due to His testimony, which He elsewhere asserts in st…
John Gill
On John 5:31
17th Century
Pastor
If I bear witness of myself
Which was not allowed any man to do; nor indeed is it proper that a man should be a witness in his…
Matthew Henry
On John 5:30–38
17th Century
Minister
Our Lord returns to his declaration of the entire agreement between the Father and the Son, and declared himself the Son of God. He had higher test…