| 33. Vos misistis ad Ioannem: et testimonium perhibuit veritati. | 33. You sent to John; and he gave testimony to the truth. |
| 34. Ego autem non ab homine testimonium accipio: sed haec dico ut vos salvi sitis. | 34. But I receive not testimony from man: but I say these things that you may be saved. |
34. He now tells them that He has invoked the testimony of the Baptist, not that He needs any testimony of [pg 103] men, but in the hope that they, who had regarded the Baptist as a prophet, might perchance accept his testimony to Christ.
| 35. Ille erat lucerna ardens, et lucens: Vos autem voluistis ad horam exultare in luce eius. | 35. He was a burning and a shining light. And you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. |
35. The Greek is: He was the lamp that burneth and shineth. From the use of the word was here, it is fairly concluded that the Baptist had been already put to death by Herod Antipas (Mark vi. 17-28). The Baptist was a bright lamp λύχνος of truth, but not the light (τὸ φῶς i. 8, 9), which was Christ Himself.
| 36. Ego autem habeo testimonium maius Ioanne. Opera enim quae dedit mihi Pater ut perficiam ea, ipsa opera quae ego facio, testimonium perhibent de me, quia Pater misit me: | 36. But I have a greater testimony than that of John. For the works which the Father hath given me to perfect: the works themselves, which I do, give testimony of me, that the Father hath sent me. |
36. A third testimony is now invoked in the miracles which the Father gave Christ to perform. See x. [37], [38], and what was said above on [iii. 2].
| 37. Et qui misit me Pater, ipse testimonium perhibuit de me: neque vocem eius unquam audistis, neque speciem eius vidistis: | 37. And the Father himself who hath sent me, hath given testimony of me: neither have you heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. |
| 38. Et verbum eius non habetis in vobis manens: quia quem misit ille, huic vos non creditis. | 38. And you have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him you believe not. |
37, 38. Besides the indirect testimony of the Father through Christ's miracles, another testimony of His is now appealed to. Some understand this of the testimony of the Father on the occasion of Christ's baptism, (Matt. iii. 17). So Chrys., A Lap., M'Ev. But if there were reference to that past and definite occasion, the Greek [pg 104] aorist, not the perfect, would be used. Others, as Mald., connect this verse closely with the preceding, and hold the reference is still to the Father's testimony given through Christ's miracles. But the form of words: “And the Father Himself, who hath sent Me, hath given testimony of Me,” seems to add another distinct testimony to those already mentioned. Others, therefore, hold that the reference is to the Father's testimony conveyed through the oracles of the prophets. So St. Cyril, Theoph., Euthy., Kuin., Corl.; and this opinion seems to be the correct one.
About the meaning and connection of the words which follow in this verse and the next, there is a great variety of view.
(1) Some thus: But you have never listened to His voice speaking to you through the Sacred Scriptures, nor recognised Him as speaking in them, nor do you believe in His inspired word; and the reason of this is, because you do not believe in Me whom He has sent. (Patriz.)