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Selected Verse: John 3:21 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Joh 3:21 |
King James |
But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
| doeth truth--whose only object in life is to be and do what will bear the light. Therefore he loves and "comes to the light," that all he is and does, being thus thoroughly tested, may be seen to have nothing in it but what is divinely wrought and divinely approved. This is the "Israelite, indeed, in whom is no guile." |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Are that doeth truth - He who does right, or he that obeys the truth. Truth here is opposed to error and to evil. The sinner acts from falsehood and error. The good man acts according to truth. The sinner believes a lie - that God will not punish, or that there is no God, or that there is no eternity and no hell. The Christian believes all these, and acts as if they were true. This is the difference between a Christian and a sinner.
Cometh to the light - Loves the truth, and seeks it more and more. By prayer and searching the Scriptures he endeavors to ascertain the truth, and yield his mind to it.
May be made manifest - May be made clear or plain; or that it may be made plain that his deeds are performed in God. He searches for truth and light that he may have evidence that his actions are right.
Wrought in God - That they are performed according to the will of God, or perhaps by the assistance of God, and are such as God will approve. The actions of good people are performed by the influence and aid of God, Phi 2:12. Of course, if they are performed by his aid, they are such as he will approve. Here is presented the character of a good man and a sincere Christian. We learn respecting that character:
1. He does truth. He loves it, seeks it, follows it.
2. He comes to the light. He does not attempt to deceive himself or others.
3. He is willing to know himself, and aims to do it. He desires to know the true state of his heart before God.
4. A special object of his efforts is that his deeds may be "wrought in God." He desires to be a good man; to receive continual aid from God, and to perform such actions as he will approve.
This is the close of our Lord's discourse with Nicodemus - a discourse condensing the gospel, giving the most striking exhibition and illustration of truth, and representing especially the fundamental doctrine of regeneration and the evidence of the change. It is clear that the Saviour regarded this as lying at the foundation of religion. Without it we cannot possibly be saved. And now it becomes every reader, as in the presence of God, and in view of the judgment-seat of Christ, solemnly to ask himself whether he has experienced this change? whether he knows by experience what it is to be born of that Spirit? If he does he will be saved. If not, he is in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity, and should give no sleep to his eyes until he has made his peace with God. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Doeth the truth (ποιῶν τὴν ἀλήθειαν)
The phrase occurs only here and in Jo1 1:6. Note the contrasted phrase, doeth evil (Joh 3:20). There the plural is used: doeth evil things; evil being represented by a number of bad works. Here the singular, the truth, or truth; truth being regarded as one, and "including in a supreme unity all right deeds." There is also to be noted the different words for doing in these two verses: doeth evil (πράσσων); doeth truth (ποιῶν). The latter verb contemplates the object and end of action; the former the means, with the idea of continuity and repetition. Πράσσων is the practice, while ποιῶν may be the doing once for all. Thus ποιεῖν is to conclude a peace: πράσσειν, to negotiate a peace. So Demosthenes: "He will do (πράξει) these things, and will accomplish them (ποιήσει)." In the New Testament a tendency is observable to use ποιεῖν in a good sense, and πράσσωιν in an evil sense. Compare the kindred word πρᾶξις, deed or work, which occurs six times, and in four out of the six of evil doing (Mat 16:27; Luk 23:51; Act 19:18; Rom 8:13; Rom 12:14; Col 3:9). With this passage compare especially Joh 5:29, where the two verbs are used with the two nouns as here. Also, Rom 7:15, Rom 7:19. Bengel says: "Evil is restless: it is busier than truth." In Rom 1:32; Rom 2:3, both verbs are used of doing evil, but still with a distinction in that πράσσω is the more comprehensive term, designating the pursuit of evil as the aim of the activity.
Cometh to
In contrast with hateth (Joh 3:20). His love of the light is shown by his seeking it.
In God
The element of holy action. Notice the perfect tense, have been wrought (as Rev.) and abide. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| He that practiseth the truth (that is, true religion) cometh to the light - So even Nicodemus, afterward did. Are wrought in God - That is, in the light, power, and love of God. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| Wrought in God - In his presence, and through his assistance. This is the end of our Lord's discourse to Nicodemus; and though we are not informed here of any good effects produced by it, yet we learn from other scriptures that it had produced the most blessed effects in his mind, and that from this time he became a disciple of Christ. He publicly defended our Lord in the Sanhedrin, of which he was probably a member, Joh 7:50, and, with Joseph of Arimathea, gave him an honorable funeral, Joh 19:39, when all his bosom friends had deserted him. See Dodd. |
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
50 Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)