Click
here to show/hide instructions.
Instructions on how to use the page:
The commentary for the selected verse is is displayed below.
All commentary was produced against the King James, so the same verse from that translation may appear as well. Hovering your mouse over a commentary's scripture reference attempts to show those verses.
Use the browser's back button to return to the previous page.
Or you can also select a feature from the Just Verses menu appearing at the top of the page.
Selected Verse: John 1:20 - King James
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Joh 1:20 |
King James |
And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. |
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] |
confessed, &c.--that is, While many were ready to hail him as the Christ, he neither gave the slightest ground for such views, nor the least entertainment to them. |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
I am not the Christ - This confession proves that John was not an impostor. He had a wide reputation. The nation was expecting that the Messiah was about to come, and multitudes were ready to believe that John was he, Luk 3:15. If John had been an impostor he would have taken advantage of this excited state of public feeling, proclaimed himself to be the Messiah, and formed a large party in his favor. The fact that he did not do it is full proof that he did not intend to impose on people, but came only as the forerunner of Christ; and his example shows that all Christians, and especially all Christian ministers, however much they may be honored and blessed, should be willing to lay all their honors at the feet of Jesus; to keep themselves back and to hold up before the world only the Son of God. To do this is one eminent mark of the true spirit of a minister of the gospel. |
Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
He confessed and denied not
John's characteristic combination of a positive and negative clause. See on Joh 1:3. Both verbs are used absolutely.
I am not the Christ
According to the proper reading, ἐγὼ, I, stands first in the Baptist's statement, the ὅτι having the force merely of quotation marks. It is emphatic: "I am not the Christ, though the Christ is here." Some were questioning whether John was the Christ (Luk 3:15; Act 13:25). Note the frequent occurrence of the emphatic I: Joh 1:23, Joh 1:26, Joh 1:27, Joh 1:30, Joh 1:31, Joh 1:33, Joh 1:34. On the Christ, see on Mat 1:1. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
I am not the Christ - For many supposed he was. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
He confessed, and denied not; but confessed - A common mode of Jewish phraseology. John renounces himself, that Jesus may be all in all. Though God had highly honored him, and favored him with peculiar influence in the discharge of his work, yet he considered he had nothing but what he had received, and therefore, giving all praise to his benefactor, takes care to direct the attention of the people to him alone from whom he had received his mercies. He who makes use of God's gifts to feed and strengthen his pride and vanity will be sure to be stripped of the goods wherein he trusts, and fall down into the condemnation of the devil. We have nothing but what we have received; we deserve nothing of what we possess; and it is only God's infinite mercy which keeps us in the possession of the blessings which we now enjoy. |
15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;
1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;
23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.
25 And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.
15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.