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Selected Verse: John 4:48 - King James
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Joh 4:48 |
King James |
Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. |
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] |
Except ye see signs, &c.--He did believe, both as his coming and his urgent entreaty show; but how imperfectly we shall see; and our Lord would deepen his faith by such a blunt and seemingly rough answer as He made to Nicodemus. |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Except ye see signs ... - This was spoken not to the nobleman only, but to the Galileans generally. The Samaritans had believed without any miracle. The Galileans, he said, were less disposed to believe him than even they were; and though he had performed miracles enough to convince them, yet, unless they continually saw them, they would not believe. |
Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Said unto him, Except ye see
Addressing the nobleman (him), but having in mind the Galilean population which he represents (ye).
Signs and wonders (σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα)
See on Mat 24:24. Σημεῖα, signs, and ἔργα, works, are John's characteristic words for miracles. See Joh 5:20; Joh 7:21; Joh 14:10; Joh 2:23; Joh 6:2, etc.
Ye will not (οὐ μὴ)
The double negative is correctly given by Rev., "ye will in nowise." |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
Unless ye see signs and wonders - Although the Samaritans believed without them. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Except ye see signs and wonders, etc. - Our Lord does not tell this man that he had no faith, but that he had not enough. If he had had none, he would not have come from Capernaum to Cana, to beg him to heal his son. If he had had enough, he would have been contented with recommending his son to our Lord, without entreating him to go to Capernaum to heal him; which intimates that he did not believe our Lord could do it at a distance. But the words are not addressed to the nobleman alone, but to all the Galilean Jews in general; for our Lord uses the plural number, which he never does when addressing an individual. These people differed widely from the people of Sychar: they had neither a love of the truth, nor simplicity of heart; and would not believe any thing from heaven, unless forced on their minds by the most striking miracles. They were favored with the ministry of John Baptist; but, as that was not accompanied with miracles, it was not generally credited. They require the miracles of Christ, in order that they may credit the advent of the Messiah. There are many like these Galileans still in the world: they deny that God can have any influence among men; and as to the operations of the Holy Spirit, they, in the genuine Galilean spirit, boldly assert that they will not credit any man who professes to be made a partaker of them, unless he work a miracle in proof of his pretensions! These persons should know that the grace of working miracles was very different from that by which a man is saved; and that the former might exist, even in the most astonishing measure, where the latter did not. See Co1 13:2. |
2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.
23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
21 Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel.
20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.