ceding the one now before us, and that the words "He that Cometh from above" begin the comment of John toe EvangeHst. I cannot for a moment admit this idea to be correct. I see no necessity for it. The whole passage runs on naturally, a.^ the language of John the Baptist, to the end of the chapter, i see nothing unsuitable to John the Baptist in the concluding verses. They contain no truth which he was not likely to know. I sec nothing gained by this idea. It throws no new light on the passage, and is an awkward break which would never occur to a simple reader of the Bible.
32. — [W}iat...seen..Jieard...testiJiefh.'\ In this sentence John the Baptist shows the divinity of Christ, and His consequent superi- ority over himself in another point of view. He says that Christ bears witness to truths which he has " seen and heard." He ia not like mere human ministers who only declare what they have been taught by the Holy Spirit, and inspired to communicate to others. As G-od, He declares with authority truths which Ho had seen, and heard, and known from all eternity with the Father. (John 7. 19, 30 ; viii. 38.)
Some draw a distinction between what our Lord has seen ana what He has heard. They think that what Christ has " seen,' means what He has seen as one with Grod the Father in essence, and what Christ has " heaid," means what He has heard as a distinct person in the Trinity. — Or else they think that what Christ has " seen," means what He has seen with the Father as Grod, and what He has " heard," what He has heard from the Father as man. — I doubt the correctness of either view. I think it more probable that the expression '' seen and heard," is only a proverbial way of signifying perfect knowledge, such as a person has intuitively or at first hand.
Euthymius thinks, that the expression " seen and heard," was purposely used, because of the weakness of John's hearers ; and that such expressions were necessar}', in order to give such hear- ers any adequate idea of Christ's divine nature.
The word " testifieth " deserves notice, as an expression pecu- liarly characteristic of Christ's ministry. He told Pilate, "I came into the world that I should bear witness unto the truth." (John xviii. 27.)
\And no man receiveth his testimony.] The expression "no man " in this sentence, must evidently, from the following verses, be taken with qualification. It must mean " very few." Andrew, Peter, Philip, and others, had received Christ's testimony. The sentence seems intended to rebuke the complaint uttered by John's disciples, " All men come unto him." John seems to say, " However many persons come to hear Je3us, you will yet see