159
61. "Εἰδὼς ο xiii. i.
k. xi. 17. Mk. v. 30. 5 Gen. xviii. 62. ἐὰν οὖν θεωρῆτε τὸν 12.
63. τὸ
ἡ σὰρξ οὐκ ὠφελεῖ οὐδέν' τὰ ῥήματα
64. GAN εἰσὶν ἐξ
"Hider γὰρ 3 ἐξ ἀρχῆς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς, dxvi.gonly.
am ἀρχῆς freq.
sin, the devotedness to man and perfect harmony with God, shown in the cross, is what brings life to the world; and it is this Spirit men are invited to partake of. It is therefore not a fleshly but a spiritual transaction of which I have been speaking to you. ([Bengel excellently: ‘*Non sola Deitas Christi, nec solus Spiritus sanctus significatur, sed universe Spiritus, cui contradistinguitur οαγο”..] τὰ ῥήματα . . . ἐστιν, His entire dis- course at Capernaum, and whatever other sayings He had uttered, were spirit and life. It was through what He said that He made Himself known and offered Himself tothem. To those who believed His words, spirit and life came in their believing. By believing they were brought into contact with the life in Him.—Ver. 64. But τινὲς οὐ πιστεύουσιν, and there- fore do not receive the life. This Jesus said 78et γὰρ . . . αὐτόν, for Jesus knew from the first who they were that believed not,and whoit was whoshould betray Him. “Hoc ideo addidit Evangelista, ne quis putet temere judicasse Christum de suis auditoribus,”’ Calvin. Euthymius says it illustrates His forbearance. ἐξ ἀρχῆς, from the beginning of His connection with individuals. Weiss supposes it means from the beginning of their not believing. He gave utterance to this knowledge in ver. 26. He even knew who it was who should betray Him. This is said in anticipation of vv. 70, 71. This declaration raises the question, Why then did Jesus call Judas to the Apostolate? Holtzmann indeed sup- poses that this intimation is purely apolo- getic and intended to show that Jesus was not deceived in appointing Judas. It is unnecessary to increase the difficulty by supposing the ἐξ ἀρχῆς to refer to the time previous to his call. Jesus saw in Judas qualities fitting him to be an Apostle; but seeing him among the others He recognised that he was an
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