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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>John 1:7 Commentaries: He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newcom.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../vmenus/john/1-7.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmcom/john/1-7.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="http://biblehub.com/commentaries/">Commentaries</a> > John 1:7</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../john/1-6.htm" title="John 1:6">◄</a> John 1:7 <a href="../john/1-8.htm" title="John 1:8">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all <i>men</i> through him might believe.</div><div id="jump">Jump to: <a href="/commentaries/alford/john/1.htm" title="Henry Alford - Greek Testament Critical Exegetical Commentary">Alford</a> • <a href="/commentaries/barnes/john/1.htm" title="Barnes' Notes">Barnes</a> • <a href="/commentaries/bengel/john/1.htm" title="Bengel's Gnomen">Bengel</a> • <a href="/commentaries/benson/john/1.htm" title="Benson Commentary">Benson</a> • <a href="/commentaries/illustrator/john/1.htm" title="Biblical Illustrator">BI</a> • <a href="/commentaries/calvin/john/1.htm" title="Calvin's Commentaries">Calvin</a> • <a href="/commentaries/cambridge/john/1.htm" title="Cambridge Bible">Cambridge</a> • <a href="/commentaries/chrysostom/john/1.htm" title="Chrysostom Homilies">Chrysostom</a> • <a href="/commentaries/clarke/john/1.htm" title="Clarke's Commentary">Clarke</a> • <a href="/commentaries/darby/john/1.htm" title="Darby's Bible Synopsis">Darby</a> • <a href="/commentaries/ellicott/john/1.htm" title="Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers">Ellicott</a> • <a href="/commentaries/expositors/john/1.htm" title="Expositor's Bible">Expositor's</a> • <a href="/commentaries/edt/john/1.htm" title="Expositor's Dictionary">Exp Dct</a> • <a href="/commentaries/egt/john/1.htm" title="Expositor's Greek">Exp Grk</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gaebelein/john/1.htm" title="Gaebelein's Annotated Bible">Gaebelein</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gsb/john/1.htm" title="Geneva Study Bible">GSB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gill/john/1.htm" title="Gill's Bible Exposition">Gill</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gray/john/1.htm" title="Gray's Concise">Gray</a> • <a href="/commentaries/guzik/john/1.htm" title="Guzik Bible Commentary">Guzik</a> • <a href="/commentaries/haydock/john/1.htm" title="Haydock Catholic Bible Commentary">Haydock</a> • <a href="/commentaries/hastings/john/1-1.htm" title="Hastings Great Texts">Hastings</a> • <a href="/commentaries/homiletics/john/1.htm" title="Pulpit Homiletics">Homiletics</a> • <a href="/commentaries/icc/john/1.htm" title="ICC NT Commentary">ICC</a> • <a href="/commentaries/jfb/john/1.htm" title="Jamieson-Fausset-Brown">JFB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/kelly/john/1.htm" title="Kelly Commentary">Kelly</a> • <a href="/commentaries/king-en/john/1.htm" title="Kingcomments Bible Studies">King</a> • <a href="/commentaries/lange/john/1.htm" title="Lange Commentary">Lange</a> • <a href="/commentaries/maclaren/john/1.htm" title="MacLaren Expositions">MacLaren</a> • <a href="/commentaries/mhc/john/1.htm" title="Matthew Henry Concise">MHC</a> • <a href="/commentaries/mhcw/john/1.htm" title="Matthew Henry Full">MHCW</a> • <a href="/commentaries/meyer/john/1.htm" title="Meyer Commentary">Meyer</a> • <a href="/commentaries/parker/john/1.htm" title="The People's Bible by Joseph Parker">Parker</a> • <a href="/commentaries/pnt/john/1.htm" title="People's New Testament">PNT</a> • <a href="/commentaries/poole/john/1.htm" title="Matthew Poole">Poole</a> • <a href="/commentaries/pulpit/john/1.htm" title="Pulpit Commentary">Pulpit</a> • <a href="/commentaries/sermon/john/1.htm" title="Sermon Bible">Sermon</a> • <a href="/commentaries/sco/john/1.htm" title="Scofield Reference Notes">SCO</a> • <a href="/commentaries/teed/john/1.htm" title="Teed Bible Commentary">Teed</a> • <a href="/commentaries/ttb/john/1.htm" title="Through The Bible">TTB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/vws/john/1.htm" title="Vincent's Word Studies">VWS</a> • <a href="/commentaries/wes/john/1.htm" title="Wesley's Notes">WES</a> • <a href="#tsk" title="Treasury of Scripture Knowledge">TSK</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="comtype">EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)</div><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/john/1.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(7) <span class= "bld">For a Witness.</span>—Stress is laid upon the work of John as “witness.” This was generally the object of his coming. It was specially to “bear witness of the Light.” The purpose of testimony is conviction “that all men through him might believe,” <span class= "ital">i.e.,</span> through John, through his witness. Compare with this purpose of the Baptist’s work the purpose of the Apostle’s writing, as he himself expresses it in the closing words of John 20; and also the condition and work of the Apostleship, as laid down by St. Peter at the first meeting after the Resurrection (<a href="/context/acts/1-21.htm" title="Why of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,">Acts 1:21-22</a>). The word “witness,” with its cognate forms, is one of the key-notes of the Johannine writings recurring alike in the Gospel the Epistles, and the Apocalypse. This is partly concealed from the general reader by the various renderings “record,” “testimony,” “witness,” for the one Greek root; but he may see by consulting any English concordance under these words, how frequently the thought was in the Apostle’s mind. See especially <a href="/revelation/1-2.htm" title="Who bore record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.">Revelation 1:2</a>; <a href="/revelation/1-9.htm" title="I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.">Revelation 1:9</a>, Notes.<p><a name="mhc" id="mhc"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/mhc/john/1.htm">Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary</a></div>1:6-14 John the Baptist came to bear witness concerning Jesus. Nothing more fully shows the darkness of men's minds, than that when the Light had appeared, there needed a witness to call attention to it. Christ was the true Light; that great Light which deserves to be called so. By his Spirit and grace he enlightens all that are enlightened to salvation; and those that are not enlightened by him, perish in darkness. Christ was in the world when he took our nature upon him, and dwelt among us. The Son of the Highest was here in this lower world. He was in the world, but not of it. He came to save a lost world, because it was a world of his own making. Yet the world knew him not. When he comes as a Judge, the world shall know him. Many say that they are Christ's own, yet do not receive him, because they will not part with their sins, nor have him to reign over them. All the children of God are born again. This new birth is through the word of God as the means, 1Pe 1:23, and by the Spirit of God as the Author. By his Divine presence Christ always was in the world. But now that the fulness of time was come, he was, after another manner, God manifested in the flesh. But observe the beams of his Divine glory, which darted through this veil of flesh. Men discover their weaknesses to those most familiar with them, but it was not so with Christ; those most intimate with him saw most of his glory. Although he was in the form of a servant, as to outward circumstances, yet, in respect of graces, his form was like the Son of God His Divine glory appeared in the holiness of his doctrine, and in his miracles. He was full of grace, fully acceptable to his Father, therefore qualified to plead for us; and full of truth, fully aware of the things he was to reveal.<a name="bar" id="bar"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/barnes/john/1.htm">Barnes' Notes on the Bible</a></div>For a witness - To give testimony. He came to prepare the minds of the people to receive him <a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/3.htm">Matthew 3</a>; <a href="http://biblehub.com/luke/3.htm">Luke 3</a>; to lead them by repentance to God; and to point out the Messiah to Israel when he came, <a href="/john/1-31.htm">John 1:31</a>.<p>Of the Light - That is, of the Messiah. Compare <a href="/isaiah/60-1.htm">Isaiah 60:1</a>.<p>That all men ... - It was the object of John's testimony that all people might believe. He designed to prepare them for it; to announce that the Messiah was about to come, to direct the minds of men to him, and thus to prepare them to believe on him when he came. Thus, he baptized them, saying "That they should believe on him who should come after him" <a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/19-4.htm">Acts 19:4</a>, and thus he produced a very general expectation that the Messiah was about to come. The testimony of John was especially valuable on the following accounts:<p>1. It was made when he had no personal acquaintance with Jesus of Nazareth, and of course there could have been no collusion or agreement to deceive them, <a href="/john/1-31.htm">John 1:31</a>.<p>2. It was sufficiently long before he came to excite general attention, and to fix the mind on it.<p>3. It was that of a man acknowledged by all to be a prophet of God - "for all men held John to be a prophet," <a href="/matthew/21-26.htm">Matthew 21:26</a>.<p>4. It was "for the express purpose" of declaring beforehand that he was about to appear.<p>5. It was "disinterested."<p>He was himself extremely popular. Many were disposed to receive him as the Messiah. It was evidently in his "power" to form a large party, and to be regarded extensively as the Christ. This was the highest honor to which a Jew could aspire; and it shows the value of John's testimony, that he was willing to lay all his honors at the feet of Jesus, and to acknowledge that he was unworthy to perform for him the office of the humblest servant, <a href="/matthew/3-11.htm">Matthew 3:11</a>.<p>Through him - Through John, or by means of his testimony.<p>Was not that Light - Was not "the Messiah." This is an explicit declaration designed to satisfy the disciples of John. The evidence that he was not the Messiah he states in the following verses.<p>From the conduct of John here we may learn,<p>1. The duty of laying all our honors at the feet of Jesus.<p>2. As John came that all might believe, so it is no less true of the ministry of Jesus himself. He came for a similar purpose, and we may all, therefore, trust in him for salvation.<p>continued...<a name="jfb" id="jfb"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/jfb/john/1.htm">Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary</a></div>7. through him—John.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/poole/john/1.htm">Matthew Poole's Commentary</a></div> <span class="bld">The same came for a witness:</span> John was called a <span class="ital">messenger</span> to denote his authority; a <span class="ital">witness, </span> to denote his work, which is the work of every true minister of the gospel. John was the first witness, and witnessed a thing wholly unknown (before him) to the generality of the world; for though the shepherds, and Simeon, and Anna, had given some testimony to Christ, when he was born, and brought into the temple to be offered to the Lord, yet that was thirty years since, and generally forgot; neither could they bear a testimony to him as an actual minister of the gospel. The apostles were to be <span class="ital">witnesses</span> to Christ, <span class="bld"><a href="/acts/1-8.htm" title="But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come on you: and you shall be witnesses to me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth.">Acts 1:8</a></span>; witnesses <span class="ital">of his resurrection, </span><span class="bldvs"> <a href="/acts/1-22.htm" title="Beginning from the baptism of John, to that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.">Acts 1:22</a> 4:33 5:32 10:41 13:31</span>. All the prophets bare witness to him, that whosoever believeth in his name should be saved, <span class="bld"><a href="/acts/10-43.htm" title="To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whoever believes in him shall receive remission of sins.">Acts 10:43</a></span>. So did John also; and John further pointed to him passing by, and witnessed that it was he of whom the prophets spake. So that the apostles, and so following ministers, were and are greater witnesses than John the Baptist. The prophets witnessed that he should come, John Baptist witnessed that he should come; the apostles witnessed that he was not only come, but had died, and was again risen from the dead. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">To bear witness of the Light; </span> for John’s office was to give a testimony to Christ the true Light, mentioned before; so called, because he maketh manifest, <span class="bld"><a href="/ephesians/5-13.htm" title="But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatever does make manifest is light.">Ephesians 5:13</a></span>. He revealeth his Father, <span class="bld"><a href="/matthew/11-27.htm" title="All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knows the Son, but the Father; neither knows any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.">Matthew 11:27</a></span>. He is <span class="ital">the brightness of his</span> Father’s <span class="ital">glory, </span> <span class="bld"><a href="/hebrews/1-3.htm" title="Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:">Hebrews 1:3</a></span>, who <span class="ital">is light, </span><span class="bldvs"> <a href="/1_john/1-5.htm" title="This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.">1Jo 1:5</a></span>, and the world is by him enlightened. It was prophesied of his times, <span class="bld"><a href="/isaiah/11-9.htm" title="They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.">Isaiah 11:9</a></span>, that <span class="ital">the earth should be full of the knowledge of the Lord. That all men through him might believe; </span> the end of John’s testimony was, that multitudes of all sorts might believe by him, or by it, as an instrumental cause of their faith. If we read it <span class="ital">by him, </span> it is most proper to understand the pronoun of John the Baptist; for we are not said to believe by Christ, but <span class="ital">in him, in his name, </span>& c. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="gil" id="gil"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/gill/john/1.htm">Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible</a></div>The same came for a witness,.... The end of his being sent, and the design of his coming were, <p>to bear witness of the light: by which is meant, not the light of nature, or reason; nor the light of the Gospel: but Christ himself, the author of light, natural, spiritual, and eternal. This was one of the names of the Messiah with the Jews; of whom they say (u), , "light is his name"; as it is said in <a href="/daniel/2-22.htm">Daniel 2:22</a> and the light dwelleth with him; on which they have (w) elsewhere this gloss, this is the King Messiah; and so they interpret <a href="/psalms/43-3.htm">Psalm 43:3</a> of him (x). Philo the Jew often speaks of the Logos, or word, as light, and calls him the intelligible light; the universal light, the most perfect light; represents him as full of divine light; and says, he is called the sun (y). Now John came to bear a testimony to him, as he did; of which an account is given in this chapter, very largely, and elsewhere; as that he testified of his existence before his incarnation; of his being with the Father, and in his bosom: of his deity and divine sonship; of his being the Messiah; of the fulness of grace that was in him; of his incarnation and satisfaction; of his descent from heaven; and of his relation to his church, as in <a href="/john/1-15.htm">John 1:15</a> the end of which witness was, <p>that all men through him might believe; that is, that the Jews, to whom he preached, might, through his testimony, believe that Jesus was the light, and true Messiah; for these words are to be taken in a limited sense, and not to be extended, to every individual of mankind; since millions were dead before John began his testimony, and multitudes then in being, and since, whom it never reached: nor can it design more than the Jews, to whom alone he bore witness of Christ; and the faith which he taught, and required by his testimony, was an assent unto him as the Messiah; though the preaching of the Gospel is a means of true spiritual faith in Christ; and doubtless it was so to many, as preached by John: it points out the object of faith, and encourages souls to believe in Christ; and hence, Gospel ministers are instruments by whom ethers believe; and faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God; and then is it, considerable end of the Gospel ministry answered, <p>(u) Echa Rabbati, fol. 50. 2.((w) Bereshit Rabba, fol. 1. 3. (x) Jarchi in ib. (y) De Maudi Opificio, p. 6. De Allegor. l. 2. p. 80. & de Somniis, p. 576, 578. <a name="gsb" id="gsb"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/gsb/john/1.htm">Geneva Study Bible</a></div><span class="cverse2">The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all <i>men</i> <span class="cverse3">{n}</span> through him might believe.</span><p>(n) Through John.</div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><div class="comtype">EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)</div><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/meyer/john/1.htm">Meyer's NT Commentary</a></div><a href="/john/1-7.htm" title="The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.">John 1:7</a>. <span class="greekheb">Εἰς μαρτυρίαν</span>] <span class="ital">to bear witness;</span> for John <span class="ital">testified</span> what had been prophetically <span class="ital">made known</span> to him by divine revelation respecting the Light which had come in human form. Comp. <a href="/john/1-33.htm" title="And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said to me, On whom you shall see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizes with the Holy Ghost.">John 1:33</a>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb">ἵνα πάντες</span>, <span class="greekheb">κ</span>.<span class="greekheb">τ</span>.<span class="greekheb">λ</span>.] Purpose of the <span class="greekheb">μαρτυρήσῃ</span>, final end of the <span class="greekheb">ἦλθεν</span>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb">πιστεύσ</span>.] <span class="ital">i.e.</span> in the light; comp. <a href="/context/john/1-8.htm" title="He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light....">John 1:8-9</a>; <a href="/john/12-36.htm" title="While you have light, believe in the light, that you may be the children of light. These things spoke Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.">John 12:36</a>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb">διʼ αὐτοῦ</span>] by means of <span class="ital">John</span>, so far as he by his witness-bearing <span class="ital">was the medium of producing</span> faith: “and thus John is a <span class="ital">servant</span> and <span class="ital">guide</span> to the Light, which is Christ” (Luther); not by means of <span class="ital">the light</span> (Grotius, Lampe, Semler), for here it is not faith in <span class="ital">God</span> (<a href="/1_peter/1-21.htm" title="Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.">1 Peter 1:21</a>) that is spoken of.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/egt/john/1.htm">Expositor's Greek Testament</a></div><a href="/john/1-7.htm" title="The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.">John 1:7</a>. <span class="greekheb">οὗτος ἦλθεν εἰς μαρτυρίαν</span> … <span class="greekheb">δι αὐτοῦ</span>. “The same (or, this man) came for witness,” etc. “John’s mission is first set forth under its generic aspect: he came for witness; and then its specific object (<span class="greekheb">ἵνα μαρτ</span>. <span class="greekheb">περὶ τ</span>. <span class="greekheb">φ</span>.) and its final object (<span class="greekheb">ἵνα παντ</span>. <span class="greekheb">πιστ</span>.) are defined co-ordinately,” Westcott. John was not to do a great work of his own but to point to another. All his experience, zeal, and influence were to be spent in testifying to the true Light. This he was to do “that all might believe through him”. The whole of this Gospel is a citing of witnesses, but John’s comes first and is of most importance. At first sight it might seem that his mission had failed. All did not believe. No; but all who did believe, speaking generally, believed through him. The first disciples won by Jesus were of John’s training; and through them belief has become general.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/cambridge/john/1.htm">Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges</a></div><span class="bld">7</span>. <span class="ital">for a witness</span>] Better, <span class="bld">for witness</span>, i.e. to bear witness, not to be a witness: what follows shews the meaning. The word ‘witness’ and ‘to bear witness’ are very frequent in S. John’s writings, and this frequency should be marked by retaining the same translation throughout: testimony to the truth is one of his favourite thoughts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">through him</span>] i.e. through the Baptist, the Herald of the Truth. Comp. <a href="/john/5-33.htm" title="You sent to John, and he bore witness to the truth.">John 5:33</a>; <a href="/acts/10-37.htm" title="That word, I say, you know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;">Acts 10:37</a>; <a href="/acts/13-24.htm" title="When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.">Acts 13:24</a>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/bengel/john/1.htm">Bengel's Gnomen</a></div><a href="/john/1-7.htm" title="The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.">John 1:7</a>. <span class="greekheb">Εἰς μαρτυρίαν</span>, <span class="ital">for a witness</span>) The evangelist again touches on this, <a href="/john/1-15.htm" title="John bore witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spoke, He that comes after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.">John 1:15</a>, and again, <a href="/john/1-19.htm" title="And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who are you?">John 1:19</a>. But with the fullest and most tender feeling he interweaves with this testimony of the Forerunner his own testimony as an apostle, by means of most noble digressions, in which he states the nature and grounds of the Baptist’s office, and partly premises, partly subjoins an explanation of his [the Baptist’s] brief sentences, and declares the full complement of his testimony [gives a clear filling up of it]: [<span class="ital">thus forming a kind of succinct prelude to our Lord’s own speeches, which He was about to set forth in this very Gospel.—Harm.</span>, p. 153.] What Matthew, Mark, and Luke term <span class="ital">a Gospel</span>, this John for the most part terms <span class="ital">a testimony</span> or <span class="ital">witness</span>: the former term expresses the relation to the promise, that went before: the latter expresses the altogether certain knowledge of him, who announces it: the former is used in reference to Christ as He was manifested; the latter, with reference to the Glory of Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD, when raised from the dead: accordingly, in the Acts and Epistles of the Apostles, both are often employed. <span class="ital">Testimony</span> applies to a thing, known for certain by witnesses, a thing not falling under the eyes at least of the hearers, and yet all important to them: accordingly to it answers <span class="ital">faith</span>. There follows immediately the declaration, <span class="ital">that he might bear witness of the Light</span>: and the words, <span class="ital">that he might bear witness</span>, are handled forthwith: the words, <span class="ital">of the Light</span>, are handled at <a href="/john/1-9.htm" title="That was the true Light, which lights every man that comes into the world.">John 1:9</a>.—<span class="greekheb">ἳνα μαρτυρήσῃ</span>, that <span class="ital">he might bear witness</span>) The sum of his testimony was: <span class="ital">He, who comes after me</span>, etc., <a href="/john/1-15.htm" title="John bore witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spoke, He that comes after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.">John 1:15</a>.—<span class="greekheb">περί τοῦ Θωτός</span>, <span class="ital">concerning the Light</span>) John comprises under the appellation <span class="ital">of the Light</span>, the things which he wrote, <a href="/context/john/1-1.htm" title="In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God....">John 1:1-5</a>.—<span class="greekheb">ἳνα</span>, <span class="ital">in order that</span>) They need Testimony, who were in darkness.—<span class="greekheb">πάντες</span>, <span class="ital">all men</span>) to whom <span class="ital">He had come</span>.[14]—<span class="greekheb"><span class="bld"><span class="ital">ΔἸ ΑὐΤΟῦ</span></span></span>, <span class="ital">through him</span>) <span class="ital">through</span> John, not <span class="greekheb">εἰς αὐτόν</span>, not <span class="ital">in</span> John, but <span class="ital">in</span> Christ, <a href="/john/1-12.htm" title="But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:">John 1:12</a>.[15] The power of John’s testimony extended itself so as even to come under the knowledge of the Gentiles, <a href="/acts/10-37.htm" title="That word, I say, you know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;">Acts 10:37</a> [Peter addressing the <span class="ital">Gentiles</span>, Cornelius and others, “That word <span class="ital">ye know</span>, which was published throughout all Judea, etc., after the baptism, which John preached.”] <span class="greekheb">Διά</span>, <span class="ital">through</span>, in a higher sense, is said of Christ, <a href="/1_peter/1-21.htm" title="Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.">1 Peter 1:21</a> [Who by Him do believe in God.]<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>[14] May it not express the grace of God, “who will, <span class="greekheb">θέλει</span>, have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth,” <a href="/1_timothy/2-4.htm" title="Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth.">1 Timothy 2:4</a>.—E.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>[15] Grot. wrongly understands <span class="greekheb">διʼ αὐτοῦ</span> through Him, the Light, which would confuse the whole, by rendering it necessary to understand <span class="greekheb">εἰς θεόν</span> after <span class="greekheb">πιστεύσωσι</span>.—E.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="pul" id="pul"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/john/1.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 7.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">This man came</span> (historic, <span class="greek">η΅λθε</span>) <span class="cmt_word">for witness, that he might bear witness concerning the Light.</span> The entire prophetic dispensation is thus characterized. That which the Baptist did, Malachi, Isaiah, Elijah, Hosea, Moses, had done in their day. He came, and by penetrating insight and burning word, by flashes of moral revelation and intense earnestness, "bare witness concerning the Light" which was ever shining into the darkness. His aim and theirs was to prevent the forces of darkness from suppressing or absorbing the light. He came to sting the apathy and disturb the self-complacency of the darkness. He came to interpret the fact of the Light which was shining but not apprehended; and so did all the prophetic ministry of which he was the latest and most illustrious exponent. He came to assert the meaning for man of all God's perfections; to call conscience from its death sleep; to draw distinctions of tremendous significance between moral and ceremonial obedience; to exalt obedience above sacrifice, and works meet for repentance above Abrahamic privilege; to warn by lurid threatenings of a fiery wrath and a terrible curse which would fall on the disobedient, though consecrated, people. In this he was but the last of a goodly fellowship of prophets who bore witness to the Light of life which had its being in the Eternal Logos of God. He came, as they all had come, with a view of producing results far greater than, as a matter of fact, they have actually achieved. He came to bear such testimony <span class="cmt_word">that all through him</span>, <span class="accented">i.e.</span> by the force of his appeal or by the fierce glow thus cast upon the perils and follies of the hour, <span class="cmt_word">might believe</span> - might realize the full significance of the Light which they had hitherto refused to accept. The greatness of this expectation corresponds with the hope which the ministry of Jesus failed also to realize (<a href="/matthew/11-9.htm">Matthew 11:9-14</a>). The splendid ministry of this "burning and shining lamp" might, it would seem, have brought all Israel to acknowledge Christ as the Light of the world; but "the darkness apprehended it not." The entire prophetic dispensation, the testimony which the priestly services and sacrifices bore to the evil of sin and to the awfulness of righteousness, as well as the condemnation of the follies and pleasures of the world, involved in John the Baptist's ascetic profession, might have roused all Israel to believe in the Light. He gathered together all the forces of the Mosaic, prophetic, Levitical, Essenic ministries to bear on the people. Everything that Law could do was done to reveal the Light; but "all" did not believe, for "the darkness apprehended it not." John 1:7<a name="vws" id="vws"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/vws/john/1.htm">Vincent's Word Studies</a></div>The same (οὗτος)<p>Compare <a href="http://biblehub.com/john/1-2.htm">John 1:2</a>, and the pronoun ἐκεῖνος, he, in <a href="/john/1-8.htm">John 1:8</a>.<p>For a witness (εἰς μαρτυρίαν)<p>Revised version of the New Testament, more correctly, for witness: a witness would be, μάρτυρα as <a href="/acts/1-8.htm">Acts 1:8</a>. The sense is for witness-bearing or to bear witness. On the word, see <a href="/acts/1-22.htm">Acts 1:22</a>; <a href="/1_peter/5-1.htm">1 Peter 5:1</a>. It is one of John's characteristic words, occurring nearly fifty times in various forms in his Gospel, and thirty or forty times in the Epistles and Revelation. The emphatic development of the idea of witness is peculiar to this Gospel. "It evidently belongs to a time when men had begun to reason about the faith, and to analyze the grounds on which it rested" (Westcott). He develops the idea under the following forms: The witness of the Father (<a href="http://biblehub.com/john/5-31.htm">John 5:31</a>, <a href="http://biblehub.com/john/5-34.htm">John 5:34</a>, <a href="/john/5-37.htm">John 5:37</a>); the witness of Christ himself (<a href="/john/8-14.htm">John 8:14</a>; <a href="/john/18-37.htm">John 18:37</a>); the witness of works (<a href="http://biblehub.com/john/5-17.htm">John 5:17</a>, <a href="/john/5-36.htm">John 5:36</a>; <a href="/john/10-25.htm">John 10:25</a>; <a href="/john/14-11.htm">John 14:11</a>; <a href="/john/15-24.htm">John 15:24</a>); the witness of Scripture (<a href="http://biblehub.com/john/5-39.htm">John 5:39</a>, <a href="http://biblehub.com/john/5-40.htm">John 5:40</a>, <a href="/john/5-46.htm">John 5:46</a>; <a href="/john/1-46.htm">John 1:46</a>); the witness of the forerunner (<a href="/john/1-7.htm">John 1:7</a>; <a href="http://biblehub.com/john/5-33.htm">John 5:33</a>, <a href="/john/5-35.htm">John 5:35</a>); the witness of the disciples (<a href="/john/15-27.htm">John 15:27</a>; <a href="/john/19-35.htm">John 19:35</a>; <a href="/john/21-24.htm">John 21:24</a>; <a href="/1_john/1-2.htm">1 John 1:2</a>; <a href="/1_john/4-14.htm">1 John 4:14</a>); the witness of the Spirit (<a href="/john/15-26.htm">John 15:26</a>; <a href="http://biblehub.com/john/16-13.htm">John 16:13</a>, <a href="/john/16-14.htm">John 16:14</a>; <a href="/1_john/5-6.htm">1 John 5:6</a>). Note the emphasis attached to the idea here, by the twofold form in which it is put: first, generally, for witness, and then by giving the subject of the testimony.<p>All<p>The Baptist took up the work of the prophets, as respects their preparation for the universal extension of the divine call (<a href="/isaiah/49-6.htm">Isaiah 49:6</a>). His message was to men, without regard to nation, sect, descent, or other considerations.<p>Through him<p>John the Baptist. <div class="vheading2">Links</div><a href="/interlinear/john/1-7.htm">John 1:7 Interlinear</a><br /><a href="/texts/john/1-7.htm">John 1:7 Parallel Texts</a><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/niv/john/1-7.htm">John 1:7 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/john/1-7.htm">John 1:7 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/john/1-7.htm">John 1:7 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/john/1-7.htm">John 1:7 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/john/1-7.htm">John 1:7 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://bibleapps.com/john/1-7.htm">John 1:7 Bible Apps</a><br /><a href="/john/1-7.htm">John 1:7 Parallel</a><br /><a href="http://bibliaparalela.com/john/1-7.htm">John 1:7 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="http://holybible.com.cn/john/1-7.htm">John 1:7 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="http://saintebible.com/john/1-7.htm">John 1:7 French Bible</a><br /><a href="http://bibeltext.com/john/1-7.htm">John 1:7 German Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a><br /></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td align="center"><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script><br /><br /> </div> <div id="left"><a href="../john/1-6.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="John 1:6"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="John 1:6" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../john/1-8.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="John 1:8"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="John 1:8" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div> <div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>