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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//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" /><title>John 5:46 If you had believed Moses, you would believe Me, because he wrote about Me.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/john/5-46.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/15/43_Jhn_05_46.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="John 5:46 - The Witness of Scripture" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="If you had believed Moses, you would believe Me, because he wrote about Me." /><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'; 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for he wrote of me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/john/5.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />If you had believed Moses, you would believe Me, because he wrote about Me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/john/5.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />For if you were believing Moses, you would have believed Me; for he wrote concerning Me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/john/5.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/john/5.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/john/5.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/john/5.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/john/5.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote of Me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/john/5.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/john/5.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />For if you believed <i>and</i> relied on [the Scriptures written by] Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me [personally].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/john/5.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />For if you believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/john/5.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, because he wrote about Me. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/john/5.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />For if ye believed Moses, ye would believe me; for he wrote of me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/john/5.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Moses wrote about me, and if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/john/5.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />For if ye believed Moses, ye would believe me; for he wrote of me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/john/5.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />If you really believed Moses, you would believe me. Moses wrote about me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/john/5.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />If you had really believed Moses, you would have believed me, because he wrote about me. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/john/5.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />because if you believed Moses, you would believe me, since he wrote about me. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/john/5.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />If you had believed Moses, you would believe Me, because he wrote about Me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/john/5.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />If you believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/john/5.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote about me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/john/5.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote concerning me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/john/5.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />For if you believe Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote about me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/john/5.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote about me. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/john/5.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />for if you were believing Moses, you would have been believing Me, for he wrote concerning Me;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/john/5.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />For if you were believing Moses, you would have believed Me; for he wrote concerning Me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/john/5.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> for if ye were believing Moses, ye would have been believing me, for he wrote concerning me;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/john/5.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />For if ye had believed Moses, ye had believed me: for he himself wrote of me.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/john/5.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />For if you did believe Moses, you would perhaps believe me also; for he wrote of me. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/john/5.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />For if you were believing in Moses, perhaps you would believe in me also. For he wrote about me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/john/5.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me, because he wrote about me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/john/5.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/john/5.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />For if you had believed in Moses, you would also have believed in me; because Moses wrote concerning me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/john/5.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />For if you had trusted Moses, you would also trust me, for he wrote about Me.<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/john/5.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me; for he wrote of me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/john/5.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>For if you were believing Moses, you were believing me; for he wrote concerning me.<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/john/5.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />For if ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for of me did he write.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/john/5.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />for had you believed Moses, you would have believed me: since he has spoke of me in his writings.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/john/5.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />For if you believe Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote about me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/john/5.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>For, if ye were believing Moses, ye would believe Me; for he wrote concerning Me.<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/john/5.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br /><FR>For if ye believed Moses, ye would believe me; for he wrote concerning me:<Fr><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/john/5-46.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ixy2bchmXZ0?start=1708" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/john/5.htm">The Witness of Scripture</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">45</span>Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, in whom you have put your hope. <span class="reftext">46</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/1063.htm" title="1063: gar (Conj) -- For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason."></a> <a href="/greek/1487.htm" title="1487: ei (Conj) -- If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.">If</a> <a href="/greek/4100.htm" title="4100: episteuete (V-IIA-2P) -- From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust.">you had believed</a> <a href="/greek/3475.htm" title="3475: Mōusei (N-DMS) -- Or Moses, or Mouses of Hebrew origin; Moseus, Moses, or Mouses, the Hebrew lawgiver.">Moses,</a> <a href="/greek/302.htm" title="302: an (Prtcl) -- A primary particle, denoting a supposition, wish, possibility or uncertainty."></a> <a href="/greek/4100.htm" title="4100: episteuete (V-IIA-2P) -- From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust.">you would believe</a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: emoi (PPro-D1S) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.">Me,</a> <a href="/greek/1063.htm" title="1063: gar (Conj) -- For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.">because</a> <a href="/greek/1565.htm" title="1565: ekeinos (DPro-NMS) -- That, that one there, yonder. From ekei; that one (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed.">he</a> <a href="/greek/1125.htm" title="1125: egrapsen (V-AIA-3S) -- A primary verb; to grave, especially to write; figuratively, to describe.">wrote</a> <a href="/greek/4012.htm" title="4012: peri (Prep) -- From the base of peran; properly, through, i.e. Around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time.">about</a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: emou (PPro-G1S) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.">Me.</a> </span> <span class="reftext">47</span>But since you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/18-15.htm">Deuteronomy 18:15</a></span><br />The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/24-27.htm">Luke 24:27</a></span><br />And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/3-22.htm">Acts 3:22</a></span><br />For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to Him in everything He tells you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-37.htm">Acts 7:37</a></span><br />This is the same Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/1-45.htm">John 1:45</a></span><br />Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/3-14.htm">John 3:14</a></span><br />Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/11-24.htm">Hebrews 11:24-26</a></span><br />By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. / He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin. / He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/10-5.htm">Romans 10:5</a></span><br />For concerning the righteousness that is by the law, Moses writes: “The man who does these things will live by them.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/3-24.htm">Galatians 3:24</a></span><br />So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/8-56.htm">John 8:56</a></span><br />Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see My day. He saw it and was glad.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-17.htm">Matthew 5:17</a></span><br />Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/16-31.htm">Luke 16:31</a></span><br />Then Abraham said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/1-17.htm">John 1:17</a></span><br />For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/1-10.htm">1 Peter 1:10-11</a></span><br />Concerning this salvation, the prophets who foretold the grace to come to you searched and investigated carefully, / trying to determine the time and setting to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/3-21.htm">Romans 3:21</a></span><br />But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">For had you believed Moses, you would have believed me; for he wrote of me.</p><p class="hdg">had.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/galatians/2-19.htm">Galatians 2:19</a></b></br> For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/galatians/3-10.htm">Galatians 3:10,13,24</a></b></br> For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed <i>is</i> every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/galatians/4-21.htm">Galatians 4:21-31</a></b></br> Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? … </p><p class="hdg">for.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/john/1-45.htm">John 1:45</a></b></br> Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/3-15.htm">Genesis 3:15</a></b></br> And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/12-3.htm">Genesis 12:3</a></b></br> And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/john/5-39.htm">Belief</a> <a href="/john/5-44.htm">Believe</a> <a href="/john/4-53.htm">Believed</a> <a href="/john/5-24.htm">Believing</a> <a href="/john/5-45.htm">Moses</a> <a href="/john/5-39.htm">Writings</a> <a href="/john/1-45.htm">Wrote</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/john/5-47.htm">Belief</a> <a href="/john/5-47.htm">Believe</a> <a href="/john/6-64.htm">Believed</a> <a href="/john/6-35.htm">Believing</a> <a href="/john/6-32.htm">Moses</a> <a href="/john/5-47.htm">Writings</a> <a href="/john/5-47.htm">Wrote</a><div class="vheading2">John 5</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/5-1.htm">Jesus on the Sabbath day cures him who was diseased thirty-eight years.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/5-10.htm">The Jews therefore object, and persecute him for it.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/5-17.htm">He answers for himself, and reproves them, showing by the testimony of his Father,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">31. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/5-31.htm">of John,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">36. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/5-36.htm">of his works,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">39. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/5-39.htm">and of the Scriptures, who he is.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><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> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/5.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/john/5.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>If you had believed Moses</b><br>This phrase highlights the importance of Moses in Jewish tradition as the lawgiver and prophet. Moses is credited with writing the first five books of the Bible, known as the Torah or Pentateuch. In the context of <a href="/john/5.htm">John 5</a>, Jesus is addressing Jewish leaders who prided themselves on their adherence to the Mosaic Law. The implication is that true belief in Moses would naturally lead to belief in Jesus, as Moses' writings contain prophecies and types that point to the coming Messiah. For example, <a href="/deuteronomy/18-15.htm">Deuteronomy 18:15</a> speaks of a prophet like Moses whom God would raise up, which is understood as a reference to Christ.<p><b>you would believe Me</b><br>Here, Jesus asserts His authority and identity as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. The Jewish leaders' failure to recognize Jesus as the Messiah is attributed to their lack of genuine belief in the Scriptures they claim to uphold. This statement underscores the continuity between the Old and New Testaments, with Jesus as the central figure who fulfills the promises and prophecies of the Old Testament. The connection between belief in Moses and belief in Jesus is a call to recognize the unity of God's revelation.<p><b>because he wrote about Me</b><br>This phrase indicates that Moses' writings contain direct and indirect references to Jesus. Examples include the promise of a coming prophet (<a href="/deuteronomy/18-15.htm">Deuteronomy 18:15</a>), the typology of the Passover lamb (Exodus 12), and the bronze serpent lifted up in the wilderness (<a href="/numbers/21-9.htm">Numbers 21:9</a>), which Jesus Himself references in <a href="/john/3-14.htm">John 3:14</a>. These elements serve as types and shadows that find their ultimate fulfillment in Christ. The assertion that Moses wrote about Jesus challenges the audience to re-examine their understanding of the Scriptures and recognize Jesus as the anticipated Messiah.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/jesus_christ.htm">Jesus Christ</a></b><br>The central figure in this passage, asserting His divine authority and connection to the Old Testament.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>A revered prophet and lawgiver in Jewish tradition, whose writings are foundational to the Jewish faith.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_jewish_leaders.htm">The Jewish Leaders</a></b><br>The audience Jesus addresses, who are knowledgeable about the Law of Moses but skeptical of Jesus' claims.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_writings_of_moses.htm">The Writings of Moses</a></b><br>Refers to the first five books of the Bible (the Pentateuch), which include prophecies and typologies pointing to the Messiah.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_event_of_jesus'_discourse.htm">The Event of Jesus' Discourse</a></b><br>This conversation occurs during a confrontation with Jewish leaders who question Jesus' authority and identity.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_the_fulfillment_of_prophecy.htm">Understanding the Fulfillment of Prophecy</a></b><br>Recognize that Jesus is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, including those by Moses. This understanding strengthens faith in the continuity and reliability of Scripture.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_belief.htm">The Importance of Belief</a></b><br>Jesus emphasizes belief in His identity and mission. Belief in Moses' writings should naturally lead to belief in Jesus, as they testify about Him.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/scriptural_consistency.htm">Scriptural Consistency</a></b><br>The Bible is a unified account that points to Jesus. Studying the Old Testament with a Christ-centered lens reveals deeper insights into God's redemptive plan.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_the_law.htm">The Role of the Law</a></b><br>The Law given through Moses serves as a tutor leading to Christ. Understanding its purpose helps believers appreciate the grace and truth that came through Jesus.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/e/engaging_with_skepticism.htm">Engaging with Skepticism</a></b><br>Jesus' interaction with the Jewish leaders teaches us how to engage with those who doubt or misunderstand the Scriptures, using the Word itself to reveal truth.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_john_5.htm">Top 10 Lessons from John 5</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_is_the_author_of_genesis.htm">Who is the author of Genesis?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_the_torah_describe_moses'_death.htm">If Moses wrote the Torah, why does it describe his own death in Deuteronomy 34?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_are_there_anachronisms_in_genesis.htm">If Moses wrote the Torah, why are there anachronisms such as references to kings in Genesis?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_the_writing_date_of_genesis.htm">What is the writing date of Genesis?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/john/5.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(46) <span class= "bld">For had ye believed Moses.</span>--The present incredulity springs from that of the past. If they had really believed Moses, they would have seen in the whole spirit of the Pentateuch a manifestation of God, which would have led them to the fuller manifestation in Christ. Worship, and sacrifice, and offering, and priesthood, were all meant to teach. Their very name for "law" (<span class= "ital">Thorah</span>) meant "instruction." But they accepted what the senses could know, and never went down beneath this surface to its true significance--<span class= "ital">i.e.,</span> they never <span class= "ital">believed</span> Moses. We have here, in another form, the thought of <a href="/context/john/5-39.htm" title="Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.">John 5:39-40</a>.<p><span class= "bld">For he wrote of me.</span>--See the marginal references; but the thought is not to be confined to these passages.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/john/5.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 46, 47.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">For if ye believed Moses, ye would believe me.</span> The reason for the previous saying is introduced by <span class="greek">γάρ</span>. The form of the conditional sentence shows that the protasis is a supposition of an event contrary to the fact. They were <span class="accented">not believing</span> Moses, though they were putting a vain and illusive confidence in him; and hence they were not believing in Christ. Here is the secret of the antagonism to the Lord. A deeper understanding of their own Scripture would involve an acceptance of the claims of Christ. <span class="cmt_word">For he wrote of me</span>. The old saying contains Christ's utterance: <span class="accented">Novum Testamentum in Vetere latet, Vetus Testamentum in Novo patet.</span> Reference is made to the great place which Moses gave to the first promise, to the typical deliverances of a fallen world, to the hopes of a redeeming Seed. Christ referred to the Mosaic type involved in the spirit willing to sacrifice the Only Begotten, to the creation of the birthright blessing, the visions of the dying Israel, to the blessings on Judah; to the significance of the Law, of the tabernacle, of the Passover, of the Day of Atonement, of prophet, priest, and king, and the very special prophecy concerning a Prophet like unto himself. More than this, Moses had set forth in the Decalogue the portrait sketch of the perfect Man, of the Divine life which the Lord Jesus proceeded to fill out, to fulfil. He awakened by the Law that sense of sin and sinfulness which the Lord Christ had come to soothe and obliterate. but if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? "They are easier for you to understand; you have them ever on your tongue. If their meaning is missed, the deeper truths of my words will be more inaccessible to you." The antithesis is rather between the "his" and "my" than between the "writings" and "words." "This charge of not believing Moses, addressed to people who were put in a fury by the pretended violation of one of the Mosaic commandments, recalls other words of Jesus (<a href="/matthew/23-29.htm">Matthew 23:29-32</a>), '<span class="accented">Ye build the tombs of the prophets, wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves that ye are children of them that killed the prophets</span>" (Godet). <p> <p> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/john/5-46.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">If</span><br /><span class="grk">εἰ</span> <span class="translit">(ei)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1487.htm">Strong's 1487: </a> </span><span class="str2">If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you had believed</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐπιστεύετε</span> <span class="translit">(episteuete)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4100.htm">Strong's 4100: </a> </span><span class="str2">From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Moses,</span><br /><span class="grk">Μωϋσεῖ</span> <span class="translit">(Mōusei)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Dative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3475.htm">Strong's 3475: </a> </span><span class="str2">Or Moses, or Mouses of Hebrew origin; Moseus, Moses, or Mouses, the Hebrew lawgiver.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you would believe</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐπιστεύετε</span> <span class="translit">(episteuete)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4100.htm">Strong's 4100: </a> </span><span class="str2">From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Me,</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐμοί</span> <span class="translit">(emoi)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1473.htm">Strong's 1473: </a> </span><span class="str2">I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">because</span><br /><span class="grk">γὰρ</span> <span class="translit">(gar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1063.htm">Strong's 1063: </a> </span><span class="str2">For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">he</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐκεῖνος</span> <span class="translit">(ekeinos)</span><br /><span class="parse">Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1565.htm">Strong's 1565: </a> </span><span class="str2">That, that one there, yonder. From ekei; that one (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">wrote</span><br /><span class="grk">ἔγραψεν</span> <span class="translit">(egrapsen)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1125.htm">Strong's 1125: </a> </span><span class="str2">A primary verb; to 'grave', especially to write; figuratively, to describe.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">about</span><br /><span class="grk">περὶ</span> <span class="translit">(peri)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4012.htm">Strong's 4012: </a> </span><span class="str2">From the base of peran; properly, through, i.e. Around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Me.</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐμοῦ</span> <span class="translit">(emou)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1473.htm">Strong's 1473: </a> </span><span class="str2">I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/john/5-46.htm">John 5:46 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/john/5-46.htm">John 5:46 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/john/5-46.htm">John 5:46 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/john/5-46.htm">John 5:46 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/john/5-46.htm">John 5:46 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/john/5-46.htm">John 5:46 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/john/5-46.htm">John 5:46 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/john/5-46.htm">John 5:46 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/john/5-46.htm">John 5:46 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/john/5-46.htm">John 5:46 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/john/5-46.htm">NT Gospels: John 5:46 For if you believed Moses you would (Jhn Jo Jn) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/john/5-45.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="John 5:45"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="John 5:45" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/john/5-47.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="John 5:47"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="John 5:47" /></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>