Commentators · Puritans and the 1700s
Johann Albrecht Bengel
1687-1752 · Lutheran Pietist
Lutheran scholar and teacher in Württemberg, a founder of the careful study of the New Testament's Greek manuscripts.
His Gnomon (1742) comments word by word in brief, pointed notes; John Wesley drew on it for his own notes on the New Testament.
This biography is a draft awaiting review.
Works in Logia
What Johann Albrecht Bengel says, verse by verse
John 1
- John 1:1 · 3 passages
John’s style, especially in this passage, is pre-eminent for its simplicity, nicety [acute refinement, ‘subtilitas’], and sublimity. The Beginning here means that time, when all things began to be and were created by the…
- John 1:2
He alone. The He comprises [includes in its application] the whole of the verse immediately preceding it, as He, in the 7th verse, comprises the 6th verse. ... This, being repeated [from ver. 1],…
- John 1:3
A large word, by which the world, i.e. the whole totality of things created is denoted, ver. 10. All things, which are outside of God, were made; and all things which were made, were…
- John 1:4
After the consideration of being [esse], the next consideration is as to living [vivere]. Then [the result of life entering the world] there is no death, there is then no nature devoid of grace.…
- John 1:5
From this verse the doctrine of evil and its rise, receives much light. ... For it is a privation, which men have incurred [ To wit, that state of the human race is expressed…
- John 1:6
The answer is, There is no introduction: the treatise itself [ipsa tractatio, the handling of the subject itself] begins with the beginning of the book. For in ver. 6 the Evangelist already describes the…
- John 1:7
What Matthew, Mark, and Luke term a Gospel, this John for the most part terms a testimony or witness : the former term expresses the relation to the promise, that went before : the…
- John 1:8
Some had suspected, that John was the Light : ... that One points out a more remote object.
- John 1:9
The Light itself, moreover, was that true light, which enlighteneth. ... There follows immediately the declaration, which enlighteneth, etc. This forms an antithesis to John, [who was only] a lamp, a witness. ... every…
- John 1:10
The evangelist adds this, lest any one should so understand the expression, coming into the world, as if the Light had not been previously in the world at all. Three times in this verse…
- John 1:11
From the world, the whole, the discourse goes down to the part. ... The time, moreover, of His coming into the world and to His own is one and the same, namely after the…
- John 1:12
In ver. 12 and 13 mere external differences are taken away most effectually. ... This is the Glory of Christ, the Only-begotten Son. ... but the filiation itself is this power, or, in other…
- John 1:13
the Hebrew idiom often has bloods in the Plural number, even when only one man is spoken of: but when the subject treated of is generation, it does not call it the blood or…
- John 1:14 · 3 passages
Flesh (besides that it denotes as to us our corrupt nature, estranged-from the Spirit of God, ver. 13), denotes the human body, or, as in this place, the man himself, denominated from his visible…
- John 1:15 · 2 passages
From this point the testimony of John is described more at large; and the whole passage, from ver. 15 to 28, is indeed composed of two members, but, however, both parts fall on the…
- John 1:16
The evangelist confirms the fact, that to this prediction of John the Baptist the event corresponded, and that the priority of office fell to Christ; for the statement in this verse is that of…
- John 1:17
producing wrath [Rom. iv. 15], and having a shadow [Heb. x. 1]: the moral and ceremonial law. ... The law is not Moses’ own: [but] grace and truth are Christ’s own. ... To grace…
- John 1:18 · 2 passages
Whom grace and truth exhibit as love [in essence]. ... not even Moses, much less those earlier than the time of Moses, nor Jacob, nor Isaiah, nor Ezekiel: not even the angels saw Him…
- John 1:19
the Jews) Matthew, Mark, and Luke rarely employ the appellation Jews; John most frequently: no doubt the cause is, they supposed, as their first readers, Jews: John, believers of the Gentiles. ... from Jerusalem)…
- John 1:20
he confessed) the truth. Comp. ver. 8; ch. v. 33. ... he denied not) Whilst he denied himself, he did not deny Christ [Ps. cxviii. 15, 16 (Perhaps Beng. means Ps. cxix. = cxviii.…
- John 1:21
John had said, I am not the Christ. ‘They persevere in asking about the subject: it would have been better for them to have asked about the predicate, Who is the Christ? Where is…
- John 1:22–23
may give an answer) The people had demanded an answer, and especially the Jewish chief priests. ... concerning) Each man himself ought) to know himself [and, if he has any undertaking in particular, he…
- John 1:24
who made a great point of Jewish baptism; and acknowledged the baptism of John to be a thing of great moment, not to be administered except by one having a Divine mission. The evangelist…
- John 1:26–27
in the midst of you) especially at the time of His baptism. ... Hath taken His stand [statuit sese]. ... ye know not) He addresses the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who had not been present…
- John 1:28
in Bethabara) Therefore they had come a long way, ver. 19. ... beyond, in relation to Jerusalem. ... where) Where he was wont to baptize. ... The Bethany here was one beyond Jordan, which…
- John 1:29 · 2 passages
coming to him) after His baptism, as we have seen [and indeed not on the very day of His baptism, on which Jesus was immediately led up into the wilderness (Matt. iv.1.) In this…
- John 1:30–31
a man) Great, peerless ... prior [to me]) Notes, ver. 15. ... I knew Him not by face, just as yourselves [knew Him not], ver. 26. “There standeth one among you, whom ye know…
- John 1:32
bare record) as concerning a fact seen by himself and not by the people. The words which follow [comp. ver. 34] were part of his record [testimony]: the words which are spoken, ver. 29,…
- John 1:33–34
I knew Him not, before that I saw the Spirit descending. ... He that sent me) God. ... I saw the Spirit descending. ... I became a witness [I bare record]. ... the Son…
- John 1:35–36
on the following day) Great days! The first the day of the record borne as to Jesus being Messiah ; ver. 15, 163; the second, the day of his testimony concerning the same Person,…
- John 1:37
of their own accord from behind. [Here were] the first commencements of the Christian Church. At the beginning Jesus invited disciples with a kind of milk-like [‘lactea, alluring] sweetness. [You will not find that…
- John 1:38
He was aware it was Himself they sought. He means therefore, What seek ye with Me? not, Whom seek ye? By this question He touched their heart. He showed that He knew that they…
- John 1:39
they saw) They might have seen proofs of the Messiah in His dwelling; which was simple, quiet, neat, silent, and frugal, without any costly array of vases and books, (comp. 2 Kings iv. 10…
- John 1:41
findeth) With the festival-like [joyous] freshness of those days beautifully corresponds the word findeth, which is used here more frequently [than elsewhere ]. ... first) It is to be presumed, that both of them…
- John 1:42
having gazed earnestly at him [fixing His eye upon him] An effectual look. ... Simon, son of Jona) These names no one had told the Saviour: and so by this address by name He…
- John 1:43–44
would go forth) and He did go forth, which ch. ii. 1 implies. By comparing with this ch. ii., especially the 11th verse, “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and…
- John 1:45
findeth) Philip, after being called, immediately sets himself to gain another [makes a gain on his talent, ‘ lucrifacit”]. ... Nathanael) It is probable that he was admitted among the apostles, and that he…
- John 1:46
can anything? Therefore there were many worthless characters. Comp. as to that whole region, ch. vii. 52, “Search and look; for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet” [the Pharisees to Nicodemus]. Nathanael’s question is…
- John 1:47
concerning Him, not immediately to Him ... truly) An affirmation showing intimate knowledge. ... an Israelite) one worthy to see angels ascending and descending, as Jacob did [on the ladder in his dream], ver.…
- John 1:48
whence) Jesus does not answer this question, but shows that He knows even more about Nathanael. ... a fig-tree) An emblem of peace and Gospel security [1 Kings iv. 25; Mic. iv. 4]. ...…
- John 1:49
he answered) Considerate quickness in believing brings with it a blessed [sumptuous] portion: slowness is censured, Luke xxiv. 25, “ O fools, and slow of heart to believe.” ... Thou art the Son of…
- John 1:50
I saw) The repetition confirms [the assertion]: as at ch. iv. 17, 18. ... The same figure [the interrogation expressing surprise, rather than a query] occurs, Luke xxii. 52. At the same time the…
- John 1:51
But why [is it repeated twice? Jesus spake in the name of the Father and in His own: add the note on 2 Cor. i. 20 [The promises of God—are in Him, Amen]: and…
John 2
- John 2:1
On the third day after the promise given, ch. i. 51. Now is exhibited a specimen [ofits fulfilment]. [Between that day, on which Nathanael was gained over, and the celebration of the marriage-feast, one…
- John 2:2
the disciples) There were by this time more disciples than those who had invited Jesus and His disciples seem to have thought: on that account the wine was the more speedily all spent; but…
- John 2:3
failing [coming short]) How many days the marriage-feast lasted, on what day of it the Lord came and the wine failed, is not known. ... The newly-wedded couple have not. She means this: I…
- John 2:4
what is there [common] to Me and thee?) Thy thoughts are one thing, saith He, mine another. Similarly the disciples are disciplined, ch. vi. 6, “Jesus saith to Philip, Whence shall we buy bread,…
- John 2:5
she saith) Mary had not yet seen a miracle performed by Jesus: ver. 11 [proves this]; but from His own reply she wisely inferred, that one was about to be performed. ... whatsoever He…
- John 2:6–8
water-pots, rather more broad in shape, than high: for they were lying ... and they were capacious, long, broad, and deep, out of which draughts might be drawn, ver. 8. ... of the Jews)…
- John 2:9–10
the governor of the feast) who was directing the whole management of the feast: one skilled in deciding a question of taste. ... The Article marks the subject. ... did not know: they knew)…
- John 2:11 · 2 passages
this) The early miracles of Christ are put before us in singular abundance; because the beginnings of faith rested on them. [And indeed the first miracles, in this place, and ch. v. 8, “Rise,…
- John 2:12–13
He went down from Cana. ... and) A holy family. His Brethren are put before His disciples. The privileges of His brethren had been great, if they had used them. [These are here mentioned…
- John 2:14–16
oxen, and sheep, and doves) which were used in sacrifices. ... sitting) in the very act of negotiation: [going on so much the more briskly, as the Passover festival was at hand.—Harm., p. 161.]…
- John 2:17
they remembered) Comp. ver. 22, ch. xii. 16 [His triumphant entry into Jerusalem], “ These things understood not His disciples at the first ; but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these…
- John 2:18
what sign) And yet this very act was a ... sign, which Jesus had miraculously wrought. [Of how great a number do you imagine there would be need, if all the buyers and sellers…
- John 2:19 · 2 passages
destroy) On account of this very deed, namely, the cleansing of the temple, they afterwards destroyed the temple of His body. Matt. xxi. 23 [see above], 46, “They sought to lay hands on Him…
- John 2:20–21
was built [was in building]) by Herod the Great, and subsequently. See, besides others, Witsius in Misc. T. ii. p. 311. ... and wilt thou) For this reason, the more they seem to have…
- John 2:22
Was risen) His Resurrection, not His glorification, is appealed to, because the sign was fulfilled by His resurrection. ... they remembered) Faith and memory lend mutual help to one another in this passage; and…
- John 2:23
in the feast) the people being collected, ch. iv. 45, “ The Galilzans received Him, having seen all the things that He did at Jerusalem at the feast.” ... believed) as those, concerning whom…
- John 2:24
He did not descend to too great familiarity with them ... He did not reveal to them the things which it was not yet the full time for revealing. [In fact, He-left the city,…
- John 2:25
because. ... of man: in man) This is said of the whole race of men: in the preceding verse, of the individuals contained under it. ... Himself, without any other testimony. ... what) to…
John 3
- John 3:1–2
Now there was) Eleven conversations of Jesus are recounted in full detail by John: the first of these now begins. ... a man) one of those, concerning whom see ch. ii., towards the close:…
- John 3:3
Unless one [Except a man]) The expression is indefinite : Nicodemus, however, rightly applies it to himself. Comp. ver. 7, ye. The sense here is: That opinion of thine, Nicodemus, as to Jesus is…
- John 3:4
This how and why are often obstacles to faith: ver. 9, “ How can these things be?” ch. vi. 52, [The Jews object] “ How can this man give us His flesh to eat?”…
- John 3:5
of water and the Spirit) Jesus renders His speech the more difficult, in order to try [discipline] Nicodemus, and at the same time declares the difference between birth from above, and birth from a…
- John 3:6–7
True flesh: but also mere flesh, void of spirit, opposed to spirit, of an old generation. ... what is born) This being in the neuter, sounds more general, and denotes the very first stamina…
- John 3:8
The Spirit, in the proper sense; for it is He, not the wind (concerning which, however, comp. Eccles. 11, 5), that has a will ... and it is of Him we are born, and…
- John 3:10
a master) a teacher of very many hearers, a veteran, and one somewhat better than the rest, who are altogether corrupt: ch. x. 8, “ All that ever came before Me were thieves and…
- John 3:11
verily, verily, I say unto thee) Three times this expression is used to Nicodemus. ... we know) Jesus does not associate with Himself John or any other man: ch. i, 18, vi. 46, “…
- John 3:12
earthly things) To the heavenly sense of Jesus Christ there are earthly things, ... which, having to be accomplished on the regions of earth by us who creep on the ground, appear in the…
- John 3:13
And; you will see this is properly set down, if you change the interrogation at ver. 12, with some little time’s reflection, into an absolute [categorical] form of expression. In the preceding and present…
- John 3:14
and) Often Christ, after mention of His glorification, made mention of His passion. ... Moses) This is the first mention ef Moses, which is read as made by our Lord. ... the serpent) As…
- John 3:15
that) The goodness to us of the Son in ver. 15, and of the Father in ver. 16, is described in the same words. [The grace of the Son is what is most frequently…
- John 3:16
loved) The Son knows the Father, and the love of the Father: and alone [though but one] bears the best witness [of Him]: comp. ver. 35, “ The Father loveth the Son, and hath…
- John 3:17–18
that He may judge [to condemn,” Engl. Vers.]) Although men accuse God of this.. To judge, is by judgment to cast away into deserved destruction. ... is judged [condemned]) This word is employed ...…
- John 3:19
the judgment [condemnation]) i.e. the cause of judgment. ... the Light) After the mention of life, the mention of light follows, as in ch. i. The Light, Christ. See what follows. In ver. 19,…
- John 3:20–21
Evil is restless: it is a something more given to working than truth is. Hence they are marked by different words, as ch. v. 29. ... should be reproved, should be convicted of being…
- John 3:22
into the land of Judea) from the metropolis of the Jews. [He did not however long delay there ... and that because of the Pharisees, who were even less well-inclined towards Jesus, than towards…
- John 3:23–24
The article in the masculine gender points to some region. ... many [waters]) So the rite of immersion required. ... not yet) Here the Evangelist takes for granted, what the others [ Matthew, Mark,…
- John 3:25–26
Accordingly) There is reference to ver. 22 ; comp. ver. 26, “They came unto John and said, Rabbi, He that was with thee beyond Jordan,” etc., “the same baptizeth,” etc. ... A question, a…
- John 3:27–28
cannot) How can I dare, saith he, to bind men to me ? ... a man) I, saith John, who am but a man. ... to take to himself. ... nothing) much less the…
- John 3:29–30
He who hath, or whom the bride follows. All come to Jesus: hence it is clear, that Jesus is the Bridegroom. See the Song of Solomon. ... the friend) Dear to the Bridegroom, loving…
- John 3:31
He who is from above) These words, and on to the end of the chapter, the Evangelist seems to have appended, as in congruity with the feeling of the Baptist: comp. notes, ch. i.…
- John 3:32
He testifieth) That is much more weighty than He speaks ... no man) So ardently does John desire that Christ should obtain universal authority, that instead of that, which his [John’s] disciples say, all…
- John 3:33
he that hath received) as John did. ... set his seal to, and as it were subscribes his name to that very fact, he acknowledges for himself and hath avowed to others, that God,…
- John 3:34
for not by measure) The giving of the Spirit is one, and that, made to Christ; under which we are contained, to whomsoever a measure is imparted, Eph. iv. 7, “ Unto every one…
- John 3:35
all things) See ver. 29, 36. To Christ belongs both the Bride (ver. 29, He that hath the bride is the bridegroom), and the Life (ver. 36, He that believeth on the Son, hath…
- John 3:36
hath) The present, the future being included. See on ch. v. 24, “ He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation…
John 4
- John 4:1–2
knew) even though none told Him the fact. ... heard) Comp. ch. iii. 25, 26. ... the Pharisees) who were likely to be displeased at it: ch. i. 24, “They which were sent to…
- John 4:4
In the very passing through He did great things. ... through Samaria) An admirable arrangement [economy ], especially at that early period. What Jesus afterwards forbade the disciples, Matt. x. 5, “ Into any…
- John 4:5
Formerly elles Sichem; subsequently, by the change of a single letter, Sichar, ... reward [wages], namely, that of Jacob’s expedition : Gen. xlviii. 22, “I have given to thee (Joseph) one portion, which I…
- John 4:6
owing to the journey) He had made a long journey on foot. ... So, as the convenience of the place, such as it was, admitted of, without pomp, alone, as one who was not…
- John 4:7
Me to drink) At precisely the seventh subsequent alternation [vicissitudine] in the conference, until the disciples come, reckoning from this address, which would seem to be indifferent, Jesus wonderfully brings on the matter to…
- John 4:8
for) Had the disciples been present to have drawn for Him, Jesus would not have asked the woman. ... That they might buy food. When afterwards sent to teach, for the sake of teaching,…
- John 4:9
how is it) Her manifest simplicity shines forth from the very first words of the Samaritan woman. ... a Jew) From His dress or His dialect she inferred that He was a Jew. ...…
- John 4:10
if thou hadst known) Ignorance is a hindrance; but the disclosure of her ignorance shows the compassion of the Lord, and kindled a longing desire in the woman’s heart. ... gift) The gift is…
- John 4:11
Lord) Previously she had not called Him Lord: now she so calls Him, inasmuch as speaking piously about God, though as yet unknown to her, ver. 15, “ Lord, give me this water :…
- John 4:12
greater) as being one, who demandest, or can make good greater things. Comp. ch. viii. 53 “ Art Thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? Whom makest Thou Thyself?” ... than our…
- John 4:14
to all eternity shall not thirst) Is then he, who once has drunk the water, which Christ gives, free from all thirst? Truly that water, as far as it depends on itself, has in…
- John 4:15–16
give me) The woman asks for the water, as the Jews asked bread, ch. vi. 34, “ Lord evermore give us this bread,” for the support of the body. By this time the matter…
- John 4:17–18
well, i.e. truly. There is the utmost gravity in the Lord’s speech combined with the utmost courtesy. This plain assertion altogether convicted the Samaritan woman. ... five) Five marriage connexions embraced almost the whole…
- John 4:19–20
I perceive) from Thy knowledge about the most secret things. ... our fathers) The woman forthwith brings forward on this occasion a difficulty, which she seems to have felt somewhile before on a religious…
- John 4:21
believe Me) Christ often said to the Jews and His disciples, I say unto you, ver. 35. In this passage alone, to the Samaritan woman, He says, believe Me. They were more bound to…
- John 4:22
Ye know not what. He shows under how great ignorance they labour ; ... Ye know not what worship ye practise ; we know, what is our worship. ... we) He speaks as an…
- John 4:23
but) Jesus does not account it enough to have preferred the Jewish worship, knowledge, and religion, to Samaritanism, but further He shows this, that a worship superior not merely to that which was practised…
- John 4:24
a Spirit) When God is called a Spirit, we must not merely think of a Being separate from body and place, but also one having spiritual qualities, truth, wisdom, holiness, power, etc. To this…
- John 4:25–26
[the woman] saith) with joy at the truth which she had come to know, and with earnestness and hope of coming to the full knowledge, concerning Messiah Himself ... who is called Christ) The…
- John 4:27–28
upon this) Most opportunely there was time sufficient for the colloquy. ... wondered) Wonder whets [sharpens, tends to promote] progress. ... what seekest thou?) They could not easily suppose that Jesus had conferred a…
- John 4:29–30
all things) These, no doubt, the woman explained to her fellow-citizens with a candid confession, although most of them were even known to them previously. ... they went out) They readily assented to the…
- John 4:31–32
meanwhile) Between the departure of the woman and the arrival of the Samaritans. ... but He) He therefore dispensed with dinner, His spiritual ardour taking away hunger. ... ye know not of) This tended…
- John 4:34
the meat) with which my appetite is satisfied. ... that I may finish) Not yet had Jesus reached the middle of His time of action, and yet now He is thinking of the end…
- John 4:35
These are the four months, Nisan in its latter part, the whole of Ijar, the whole of Sivan, and Thammuz in its earlier part. [Coresponding to our April, May, June, and July.—V. g.] The…
- John 4:36
and now accordingly. The time of the New Testament is the harvest. ... he who reapeth) The harvest itself follows at a very brief interval the whitening of the fields. ... [wages]) namely, the…
- John 4:37
A proverb which also was current among the Greeks. ... one) Most wisely a succession has been instituted in the Divine economy: sowing time in each case is [comes] first, in relation to the…
- John 4:38
The Lord of the whole harvest. ... I sent) I have begun to send (ver. 2) you to the Jews, intending hereafter to send you through the whole earth. ... others) the prophets. ...…
- John 4:39
believed) Wonderful openness to conviction ! They had not yet seen Jesus ; comp. ver. 40, “So when the Samaritans were come to Him.” Her testimony must have been given by the woman with…
- John 4:40–41
to abide [to tarry]) always, or at least a long time. ... He abode) We do not read that the Samaritans were then baptized. Nor was then the time as yet for the Church…
- John 4:42
now no longer) The true progress of faith is here evinced. ... ourselves) Augustine admirably remarks on this passage: At first it was by the report of others, afterwards by His own presence [the…
- John 4:43–44
He departed) The departure of Jesus was useful to the Samaritans, considering what were their customs, inasmuch as in many respects they were alien to those of the Jews. ... His own country) John…
- John 4:46–47
By that very miracle the flame of faith was kindled in the nobleman ; ... Probably the sense of the word in Josephus is the one here. He uses the term to distinguish the…
- John 4:48
unless) Jesus implies, that He can give life to the nobleman’s son, even though the patient be absent : and He requires the nobleman to believe it, and not to require that Jesus should…
- John 4:49–50
come down) The weakness of the suppliant is twofold, as though the Lord had need to be present, and could not equally revive the dead. And yet even before that the parent went down,…
- John 4:51–52
now) He was therefore hastening, in order that he might see those things which he believed: yet the trial of his faith lasted till the following day. He believes even his servants before that…
- John 4:54
the second) He had wrought miracles at Jerusalem, ch, ii. 23. This, therefore, is the second, which was wrought in Galilee, when He had come thither out of Judea. [This it seems . is…