Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
Ye search (eraunate). Proper spelling as the papyri show rather than ereunate, the old form (from ereuna, search) as in John 7:52. The form here can be either present active indicative second person plural or the present active imperative second person plural. Only the context can decide. Either makes sense here, but the reason given "because ye think" (oti umeiv dokeite, clearly indicative), supports the indicative rather than the imperative. Besides, Jesus is arguing on the basis of their use of "the Scriptures" (tav grafav). The plural with the article refers to the well-known collection in the Old Testament (Matthew 21:42; Luke 24:27). Elsewhere in John the singular refers to a particular passage (John 2:22; John 7:38; John 10:35).
In them ye have eternal life (en autaiv zwhn aiwnion exein). Indirect assertion after dokeite without "ye" expressed either as nominative (umeiv) or accusative (umav). Bernard holds that in John dokew always indicates a mistaken opinion (John 5:45; John 11:13, John 11:31; John 13:29; John 16:20; John 20:15). Certainly the rabbis did make a mechanical use of the letter of Scripture as a means of salvation.
These are they (ekeinai eisin ai). The true value of the Scriptures is in their witness to Christ (of me, peri emou). Luke (Luke 24:27, Luke 24:45) gives this same claim of Jesus, and yet some critics fail to find the Messiah in the Old Testament. But Jesus did.
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
John 5:31
John 5:45
John 7:19
John 8:13
1 Corinthians 1:26
James 3:16
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