MAY 14 1906 4 PREFACE. THE Commentary on the Gospel of John by Dr. Milligan and Dr. Moulton is the result of long-continued, careful, independent, and reverential study. The authors were among the most active and influential members of the New Testament Revision Company, and helped to make the authoritative changes of reading and rendering in the Jerusalem Chamber which are here explained and vindicated. Bishop Lightfoot told me, I could not have selected two better scholars för this work in all England and Scotland. In editing the small edition, I had only to adapt it to the Revised Version, and even this labor was greatly facilitated by the agreement of the notes with the new text in every essential point. In the later chapters, I was obliged to economize space by curtailing the text in the notes, where it is merely a literal repetition of the text at the head of the page. I have occasionally ventured upon a brief addition in small type and in brackets (as on pp. 39, 55, 80, 301, 302, 322). Those who care for my own interpretation of particular passages can easily find it in my edition of Lange on John. This Revision Commentary is now complete as far as the historical books are concerned. The Epistles will follow in regular succession at short intervals. PHILIP SCHAFF. NEW YORK, Bible House, Sept., 1883 INTRODUCTION OF THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN. It is obviously impossible, within the limits to which we must here confine ourselves, to treat with adequate fulness the many important and difficult questions relating to the Gospel of John; nor can we attempt to do more than indicate the leading points of inquiry, together with the grounds upon which we may rest in the confident assurance that that Gospel is really the production of the disciple whom Jesus loved.' In endeavoring to do this, we shall approach the subject from its positive rather than its negative side, not dealing directly in the first instance with difficulties, but tracing the history of the Gospel downwards from the time when it was composed to the date at which it enjoyed the unquestioning recognition of the universal Church. Afterwards, turning to the contents of the Gospel, we shall speak of the purpose which its author had in view, and of the general characteristics of the method pursued by him in order to attain it. Such a mode of treatment seems best adapted to the object of an Introduction like the present. It will be as little as possible polemical; it will enable us to meet by anticipation, most certainly the most formidable, of the objections made to the authenticity of the Gospel; and it will put the reader in possession of those considerations as to its general character without which we cannot hope to understand it. At the close of the Gospel (chap. 21: 24) we read, 'This is the disciple which beareth witness of these things, and wrote these things.' These words (which are in all probability from the pen of John; see the Commentary) contain a distinct intimation on the part of the vii writer (comp. ver. 20) that he was 'the disciple whom Jesus loved ;' and although that disciple is nowhere expressly named, we shall hereafter see that the Gospel itself leaves no room for doubt that he was the Apostle John. I. PERSONALITY OF THE WRITER. This Apostle was the son of Zebedee and Salome, and younger, as there seems every reason to think, than his brother James. Of Zebedee we know little. He was a fisherman upon the Sea of Galilee, who pursued his occupation in common with his sons, and who continued it even after they had obeyed the summons of their Lord to follow Him (Matt. 4: 21). Of Salome we fortunately know more. From John 19: 25 it would seem probable that she was a sister of the Virgin Mary (see the Commentary); but the fact need not be dwelt upon at present. It would not help us to understand better the ties that bound Jesus to her son; for these depended on spiritual sympathy rather than relationship by blood (Matt. 12: 48-50). But whether this bond of kindred existed or not, Salome manifested her devotion to Jesus by constant waiting upon her Lord, and by ministering to Him of her substance (Mark 15: 40; 16: 1). Nor can we fail to recognize her exhibition of the same spirit, mixed though it was in this instance with earthly elements, when she came to Jesus with the request that her two sons might sit, the one at His right hand, the other at His left, in His kingdom (Matt. 20: 21). That was not an act of proud ambition, or the request would have been made in private.* The zeal of a mother for her children's highest good was there, as well as an enthusiasm, not chilled even afterwards by the events at the cross and at the tomb (Mark 15: 40; 16: 1), for the cause of One whom she felt to be so worthy of her trust and love. The family of John does not seem to have been poor. Zebedee possessed hired servants (Mark 1: 20). Salome had substance of which to minister to our Lord during His life (Mark 15: 40; comp. Luke 8: 3), and with which to procure the materials for embalming Him after His death (Mark 16: 1). John was acquainted with the high priest (John 18: 15),—a fact at least harmonizing well with the idea that he did not belong to the lowest rank of the people; and at one time of *Comp. Niemeyer, Charakteristik, p. 44. |