I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Israel.” John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him. I didn’t recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘On whomever you will see the Spirit descending and remaining on him is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”
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John 1:31-34 sits inside this longer paragraph.
The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.’ I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Israel.” John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him. I didn’t recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘On whomever you will see the Spirit descending and remaining on him is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”
Parallel Translations
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I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Israel.”
John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him.
I didn’t recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘On whomever you will see the Spirit descending and remaining on him is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’
I have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”
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and I knew him not: but that he shuld be declared to Israell therfore am I come baptisynge with water.
And Iohn bare recorde sayinge: I sawe the sprete descende from heven lyke vnto a dove and abyde apon him
and I knewe him not. But he that sent me to baptise in water the same sayde vnto me: apon whom thou shalt se the sprete descende and tary styll on him the same is he which baptiseth with the holy goost.
And I sawe and bare recorde that this is the sonne of God.
Show all 3 translations
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And I knewe him not: but because he should be declared to Israel, therefore am I come, baptizing with water.
So Iohn bare recorde, saying, I behelde that Spirit come downe from heauen, like a doue, and it abode vpon him,
And I knewe him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, he saide vnto me, Vpon whom thou shalt see that Spirit come downe, and tary still on him, that is he which baptizeth with the holy Ghost.
And I sawe, and bare record that this is that Sonne of God.
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Contradictions (1)
Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.
Cross-references (73)
- Acts 1:5 (v33) For John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
- Luke 3:22 (vv32, 34) and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form like a dove on him; and a voice came out of the sky, saying “You are my beloved Son. In you…
- Psalms 2:7 (v34) I will tell of the decree: Yahweh said to me, “You are my son. Today I have become your father.
- Matthew 3:11 (v33) I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will…
- Mark 1:10 (v32) Immediately coming up from the water, he saw the heavens parting, and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
Show all 71 cross-references
- John 1:49 (v34) Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!”
- Matthew 3:16 (v32) Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God…
- Matthew 4:3 (v34) The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
- Luke 3:16 (v33) John answered them all, “I indeed baptize you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy…
- Psalms 89:26-27 (v34) He will call to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation!’ I will also appoint him my firstborn, the highest of the…
- Titus 3:5-6 (v33) not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and…
- 1 John 5:20 (v34) We know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding, that we know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in…
- John 1:7 (vv31–32) The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him.
- Malachi 3:1 (v31) “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the…
- John 3:34 (v33) For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure.
- John 20:31 (v34) but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.
- Acts 10:44-47 (v33) While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word. They of the circumcision who believed…
- Acts 19:2-6 (v33) He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They said to him, “No, we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy…
- Romans 1:4 (v34) who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our…
- Revelation 2:18 (v34) “To the angel of the assembly in Thyatira write: “The Son of God, who has his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like burnished…
- Mark 1:7-8 (v33) He preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and loosen. I…
- John 3:5 (v33) Jesus answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom.
- John 3:16-18 (v34) For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For…
- John 5:32 (v32) It is another who testifies about me. I know that the testimony which he testifies about me is true.
- Acts 11:15-16 (v33) As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning. I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John…
- 1 Corinthians 12:13 (v33) For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one…
- Matthew 17:5 (v34) While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved…
- Matthew 26:63 (v34) But Jesus held his peace. The high priest answered him, “I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the…
- Matthew 27:40 (v34) and saying, “You who destroy the temple, and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!”
- Matthew 27:43 (v34) He trusts in God. Let God deliver him now, if he wants him; for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ”
- Matthew 27:54 (v34) Now the centurion, and those who were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake, and the things that were done, feared…
- Mark 1:1 (v34) The beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
- Luke 1:17 (v31) He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the…
- John 1:31 (v33) I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Israel.”
- John 1:33 (v31) I didn’t recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘On whomever you will see the Spirit descending and remaining on…
- John 3:35-36 (v34) The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the…
- John 5:23-27 (v34) that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who doesn’t honor the Son doesn’t honor the Father who sent him. “Most…
- John 10:36 (v34) do you say of him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God?’
- John 11:27 (v34) She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, God’s Son, he who comes into the world.”
- John 19:7 (v34) The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.”
- Acts 2:4 (v33) They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.
- 2 Corinthians 1:19 (v34) For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, by me, Silvanus, and Timothy, was not “Yes and no,” but in him is “Yes.”
- Hebrews 1:1-2 (v34) God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, has at the end of these days spoken…
- Hebrews 1:5-6 (v34) For to which of the angels did he say at any time, “You are my Son. Today I have become your father?” and again, “I will be to him a…
- 1 John 2:23 (v34) Whoever denies the Son doesn’t have the Father. He who confesses the Son has the Father also.
- 1 John 3:8 (v34) He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed: that he might…
- 1 John 4:9 (v34) By this God’s love was revealed in us, that God has sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
- 1 John 4:14-15 (v34) We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God…
- 1 John 5:9-13 (v34) If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is God’s testimony which he has testified concerning his Son. He…
- Isaiah 40:3-5 (v31) The voice of one who calls out, “Prepare the way of Yahweh in the wilderness! Make a level highway in the desert for our God. Every valley…
- Malachi 4:2-5 (v31) But to you who fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings. You will go out, and leap like calves of the…
- Matthew 3:6 (v31) They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
- Matthew 3:13-15 (v33) Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. But John would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be baptized…
- Matthew 3:17 (v34) Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
- Matthew 4:6 (v34) and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and, ‘On…
- Matthew 8:29 (v34) Behold, they cried out, saying, “What do we have to do with you, Jesus, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?”
- Matthew 11:27 (v34) All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows the Son, except the Father; neither does anyone know the Father, except the…
- Matthew 16:16 (v34) Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
- Mark 1:3-5 (v31) the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord! Make his paths straight!’ ” John came baptizing in the…
- Mark 1:11 (v34) A voice came out of the sky, “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
- Luke 1:35 (v34) The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one…
- Luke 3:3-4 (v31) He came into all the region around the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for remission of sins. As it is written in the book of…
- Hebrews 7:3 (v34) without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God), remains…
- 2 John 1:9 (v34) Whoever transgresses and doesn’t remain in the teaching of Christ, doesn’t have God. He who remains in the teaching has both the Father and…
- Luke 1:76-80 (v31) And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways, to give…
- Luke 2:39-42 (v31) When they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.…
- John 1:18 (v34) No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared him.
- John 6:69 (v34) We have come to believe and know that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
- John 10:30 (v34) I and the Father are one.”
- John 20:28 (v34) Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
- Acts 19:4 (v31) Paul said, “John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in the one who would come…
71 distinct cross-references across this passage (73 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (17 sources)
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John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain On vv31–34 31. And I knew him not. That his testimony…
31. And I knew him not. That his testimony may not be suspected of having been given either from friendship or favor, he anticipates such a doubt, by affirming that he had no other knowledge of Christ than what he had obtained by divine inspiration. The meaning, therefore, amounts to this, that John does not speak at his own suggestion, nor for the favor of man, but by the inspiration of the Spirit and the command of God.
I came baptizing with water; that is, I was called and appointed to this office, that I might manifest him to Israel; which the Evangelist afterwards explains more fully, and confirms, when he introduces John the Baptist, testifying that he had no knowledge of Christ but what he had obtained by oracle; that is, by information or revelation from God. Instead of what we find here, I came to baptize, he there states expressly (verse 33) that he was sent; for it is only the calling of God that makes lawful ministers, because every person who of his own accord, thrusts himself forward, whatever learning or eloquence he may possess, is not entitled to any authority, and the reason is, that he is not authorized by God. Now since it was necessary that John, in order that he might lawfully baptize, should be sent by God, let it be inferred from this, that it is not in the power of any man whatever to institute sacraments, but that this right belongs to God alone, as Christ, on another occasion, in order to prove the baptism of John, asks if it was from heaven, or from men, (Matthew 21:25.)
John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv31, 32, 34 I never knew him by face before.
I never knew him by face before.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv31–34 31 And I knew him not: but that he…
31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
Ver. 31. And I knew him not] By face not at all; lest the people should think that this was done and said by consent or compact beforehand between them. Nor did John ever know Christ so fully till now: his former knowledge was but ignorance, in comparison; none are too good to learn. The very angels know not so much of Christ, but they would know more, Eph 3:10, and therefore look intently into the mystery of Christ, as the cherubims did into the ark, 1Pe 1:12.
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But that he should be manifested] Ministers must hold up the tapestry, as it were, and show men Christ. They are the mouth of the Holy Ghost, whose office it is to take Christ’s excellencies, and hold them out to the world, Joh 16:14.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv31–34 This verse is best expounded by Joh 1:33, where…
This verse is best expounded by Joh 1:33, where the same words are repeated, I knew him not; and it is added, but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, &c. Lest any should think that Christ and John had compacted together to give one another credit, or that there was some near relation between John and Christ, John saith, I knew him not; for Christ had spent his time at home, Luk 2:51, John had lived in desert places; the providence of God so ordering it, that John should not know Christ so much as by face, until that time came when Christ was to be made manifest to Israel. But that God might make his Son manifest unto Israel, when God by an extraordinary mission sent John to baptize with water, he gave him this token, That he upon whom he should see the Spirit descending and remaining on him, as Joh 1:33, that was the Messiah, the Lamb of God, that should take away the sin of the world; he who should baptize with the Holy Ghost.
And therefore (saith John) am I come baptizing with water. I did not run without sending, nor introduce a new rite or sacrament without commission; but being thus sent of God, and that I might give Christ an opportunity of coming to me, that I might see the Spirit descending and remaining upon him. From whence we learn, that none but Christ can institute a sacrament. John baptized not, till he was sent to baptize with water.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
William Burkitt 1703 · Public Domain On v31 Observe here, 1. That though John the Baptist was…
Observe here, 1. That though John the Baptist was a near kinsman of Christ, according to the flesh, yet the providence of God so ordered it, that for thirty years together they did not know one another, nor converse with each other, nor probably ever saw the faces of each other; to be sure, he did not know him to be the Messiah. This, no doubt, was overruled by the wisdom of God to prevent all suspicion, as if John and Christ had compacted together to give one another credit; that the world mnight suspect nothing of the truth of John’s testimony concerning Christ, or have the least jealousy that what he said of Christ was from any bias of mind to his person, therefore he repeats it a second time, I knew him not. Joh 1:31; Joh 1:33.
Hence we may learn, That a corporal sight of Christ, and an outward personal acquaintance with him is not simply needful, and absolutely necessary, for enabling a minister to set him forth, and represent him savingly to the world.
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Observe, 2. The means declared by which John came to know Christ to be the true Messiah; it was by a sign from heaven, namely, The Holy Ghost descending like a dove upon our Saviour: He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining, the same is he.
Learn hence, 1. that Christ taking upon him our nature, did so cover his glory with the veil of our flesh and common infirmities, that he could not be known by bodily sight from another man. Till John had a divine revelation, and an evident sign from heaven, that Christ was the Son of God, he knew him not.
Learn, 2. That Christ in his solemn entry upon his office, as Mediator, was sealed unto the work by the descending of the Holy Ghost upon him; he was sealed by the Holy Ghost’s descending, and the Father’s testifying, that this was his beloved Son, in whom he was well pleased. Now it was, that God gave not of the Spirit to Christ by measure, for the effectual administration of his mediatorial office; now it pleased the Father, that in Christ should all fulness dwell. He was filled extensively with all kinds of grace, and filled intensively with all degrees of grace, in the day of his inauguration, when the Holy Spirit descended upon him.
William Burkitt's Expository Notes on the New Testament (1700–1703) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv31–34 And I knew him not,.... "by sight", as Nonnus…
And I knew him not,.... "by sight", as Nonnus paraphrases it; personally he had never seen him, nor had had any conversation and familiarity with him; for though they were related to each other, yet lived at such a distance, as not to know one another, or have a correspondence with each other: John was in the deserts, until the day of his showing unto Israel; and Christ dwelt with his parents at Nazareth, in a very mean and obscure manner, till he came from thence to Jordan to John, to be baptized by him; and which was the first interview they had: and this was so ordered by providence, as also this is said by John, lest it should be thought, that the testimony he bore to Jesus, and the high commendation he gave of him, arose from the relation between them; or from a confederacy and compact they had entered into:
but that he should be made manifest to Israel; who had been for many years hid in Galilee, an obscure part of the world: and though he had been known to Joseph and Mary, and to Zacharias and Elisabeth, and to Simeon and Anna; yet he was not made manifest to the people of Israel in common; nor did they know that the Messiah was come: but that he might be known:
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therefore am I come baptizing with water; or in water, as before: for by administering this new ordinance, the people were naturally put upon inquiry after the Messiah, whether come, and where he was, since such a new rite was introduced; and besides, John, when he baptized any, he exhorted them to believe on him, which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus; and moreover, by Christ's coming to his baptism, he came to have a personal knowledge of him himself, and so was capable of pointing him out, and making him manifest to others, as he did.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv31, 34 I knew him not - Till he came to…
I knew him not - Till he came to be baptized. How surprising is this; considering how nearly they were related, and how remarkable the conception and birth of both had been. But there was a peculiar providence visible in our saviour's living, from his infancy to his baptism, at Nazareth: John all the time living the life of a hermit in the deserts of Judea, Luke i, 80, ninety or more miles from Nazareth: hereby that acquaintance was prevented which might have made John's testimony of Christ suspected.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv31–33 Verse 31. And I knew him not, &c.] John…
Verse 31. And I knew him not, &c.] John did not know our Lord personally, and perhaps had never seen him, at the time he spoke the words in Joh 1:15. Nor is it any wonder that the Baptist should have been unacquainted with Christ, as he had spent thirty years in the hill country of Hebron, and our Lord remained in a state of great privacy in the obscure city of Nazareth, in the extreme borders of Galilee.
But that he should be made manifest to Israel] One design of my publicly baptizing was, that he, coming to my baptism, should be shown to be what he is, by some extraordinary sign from heaven.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv31–33 I knew him not - John was not personally…
I knew him not - John was not personally acquainted with Jesus. Though they were remotely related to each other, yet it seems that they had had heretofore no personal acquaintance. John had lived chiefly in the hill country of Judea. Jesus had been employed with Joseph at Nazareth. Until Jesus came to be baptized Mat 3:13-14, it seems that John had no acquaintance with him. He understood that he was to announce that the Messiah was about to appear. He was sent to proclaim his coming, but he did not personally know Jesus, or that he was to be the Messiah. This proves that there could have been no collusion or agreement between them to impose on the people.
Should be made manifest - That the Messiah should be “exhibited,” or made known. He came to prepare the way for the Messiah, and it now appeared that the Messiah was Jesus of Nazareth.
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To Israel - To the Jews.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On v31 knew him not--Living mostly apart, the one at Nazareth,…
knew him not--Living mostly apart, the one at Nazareth, the other in the Judean desert--to prevent all appearance of collusion, John only knew that at a definite time after his own call, his Master would show Himself. As He drew near for baptism one day, the last of all the crowd, the spirit of the Baptist heaving under a divine presentiment that the moment had at length arrived, and an air of unwonted serenity and dignity, not without traits, probably, of the family features, appearing in this Stranger, the Spirit said to him as to Samuel of his youthful type, "Arise, anoint Him, for this is He!" (Sa1 16:12). But the sign which he was told to expect was the visible descent of the Spirit upon Him as He emerged out of the baptismal water. Then, catching up the voice from heaven, "he saw and bare record that this is the Son of God."
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv32–34 32. It abode upon him—The mystic symbol did not…
32. It abode upon him—The mystic symbol did not alight and then fly off again; it remained until it became invisible, as if fusing down into his person.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv31–34 31. And I knew him not] Or, I also…
31. And I knew him not] Or, I also knew Him not; I, like you, did not at first know Him to be the Messiah. There is no contradiction between this and Mat_3:14. (1) ‘I knew Him not’ need not mean ‘I had no knowledge of Him whatever.’ (2) John’s professing that he needed to be baptized by Jesus does not prove that he had already recognised Jesus as the Messiah, but only as superior to himself.
that he should be made manifest] This was the Baptist’s second duty. He had (1) to prepare for the Messiah by preaching repentance; (2) to point out the Messiah. The word for ‘manifest’ is one of S. John’s favourite words (phaneroun); Joh_2:11, Joh_3:21, Joh_7:4, Joh_9:3, Joh_17:6, Joh_21:1; Joh_21:14; 1Jn_1:2; 1Jn_2:19; 1Jn_2:28; 1Jn_3:2; 1Jn_3:5; 1Jn_3:8-9; Rev_3:18; Rev_15:4.
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therefore am I come] Better, for this cause (Joh_12:18; Joh_12:27) came I (comp. Joh_5:16; Joh_5:18, Joh_7:22, Joh_8:47).
baptizing with water] In humble contrast to Him Who baptizeth with the Holy Ghost’ (Joh_1:33). ‘With water’ is literally ‘in water’ here and Joh_1:26.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv31, 32, 34 (31) And I knew him not.—Better, and I also…
(31) And I knew him not.—Better, and I also knew Him not; so again in Joh_1:33. The reference is to “whom ye know not” of Joh_1:26, and the assertion is not, therefore, inconsistent with the fact that John did know Him on His approach to baptism (Mat_3:13, see Note). In the sense that they did not know Him standing among them, he did not know Him, though with the incidents of His birth and earlier years and even features he must have been familiar. It cannot be that the Son of Mary was unknown to the son of Elizabeth, though One had dwelt in Nazareth and the other “was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel” (Luk_1:80; Luk_2:51). He knew not all, but there must have been many wondering thoughts of that wondrous life. Could it be the life that all looked for? but no; there was little of the Jewish idea of the Messiah in the carpenter of a country village (comp. Mar_6:3). What he did know was, that his own work as herald declared “that He should be made manifest to Israel,” and in that conviction he proclaimed the coming King, and began the Messianic baptism. The Person would be His own witness. Heaven would give its own sign to those who could spiritually read it. The Baptiser with the Spirit would Himself be so fully baptised with the Spirit coming upon and dwelling in Him, that to the spiritual eye it would take visual form and be seen “as a dove descending from heaven.”
Am I come.—Better, came.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv31, 32, 34 Vers. 31-34. (3) The purpose of Johns own mission…
Vers. 31-34. (3) The purpose of Johns own mission was to introduce to Israel the Baptizer with the Holy Ghost.
And I for my part knew him not. This is thought by some to be incompatible with the statement of Mat_3:14, where the Baptist displayed sufficient knowledge of Jesus to have exclaimed, "I have need to be baptized of thee." Early commentators, e.g. Ammonius, quoted in "Catena Patrum," suggested that John"s long residence in the wilderness had prevented his knowing his kinsman; Chrysostom, "Hom. 16. in Joannem," urged that he was not familiar with his person; Epiphanius, "Adv. Haer.," 30., and Justin Martyr, "Dial.," 100, 88, refer to a long passage in the "Gospel of the Ebionites," which, notwithstanding numerous perversions, yet suggests a method of conciliation of the two narratives, that the sign of the opening heavens and the voice occasioned the consternation of John, and explains his deprecation of the act which he had already performed (see my "John the Baptist," pp. 313, 314; Nicholson, "Gospel according to the Hebrews," pp. 38-40). Neander has suggested the true explanation: "In contradistinction to that which John now saw in the Divine light, all his previous knowledge appeared to be a non-knowledge." John knew of Jesus, as his kinsman; he knew him as One mightier than himself One whose coming, as compared with his own, was as the coming of the Lord. When Jesus approached him for baptism, John therefore knew quite enough to make him hesitate to baptize the Christ. He knew more than enough to induce him to say, "I have need to be baptized of thee." Godet imagines that, since baptism was preceded by confession, John found that the confession made by Jesus was of such a lofty, saintly, God-like type of repudiation of sin, as that John himself had never attained to. This representation fails from attributing to John the function of a sacerdotal confessor of later days, and is out of harmony altogether with the meaning and potency of our Lord"s confession of the sin of the whole of that human nature which he had taken upon himself. The knowledge which John had of Jesus was as nothing to the blaze of light which burst upon him when he realized the idea that Jesus was the Son of God. The "I knew him not" of this verse was a subsequent reflection of the Baptist when the sublime humility, the dovelike sweetness, and the spiritual might of Jesus were revealed to him. A blind man who had received his sight during the hours of darkness might imagine, when he saw the reflected glory of the moon or morning star in the eye of dawn, that he knew the nature and had felt the glory of light; but amidst the splendours of sunrise or of noon he might justly say, "I knew it not" (compare the language of Php_3:10, and of this same evangelist, Rev_1:17. See Archdeacon Farrar"s "Life of Christ," vol. 1:117; my "John the Baptist," p. 315). But that he should be manifested to Israel, for this cause I came baptizing in (with) water. It was traditionally expected that Elijah should anoint Messiah. John perceives now the transitional nature of his own mission. His baptism retires into the background. He sees that its whole meaning was the introduction of Messiah, the manifestation of the Son of God to Israel. It may be said that the ministry of the wilderness, with the vast impression it produced, is represented by the synoptists as of more essential importance in itself. John"s own judgment, however, here recorded, is the true key to the whole representation. The synoptic narrative shows very clearly that, as a matter of fact, the Johannine ministry culminated at the baptism of Jesus, and lost itself in the dawn of the great day which it inaugurated and heralded. The Fourth Gospel does but give the rationale of such an arrangement, and refer the origin of the idea to John himself. If John did not intensify the sense of sin which Messiah was to soothe and take away; if John did not, by baptism with water, excite a desire for an infinitely nobler and more precious baptism; if John did not prepare a way for One of vastly more moment to mankind and to the kingdom of God than himself, his whole work was a failure. In that John saw his own relation to the Christ he saw his own place in the dispensations of Providence.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain On vv31–32 31. I knew him not. Knew not that God…
31. I knew him not. Knew not that God had chosen him to be the Christ. He knew, however, that he should be manifested in some way through his baptism.
B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v32 coming down from above
descending
coming down from above
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like a dove
This phrase is a simile. The "Spirit" comes down just like a dove lands on a person. (See: Simile)
heaven
The word "heaven" refers to the "sky."
the Son of God
Some copies of this text say "Son of God"; others say "chosen one of God." (See: Textual Variants)
Son of God
This is an important title for Jesus, the Son of God. (See: Translating Son and Father)
translationWords
testimony
Holy Spirit
dove
heaven
Son of God
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv32, 34 1:32 John the Baptist’s second testimony (see 1:19-23) told…
1:32 John the Baptist’s second testimony (see 1:19-23) told what happened when Jesus was baptized. • In the Old Testament, kings and prophets were anointed with the Holy Spirit, but these anointings were temporary and tied to a particular office or occasion. By contrast, with the Spirit’s resting on him, Jesus’ anointing was permanent (see 3:34).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.