juan-1:21-rva

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:19-34

2. The testimony of the Baptist. read more

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:20-21

(1) He deflates his own position, negatively. read more

The Pulpit Commentary - John 1:21

And they asked him, What then? What is the state of the case? The very repudiation of Messiahship in this form seems to imply some association with the Messianic period of which they had so many conflicting ideas. Malachi ( Malachi 4:5 ) had predicted the coming again from heaven of Elijah the prophet, and the LXX ., by translating the passage "Elijah the Tishbite," had strengthened the common mistake of a metempsychosis, or such an abnormal manifestation before the coming of Messiah.... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 1:21

Art thou Elias? - This is the Greek way of writing Elijah. The Jews expected that Elijah would appear before the Messiah came. See the notes at Matthew 11:14. They supposed that it would be the real Elijah returned from heaven. In this sense John denied that he was Elijah; but he did not deny that he was the Elias or Elijah which the prophet intended Matthew 3:3, for he immediately proceeds to state John 1:23 that he was sent, as it was predicted that Elijah would be, to prepare the way of the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - John 1:19-23

John 1:19-23. And this is the record of John This is the testimony which he bare publicly to Jesus; when the Jews Namely, the senate, or great council of the nation; sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem Persons of the first consideration for learning and office; to ask him, Who art thou What character dost thou assume to thyself? It is probable, that the reason why the sanhedrim sent these persons, was their having been informed that the Baptist’s extraordinary sanctity, zeal, and... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - John 1:19-28

15. Preaching of John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:1-17; John 1:19-28)The preaching of John soon attracted opposition from the Jewish religious leaders. They sent representatives to question him and then report back on what he taught and who he claimed to be. John denied that he was promoting himself as some new leader in Israel. He did not consider himself to be either the prophet of Deuteronomy 18:15,Deuteronomy 18:18 or the ‘Elijah’ promised in Malachi 4:5. He was only a... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - John 1:21

What then? = What then [are we to say]? Elias = Elijah. Referring to Malachi 4:5 . that prophet = the prophet. Referring to Deuteronomy 18:18 , Compare Acts 3:22 , Acts 3:23 . No . Greek. ou. App-105 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - John 1:21

And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elijah? and he saith, I am not. Art thou the prophet? And he answered, No.John the Baptist was called Elijah by Christ himself (Matthew 17:12), and this raises the question of why John here denied it. This is another example of the kind of "contradiction" which so delights some of the critics. Literally, John the Baptist was NOT Elijah, and John's literal answer WAS literally true. Typically and spiritually, John the Baptist was THAT Elijah foretold in... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - John 1:21

John 1:21. Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not.— It is plain by this question, that they were strangers to the parentage of John the Baptist: and with regard to the reply that he makes to this inquiry,there is no scruple to be made, but that the Baptist might justly deny that he was Elijah; that is, the true and real Elijah, whom the Jews expected personally to return before the coming of the Messiah, though he came in his spirit and power. See on Luke 1:17. The Baptist therefore might truly... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - John 1:21

21. Elias—in His own proper person. that prophet—announced in Deuteronomy 18:15, &c., about whom they seem not to have been agreed whether he were the same with the Messiah or no. read more