john-1:1-18,-exodus-3:6-10

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:3

Verse 3 3.All things were made by him. Having affirmed that the Speech is God, and having asserted his eternal essence, he now proves his Divinity from his works. And this is the practical knowledge, to which we ought to be chiefly accustomed; for the mere name of God attributed to Christ will affect us little, if our faith do not feel it to be such by experience. In reference to the Son of God, he makes an assertion which strictly and properly applies to his person. Sometimes, indeed, Paul... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:4

Verse 4 4.In him was life. Hitherto he has taught us, that by the Speech of God all things were created. He now attributes to him, in the same manner, the preservation of those things which had been created, as if he had said, that in the creation of the world there was not merely displayed a sudden exercise of his power, which soon passed away, but that it is manifested in the steady and regular order of nature, as he is said to uphold all things by the word or will of his power, (Hebrews... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:5

Verse 5 5.And the light shineth in darkness. It might be objected, that the passages of Scripture in which men are called blind are so numerous and that the blindness for which they are condemned is but too well known. For in all their reasoning faculties they miserably fail. How comes it that there are so many labyrinths of errors in the world, but because men, by their own guidance, are led only to vanity and lies? But if no light appears in men, that testimony of the divinity of Christ,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:6

Verse 6 6.There was a man. The Evangelist now begins to discourse about the manner in which the Son of God was manifested in flesh; and that none may doubt that Christ is the eternal Son of God, he relates that Christ was announced by John the Baptist, as his herald. For not only did Christ exhibit himself to be seen by men, but he chose also to be made known by the testimony and doctrine of John; or rather, God the Father sent this witness before his Christ, that they might more willingly... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:9

Verse 9 9.The true light was. The Evangelist did not intend to contrast the true light with the false, but to distinguish Christ from all others, that none might imagine that what is called light belongs to him in common with angels or men. The distinction is, that whatever is luminous in heaven and in earth borrows its splendor from some other object; but Christ is the light, shining from itself and by itself, and enlightening the whole world by its radiance; so that no other source or cause... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:10

Verse 10 10.He was in the world. He accuses men of ingratitude, because of their own accord, as it were, they were so blinded, that the cause of the light which they enjoyed was unknown to them. This extends to every age of the world; for before Christ was manifested in the flesh, his power was everywhere displayed; and therefore those daily effects ought to correct the stupidity of men. What can be more unreasonable than to draw water from a running stream, and never to think of the fountain... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:11

Verse 11 11.He came into his own. Here is displayed the absolutely desperate wickedness and malice of men; here is displayed their execrable impiety, that when the Son of God was manifested in flesh to the Jews, whom God had separated to himself from the other nations to be His own heritage, he was not acknowledged or received. This passage also has received various explanations. For some think that the Evangelist speaks of the whole world indiscriminately; and certainly there is no part of the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:12

Verse 12 12.But to as many as received him. That none may be retarded by this stumbling-block, that the Jews despised and rejected Christ, the Evangelist exalts above heaven the godly who believe in him; for he says that by faith they obtain this glory of being reckoned the sons of God. The universal term, as many, contains an implied contrast; for the Jews were carried away by a blind vaunting, (19) as if they exclusively had God bound to themselves. The Evangelist declares that their... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:14

Verse 14 14.And the Speech was made flesh. The Evangelist shows what was that coming of Christ which he had mentioned; namely, that having been clothed with our flesh, he showed himself openly to the world. Although the Evangelist touches briefly the unutterable mystery, that the Son of God was clothed with human nature, yet this brevity is wonderfully perspicuous. Here some madmen amuse themselves with foolish and trivial subtleties of this sort: that the Speech is said to have been made... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:15

Verse 15 15.John testifieth. He now relates what was the preaching of John. By using the verb testifieth ( μαρτυρεῖ) in the present tense, (27) he denotes a continued act, and certainly this doctrine must be continually in force, as if the voice of John were continually resounding in the ears of men. In the same manner he afterwards uses the word cry, to intimate that the doctrine of John was in no degree obscure or ambiguous, and that he did not mutter among a few men, (28) but openly, and... read more

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:6

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:9

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:10

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:11

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:12

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:14

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:15

Group of Brands