3 of 13

Reading

John 5:27-30

“There exists a certain tension between 3:17 and 5:22, but it is more formal than real. The Father does not send the Son into the world to condemn (krinō) the world, but he does entrust all judgment (krisis) to the Son. The resolution turns in part on the semantic range of krinō and its cognates: it can refer to a (usually judicial) principle of discrimination, or to outright condemnation. John 3:17 speaks of the latter; John 5:22 refers more broadly to the former—though, clearly, any judicial discrimination issues in some condemnation. More importantly, John 3:17 refers to the purpose of the Son’s coming: it was not to bring condemnation. By contrast, John 5:22 refers to the distinctive roles of Father and Son: the Father entrusts all judgment to the Son. That leaves room for the purpose of the Son’s coming to be primarily salvific (3:16, 17), even though all must face him as their judge, and even though the inevitable result of his coming is that some will be condemned. Cf. also 5:26–27; 8:15–16.” - Carson, D. A. (1991). The Gospel according to John (p. 254). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans.

4 of 13

Question (John 5:27-30)

Who gets resurrected?

5 of 13

Reading

Revelation 20:11-15

6 of 13

Revelation 20:11-15 (ESV)

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

7 of 13

Other Similar References to Final Resurrections

And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. - Daniel 12:2 (ESV)

having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. - Acts 24:15 (ESV)

8 of 13

Question (John 5:21-29)

Why the connection of doing good (verse 29)

to the resurrection of life?

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. - John 5:24 (ESV)

In verse 24, Jesus indicates that those who hear and believe His word have eternal life. But verse 29 makes the connection of those having a resurrection of life to having done good. Why the difference? Why suddenly connect doing of good deeds hear to a resurrection of life instead of judgment? Does this mean that we have to do good deeds to earn eternal life?

I think part of the reason here is the emphasize that deeds - what you do - matters. God will judge that, and it is important for Him to do so for justice. However, it is important to note that verse 29 (on this topic) does little more than associate a characteristic/fact with the resurrection of life. It does not give the complete picture. Taking into account the rest of Scripture, I think what is partly meant here is that those who have been saved by Christ - who have a good work being done in them by Christ - will necessarily do good deeds (and thus attain to the resurrection of life).

https://biblehub.com/john/5-29.htm

He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. - Romans 2:6-11 (ESV)

https://biblehub.com/greek/2919.htm

https://biblehub.com/greek/2920.htm

9 of 13

Reading

John 5:31-38

“The Greek word behind ‘valid’ is alēthēs; it might be better to preserve the customary rendering, ‘true’. It is a mistake to think Jesus is here discussing the conditions under which his testimony may be admitted as legally ‘valid’. There are overtones of such a presentation in 8:17, but not here (so, rightly, Odeberg, p. 219, and Temple, p. 113–though partly for the wrong reasons). Jesus certainly does not mean that if he says anything about himself it must be false (which is apparently what some Jews later understood him to be saying: cf. notes on 8:13ff., another instance of misunderstanding), but that if the burden of evidence to support the tremendous claims he has been making exclusively depends on his own self-attestation, his witness must be false.” - Carson, D. A. (1991). The Gospel according to John (p. 259). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans.

“‘On the evidence of two or three witnesses the death sentence shall be executed; a person must not be put to death on the evidence of only one witness’ (Deuteronomy 17:6). ‘A single witness shall not sufﬁce to convict a person of any crime or wrongdoing in connection with any offence that may be committed. Only on the evidence of two or three witnesses shall a charge be sustained’ (Deuteronomy 19:15). When Paul threatens to come to the Corinthians with rebuke and discipline, he says that all his charges will be conﬁrmed by two or three witnesses (2 Corinthians 13:1). Jesus says that when a Christian has a legitimate complaint against a member of the church, that person must take along some others to conﬁrm the charge (Matthew 18:16). In the early Church, it was the rule that no charge against an elder was entertained unless it was supported by two or three witnesses (1 Timothy 5:19).” - Barclay, W. (2001). The Gospel of John (Rev. and updated., Vol. 1, p. 227). Edinburgh: Saint Andrew Press.

10 of 13

Question (John 5:31-38)

There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. - John 5:32 (ESV)

Who is this “another” who bears witness about Jesus?

You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. - John 5:33-34 (ESV)

Given the immediate transition to talking about John the Baptist, one might think that Jesus is referring to John the Baptist as this “another”. However, these verses at least start to seem to indicate that Jesus is not talking about John - not testimony from a “man”.

But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. - John 5:36 (ESV)

Here we get confirmation that Jesus isn’t really talking about testimony from John Instead, He is saying that the works He is doing bear witness that Jesus was sent from the Father.
Why might this be? Well, the context from John 5:17-30 matters. But thinking a bit larger, it’s possible that this is a slight hint to Jesus fulfilling plenty of prior prophecy about Him.

And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, - John 5:37 (ESV)

Here we get further elaboration about God the Father bearing witness about Jesus.
I think Jesus is probably trying to emphasize the importance of God the Father in this testimony about Jesus. This becomes a bit clearer when reading the rest of the chapter (verses 39-47) that we have not quite got yet. There is at least one other “witness” in that section, though one of the main points is that many people are basically self-witnessing (coming in their own name), whereas in contrast, Jesus is emphasizing the importance of receiving testimony from God the Father (rather than just Jesus’ own self-testimony).

11 of 13

Reading

John 5:39-47

12 of 13

Question (John 5:39-47)

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life…

- John 5:39 (ESV)

What do you think this might mean?

Jesus makes this interesting statement in verse 39. Does this mean that diligent searching of Scripture is bad? Does this mean that we should ignore Scripture?

I don’t think that is the case here. Now, it certainly is true that Scripture in itself does not have eternal life - we must come to the Son of God for that.

But what I do think this section is suggesting is that there is a way to study Scripture that misses the key point and results in missing eternal life. I’m sure you could imagine ways this could happen - detailed study of literary structure, just trying to memorize or accumulate information, etc. And there can be a temptation to think that “religious practices” (potentially in a way that other men “glorify” you) are sufficient to gain eternal life.

Instead, what I think was missed here was proper listening and understanding of the Scriptures. They were pointing to Jesus as the One whom we need to come to for eternal life. Missing that point, or acknowledging it but being unwilling to humble oneself, is what I think is one of the key aspects of the criticism here.

13 of 13

Question (John 5:31-47)

What is the point of this extended discourse about witnessing, testimonies, etc.?

(Think all the way back to John 5:17)

Most of what we read tonight is Jesus talking about witnesses or testimonies about Himself. What is the point of all of this? Why is this here?

Recall back to starting in John 5:17, that Jesus started making some pretty high claims about Himself. He was claiming to be equal to God, which resulted in Jews wanting to kill Him (John 5:18). Continuing on from that, Jesus further reinforces this status, not backing down from it.

So I think part of this extended discourse about testimonies is to provide evidence backing Jesus’ claims of who He says He is. This is likely particularly important due to other messianic claims that may have come around this time, and it is important for people to accept the True Messiah, not a false one - Jesus is warning people to not just accept testimony of someone from themselves (set a higher standard).

Secondarily, I think this is also a call to listen to the testimonies that God provides for us. While Jesus is primarily emphasizing the testimonies of His Father, He still calls out John the Baptist and Moses specifically. These are others whom God sent on missions with testimony. There is a warning here that if you truly loved God and sought His will, you would be receptive to hearing what He has already spoken:

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” - John 3:19-21 (ESV)
For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. - 2 Peter 1:16-21 (ESV)
Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. - Hebrews 2:1-4 (ESV)