John 2

And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:

And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.

And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.

His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.

Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.

And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.

When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,

And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.

This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.

And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,

And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:

And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;

And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?

But he spake of the temple of his body.

When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.

But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,

And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

What does John 2:25 mean?

Explanation

John 2:25 reads: "And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man." This statement is attributed to Jesus and follows John 2:24, which says that Jesus did not commit Himself to the people because He knew all men.

The verse emphasizes Jesus' divine attribute of omniscience, that He possesses complete and unlimited knowledge of all things, including the hearts and minds of human beings.

It suggests that Jesus did not require external testimony regarding human nature or individual character because he inherently understood the motivations and inner workings of people.

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

This passage is part of the account of Jesus' early ministry in the Gospel of John.

It comes shortly after Jesus has performed the miracle of turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana and has cleansed the Temple in Jerusalem by driving out the money changers.

The historical context is the Jewish Passover, a time when Jews would travel to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple.

During this period, followers began to believe in Jesus because of the signs he was performing, yet Jesus was cautious about entrusting himself to them.

The verse reflects an understanding present in early Christian communities that Jesus possessed divine insight and wisdom, setting Him apart from other teachers and prophets of the time.

Theological Insights

Different Christian traditions draw out distinct theological insights from this verse:

Orthodox and Catholic traditions might emphasize the divinity of Christ and His attribute of omniscience.
Reformed traditions might focus on the depravity of man and the need for a savior who fully understands human sinfulness.
Arminian traditions could use this passage to demonstrate the personal relationship Jesus desires with believers, as He understands them completely.
Liberation theology might highlight Jesus' knowledge of the oppressed conditions and inner yearnings for liberation within individuals.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, this verse can speak to the trustworthiness of Jesus as one who knows our innermost thoughts and can thus guide us wisely. It can comfort those who feel misunderstood by others, reminding them that Jesus fully understands their predicament.

Furthermore, it could serve as a call for self-examination and authenticity in one’s faith, knowing that one’s true motivations are known by Christ.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 17:10: "I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings."
1 Samuel 16:7: "But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."

Language Study

The original Greek words in this verse are key to understanding its meaning:

"knew" (ἔγνω, egno) refers to knowledge grounded in personal experience or perception.
"testify" (μαρτυρέω, martyreo) means to bear witness or give evidence.
"man" (ἄνθρωπος, anthropos) is used here in a general sense for human beings or mankind.

By using these terms, John conveys a sense that Jesus had an experiential and perceptive knowledge about humanity that was direct and did not rely on outside affirmation or evidence.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing this claim to other ancient religious and philosophical beliefs, we find:

In Hellenistic philosophies, such as Stoicism, there was often an emphasis on the notion of a wise man who could understand the nature of humanity.
In Judaism, God's ability to know the heart and mind of individuals is a recurring theme, as seen in Psalms and the Prophets.
Eastern religions also embrace the concept of ultimate beings or enlightened individuals having deep insight into human nature.

However, the specific Christian claim here is about the uniquely divine knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern psychological and neuroscientific understanding affirms the complexity of human cognition and emotions, reinforcing the depth of understanding that would be required to fully know "what is in man." Scientific research on Theory of Mind (ToM) which is the ability to attribute mental states, beliefs, intents, desires, emotions, to oneself and others, is one example of how contemporary science explores aspects of knowledge that the verse claims Jesus innately possessed.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars have examined this verse through various lenses:

Matthew Henry's Commentary emphasizes the contrast between human judges who must hear from witnesses to discern the truth, and Jesus who knows the heart directly.
The New International Commentary on the New Testament underlines it as an instance of the "divine passive," where actions attributed to God in the Old Testament are ascribed to Jesus, reflecting his divinity.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary points out that this knowledge of human hearts is consistent with the theme of God's omniscience throughout John’s Gospel.

This sets up a motif for several encounters to come, where Jesus demonstrates profound insight into individuals' lives.

John 2

John 2

What does John 2:25 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does John 2:25 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?