What does John 5:47 mean?

Explanation

John 5:47 is part of a discourse in which Jesus is addressing the Jews who were skeptical of His claims.

In this particular verse, He is referring to the writings of Moses.

The Jews revered Moses and considered the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament) as the foundational scriptural authority.

Jesus points out that if they do not believe what Moses wrote, they would be unable to believe His words.

The deeper meaning here is that Jesus is emphasizing the consistency between the message of the Old Testament and His own teachings.

He asserts that Moses wrote about Him (John 5:46), and therefore, disbelief in one is indicative of disbelief in the other.

Historical Context

John 5:47 comes at the end of a long speech given by Jesus, where He defends His authority and equality with God, after healing a man on the Sabbath.

During this time, Pharisaic Judaism was dominant, and adherents strictly adhered to the Mosaic Law.

Jesus' healing on the Sabbath was considered a violation of their traditional laws, causing the Jewish leaders to challenge Him.

Jesus' response is to point towards the scriptures that they hold sacred, which actually testify about Him.

This confrontation occurs in Jerusalem, near the Pool of Bethesda, where there was a mixed population of Jews and Gentiles, which also allowed for various interpretations and religious tensions.

Theological Insights

Different Christian denominations may interpret this verse within various theological frameworks. A mainstream Christian viewpoint would see this verse as emphasizing the continuity of scripture and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy in Jesus.

Some scholars suggest that since Moses was considered a prophet, and since he wrote about Jesus (as claimed in John 5:46), then the Jews’ failure to believe in Jesus would demonstrate inconsistency in their faith.

Reformed theology might see this verse to support the principle of Sola Scriptura, suggesting that the authority of Scripture is the basis for understanding Christ.

Catholic or Orthodox traditions might emphasize the need for both Scripture and Sacred Tradition to fully comprehend and believe in Jesus' messianic mission.

Practical Applications

John 5:47 encourages believers to recognize the interconnection between Old Testament and New Testament teachings, prompting a more holistic approach to biblical study.

For individuals, this means diligently studying the whole of scripture to understand its unified message.

For communities, this can foster a deeper appreciation of the roots of faith found in the Old Testament.

Pastors and teachers can take from this the importance of educating about the full narrative of the Bible, rather than focusing on New Testament teachings in isolation.

Cross-References

• Luke 16:31 - "And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
• John 5:46 - "For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me."
• 2 Timothy 3:16 - "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"

Language Study

The key phrase in John 5:47 is "believe not." The original Greek word for "believe" is "πιστεύετε" (pisteuete), which is the present active indicative second-person plural of "πιστεύω" (pisteuo), meaning to have faith in, trust in, or rely upon.

The negation "not" translates to the Greek word "μή" (mē).

This combination not only indicates the act of disbelieving but also implies the ongoing state of unbelief among the addressed crowd.

Understanding this original language provides deeper insight into the continuous nature of the Jewish leaders' disbelief in Jesus as referenced by Him.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In examining John 5:47 within the broader context of ancient religious thought, one could compare the Jewish emphasis on the authority of Moses with parallel figures in other ancient cultures, such as the lawgivers Hammurabi in Babylonian culture, or Manu in Hindu tradition.

In these cultures, foundational figures often provided a corpus of law and teachings that shaped religious belief and practice.

Just as disbelief in Moses' writings would undermine Jewish faith, disregarding the teachings of such eminent figures in other cultures could similarly erode the foundations of those religious systems.

Scientific Perspectives

While John 5:47 does not directly engage with scientific concepts, the process of believing or not believing in various types of authority (scriptural, scientific, etc.) can be studied from a psychological and sociological perspective.

The cognitive dissonance theory could help explain the reluctance of the Jewish leaders to accept Jesus’ words despite their inconsistency with their reverence for Moses, whose writings pointed to Jesus.

Commentaries

Many biblical scholars and theologians have provided commentaries on John 5:47:

• Matthew Henry’s Commentary emphasizes the refusal of the Jews to believe in Christ despite Moses writing of Him, highlighting the hardness of their hearts despite the evidence.
• William Barclay notes the tragic irony that the Jews studied the scriptures thinking that in them they had eternal life, yet they were unwilling to accept Christ to whom the scriptures pointed.
• David Guzik’s Enduring Word Commentary discusses the authority of Jesus and how belief in Him cannot be separated from belief in the whole of Scripture, as both the Old and New Testaments testify about Him.
• Contemporary scholars like **N.T.

Wright** would focus on the historical Jewish understanding of scripture and the irony of their failure to embrace the one about whom their scriptures prophesied.