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NASB | John 6:63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 6:63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh conveys no benefit [it is of no account]. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life [providing eternal life]. |
Subject: It is the (s)Spirit that gives life?Both |
Bible Note: The context of John 6 is the entire Gospel of John. The context of John 6:63 may be a part of the chapter, not necessarily the entire chapter. The chapter, of course, is an arbitrary division of the book, as are the verses. There are times when a chapter contains more than one topic, and there are times when one idea may run over several verses. I hope this is not confusing. When we speak of the context of a passage we are looking for what is around it, what led to it, what is semantically related, how it fits into the whole event. The context consists of the who, what, when, where, why, that are related to the passage in question; the part of a text or statement that surrounds the particular passage and determines its meaning. As for that other verse (v. 61) there is no way to know grammatically what words refer to deity. We determine that from the context. From the context it is clear what words refer to Jesus. As far as his awareness is concerned, we must remember that Jesus was (and is) God in a human body, and could do what other humans could do, and more. Because of his omniscience, he knew everything. However, it would not have taken that ability to overhear what the people were saying. From what I read, Jesus knew for himself. In other words, no one told him. Whether he was listening to their words or reading their thoughts, we do not know. He could have done both, adding what they were thinking to what they were saying. To ask whether a word such as “himself” refers to his human nature or his divine nature is futile, I think, and unnecessary. In any case, I know of no way to determine that. But we can face that fact that Jesus is God, and that he knows us through and through. According to John 2:25, he knows human beings and is not surprised by what they think. According to Matthew (12:25) and Luke (6:8), he knows our thoughts. As the writer to the Hebrews would say (4:15) all things are naked and open before him. With all that he still marvels at unbelief (Mark 6) and he still asks why (John 8:46) even though he knows the answer (John 8). But David would not be surprised that he knows our thoughts. He would be glad that he searches our hearts (Psalm 139). Even as he asks about it, and asks us to show it, (John 21) aren’t you glad he knows we love him? And these things we are talking about, about him, and no one needs to ask, “What things?” (Luke 24) he knows, and he is keeping a record (Malachi 3). So let us say the right thing about him. He did not judge them for their current, errant thoughts. Rather, he was offering then a guide, the Holy Spirit, who would help them to understand his words and lead them into truth. |