4:31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, 6 “Rabbi, eat something.” 7
1 sn This section (1:35-51) is joined to the preceding by the literary expedient of repeating the Baptist’s testimony about Jesus being the Lamb of God (1:36, cf. 1:29). This repeated testimony (1:36) no longer has revelatory value in itself, since it has been given before; its purpose, instead, is to institute a chain reaction which will bring John the Baptist’s disciples to Jesus and make them Jesus’ own disciples.
2 tn Grk “his”; the referent (John) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
3 tn Grk “And the two disciples heard him speaking.”
4 sn The expression followed Jesus pictures discipleship, which means that to learn from Jesus is to follow him as the guiding priority of one’s life.
3 tn Or “the master of ceremonies.”
4 tn Grk “were asking him, saying.”
5 tn The direct object of φάγε (fage) in Greek is understood; “something” is supplied in English.
5 sn Jesus’ statement I am the light of the world connects the present account with 8:12. Here (seen more clearly than at 8:12) it is obvious what the author sees as the significance of Jesus’ statement. “Light” is not a metaphysical definition of the person of Jesus but a description of his effect on the world, forcing everyone in the world to ‘choose up sides’ for or against him (cf. 3:19-21).
6 sn It was winter. The feast began on 25 Kislev, in November-December of the modern Gregorian calendar.
7 tn Grk “in the temple.”
8 tn Or “portico,” “colonnade”; Grk “stoa.”
7 tn Grk “saw this one.”