5:36 “But I have a testimony greater than that from John. For the deeds 1 that the Father has assigned me to complete – the deeds 2 I am now doing – testify about me that the Father has sent me. 5:37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified about me. You people 3 have never heard his voice nor seen his form at any time, 4 5:38 nor do you have his word residing in you, because you do not believe the one whom he sent.
1 tn Or “works.”
2 tn Grk “complete, which I am now doing”; the referent of the relative pronoun has been specified by repeating “deeds” from the previous clause.
3 tn The word “people” is not in the Greek text, but is supplied to clarify that the following verbs (“heard,” “seen,” “have residing,” “do not believe”) are second person plural.
4 sn You people have never heard his voice nor seen his form at any time. Compare Deut 4:12. Also see Deut 5:24 ff., where the Israelites begged to hear the voice no longer – their request (ironically) has by this time been granted. How ironic this would be if the feast is Pentecost, where by the 1st century