Commentary on the Gospel According to John John Calvin
John Calvin meaning has been put into verse by Nonnus. 228 But a different reading is more generally adopted, and appears to be the true one. I interpret {τὴν} {ἀρχὴν}, from the beginning; so that the meaning, in my opinion, is this: "I did not arise suddenly, but as I was formerly promised, so now I come forth publicly." He adds,
Because I also speak to you; by which he means that he testifies plainly enough who he is, provided that they had ears. This word, {ὄτι} because, is not employed merely to assign a reason, as if Christ intended to prove that he was from the beginning, because he now speaks; but he asserts that there is such an agreement between his doctrine and the eternity which he has spoken of, that it ought to be reckoned an undoubted confirmation of it. It may be explained thus: "According to the beginning, that is, what I have formerly said, I now, as it were, confirm anew;" or, "And truly what I now also speak, is in accordance with the conditions made in all ages, so as to be a strong confirmation of it."
In short, this reply consists of two clauses; for, under the word beginning, he includes an uninterrupted succession of ages, during which God had made a covenant with their fathers. When he says that he also speaks, he joins his doctrine with the ancient predictions, and shows that it depends on them. Hence it follows that the Jews had no other reason for their ignorance, than that they did not believe either the Prophets or the Gospel; for it is the same Christ that is exhibited in all of them. They pretended to be disciples of the Prophets, and to look to the eternal covenant of God; but still they rejected Christ, who had been promised from the beginning, and presented himself before them.
26. I have many things to say and judge of you. Perceiving that he is in the position of one who sings to the deaf, he pursues his discourse no farther, but only declares that God will defend that doctrine, which they despise, because he is the Author of it. "If I wished to accuse you," says he, "your malice and wickedness supply me with ample materials; but I leave you for the present. But my Father, who committed to me the office of a teacher, will not fail to fulfill his promise; for he will always vindicate his word against the wicked and sacrilegious contempt of men." This saying of Christ is of the same import with that of Paul,
If we deny him, he remaineth faithful, he cannot deny himself, (2 Timothy 2:13.)
In short, he threatens the judgment of God against unbelievers, who refuse to give credit to his word; and he does so on this ground, that God must inevitably defend his truth. Now this is the true firmness of faith, when we
228He refers to Nonnus, a Greek writer, who rendered into hexameter verse the Gospel by John. The passage stands thus: Ti>v su< pe>leiv kai< Cristo<v ajni>acen, o{tti par uJmi~n Ex ajrch~v ajo>rizon e]cwn nh>riqma dika>zein Kai< lale>ein Who art thou? and Christ cried aloud, What (I say) to you from the beginning, having an innumerable multitude of things to say and judge So far as relates to {τὴν} {ἀρχὴν}, Nonnus appears to agree with Calvin; for he renders it {ἐξ} {ἀρχη̈ς}, from the beginning. — Ed