{If I bear witness of myself} (Ean eg(9320)martur(9320)peri
emautou). Condition of third class, undetermined with prospect
of determination (ean and present active subjunctive of
marture(935c)). The emphasis is on eg(935c) (I alone with no other
witness). {Is not true} (ouk estin al(8874)h(8873)). In law the
testimony of a witness is not received in his own case (Jewish,
Greek, Roman law). See De 19:15 and the allusion to it by Jesus
in Mt 18:16 . See also 2Co 13:1 1Ti 5:19 . And yet in
8:12-19 Jesus claims that his witness concerning himself is
true because the Father gives confirmation of his message. The
Father and the Son are the two witnesses ( 8:17 ). It is a
paradox and yet true. But here Jesus yields to the rabbinical
demand for proof outside of himself. He has the witness of
another (the Father, 5:32,37 ), the witness of the Baptist
( 5:33 ), the witness of the works of Jesus ( 5:36 ), the witness
of the Scriptures ( 5:39 ), the witness of Moses in particular
( 5:45 ).
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