{Ye search} (eraun(8374)e). Proper spelling as the papyri show
rather than ereun(8374)e, the old form (from ereuna, search) as
in  7:52 . The form here can be either present active indicative
second person plural or the present active imperative second
person plural. Only the context can decide. Either makes sense
here, but the reason given "because ye think" (hoti humeis
dokeite, clearly indicative), supports the indicative rather
than the imperative. Besides, Jesus is arguing on the basis of
their use of "the Scriptures" (	as graphas). The plural with
the article refers to the well-known collection in the Old
Testament ( Mt 21:42  Lu 24:27 ). Elsewhere in John the singular
refers to a particular passage ( 2:22  7:38  10:35 ). {In them ye
have eternal life} (en autais z(9388)n ai(936e)ion echein). Indirect
assertion after dokeite without "ye" expressed either as
nominative (humeis) or accusative (humas). Bernard holds that
in John doke(935c) always indicates a mistaken opinion ( 5:45  11:13,31  13:29  16:20  20:15 ). Certainly the rabbis did make a
mechanical use of the letter of Scripture as a means of
salvation. {These are they} (ekeinai eisin hai). The true value
of the Scriptures is in their witness to Christ (of me, peri
emou). Luke ( 24:27,45 ) gives this same claim of Jesus, and yet
some critics fail to find the Messiah in the Old Testament. But
Jesus did.