12:42 Nevertheless, even among the rulers 10 many believed in him, but because of the Pharisees 11 they would not confess Jesus to be the Christ, 12 so that they would not be put out of 13 the synagogue. 14
1 tn Grk “judged.”
2 tn Grk “judged.”
3 tn See the note on the term “one and only” in 3:16.
4 tn Grk “for the Spirit was not yet.” Although only B and a handful of other NT
5 sn This is a parenthetical note by the author.
6 tn Or “message.”
7 tn Grk “who said.”
8 tn “The arm of the Lord” is an idiom for “God’s great power” (as exemplified through Jesus’ miraculous signs). This response of unbelief is interpreted by the author as a fulfillment of the prophetic words of Isaiah (Isa 53:1). The phrase ὁ βραχίων κυρίου (Jo braciwn kuriou) is a figurative reference to God’s activity and power which has been revealed in the sign-miracles which Jesus has performed (compare the previous verse).
9 sn A quotation from Isa 53:1.
10 sn The term rulers here denotes members of the Sanhedrin, the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews. Note the same word (“ruler”) is used to describe Nicodemus in 3:1.
11 sn See the note on Pharisees in 1:24.
12 tn The words “Jesus to be the Christ” are not in the Greek text, but are implied (see 9:22). As is often the case in Greek, the direct object is omitted for the verb ὡμολόγουν (Jwmologoun). Some translators supply an ambiguous “it,” or derive the implied direct object from the previous clause “believed in him” so that the rulers would not confess “their faith” or “their belief.” However, when one compares John 9:22, which has many verbal parallels to this verse, it seems clear that the content of the confession would have been “Jesus is the Christ (i.e., Messiah).”
sn See the note on Christ in 1:20.
13 tn Or “be expelled from.”
14 sn Compare John 9:22. See the note on synagogue in 6:59.
15 tn Grk And they.” The conjunction καί (kai, “and”) has not been translated here in keeping with the tendency of contemporary English style to use shorter sentences.
16 tn Or “received.”
17 tn The word “them” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
18 tn Or “truly.”
19 tn Or have come to know.”