Joh 5:31 | RWP | e4.org | If I bear witness of myself ( Εαν εγω μαρτυρω περ εμαυτου ). Condition of third class, undetermined with prospect of determination ( εαν and present active subjunctive of μαρτυρεω ). The emphasis is on εγω (I alone with no other witness). Is not true ( ουκ εστιν αληθης ). In law the testimony of a witness is not received in his own case (Jewish, Greek, Roman law). See and the allusion to it by Jesus in . See also ; . And yet in 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 ( ). 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, , ), the witness of the Baptist ( ), the witness of the works of Jesus ( ), the witness of the Scriptures ( ), the witness of Moses in particular ( ).

‏ John 5:31

If I bear witness of myself ( Εαν εγω μαρτυρω περ εμαυτου ). Condition of third class, undetermined with prospect of determination ( εαν and present active subjunctive of μαρτυρεω ). The emphasis is on εγω (I alone with no other witness).

Is not true ( ουκ εστιν αληθης ). 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).