Joh 5:37 | RWP | e4.org | He hath borne witness ( εκεινος μεμαρτυρηκεν ). Εκεινος (that one; cf. , ), not αυτος . Perfect active indicative of μαρτυρεω , the direct witness of the Father, besides the indirect witness of the works. Jesus is not speaking of the voice of the Father at his baptism ( ), the transfiguration ( ), nor even at the time of the visit of the Greeks ( ). This last voice was heard by many who thought it was thunder or an angel. The language of Jesus refers to the witness of the Father in the heart of the believers as is made plain in , . God's witness does not come by audible "voice" ( φωνην ) nor visible "form" ( ειδος ). Cf. ; ; . Ακηκοατε is perfect active indicative of ακουω , to hear, and εωρακατε is perfect active indicative of οραω , to see. It is a permanent state of failure to hear and see God. The experience of Jacob in Peniel ( ) was unusual, but Jesus will say that those who have seen him have seen the Father ( ), but here he means the Father's "voice" and "form" as distinct from the Son.

‏ John 5:37

He hath borne witness ( εκεινος μεμαρτυρηκεν ). Εκεινος (that one; cf. 5:35, 38), not αυτος. Perfect active indicative of μαρτυρεω, the direct witness of the Father, besides the indirect witness of the works. Jesus is not speaking of the voice of the Father at his baptism (Mr 1:11), the transfiguration (Mr 9:7), nor even at the time of the visit of the Greeks (Joh 12:28). This last voice was heard by many who thought it was thunder or an angel. The language of Jesus refers to the witness of the Father in the heart of the believers as is made plain in 1Jo 5:9, 10. God's witness does not come by audible "voice" ( φωνην ) nor visible "form" ( ειδος ). Cf. 1:18; 6:46; 1Jo 4:12. Ακηκοατε is perfect active indicative of ακουω, to hear, and εωρακατε is perfect active indicative of οραω, to see. It is a permanent state of failure to hear and see God. The experience of Jacob in Peniel (Ge 32:30) was unusual, but Jesus will say that those who have seen him have seen the Father (Joh 14:9), but here he means the Father's "voice" and "form" as distinct from the Son.