Ok thank you
An Article on free will
- Thread starter TomL
- Start date
That is correct. Verbs that end in omega (ω) are active. What threw me off is that ἔλαβον in John 1:12 does not end with ω but nevertheless it is still an active verb in Greek.
(John 1:12) But as many as received (ἔλαβον) Him, He gave to them authority to become the children of God, to those who believe on His name,
Well done! I appreciate that heads up. Calvinists' dirt poor understanding of not only Greek but English grammar is being exposed for all to see.
BTW, @Kermos, what is meant by your name Kermos?
Behold
Well-known member
You do it the most, as i have pointed out to you, for over 2 yrs.
Its your ministry.
You are here to post other men's Theology, that you are into, at any given time.
Its what you do. @Johann
It's what you'll be doing in 2025, if the Lord tarries.
Maybe one day, you will post a Thread that is YOURS, just YOUR words and thoughts and theology., vs, posting junk by people who are guessing and are trying sound ""scholarly.""
This is annoying to people who know the NT.
= No cut and paste.... anywhere., is what i want you to do, .. just one Thread, one time.
If you prefer, give me a topic that is NT related and not to do with END TIMES or John's Revelation, or the Trinity, or OSAS.
Pick something else, other then those old standby rabbit trail fire starters.
Pick something that actually matters, that a believer needs to know.
Pick something by Paul.. for example.
If not, then YOU post a Thread that is YOURS, and not taken from someone's' commentary or online site.
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Johann
Well-known member
You really make me smile-
1 Corinthians 5:11: "But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people."
2 Thessalonians 3:6: "In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us."
Proverbs 22:24-25: "Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared."
Proverbs 13:20: "Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm."
1 Corinthians 15:33: "Do not be misled: 'Bad company corrupts good character.'"
Romans 16:17: "I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them."
2 Timothy 3:5: "having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people."
Pr 22:24 (KJV) Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
General
*Pr 21:24 The proud and arrogant man—“Scoffer” is his name— he works in the arrogance of pride.
*Pr 29:22 An angry man stirs up strife, and a wrathful man abounds in sin.
*2Co 6:14-17 [14] Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship do righteousness and iniquity have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? [15] What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what portion does a believer have with an unbeliever? [16] What agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk in them. I will be their God and they will be my people.” [17] Therefore “‘Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.
Reciprocal
1Sa 20:32 Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said to him, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?”
Ps 101:4 A perverse heart will be far from me. I will have nothing to do with evil.
Pr 3:31 Don’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.
Pr 14:17 He who is quick to become angry will commit folly, and a crafty man is hated.
Pr 14:29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper displays folly.
Pr 18:6 A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
Pr 19:19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again.
Pr 25:28 Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint.
You are definitely on my ignore list.
Behold
Well-known member
You are using a verse, posted to me, that implies that im sexually immoral, greedy, and a drunkard.
So, you are a brave little man, hiding behind your laptop, as you'd never say it to my face, as you dont have that type of manhood available to use, @Johann
So..Here is my verse to you., in response to the one you sent me.
Isaiah..41
“Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored; Those who contend with you will be as nothing and will perish." @Johann
Amen, and Amen.
No Holy Scripture states man has a free-will to choose toward God, but here is the Word of God which clearly states man does not choose God!
The gracious Benefactor of us Christians exclusively produces
And here we have the Truth (John 14:6), the love of Christ controls us believers (2 Corinthians 5:14)!
The gracious Benefactor of us Christians exclusively produces
- divine choice of we beneficiaries unto salvation, for the Christ of us Christians says
“you did not choose Me, but I chose you” (John 15:16) and “I chose you out of the world” (John 15:19)
AND, Paul is in accord with Jesus’ words for he wrote to the Ephesians “Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places] in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him in love” (Ephesians 1:3-4)
SO, clearly, Jesus’ words in John 15:16 and John 15:19 state God exclusively chooses us believers by/of/through God - beneficiaries’ faith/belief in Lord Jesus, for the Christ of us Christians says (see also a word about belief/faith (Greek πίστις pistis) and believe (Greek πιστεύω pisteuó))
“This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent” (John 6:29)
AND Paul is in accord with Jesus’ words for Paul wrote to the Ephesians “by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, [it is] the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His work” (Ephesians 2:8-10)
AND Peter is in accord with Jesus’ words for Peter declared “God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith” (Acts 15:8-9)
SO, clearly, Jesus’ words in John 6:29 state for us believers to believe in Jesus whom the Father has sent is exclusively by/of/through God - beneficiaries’ fruit of the Spirit/righteous actions/good works, for the Christ of us Christians says
“he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God” (John 3:21)
AND Paul is in accord with Jesus’ words for he wrote to the Philippians “being filled with the fruit of righteousness that [is] by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:11)
SO, clearly, Jesus’ words in John 3:21 state fruit in we believers is exclusively by/of/through God - beneficiaries’ birth by the Holy Spirit, for the Christ of us Christians says
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit” (John 3:5-8)
AND Peter is in accord with Jesus’ words for he wrote to persons residing as aliens “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3)
SO, clearly, Jesus’ words in John 3:5-8 state we believers being born again is exclusively by/of/through God - beneficiaries’ repent by God’s working, for the Christ of us Christians says
“I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to babes” (Matthew 11:25)
AND the apostles and elders are in accord with Jesus’ words with thier saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life” (Acts 11:18)
SO, clearly, Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:25 state that God exclusively causes man to think differently after an encounter with God (repent means to think differently afterward) - beneficiaries’ love by God’s working, for the Christ of us Christians says
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (John 13:34)
AND John is in accord with Jesus’ words for he wrote “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7, see the phrase “love is from God” meaning God is the source of true love)
AND John expands with his writing of “God is Love, and the one who abides in Love abides in God, and God abides in him” (1 John 4:16, see the phrase “one who abides in Love” is equivocated with “one who abides” “in God” which extends from God’s exclusivity with “God is Love”)
SO, clearly, Jesus’ words in John 13:34 states that the love, true love (John 3:33), the very righteous love, the Godly love within us children of God, this love is exclusively by/of/through God
And here we have the Truth (John 14:6), the love of Christ controls us believers (2 Corinthians 5:14)!
Of course we are not totally free to do as we will. I cannot fly like the birds just because I will it. Nevertheless, that truth does not dismiss the fact that we are volitional creatures by nature. Christ exhibits what it truly means to possess a human free will through the many times he synergistically aligned his human will with his divine will. In similar fashion, we need to align our will to God's will, through God's Grace of course.
(John 6:38) For I came down from Heaven, not to do My own will but the will of Him who sent Me.
Another great example is John 1:12. It is in that verse where one's willingness to actively receive and believe Him comes into play.
(John 1:12) But as many as received (ἔλαβον) Him, He gave to them authority to become the children of God, to those who believe (πιστεύουσιν) on His name,
Both ἔλαβον and πιστεύουσιν are both active verbs.
It's a sham to unwillingly believe in Christ. God is not fooled. The Calvinist mantra of be inert, do nothing, and wait for the zapping is a sham at best. In fact, calvinism is a total sham. God is not fooled.
In fact, Christ promises the following freedom:
(John 8:36) Therefore if the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.
Let's start with your first verse John 15:16. What election do you think that verse is referring to? There are different elections and different aspects of election. It's very easy to blend together the following types of elections into one massive mess to where nothing makes sense. Here is a list of election categories that I assembled. There could be more.
- There is election onto salvation. ( 2 Th 2:13),
- There is election onto a vocation (i.e.: the good works that God has preordained for us) (Eph 2:10),
- Christ is God's Archetype Elect. (1 Pet 2:4),
- We inherit election "in Christ" (Eph 1:4) when are positioned "in Christ" by believing "in Christ",
- There is the purpose of God according to Election. (Rom 9:11; The Election of the Cross),
- There is the Biblical fact that election is conditional on our diligence. (1 Pet 1:10)
- Angels are elect. (1 Tim 5:21)
Synergy at its finest! "It is the work of God that you believe in Him".
Not that He unilaterally treats you like a puppet and zaps you with belief but that you believe in Him.
John 3:21 is another fabulous synergy verse. Keep those synergy verses coming!
Here's another fabulous synergy verse . Before anything else, I would like your opinion on James 2:24:
(James 2:24) You see then how a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
Of course God regenerates us. Last time I checked, I still do not possess the ability to regenerate myself.
Nevertheless, John 1:12-13 clearly shows that Belief precedes Regeneration:
(John 1:12) But as many as received Him, He gave to them authority to become the children of God, to those who believe on His name,
(John 1:13) who were born, not of bloods, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but were born of God.
You're forgetting the human side. When Jesus exhorted everyone to "Repent and Believe the Gospel" (Mark 1:15), were there any Calvinists that said "I'll wait for the Granting/Zapping"? No, of course not. So man does the repenting and God grants repentance.
John 13:34 is another fabulous synergy verse. Keep those synergy verses coming!
(John 13:34) A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
The Rogue Tomato
Well-known member
Sometimes I think we should take the advice of Jesus.
6 “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
What just happened in my post (#2168) is that the Bible tore your calvinist heresies (sacred to the calvinist pagan god) to pieces.
Rest in Pieces.
The Rogue Tomato
Well-known member
What just happened in my post (#2168) is that the Bible tore your calvinist heresies (sacred to the calvinist pagan god) to pieces.
Rest in Pieces.
See what I mean, @Kermos?
(Heb 4:12) For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing apart of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Same errors repeated incessantly
Deuteronomy 30:11–20 (NASB 2020) — 11 “For this commandment which I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it far away. 12 It is not in heaven, that you could say, ‘Who will go up to heaven for us and get it for us, and proclaim it to us, so that we may follow it?’ 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, that you could say, ‘Who will cross the sea for us and get it for us and proclaim it to us, so that we may follow it?’ 14 On the contrary, the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may follow it. 15 “See, I have placed before you today life and happiness, and death and adversity, 16 in that I am commanding you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, so that you may live and become numerous, and that the LORD your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to take possession of it. 17 But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but allow yourself to be led astray and you worship other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today that you will certainly perish. You will not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter and take possession of it. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have placed before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, 20 by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding close to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, so that you may live in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”
Joshua 24:14–22 (NASB 2020) — 14 “Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and do away with the gods which your fathers served beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 But if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served, which were beyond the Euphrates River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” 16 The people answered and said, “Far be it from us that we would abandon the LORD to serve other gods; 17 for the LORD our God is He who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of slaves, and did these great signs in our sight and watched over us through all the way in which we went and among all the peoples through whose midst we passed. 18 The LORD drove out from before us all the peoples, even the Amorites who lived in the land. We also will serve the LORD, for He is our God.” 19 Then Joshua said to the people, “You will not be able to serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your wrongdoing or your sins. 20 If you abandon the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and destroy you after He has done good to you.” 21 And the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the LORD.” 22 So Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen for yourselves the LORD, to serve Him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.”
and it still Christ's apostles that he chose
John 6:70 (KJV 1900) — 70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
Luke 6:12–13 (KJV 1900) — 12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
Acts 1:2 (KJV 1900) — 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
but regardless of that John 15:16 does not state God unconditionally chooses men for salvation
You have to those particulars assuming your theology as is frequently seen
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I like Barnes also
Though a Calvinist he strives to not allow that theology color the bible text
Still more repetition of failed argumentation
In context the work of God is the work that God requires of man as seen
Acts 16:30–31 (KJV 1900) — 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Acts 2:37–38 (KJV 1900) — 37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
It is the same question as seen here
John 6:28 (KJV 1900) — 28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
Never is the answer you can do nothing but in every case they are told to believe/repent, labor for the meat which endures to everlasting life by believing on him the father sent
BTW why you quote Acts 15:8-9 is somewhat of the mystery
Acts 15:7–9 (KJV 1900) — 7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
as the Spirit appears to be testifying that they believed knowing their heart, not that they were effectually caused to believe
Yes God is the cause of our regeneration. He regenerates man when they first receive that is believe on his son Jesus Christ,
John 20:31 (KJV 1900) — 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
John 1:12 (ESV) — 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
Galatians 3:26 (KJV 1900) — 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
In context seeing as all gentiles do not repent this refers to the opportunity to repent unto life
God enables repentance though his message of repentance and his long suffering
Acts 20:18–21 (KJV 1900) — 18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, 19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: 20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, 21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 26:16–20 (KJV 1900) — 16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; 17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. 19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: 20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
Romans 2:1–4 (KJV 1900) — 1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
2 Peter 3:9 (KJV 1900) — 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Revelation 2:21 (KJV 1900) — 21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
not by effectually infusing repentance into man
Johann
Well-known member
Again, TomL, you wrote something correct with "it is not Jesus who has you proclaiming error" because Lord Jesus has me here proclaiming the Truth (John 14:6).
Your gods, whom you preach, are your tools to destroy the context of the Word of God in order to make false statements like "you proclaiming error".
Your god Carson according to your context is the god you preach with "The work of God—i.e. what God requires—is faith" instead of the clear, precise and pure Word of God "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent" (John 6:29).
Lord Jesus has me here proclaiming that His sayings are pure, clear, and precise “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent” (John 6:29), so you practice lawlessness with your "Utter nonsense" about the Word of God recorded in John 6:29 (proof post #2,126), and no Christian calls the Word of God "Utter nonsense".
The definition of saving faith/belief occurs in this single sentence:
This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent
(John 6:29)
The King of Glory's the work of God specifically includes God's work while specifically excluding "the work of man"; therefore, every mention of saving faith/belief in the Holy Scripture is governed by this blessed definition.
Since you wrote “In context its meaning is that which God requires of man” (the word of TomL), then your heart converts John 6:29 into “This is the work of man that God requires of you, that you believe in Him whom He has sent” (the traditions of man as authored by TomL, see Matthew 15:9); therefore, you disobey the voice from Heaven saying "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him" (Matthew 17:5) because you listen to man instead of listening to the beloved Son.
The full and complete context of “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent” (the Author and Perfecter of the faith, John 6:29) is specifically “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent” (John 6:29).
As is evident, you call “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent” (John 6:29) your abominable "Utter nonsense".
Your heart makes false statements about God and man. Free-will is a conjured concept of the traditions of men that leads to worship in vain (Matthew 15:9).
In Truth (John 14:6), the Almighty God is Sovereign (Genesis 1:1) in the affairs of man (Daniel 4:34-35)! PRAISE THE AUTHOR AND PERFECTER OF THE ONE FAITH!!!
Johann
Well-known member
Something important you must notice-
John 6:29 (Greek - SBLGNT):
απεκρίθη ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τοῦτό ἐστιν τὸ ἔργον τοῦ θεοῦ, ἵνα πιστεύσητε εἰς ὃν ἀπέστειλεν ἐκεῖνος.
Exegesis:
απεκρίθη ὁ Ἰησοῦς (Jesus answered):
Syntax: The verb "απεκρίθη" (answered) is in the aorist tense, indicating a past action, and it is followed by the subject "ὁ Ἰησοῦς" (Jesus) in the nominative case.
Morphology: The verb is in the third person singular form, matching the third person singular subject "ὁ Ἰησοῦς" (Jesus).
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς (and said to them):
Syntax: The conjunction "καὶ" (and) connects the previous action with the following action. The verb "εἶπεν" (said) is in the aorist tense, indicating a past action, and it is followed by the indirect object "αὐτοῖς" (to them) in the dative case.
Morphology: The verb is in the third person singular form, matching the third person singular subject "ὁ Ἰησοῦς" (Jesus).
τοῦτό ἐστιν τὸ ἔργον τοῦ θεοῦ (this is the work of God):
Syntax: This phrase constitutes the direct speech of Jesus, wherein he defines "this" (τοῦτό) as "the work of God" (τὸ ἔργον τοῦ θεοῦ).
Morphology: The noun "τοῦτό" (this) and the noun "ἔργον" (work) are in the neuter gender, matching the neuter gender of the demonstrative pronoun. The genitive noun phrase "τοῦ θεοῦ" (of God) indicates possession.
ἵνα πιστεύσητε εἰς ὃν ἀπέστειλεν ἐκεῖνος (that you believe in him whom he sent):
Syntax: This clause explains the purpose of "the work of God" stated by Jesus. It begins with the subordinating conjunction "ἵνα" (that), introducing a purpose clause.
The verb "πιστεύσητε" (believe) is in the aorist subjunctive mood, indicating potentiality or possibility, and it is followed by the prepositional phrase "εἰς ὃν" (in him) and the relative pronoun "ὃν" (whom). The verb "ἀπέστειλεν" (he sent) is in the aorist tense, indicating a past action, and it is followed by the subject "ἐκεῖνος" (he) in the nominative case.
Morphology: The verbs "πιστεύσητε" (believe) and "ἀπέστειλεν" (he sent) are in the second person plural and third person singular forms respectively, matching the implied subject "you" and the third person singular subject "θεοῦ" (God) respectively.
In summary, this verse records Jesus' response to a question from the crowd, explaining that the work of God is for people to believe in the one whom God has sent.
The context
The context of John 6:29 is essential for understanding the significance of Jesus' statement.
Feeding of the Five Thousand (John 6:1-14):
The chapter begins with Jesus feeding the multitude of people with five loaves of bread and two fish, demonstrating his miraculous power and provision.
Jesus Walks on Water (John 6:15-21):
Following the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus withdraws to a mountain alone while his disciples take a boat across the Sea of Galilee. Jesus later joins them by walking on the water, further displaying his divine authority.
The Bread of Life Discourse (John 6:22-71):
The crowd seeks Jesus on the other side of the sea and finds him in Capernaum. Jesus uses this opportunity to engage in a profound discourse about the true nature of bread, pointing to himself as the "bread of life" that provides eternal sustenance.
Jesus challenges the crowd to look beyond physical bread to the spiritual nourishment he offers through faith in him.
Context of John 6:29:
In this verse, Jesus responds to a question from the crowd: "What must we do to do the works God requires?" (John 6:28).
Jesus' answer emphasizes the importance of faith in him as the one whom God has sent. He identifies faith in himself as the primary work that God requires of people.
Key Themes in the Context:
Jesus' miraculous provision of physical bread serves as a metaphor for his spiritual provision of eternal life through faith in him.
The discourse highlights the theme of faith versus unbelief, with Jesus challenging the crowd to move beyond seeking physical signs and to believe in him as the source of true life.
Jesus' assertion of his divine identity and his role as the one sent by God to provide salvation is central to the discourse.
In summary, the context of John 6:29 is situated within a larger narrative in which Jesus teaches about the significance of faith in him as the means of receiving eternal life and experiencing the fulfillment of God's purposes.
