Theo1689
Well-known member
Here is some interesting facts about John 12:32
1) The textual data... There are two significant variant readings of the text:
πάντας ἑλκύσω πρὸς ἐμαυτόν (“I will draw all [people] to myself”)
πάντα ἑλκύσω πρὸς ἐμαυτόν (“I will draw every [person or everything] to myself”)
2) It is important to note that the adjective ("pantas") is substantive, meaning that it doesn't have an explicit referent, but is implied. That is to say, the term "men" is not explicitly in the text. Too many people try to interpret the text as if it was, and as if it meant, "individuals", which simply cannot be justified by the text itself. It is an ASSUMPTION that is INTERPRETED from the the text.
3) Greek scholar Philip Comfort had this to say:
"Because of this ambiguity, scribes may have added a sigma to παντα. In either case, it seems that Jesus had people in mind when he spoke of drawing all to himself by being lifted up on the cross. Of course, this drawing could suggest a kind of universal reconciliation of all things, as in Col 1:20. But the major focus of the metaphor in context is that Jesus would attract all kinds of people (Jews and Gentiles) to himself by his death on the cross and subsequent glorification."
4) Greek Scholar A.T. Robertson had this to say:
"The magnetism of the Cross is now known of all men, however little they understand the mystery of the Cross. By “all men” (pantas) Jesus does not mean every individual man, for some, as Simeon said (Luke 2:34) are repelled by Christ, but this is the way that Greeks (verse 22) can and will come to Christ, by the way of the Cross, the only way to the Father (14:6)."
5) Albert Barnes had this to say:
"All men. I will incline all kinds of men; or will make the way open by the cross,"
6) John Wesley had this to say:
I will draw all men—Gentiles as well as Jews.
It appears that Wesley agrees with everyone else, that "all men" refers to "kinds" of men, people "groups" (ie. "Gentiles", "Jews"), rather than individuals.
7) Bible Knowledge Commentary:
"Jesus’ words, When I am lifted up from the earth, refer not to His Ascension but to His crucifixion (cf. 3:14; 8:28). He knew how He would die—by being “lifted up” on a cross. Jews, however, normally stoned those they considered worthy of death (cf. Stephen’s death, Acts 7:58-60)."
"Jesus said that at the cross He would draw all men to Himself. He did not mean everybody will be saved for He made it clear that some will be lost (John 5:28-29). If the drawing by the Son is the same as that of the Father (6:44), it means He will draw indiscriminately. Those saved will include not only Jews, but also those from every tribe, language, people, and nation."
So again, "Kinds" of men, people "groups", not "individuals", is intended here.
8) John Calvin:
"I will draw all men to myself. The word all, which he employs, must be understood to refer to the children of God, who belong to his flock. Yet I agree with Chrysostom, who says that Christ used the universal term, all, because the Church was to be gathered equally from among Gentiles and Jews, according to that saying, 'There shall be one shepherd, and one sheepfold,' (John 10:16.)"
9) Barton W. Johnson:
"John 12:32. If I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto me. Lifted up, first, to the cross; second, from the grave; third, to heaven and the eternal throne. The crucified, risen and exalted Savior becomes a power to draw all men, Jews and Gentiles, all nations. Christ does not declare that he will draw every individual, but all races. The great thought is the power of his death and resurrection."
10) Adam Clarke:
"Verse 32. I-will draw all men unto me. After I shall have died and risen again, by the preaching of my word and the influence of my Spirit, I shall attract and illuminate both Jews and Gentiles."
Again, people GROUPS ("Jews", "Gentiles"), not "individuals".
11) Murray J. Harris, "Exegetical Guide to GNT":
"Some witnesses read πάντα (𝔓66 ℵ* D it vg al), which could mean “the whole creation,” although the neut. can refer to persons alone (e.g., 6:39–40; 17:24; BDF §138 [1]). The preferred rdg. πάντας (UBS5) refers to all, Gentiles (10:16; 11:52) as well as Jews, without distinction, and every type of person rather than everyone without exception."
In the interest of transparency, I have not engaged in any kind of "cherry-picking. I used all the commentaries I have found on my copy of "Accordance" Bible software, which is (to my knowledge) not biased towards Calvinism (how could it, when it includes Wesley's Notes?).
I cited every commentary that I could find that elaborated on the meaning of "all men", and I didn't find ANY that referred to "all men" as "every single individual".
1) The textual data... There are two significant variant readings of the text:
πάντας ἑλκύσω πρὸς ἐμαυτόν (“I will draw all [people] to myself”)
πάντα ἑλκύσω πρὸς ἐμαυτόν (“I will draw every [person or everything] to myself”)
2) It is important to note that the adjective ("pantas") is substantive, meaning that it doesn't have an explicit referent, but is implied. That is to say, the term "men" is not explicitly in the text. Too many people try to interpret the text as if it was, and as if it meant, "individuals", which simply cannot be justified by the text itself. It is an ASSUMPTION that is INTERPRETED from the the text.
3) Greek scholar Philip Comfort had this to say:
"Because of this ambiguity, scribes may have added a sigma to παντα. In either case, it seems that Jesus had people in mind when he spoke of drawing all to himself by being lifted up on the cross. Of course, this drawing could suggest a kind of universal reconciliation of all things, as in Col 1:20. But the major focus of the metaphor in context is that Jesus would attract all kinds of people (Jews and Gentiles) to himself by his death on the cross and subsequent glorification."
4) Greek Scholar A.T. Robertson had this to say:
"The magnetism of the Cross is now known of all men, however little they understand the mystery of the Cross. By “all men” (pantas) Jesus does not mean every individual man, for some, as Simeon said (Luke 2:34) are repelled by Christ, but this is the way that Greeks (verse 22) can and will come to Christ, by the way of the Cross, the only way to the Father (14:6)."
5) Albert Barnes had this to say:
"All men. I will incline all kinds of men; or will make the way open by the cross,"
6) John Wesley had this to say:
I will draw all men—Gentiles as well as Jews.
It appears that Wesley agrees with everyone else, that "all men" refers to "kinds" of men, people "groups" (ie. "Gentiles", "Jews"), rather than individuals.
7) Bible Knowledge Commentary:
"Jesus’ words, When I am lifted up from the earth, refer not to His Ascension but to His crucifixion (cf. 3:14; 8:28). He knew how He would die—by being “lifted up” on a cross. Jews, however, normally stoned those they considered worthy of death (cf. Stephen’s death, Acts 7:58-60)."
"Jesus said that at the cross He would draw all men to Himself. He did not mean everybody will be saved for He made it clear that some will be lost (John 5:28-29). If the drawing by the Son is the same as that of the Father (6:44), it means He will draw indiscriminately. Those saved will include not only Jews, but also those from every tribe, language, people, and nation."
So again, "Kinds" of men, people "groups", not "individuals", is intended here.
8) John Calvin:
"I will draw all men to myself. The word all, which he employs, must be understood to refer to the children of God, who belong to his flock. Yet I agree with Chrysostom, who says that Christ used the universal term, all, because the Church was to be gathered equally from among Gentiles and Jews, according to that saying, 'There shall be one shepherd, and one sheepfold,' (John 10:16.)"
9) Barton W. Johnson:
"John 12:32. If I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto me. Lifted up, first, to the cross; second, from the grave; third, to heaven and the eternal throne. The crucified, risen and exalted Savior becomes a power to draw all men, Jews and Gentiles, all nations. Christ does not declare that he will draw every individual, but all races. The great thought is the power of his death and resurrection."
10) Adam Clarke:
"Verse 32. I-will draw all men unto me. After I shall have died and risen again, by the preaching of my word and the influence of my Spirit, I shall attract and illuminate both Jews and Gentiles."
Again, people GROUPS ("Jews", "Gentiles"), not "individuals".
11) Murray J. Harris, "Exegetical Guide to GNT":
"Some witnesses read πάντα (𝔓66 ℵ* D it vg al), which could mean “the whole creation,” although the neut. can refer to persons alone (e.g., 6:39–40; 17:24; BDF §138 [1]). The preferred rdg. πάντας (UBS5) refers to all, Gentiles (10:16; 11:52) as well as Jews, without distinction, and every type of person rather than everyone without exception."
In the interest of transparency, I have not engaged in any kind of "cherry-picking. I used all the commentaries I have found on my copy of "Accordance" Bible software, which is (to my knowledge) not biased towards Calvinism (how could it, when it includes Wesley's Notes?).
I cited every commentary that I could find that elaborated on the meaning of "all men", and I didn't find ANY that referred to "all men" as "every single individual".
