The Gospel according to John (Pillar New Testament Commentary) by Carson D. A

Author:Carson, D. A. [Carson, D. A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Eerdmans Publishing Co - A
Published: 1991-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

b. Misunderstanding (10:6)

6. The word rendered ‘figure of speech’ is paroimia, an expression that occurs again in 16:25, 29 but never in the Synoptic Gospels. The favoured term there is parabolē (‘parable’), which never occurs in John. Both words render Hebrew māšāl, and all three words can refer to an extraordinarily wide variety of literary forms, including proverbs, parables, maxims, similes, allegories, fables, riddles, narratives embodying certain truths, taunts and more (cf. Carson, Matt, pp. 301–304). The common feature in these quite different genres is that there is something enigmatic or cryptic about them: hence NIV’S ‘figure of speech’. Whatever the form (and Jesus used many forms), Jesus’ opponents did not understand what he was telling them. How could they? They were not of his sheep (cf. v. 26). And when they do begin to grasp what he says, their limited understanding only serves as the basis for rejecting him (e.g. 5:16ff.; 6:60; 7:20, 45ff.; 8:31ff.; 9:39–41). John’s comment in this verse is therefore simultaneously a theological indictment and a step toward the further explanations in the next verses. Misunderstanding is frequently followed by explication in this Gospel.

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