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A Look at Scripture:

Scripture Research is about to publish a book by Jerry Bernard and as a result, one of the board members, Doug Falk brings up some very well thought out questions. Doug has written much on the Grace of God and if anyone is interested in getting these books, write Scripture Research, PO Box 51716, Riverside, CA 92517. The books will be sent to your address, free of charge. Please take advantage of this wonderful offer and ask for Doug's books on Grace.

Doug writes:
I have been considering Jerry's paper, and I find that it raises some interesting questions in my mind. I keep reading the passage in John 20, and I am not sure exactly what is happening. When John entered the tomb he 'believed', but what exactly did he believe? The next verse says that as of yet, they did not understand that Christ must raise from the dead. Now, this could be read two ways, and I am not sure the Greek would differentiate between the two. One could read this as: "as of yet they did not believe, but now they did believe" (what Jerry is proposing), or "that they still did not believe about Christ raising from the dead, even though they saw the empty tomb" (but they would believe at a future time). If John did in fact believe that Christ rose, would we not expect him to yell it from the top of his voice, especially to Peter and Mary? From the record it does not even appear that he mentioned this to Mary, who was right there and who in fact came and got him because "they had taken his body". For Mary was still very ignorant of the fact of His resurrection after John left, for she thought Christ was the gardener, and even previous to this, the angels had no effect on her. Jerry writes: "John did not visit any other tomb. He questioned no one about the situation. He believed and had no patience to wait around for the realization of truth to dawn for Peter. It was time to spread the good news." I am not so sure of this. Are we to think that John did not mention even to Peter and Mary the good news? But the scripture says: "Then the disciples went (together since plural) away again unto their own home." This does not seem to fit well. I must say that all of this raises more questions as to what exactly was believed and when was it believed. (note: this whole question of 'believing', of what exactly was believed and when was it believed, is perhaps the wrong angle, for once again it places the emphasis on humanity and not Christ). Through the rest of the article, is Jerry saying that no salvation occurred until the return of Christ? I am not sure. In which case none was 'saved' until later.....? In Christ, Doug

Jerry replies:
After hearing that the body of Jesus was taken from the tomb, "the two" (Peter and John) "ran together" (John 20:4) in eagerness to reach the empty tomb of Jesus. "Outran Peter" is used in Luke 19;4 where John ran ahead more swiftly (John 13;27) than Peter. In other words, John won the race. Then "stooping and looking in" (parakupsas), they both saw the linen cloth (John 19:40). This is the important fact that must not be missed in this passage. John notices this fact at once. If the body had been removed, these clothes would have gone also. The thieves would not stay long enough to take the burial clothes from the body and fold them neatly to the side. They would have just stolen the body with everything else. John's timid nature made him pause (yet, mentoi, however). Peter impulsively went on in and beholds (theorei) the napkin in a separate place, "rolled up" (entetuligmenon). The Greek gives us the perfect passive participle predicate accusative = to wrap in, to roll up, already in Matthew 27:59 and Luke 23;53. It was arranged in an orderly fashion. This means that there was no haste. "By itself" (chris) is an old adverb, "apart," "separately." "Then therefore" (tote oun)... After Peter in time and influenced by the boldness of Peter, John "saw and believed" (kai eidn kai episteusen). Both aorist active indicative - second and first). Peter saw more with his eyes after he entered than John did in his first glance, but John saw with his mind into the meaning of it all better than Peter. Peter had more eye sight, John more insight. This is John's own record of him being the first to believe that Jesus was risen from the tomb, even before he saw Him physically. According to Luke 24;12 Peter went away "wondering" still what it all meant. The Sinaitic Syriac and 69 and 124 wrongly read here "they believed." John was evidently proud to be able to record this great moment when he believed without seeing the risen Lord, in contrast to Thomas (20:29) seeing Him and placing his finger on the scars and wounded side. Also, Peter and John did not see the angels. "For" (gar) "the Scripture" (ten graphen) was talking about Psalms 16:10. Jesus had repeatedly foretold his resurrection, but that was all forgotten in the great sorrow on their hearts. Only the chief priests and Pharisees recalled the words of Jesus (Matthew 27:62). Then the scriptures say, "unto their own home" (pros hautous). Actually, this means "to themselves." Luke 24:12 has pros hauton about Peter ("to his home"). This use of the reflective pronoun for home (literally, "to themselves") is like what occurs in Josephus (Ant. VII. 4,6). John had taken the mother of Jesus to his home (19:27) and so he now hurries home to tell her the glorious news as what he believed to be the truth of Him. Her Son was now alive, not stolen like Mary Magdalene has reported.