John 5:46
For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
Original Language Analysis
γὰρ
For
G1063
γὰρ
For
Strong's:
G1063
Word #:
2 of 12
properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
ἐπιστεύετε
had ye believed
G4100
ἐπιστεύετε
had ye believed
Strong's:
G4100
Word #:
3 of 12
to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e., credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to ch
Μωσῇ,
Moses
G3475
Μωσῇ,
Moses
Strong's:
G3475
Word #:
4 of 12
moseus, moses, or mouses (i.e., mosheh), the hebrew lawgiver
ἐπιστεύετε
had ye believed
G4100
ἐπιστεύετε
had ye believed
Strong's:
G4100
Word #:
5 of 12
to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e., credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to ch
περὶ
of
G4012
περὶ
of
Strong's:
G4012
Word #:
8 of 12
properly, through (all over), i.e., around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time (with the genitive cas
γὰρ
For
G1063
γὰρ
For
Strong's:
G1063
Word #:
9 of 12
properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
Cross References
Deuteronomy 18:15The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;John 1:45Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.Luke 24:27And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.Acts 26:22Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:Genesis 49:10The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.Genesis 22:18And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.Genesis 12:3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.Genesis 3:15And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.Genesis 18:18Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?Genesis 28:14And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
Historical Context
This challenges the religious leaders' claimed Mosaic authority. Moses pointed forward; Christ is the fulfillment. Genesis 3:15, 49:10, Deuteronomy 18:15-19 all anticipate Christ. Those who truly understood Moses recognized Jesus as fulfillment. Those who rejected Jesus proved they didn't truly believe Moses.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Moses' writing point to Christ?
- What does rejection of Christ reveal about claimed faith in Old Testament Scripture?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
'For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.' Moses, whom they claimed to follow, wrote about Christ. If they truly believed Moses, they would recognize the one Moses anticipated. The Pentateuch contains messianic prophecy—the seed of the woman, Shiloh, the Prophet like Moses. Genuine faith in Moses leads to faith in Christ; claiming Moses while rejecting Christ reveals false profession.