John 5:39

Ye search (eraunate). Proper spelling as the papyri show rather than ereunate, the old form (from ereuna, search) as in John 7:52 . The form here can be either present active indicative second person plural or the present active imperative second person plural. Only the context can decide. Either makes sense here, but the reason given "because ye think" (oti umei dokeite, clearly indicative), supports the indicative rather than the imperative. Besides, Jesus is arguing on the basis of their use of "the Scriptures" (ta grapa). The plural with the article refers to the well-known collection in the Old Testament ( Matthew 21:42 ; Luke 24:27 ). Elsewhere in John the singular refers to a particular passage ( Luke 2:22 ; Luke 7:38 ; Luke 10:35 ). In them ye have eternal life (en autai zwhn aiwnion ecein). Indirect assertion after dokeite without "ye" expressed either as nominative (umei) or accusative (uma). Bernard holds that in John dokew always indicates a mistaken opinion ( Luke 5:45 ; Luke 11:13 Luke 11:31 ; Luke 13:29 ; Luke 16:20 ; Luke 20:15 ). Certainly the rabbis did make a mechanical use of the letter of Scripture as a means of salvation. These are they (ekeinai eisin ai). The true value of the Scriptures is in their witness to Christ (of me, peri emou). Luke ( Lk 24:27 Lk 24:45 ) gives this same claim of Jesus, and yet some critics fail to find the Messiah in the Old Testament. But Jesus did.