BEN F. VICK, JR.
"Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself" (John 7:14-17).
About six months before Jesus' death, he was in the temple in Jerusalem. It was the time of the Feast of Tabernacles, which occurred in the seventh month, the 14th through the 21st days of that week. This feast corresponds to our September – October. Jesus was teaching in the temple area, and since he was not a priest, he could not enter the temple proper. The Jews marveled at his knowledge. They said, "How knoweth this man letters…." There are several Greek words for the verb "know." The one used here (οἶδα) is defined as "to be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about." Vine makes this comment:
The difference between γινώσκω (No. 1) and οἶδα demand consideration: (a) ginosko, frequently suggests inception or progress in knowledge, while oida suggests fulness of knowledge, e.g., John 8:55, "ye have not known Him" (ginosko), i.e., begun to know, "but I know Him" (oida), 'know Him perfectly….”
(Expository Dict. of N.T. Words, Vol. II, p. 298).
How could he do that? He had complete knowledge concerning the letters, yet he had not been to their schools. They were amazed.
Jesus explained to them, "My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me." Jesus was the Father's prophet, a spokesman for his Father. It was understood that Jesus would be a prophet (Deut. 18:18-19). After Jesus' resurrection, he joined two men who were walking to Emmaus. Luke records:
And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people (Luke 24:17-19).
Jesus said, "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine…." The word "if" indicates a probable future. "It expresses that which is not really taking place but which probably will take place in the future" (Summers, Essentials of N.T. Greek), p. 109). "Any man" has rightfully been translated as "anyone." The verb "will" connotes "purpose, resolve, will, want, be ready.” "Do" translates from a Greek word from which we get our English words "poem" or "poetry." Thus, anyone – man or woman, girl or boy who resolves to do the will of God the Father shall know of the teaching of Christ. If he determines to follow the will of the Father, he can know his will.
There is no reason today for not knowing God's word. There are so many more tools now than ever before to aid one's understanding of the Bible. There are Bible apps, online courses, lectures to view, etc. The problem is not a lack of tools but a lack of desire to learn. Peter wrote, "Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby" (1 Pet.2:1-2). Some Bible apps have concordances, Bible dictionaries, commentaries, etc., which can be helpful. The more one reads the Bible, the more he concentrates on what he is reading, the more he will learn. The Psalmist wrote, "The entrance of thy words giveth light; It giveth understanding unto the simple" (Psa. 119:130).
A.T. Robertson said on the word "know" in John 7:17:
Experimental knowledge from willingness to do God's will…. There must be moral knowledge between man's purpose and God's will. 'If there be no sympathy there can be no understanding' (Westcott). Atheists of all types have no point of contact for approach to the knowledge of Christ. This fact does not prove the non-existence of God, but simply their own isolation. They are out of tune with the Infinite. For those who love God it is also true that obedience to God's will brings richer knowledge of God. Agnostic and atheistic critics are disqualified by Jesus as witnesses to his claims (Word Pictures in New Testament, Vol. V, p 123).
Later, Jesus said, "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32). One may not know the difference between a Greek theta and a chicken's claw, but he can understand what the Bible teaches.
Jesus said one can know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether he spoke of himself. The origin of the teaching came from the Father. It did not originate with Christ. In speaking to the apostles about his going away and sending the Comforter, he said:
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you" (John 16:13-15).
Observe the Spirit of truth is the Comforter (John 15:26); the Comforter is the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). Jesus said that the Comforter "will glorify me." He will not glorify himself. Do some want to emphasize the Holy Spirit over Christ? The Holy Spirit glorified the Son. Further, Jesus said that he (the Holy Spirit) would receive of mine. And Jesus said all that the Father hath are mine. Gathering what we have: The apostles received the message from the Holy Spirit; the Holy Spirit received the message from Christ; Christ received it from the Father.
In the first century, when revelation was being given, it was first in oral form, then oral and written form, and finally in written form (2 Thess. 2:2). It has, through God's providence, been passed down to us. It is complete. Paul wrote to Timothy, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
Do you want to do the will of the Father? Then you can know his word. Paul wrote, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).