John 7:48

John 7:48, in plain English

The Pharisees argue: Has any important person believed in Him? Any of us Pharisees? They equate truth with status. But they are about to get a surprise.

Why it's here

This is the oldest trick in the book: if nobody important agrees with you, you must be wrong. But truth does not depend on who endorses it.

Who's speaking

The Pharisees make an argument that is about to blow up in their faces.

Where it sits in the story

They thought they had the ultimate argument: no respectable person follows Jesus. But Nicodemus, sitting right there among them, is about to prove them wrong.

The scholarly reading

The Pharisees appeal to authority: mē tis ek tōn archontōn episteusen eis auton ē ek tōn Pharisaiōn (has any ruler or Pharisee believed in Him?), making social status the criterion for truth.

Language and setting

This argument from authority is self-undermining, as Nicodemus (a ruler and Pharisee who has believed) is about to speak up. The Pharisees' epistemology is based on credentials rather than evidence.

Voice

The Pharisees continue their appeal to institutional authority as the basis for evaluating Jesus, unwittingly setting up Nicodemus' intervention.

Significance

The leaders argue that no one important believes in Jesus. But they are about to be contradicted by one of their own. Their argument from prestige collapses before it is even finished.

46“Never has anyone spoken like this man!” the officers answered.

47“Have you also been deceived?” replied the Pharisees.

48“Have any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in Him?

49But this crowd that does not know the law—they are under a curse.”

50Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who himself was one of them, asked,

Read all of John 7 — Jesus appears at the Festival of Tabernacles and divides the crowd. Some say he's a prophet, some say he's the Messiah, and some want him arrested.