John 7:17
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 7:17 in other translations
| BSB | If anyone desires to do His will, he will know whether My teaching is from God or whether I speak on My own. |
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| WEB | If anyone desires to do his will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is from God or if I am speaking from myself. |
| ASV | If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from myself. |
| YLT | if any one may will to do His will, he shall know concerning the teaching, whether it is of God, or--I do speak from myself. |
| DARBY | If any one desire to practise his will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is of God, or that I speak from myself. |
| BBE | If any man is ready to do God's pleasure he will have knowledge of the teaching and of where it comes from--from God or from myself. |
| Webster | If any man will do his will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God, or whether I speak from myself. |
What does John 7:17 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 7:16-18
16-18. doctrine ... not mine, &c.--that is, from Myself unauthorized; I am here by commission.
Barnes' Notes
He shall know. He shall have evidence, in the very attempt to do the will of God, of the truth of the doctrine. This evidence is internal, and to the individual it is satisfactory and conclusive. It is of two kinds.
1st. He will find that the doctrines which Jesus taught are such as commend themselves to his reason and conscience, and such as are consistent with all that we know of the perfections of God. His doctrines commend themselves to us as fitted to make us pure and happy, and of course they are such as must be from God.
2nd. An honest desire to obey God will lead a man to embrace the great doctrines of the Bible. He will find that his heart is depraved and inclined to evil, and he will see and feel the truth of the doctrine of depravity; he will find that he is a sinner and needs to be born again; he will learn his own weakness, and see his need of a Saviour, of an atonement, and of pardoning mercy; he will feel that he is polluted, and needs the purifying influence of the Holy Spirit. Thus we may learn,
1st. That an honest effort to obey God is the easiest way to become acquainted with the doctrines of the Bible.
2nd. Those who make such an effort will not cavil at any of the doctrines of the Scriptures.
3rd. This is evidence of the truth of revelation which every man can apply to his own case.
4th. It is such evidence as to lead to certainty. No man who has ever made an honest effort to live a pious life, and to do all the will of God, has ever had any doubt of the truth of the Saviour's doctrines, or any doubt that his religion is true and is fitted to the nature of man. They only doubt the truth of religion who wish to live in sin.
5th. We see the goodness of God in giving us evidence of his truth that may be within every man's reach. It does not require great learning to be a Christian, and to be convinced of the truth of the Bible. It requires an honest heart, and a willingness to obey God.
Whether it be of God. Whether it be divine.
Or whether I speak of myself. Of myself without being commissioned or directed by God.
(i) "if any man do his will" Jn 8:43
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 7:14-24
Every faithful minister may humbly adopt Christ's words. His doctrine is not his own finding out, but is from God's word, through the teaching of his Spirit. And amidst the disputes which disturb the world, if any man, of any nation, seeks to do the will of God, he shall know whether the doctrine is of God, or whether men speak of themselves. Only those who hate the truth shall be given up to errors which will be…
John 7:17 in the original Greek
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Cross references for John 7:17
- John 8:31-32
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 8:43
Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
- Jeremiah 31:33-34
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
- John 8:47
He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
- Daniel 12:10
Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
- Psalms 25:8-9
Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
- Philippians 3:15-16
Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
- Psalms 119:101-102
I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word. I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.
- Luke 8:15
But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
- Acts 17:11
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
- Psalms 25:12
What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
- Micah 4:2
And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- John 7:16
Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
- John 7:17
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 7:18
He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
John 7:17 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | El que quisiere hacer su voluntad, conocerá de la doctrina si viene de Dios, ó si yo hablo de mí mismo. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Si quelqu’un veut faire sa volonté, il connaîtra de la doctrine si elle est de Dieu, ou si moi je parle de par moi-même. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Wenn jemand seinen Willen tun will, so wird er von der Lehre wissen, ob sie aus Gott ist, oder ob ich aus mir selbst rede. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Si quis voluerit voluntatem ejus facere, cognoscet de doctrina, utrum ex Deo sit, an ego a meipso loquar. |