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Why did Jesus say "we" instead of "I" in John 3:11?
Was he interjecting a plural majestic or rhetorical plural, or was he referencing John the Baptist, the prophets, the Holy Spirit, the trinity, or something else?
John 3:11
NKJV - 11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness.
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Asked October 10 2016
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k sierras
Supporter
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Tim Maas
Supporter
In my opinion, when Jesus said "we" in this verse, he was not speaking of Himself in the majestic plural as a person of the Godhead, but was referring to the evangelizing being done by both Himself and those (such as the apostles) engaged with Him in preaching the gospel, who had received their knowledge of God directly from hearing Jesus' words and seeing Jesus' actions, and who thus "knew" what they were preaching about as surely as Jesus did. I view this as a parallel construction to Nicodemus' opening statement to Jesus. Although he had come to Jesus alone, he started by saying, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God..." (John 3:2). Nicodemus thus indicated that he was speaking on behalf of the Jewish religious hierarchy.
john kangas
Supporter
The "We" in John 3:11 is same as the "We created man in Our image" in Genesis 1:26. The "We" is the Elohim.
Leslie Coutinho
Supporter
John 3:11: Verily, verily, I say unto thee, we speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. Lord Jesus said “we” for the disciples and all who followed Him who had witnessed Him who was with full of grace and truth. (John 1:13-14) They who witnessed Him testified to what they had seen and had come to pass as written in the scrolls. (John 1:15/Malachi 3:1) The disciples that followed Jesus, who were born again not of blood nor the will of the flesh nor the will of man but of God, (John 1:13) witnessed all the signs and testified as John bare the records saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and it abode upon him." (John 1:32) Nicodemus, the ruler of the Jews, came to Jesus knowing that the Heavenly Father was with our Lord Jesus and that is how He was carrying out all the signs and wonders among the people. John witnessed the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and it abode upon Lord Jesus, for he said, "I am the voice crying in the wilderness; make straight the way of the Lord," as said by the prophet Isaiah. For he was told as it is written that he would witness the Spirit descending upon Lord Jesus and remaining upon Him, and that would be Him who would baptize with the Holy Ghost. (Isa 40:3/42:1/61:1) The next day two of his disciples when they saw the Lord Jesus walking, John said, “Behold the Lamb of God!" and the two disciples heard him speak and followed Jesus. (John 1:33-37) Malachi 3:1: Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom you delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.
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