Encouraged by Peter"s boldness John also proceeded into the tomb. There he saw (Gr. eiden, perceived intelligently) this evidence and believed what it implied. He believed that Jesus was alive. In this chapter, John carefully recorded that disciples who saw the resurrected Jesus believed on Him (cf. John 20:16; John 20:20; John 20:25; John 20:29). The writer did not explain what John believed here, but in the context of this chapter it seems clear that he believed that Jesus was alive (cf. John 2:22; John 11:25; John 16:22). The evidence of Jesus" resurrection convinced John even before he met the risen Jesus. Disciples since John can believe in Him because of this evidence too even though we have not yet seen the risen Jesus (cf. John 20:29; 1 John 1:1-4). [source][source][source]
The writer did not say that Peter also believed. This omission does not necessarily mean that Peter failed to believe. The writer was simply confessing his own belief, not contrasting it with Peter"s reaction. Nevertheless John seems to have understood the significance of the empty tomb and the orderly grave clothes better than Peter did (cf. Luke 24:12). He evidently did not confess his belief to others then (cf. John 20:10-18). [source][source][source]
Jesus had passed through the grave clothes and through the rocky tomb. The angel opened the tomb to admit the disciples, not to release Jesus ( Matthew 28:2). [source][source][source]
Context Summary
John 20:1-10 - The Witness Of The Empty Tomb
In considering John's account of the Resurrection, we should remember that it is largely supplementary to the other narratives. This Gospel having been written long after those were in circulation, the selection of incidents which are recorded is made for spiritual purposes. John's object was to show various instances of faith in the risen Christ, each one being typical and having its own lessons to teach.
Easter morning! What dismay there is in Mary's voice and what consternation in her face! What a mistake also she made, for who can take our Lord away from hearts where He is enshrined! The Greek word used to describe the disposition of the clothes is very remarkable. It conveys the idea that they had fallen together, as if that which they had covered had been suddenly withdrawn.
How much those two disciples missed! Had they only waited, they might have seen the Lord. Do not hurry with wanton haste from the mysteries of our Lord's grave; but learn that on the one hand He was declared to be God's Son, Romans 1:4, and on the other we are taught the victory of faith even over death, John 11:26. [source]
Chapter Summary: John 20
1Mary comes to the tomb; 3so do Peter and John, ignorant of the resurrection 11Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene, 19and to his disciples 24The incredulity and confession of Thomas 30The Scripture is sufficient to salvation
Greek Commentary for John 20:8
Then therefore [τοτε ουν] After Peter in time and influenced by the boldness of Peter. And he saw and believed Both aorist active indicative (second and first). Peter saw more after he entered than John did in his first glance, but John saw into the meaning of it all better than Peter. Peter had more sight, John more insight. John was the first to believe that Jesus was risen from the tomb even before he saw him. According to Luke 24:12 Peter went away “wondering” still. The Sinaitic Syriac and 69 and 124 wrongly read here “they believed.” John was evidently proud to be able to record this great moment when he believed without seeing in contrast to Thomas (John 20:29). Peter and John did not see the angels. [source]
Believed [] This word is explained by what follows. He believed (at length) that Jesus was risen; for up to this time ( οὐδέπω ) he, with his fellow-disciple (plural, ᾔδεισαν ) knew not, etc. The singular number, he believed, as Meyer profoundly remarks, “only satisfies the never-to-be-forgotten personal experience of that moment, though it does not exclude the contemporaneous faith of Peter also.” On knew ( ᾔδεισαν ), see on John 2:24. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 20:8
1 John 4:19He first [αυτος πρωτος] Note πρωτος prōtos (nominative), not πρωτον prōton as in John 20:4,John 20:8. God loved us before we loved him (John 3:16). Our love is in response to his love for us. Αγαπωμεν Agapōmen is indicative (we love), not subjunctive (let us love) of the same form. There is no object expressed here. [source]
Revelation 1:2All things that he saw [ὅσα εἶδεν] Lit., as many things as he saw. In the Gospel John uses the word εἶδεν sawonly twice of his own eye-witness (John 1:40; John 20:8). In Revelation it is constantly used of the seeing of visions. Compare Revelation 1:19. For the verb as denoting the immediate intuition of the seer, see on John 2:24. [source]
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: πιστεύω
Sense: to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in.
Greek Commentary for John 20:8
After Peter in time and influenced by the boldness of Peter. And he saw and believed Both aorist active indicative (second and first). Peter saw more after he entered than John did in his first glance, but John saw into the meaning of it all better than Peter. Peter had more sight, John more insight. John was the first to believe that Jesus was risen from the tomb even before he saw him. According to Luke 24:12 Peter went away “wondering” still. The Sinaitic Syriac and 69 and 124 wrongly read here “they believed.” John was evidently proud to be able to record this great moment when he believed without seeing in contrast to Thomas (John 20:29). Peter and John did not see the angels. [source]
This word is explained by what follows. He believed (at length) that Jesus was risen; for up to this time ( οὐδέπω ) he, with his fellow-disciple (plural, ᾔδεισαν ) knew not, etc. The singular number, he believed, as Meyer profoundly remarks, “only satisfies the never-to-be-forgotten personal experience of that moment, though it does not exclude the contemporaneous faith of Peter also.” On knew ( ᾔδεισαν ), see on John 2:24. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 20:8
Note πρωτος prōtos (nominative), not πρωτον prōton as in John 20:4, John 20:8. God loved us before we loved him (John 3:16). Our love is in response to his love for us. Αγαπωμεν Agapōmen is indicative (we love), not subjunctive (let us love) of the same form. There is no object expressed here. [source]
Lit., as many things as he saw. In the Gospel John uses the word εἶδεν sawonly twice of his own eye-witness (John 1:40; John 20:8). In Revelation it is constantly used of the seeing of visions. Compare Revelation 1:19. For the verb as denoting the immediate intuition of the seer, see on John 2:24. [source]