John 5:36 — ExegesisTAB

The verse opens with egō {ἐγὼ | egṓ} in the emphatic initial position, highlighting the speaker’s self-reference in contrast to John, with de {δὲ | dè} marking a nuanced contrast with the preceding discussion of John’s role. The main clause, echō tēn marturian meizō {ἔχω τὴν μαρτυρίαν μείζω | échō tḗn martyrían meízō}, combines the verb of possession with a comparative object (“a greater testimony”), which is then immediately qualified by the genitive tou Iōannou {τοῦ Ἰωάννου | toû Iōánnou}, specifying that the comparison is with John’s testimony. The explanatory clause introduced by gar {γὰρ | gàr} grounds this claim: ta erga ha dedōken moi ho patēr {τὰ ἔργα ἃ δέδωκέν μοι ὁ πατὴρ | tà érga há dédōken moi ho patḗr} presents “the works” as a defined set, further characterized by the relative clause “which the Father has given to Me.” The hina {ἵνα | hína} clause, hina teleiōsō auta {ἵνα τελειώσω αὐτὰ | hína teleiṓsō autá}, expresses divine purpose, showing that these works are entrusted to be brought to completion by the Son. The phrase auta auta ta erga {αὐτὰ αὐτὰ τὰ ἔργα | autá autá tà érga} uses the intensive repetition of auta to stress “these very works” as the direct evidence. A second relative clause, ha egō poiō {ἃ ἐγὼ ποιῶ | há egṓ poiô}, ties the works specifically to Jesus’ ongoing activity, with the present indicative poiō emphasizing continuous performance. The verb martyrei {μαρτυρεῖ | martyreî} stands in the singular with the neuter plural subject ta erga, a common Greek construction, personifying the works as bearing testimony. Finally, the hoti {ὅτι | hóti} clause, hoti ho patēr me apestalken {ὅτι ὁ πατὴρ με ἀπέσταλκεν | hóti ho patḗr me apéstalken}, gives the content of that testimony: the perfect apestalken presents the Father’s sending as a completed act with abiding results. In translation, these nested relative and purpose clauses are rendered with dashes and clear subordination in English to preserve both the logical flow and the climactic focus on the Father’s commissioning of the Son.