John 20:4

Joh 20:4. Προέδραμε, did run before) Here there may be sweetly observed the distinguishing characteristics of the two disciples: faith in Peter, and love in John.—τάχιον, more quickly) Greater speed was appropriate in John, the younger of the two; greater gravity (sedateness) was appropriate in Peter, the elder. Neither, in his movements, has regard to the other; the regard of both is directed to the thing itself.

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Joh 20:4 . ἔτρεχον δὲ οἱ δύο ὁμοῦ , “and the two ran together”: equally eager; but ὁ ἄλλος μαθητὴς προέδραμε ταχίον τοῦ Πέτρου , “the other disciple ran on before more quickly than Peter”; probably John was the younger man. [Lampe suggests two other reasons: either Peter’s steps were slower “ob conscientiam culpae,” or “forte via Joanni magis nota erat”.] Consequently John ἦλθε πρῶτος … “came first to the tomb”.

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Vv. 4-7. “And they ran both together; and the other disciple ran more quickly than Peter, and he came first to the sepulchre; 5, and, stooping down, he sees the linen cloths lying on the ground;yet he did not enter in. 6. Simon Peter, following him, comes, and he entered into the sepulchre; and he beholds the linen cloths lying on the ground, 7, and the napkin, which had been placed upon his head, not lying with the other linen cloths, but rolled up and lying in a place by itself.”

John, being younger and more agile, arrives first. But his emotion is so strong that he timidly stops at the entrance to the sepulchre, after having looked in. Peter, of a more masculine and practical character, resolutely enters. These details are so natural, and so harmonious with the personality of the two disciples, that they bear in themselves the seal of their authenticity. They recall those of ch. 1—The present he sees (Joh 20:5) is contrasted with the aorist came (Joh 20:4); the same contrast occurs again between the verbs he enteredand he beholds (Joh 20:6). This difference springs from the contrast between the moment of arrival or of entrance and the continuance of the examination which follows or precedes. The word θεωρεῖ, beholds, unites in one the observation of the fact and the reflection on the fact. These linen cloths spread out did not suggest a removal; for the body would not have been carried away completely naked. The napkin, especially, rolled up and laid aside carefully, attested, not a precipitate removal, but a calm awakening. Here was what might suggest reflection to the two disciples.

Frédéric Louis Godet — Commentaries on Luke, John, Romans, and 1 Corinthians — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1870s–1890s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Verse 4. Outrun Peter] Not because he had a greater desire to see into the truth of these things; but because he was younger, and lighter of foot.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(4) So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter.—This is simply the result of the greater activity of John, who was probably younger than his companion. The thought that love outran doubt or fear, which has often been connected with the words, is not in harmony with the context, for “Peter therefore went forth” as soon as he heard Mary’s words (Joh_20:3); and Peter it was who first entered into the sepulchre (Joh_20:6).

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

4. So they ran] More exactly, But they began to run.

did outrun] Literally, ran on more quickly than, as being much the younger man. Would a writer of the second century have thought of this in inventing a narrative?

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

So they ran both together,.... At first setting out, and for a while; not content to walk, they ran, being eagerly desirous to know the truth of things:

and that other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre; John was a younger man than Peter, and so more nimble, and swift of foot, and got to the sepulchre before him; and besides, had not that concern of mind to retard him, Peter might have; as, supposing Christ was risen, and he should see him, how he should be able to look him in the face, whom he had so shamefully denied.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

Ver. 4. So they ran both together] But the swifter of foot they were, the slower in faith; for "he that believeth maketh not haste," Isa 28:16. They believed not fully the resurrection; when they heard the news of it, and from the angels too, they stirred not, but rejected it as a fable. Now that they hear (though but by a woman only) that the Lord’s body was removed to another sepulchre (though that were but a rash report, and nothing so) they run amain. Oh the dullness that is found in the best!

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

4. Mere reports were rejected.

4. ἔτρεχον … προέδ. τάχ. τ. Π. Literally, began to run … ran on before, more quickly than Peter: τάχ. τ. Π. being epexegetic. The more usual form θᾶσσον does not occur in N.T. (Joh 13:27; 1Ti 3:14; Heb 13:19; Heb 13:23). S. John ran more quickly as being much younger. Would a second century writer have thought of this in inventing a story? And how simply does S. John give us the process of conviction through which his mind passed: the dull unbelief beforehand, the eager wonder in running, the timidity and awe on arriving, the birth of faith in the tomb. This is true psychology free from all self-consciousness.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

4-8.] Full of most interesting and characteristic detail. John, probably the younger, outruns Peter;—but when there, reverently (not “ne pollueretur,” as .) abstains from entering the sepulchre. The ardent and impetuous Peter goes directly in—John follows—and believes. What can exceed the inner truth of this description? And what is not related, is as full of truth as that which is. For, vv. 6, 7, we seem to hear the very voice of Peter describing to his companion the inner state of the tomb.

On σουδ. see reff.

Notice βλέπει, of the cursory glance of John, who did not go in,—θεωρεῖ, of the exhaustive gaze of Peter who did. Notice also that John when he stooped and looked in saw only the ὀθόνια, which seem to have been lying where the Feet were, nearer the entrance, whereas Peter, on going in, saw the σουδάριον which was perhaps deposited further in, near the place of the Head. Nor should, as Meyer observes, the minute distinction of κείμενα τὰ ὀθόνια in ver. 5 and τὰ ὀθόνια κείμενα in ver. 6, be altogether overlooked.

Henry Alford, The Greek Testament (1849–1861) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

4. ἔτρεχον δέ κτλ., “So they began to run, the two together, and the other disciple ran on in front more quickly than Peter.” προτρέχειν occurs again in N.T. only at Luk 19:4. Cf. 1 Macc. 16:21.

καὶ ἦλθεν πρῶτος κτλ. The Beloved Disciple was probably the younger man of the two.

International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

They ran [ετρεχον] . Still the imperfect, they were running. How much the A. V. loses by its persistent ignoring of the force of this tense. Did outrun [προεδραμε ταχιον] . Literally, ran on in front more quickly. Dante, addressing the spirit of John in Paradise says :

"O holy father, spirit who beholdest What thou believedst so that thou o'ercamest, Toward the sepulchre, more youthful feet." " Paradise, " 24 124 - 126.

Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament (1887–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.