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#41334
Sat Feb 07, 2009 11:37 AM
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I believe I have skimmed over this verse all these years and have not understood that the Lord Jesus was refering to Nathanael as one who is saved.  Is this correct? Can anyone else recollect not getting a simple verse? If so, which one? John 1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Verse 47. An Israelite indeed. One who is really an Israelite--not by birth only, but one worthy of the name. One who possesses the spirit, the piety, and the integrity which become a man who is really a Jew, who fears God and obeys his law. Comp.
Romas 9:6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
Romans 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Romans 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
No guile. No deceit, no fraud, no hypocrisy. He is really what he professes to be--a Jew, a descendant of the patriarch Jacob, fearing and serving God. He makes no profession which he does not live up to. He does not say that Nathanael was without guilt or sin, but that he had no disguise, no trick, no deceit--he was sincere and upright. This was a most honourable testimony. How happy would it be if he, who knows the hearts of all as he did that of Nathanael, could bear the same testimony of all who profess the religion of the gospel!
{n} "Behold"
Psalm 32:2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
Romans 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Romans 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Albert Barnes Commentary Have a good Lord's day, William
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William, No, I do not think that this verse means that Nathaniel was saved. He was certainly converted soon after, but here at this particular time in verse 47 there appears to be no definite indication that he had true saving faith in Christ. However, in verse 49, we do read that Nathaniel made a confession that Jesus was the "Son of God".  What Jesus was more than likely referring to with His comment about guile (v. 47), was Isaac's remarks to Esau in regard to his brother Jacob who took the upper hand and became head of the family through deceit/guile rather than implying that Nathaniel was saved. (Gen 27:18-35) And further in verse 51 there is an undeniable connection with Genesis 28 which also tells more of Jacob. In His grace,
![[Linked Image]](http://www.the-highway.com/pilgrim/pil_sig2.gif) simul iustus et peccator![[Linked Image]](http://www.the-highway.com/Smileys/pencil.gif)
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Thank you, but it must have been good for Nathanael that the Lord Jesus had a favorable look upon him, aye?  John 1:49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.
51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
Like a guileless Jacob, he had believed, and like him he shall see the mediatorial ladder which connects earth with heaven. Those who are willing to learn shall be graciously taught.
Spurgeon Devotional Commentary
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Head Honcho
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Thank you, but it must have been good for Nathanael that the Lord Jesus had a favorable look upon him, aye? Yes, Nathaniel was loved before time and destined to eternal life by faith in Christ at the proper time. Like a guileless Jacob, he had believed, and like him he shall see the mediatorial ladder which connects earth with heaven. Those who are willing to learn shall be graciously taught.  "guileless Jacob"?? Perhaps I'm out of it or I have the wrong translation of the Bible, but when I read Gen. 27:15ff, Jacob was anything but "guileless". My reading of John 1:47 is totally different than Spurgeon's evidently for I see Jesus seeing a CONTRAST between Jacob and Nathaniel; Jacob=deceitful but Nathaniel is bluntly honest.  What do you see? In His grace,
simul iustus et peccator
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"guileless Jacob"?? Perhaps I'm out of it or I have the wrong translation of the Bible, but when I read Gen. 27:15ff, Jacob was anything but "guileless". My reading of John 1:47 is totally different than Spurgeon's evidently for I see Jesus seeing a CONTRAST between Jacob and Nathaniel; Jacob=deceitful but Nathaniel is bluntly honest. , I go to bed now. 
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Persnickety Presbyterian Joined: Sep 2003
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Like a guileless Jacob, he had believed, and like him he shall see the mediatorial ladder which connects earth with heaven. Those who are willing to learn shall be graciously taught. "guileless Jacob"?? Perhaps I'm out of it or I have the wrong translation of the Bible, but when I read Gen. 27:15ff, Jacob was anything but "guileless". My reading of John 1:47 is totally different than Spurgeon's evidently for I see Jesus seeing a CONTRAST between Jacob and Nathaniel; Jacob=deceitful but Nathaniel is bluntly honest. Ha! I was thinking the very same.
Kyle
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified.
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