SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:12
Mas a todos los que le recibieron, les dio potestad de ser hechos hijos de Dios, a los que creen en su Nombre;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - John 1:12
Verse 12. Gave he power] exousian, Privilege, honour, dignity, or right. He who is made a child of God enjoys the greatest privilege which the Divine Being can confer on this side eternity. Those who accept Jesus Christ, as he is offered to them in the Gospel, have, through his blood, a right to this sonship; for by that sacrifice this blessing was purchased; and the fullest promises of God confirm it to all who believe. And those who are engrafted in the heavenly family have the highest honour and dignity to which it is possible for a human soul to arrive. What an astonishing thought is this! The sinner, who was an heir to all God's curses, has, through the sacrifice of Jesus, a claim on the mercy of the Most High, and a right to be saved! Even justice itself, on the ground of its holy and eternal nature, gives salvation to the vilest who take refuge in this atonement; for justice has nothing to grant, or Heaven to give, which the blood of the Son of God has not merited.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 12. But as many as received him , etc.] This is explained, in the latter part of the text, by believing in his name; for faith is a receiving him as the word, and Son of God, as the Messiah, Saviour, and Redeemer; a receiving grace out of his fulness, and every blessing from him, as a justifying righteousness, pardon of sin, and an inheritance among them that are sanctified; for though the generality rejected him, there were some few that received him: to them gave he power to become the sons of God ; as such were very early called, in distinction from the children of men, or of the world; (see Genesis 6:2,4). To be the sons of God is a very special favour, a great blessing, and high honour: saints indeed are not in so high a sense the sons of God as Christ is; nor in so low a sense as angels and men in common are; nor in such sense as civil magistrates; nor merely by profession of religion; much less by natural descent; but by adopting grace: and in this, Christ, the word, has a concern, as all the three divine persons have. The Father predestinated men to the adoption of children, secures this blessing for them in the covenant of his grace, and puts them among the children, and assigns them a goodly heritage: the Spirit, and who is therefore called the spirit of adoption, discovers and applies this blessing to them, and witnesses to their spirits that they are the children of God: and Christ, the word, or Son of God, not only espoused their persons, and in time assumed their nature, and by the redemption of them opened a way for their reception of the adoption of children; but actually bestows upon them the “power”, as it is here called, of becoming the sons of God: by which is meant, not a power of free will to make themselves the sons of God, if they will make use of it; but it signifies the honour and dignity conferred on such persons: so Nonnus calls it, “the heavenly honour”; as indeed, what can be a greater? It is more honourable than to be a son or daughter of the greatest potentate on earth: and it is expressive of its being a privilege; for so it is an undeserved and distinguishing one, and is attended with many other privileges; for such are of God’s household and family, and are provided for by him; have liberty of access unto him; are Christ’s free men, and are heirs to an incorruptible inheritance. This is a privilege that excels all others, even justification and remission of sins; and is an everlasting one: and it also intends the open right which believers have unto this privilege, and their claim of it: hence it follows, even to them that believe in his name ; that is, in himself, in Christ, the word: the phrase is explanative of the former part of the verse, and is a descriptive and manifestative character of the sons of God; for though the elect of God, by virtue of electing grace, and the covenant of grace, are the children of God before faith; and were so considered in the gift of them to Christ, and when he came into the world to gather them together, and save them; and so, antecedent to the Spirit of God, being sent down into their hearts, to make this known to them; yet no man can know his adoption, nor enjoy the comfort of it, or claim his interest in it, until he believes.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 6-14 - John the Baptist came to bear witness concerning Jesus. Nothing mor fully shows the darkness of men's minds, than that when the Light ha appeared, there needed a witness to call attention to it. Christ wa the true Light; that great Light which deserves to be called so. By his Spirit and grace he enlightens all that are enlightened to salvation and those that are not enlightened by him, perish in darkness. Chris was in the world when he took our nature upon him, and dwelt among us The Son of the Highest was here in this lower world. He was in the world, but not of it. He came to save a lost world, because it was world of his own making. Yet the world knew him not. When he comes as Judge, the world shall know him. Many say that they are Christ's own yet do not receive him, because they will not part with their sins, no have him to reign over them. All the children of God are born again This new birth is through the word of God as the means, 1Pe 1:23, an by the Spirit of God as the Author. By his Divine presence Chris always was in the world. But now that the fulness of time was come, he was, after another manner, God manifested in the flesh. But observe the beams of his Divine glory, which darted through this veil of flesh. Me discover their weaknesses to those most familiar with them, but it wa not so with Christ; those most intimate with him saw most of his glory Although he was in the form of a servant, as to outward circumstances yet, in respect of graces, his form was like the Son of God His Divin glory appeared in the holiness of his doctrine, and in his miracles. He was full of grace, fully acceptable to his Father, therefore qualifie to plead for us; and full of truth, fully aware of the things he was to reveal.
Greek Textus Receptus
οσοι 3745 K-NPM δε 1161 CONJ ελαβον 2983 5627 V-2AAI-3P αυτον 846 P-ASM εδωκεν 1325 5656 V-AAI-3S αυτοις 846 P-DPM εξουσιαν 1849 N-ASF τεκνα 5043 N-NPN θεου 2316 N-GSM γενεσθαι 1096 5635 V-2ADN τοις 3588 T-DPM πιστευουσιν 4100 5723 V-PAP-DPM εις 1519 PREP το 3588 T-ASN ονομα 3686 N-ASN αυτου 846 P-GSM
