John 1:49

“Nathanael answered and saith unto him, etc.] Being fully convinced of his omniscience by these instances: Rabbi; that is, master, as it is interpreted in (<430138>John 1:38), and is not here, because it is there: thou art the Son of God; not by creation, for this would be to say no more of him, than may be said of every man; nor by adoption, for in that sense Nathanael himself was a Son of God, and many others; nor on account of his wonderful incarnation, which, it is very likely, at this time Nathanael knew nothing of; nor by reason of his resurrection from the dead, which, as yet, was not, and still less might be known by this person; nor because of his office, as Mediator, for this is…”

“Son of God . . . King of Israel--the one denoting His person, the other His office. How much loftier this than anything Philip had said to him! But just as the earth's vital powers, the longer they are frost-bound, take the greater spring when at length set free, so souls, like Nathanael and Thomas (see on Joh 20:28), the outgoings of whose faith are hindered for a time, take the start of their more easy-going brethren when loosed and let go.”

“Rabbi - Master. Applied appropriately to Jesus, and to no one else, Matthew 23:10. The Son of God - By this title he doubtless meant that he was the Messiah. His conscience told him that he had judged right of his character, and that therefore he must know the heart and the desires of the mind. If so, he could not be a mere man, but must be the long-expected Messiah. The King of Israel - This was one of the titles by which the Messiah was expected, and this was the title which was affixed to his cross, John 19:18. This case of Nathanael John adduces as another evidence that Jesus was the Christ. The great object he had in view in writing this gospel was to collect the evidence that he was…”

“Nathanael answered - Happy are they that are ready to believe, swift to receive the truth and grace of God. Thou art the Son of God - So he acknowledges now more than he had heard from Philip: The Son of God, the king of Israel - A confession both of the person and office of Christ. John 1:51”

“Rabbi: Joh 1:38 thou: Joh 1:18, Joh 1:34, Joh 20:28, Joh 20:29; Mat 14:33 the King: Joh 12:13-15, Joh 18:37, Joh 19:19-22; Psa 2:6, Psa 110:1; Isa 9:7; Jer 23:5, Jer 23:6; Eze 37:21-25; Dan 9:25; Hos 3:5; Mic 5:2; Zep 3:15; Zac 6:12, Zac 6:13, Zac 9:9; Mat 2:2, Mat 21:5, Mat 27:11, Mat 27:42; Luk 19:38 John 1:50”