Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
Nevertheless even (omwv mentoi kai). For the old omwv see I Corinthians 14:7; Galatians 3:15 (only other examples in N.T.), here only with mentoi, "but yet," and kai, "even." In spite of what has just been said "many (polloi) even of the rulers" (recall the lonely shyness of Nicodemus in John 3:1 ff.). These actually "believed on him" (episteusan eiv auton) in their convictions, a remarkable statement as to the effect that Christ had in Jerusalem as the Sanhedrin plotted his death. Cf. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea.
But because of the Pharisees (alla dia touv Farisaiouv). Like the whispered talk in John 7:13 "because of the fear of the Jews." Once the Pharisees sneeringly asked the officers (John 7:48): "Hath any one of the rulers believed on him?" And now "many of the rulers have believed on him."
They did not confess (oux wmologoun). Negative imperfect in contrast to the punctiliar aorist episteusan. "They kept on not confessing." How like the cowardly excuses made today by those under conviction who refuse to step out for Christ.
Lest they should be put out of the synagogue (ina mh aposunagwgoi genwntai). Cf. John 9:22 where this very word occurs in a purpose clause like this. Only once more in the N.T. (John 16:2), a Jewish word not in profane authors. This ostracism from the synagogue was dreaded by the Jews and made cowards of these "believing elders."
More than (mallon hper). They preferred the glory and praise of men more than the glory and praise of God. How apropov these words are to some suave cowards today.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing John 12:42:
John 3:2
John 9:22
John 10:19
John 11:47
John 12:2
John 16:2
John 19:38
John 20:19
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