Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
In secret (en kruptw). See Matthew 6:4, Matthew 6:6 for this phrase.
Openly (en parrhsiai). "In public" (pan, rhsiv, telling it all). See on Matthew 8:32. Common in John (John 7:13, John 7:26; John 10:24; John 16:25, John 16:29; John 18:20; here again contrasted with en kruptw). It is wise advice in the abstract that a public teacher must allow inspection of his deeds, but the motive is evil. They might get Jesus into trouble. (If thou doest these things) (ei tauta poieiv). This condition of the first class assumes the reality of the deeds of Jesus, but the use of the condition at all throws doubt on it all as in Matthew 4:3, Matthew 4:6.
Manifest thyself (fanerwson seauton). First aorist active imperative of fanerow.
To the world (tw kosmw). Not just to "thy disciples," but to the public at large as at the feast of tabernacles. See John 8:26; John 14:22 for this use of kosmov.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing John 7:4:
John 7:1
John 7:8
John 7:10
John 7:13
John 11:14
John 18:20
John 21:1
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