John 14 - NIV First Century Study Bible

14:2–3 My Father’s house has many rooms. The poor translation of this word as “mansions” instead of “rooms” in some Bible versions has led to confusion. People typically understand this verse as a reference to the afterlife. However, the temple in Jerusalem was also called God’s “house.” Perhaps Jesus was promising a permanent place of belonging in the “house of God.” According to Scripture, the earthly tabernacle and temple were modeled on a heavenly equivalent (compare Ex 25:9, 40; 26:30; Nu 8:4; 1Chr 28:19; Heb 8:5), so his audience might have thought Jesus was promising earthly and heavenly belonging.

14:6 The way. The image of a path or way in the Hebrew Bible often stood for keeping the commandments or teachings of God (see Ps 1:1; 16:11; 86:11). This was a common ancient metaphor for active participation in a set of beliefs, teachings or practices. The Dead Sea Scrolls community called themselves followers of “the way,” by which they meant they were followers of their own interpretation of the path that pleased God. Paul and the first Christians also called themselves “follower[s] of the Way” (Ac 24:14).

14:28 The Father is greater than I. These are difficult words to fit neatly into Trinitarian theology. Augustine acknowledged the tension: “He [Jesus] saith, on the one hand, ‘The Father is greater than I;’ and on the other, ‘I and My Father are one;’ seeing this as a great mystery, our conduct must be fashioned, that it may be comprehended. For to the unworthy it is closed up . . . The seeking is with the heart, the asking with the heart . . . the opening is to the heart.” (Augustine, Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament, 41:3.)