John 1:18

No man hath seen God. That is, the Father (cf. PP 366). Sinners cannot see God face to face and live. Not even Moses, the great lawgiver of Israel, was permitted to behold Him (Ex. 33:20; Deut. 4:12). Some have witnessed the glory of the divine presence (see on John 1:14), but, except in vision, none have seen the divine person (cf. Isa. 6:5). Christ came to reveal the Father, and, for all practical purposes, those who saw Him saw the Father (John 14:7-11). See also chs. 5:37; 6:46.

Son. See on chs. 1:14; 3:16. Textual evidence is divided (cf. p. 146) between the readings “Son” and “God.” Either way, reference would be to Christ. If the reading “God” is accepted, the sense would then be: “the unique one, very God, the one abiding in the bosom of the Father,” or, “the only one [who is] God, the one who abides in the bosom of the Father.”

In the bosom. Probably an idiomatic expression indicating the most intimate association possible (cf. eh. 13:23). He who knows the Father best is the very one who came from heaven to make Him known to men (eh. 14:7-9).

Hath declared. Gr. exegeomai, “to lead forth,” “to unfold [in teaching],” “to reveal,” “to interpret.” Our word “exegesis” is from the same Greek word.