" When I
returned to my father's home I convicted him of the righteousness of
those boys in the claim which they set forth, and which he had hitherto
doubted. In a similar manner the Spirit of God came down to convict the
world, that had rejected the claims of Jesus, of his righteousness in
making those claims.
(3) _He will convict the world of judgment, because the "prince of this
world is judged_." This passage does not say, as many preachers quote
it, "of judgment _to come_," but "of judgment, because the prince of
this world is judged." This Scripture is often quoted to show that a
judgment was pronounced upon Satan, who is often called the prince of
this world. The word for prince in the original is used thirty-seven
times--thirty-two times it clearly means an earthly ruler, and five
times it may apply to Satan. There is no reason why the expression, "the
prince of this world," may not mean an earthly ruler. It evidently
refers to Pontius Pilate, in John 14:30, when Jesus says: "The prince of
this world cometh, and he hath nothing in me." Pilate justifies that
statement when he says: "I find no fault in this man." Nevertheless, as
prince of this world, he pronounced the death-sentence and delivered him
up to be crucified.
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