John 5:26
Verse
Context
The Father and the Son
25Truly, truly, I tell you, the hour is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.26For as the Father has life in Himself, so also He has granted the Son to have life in Himself.27And He has given Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.
Sermons
A.W. Tozer
John Gill
T. Austin-Sparks
St. John Chrysostom
James ArminiusSummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Hath he given to the Son to have life, etc. - Here our Lord speaks of himself in his character of Messiah, or envoy of God.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
given to the Son, &c.--Does this refer to the essential life of the Son before all time (Joh 1:4) (as most of the Fathers, and OLSHAUSEN, STIER, ALFORD, &c., among the moderns), or to the purpose of God that this essential life should reside in the Person of the Incarnate Son, and be manifested thus to the world? [CALVIN, LUCKE, LUTHARDT, &c.] The question is as difficult as the subject is high. But as all that Christ says of His essential relation to the Father is intended to explain and exalt His mediatorial functions, so the one seems in our Lord's own mind and language mainly the starting-point of the other.
John Gill Bible Commentary
For as the Father hath life in himself,.... Is the living God, the fountain of life, and is the author of life to all living creatures; or rather has eternal life in his mind, his heart, his counsel, and his covenant, and in his hands, for all his chosen ones, which seems to he the peculiar sense here: so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; he hath not only made the purpose of it in him, and given the promise of it to him; but even eternal life itself, he has put into his hands, and secured it in him for them, Jo1 5:11, to give it to as many as he has given him: and he does give it to all his sheep, so that not one of them shall perish; which shows that he and his Father are one, though not in person, yet as in affection, will and power, so in nature and essence. The Son has life in himself, essentially, originally, and inderivatively as the Father has, being equally the living God, the fountain of life, and donor of it, as he; and therefore this is not a life which he gives, or communicates to him; but eternal life is what the one gives, and the other receives, according to the economy of salvation settled between them: and hence it is, that all that hear Christ's voice spiritually shall live eternally; for these words are a reason of the former, and confirm the truth of them, as well as show the equality of the Son with the Father, in that he is equal to such a trust, as to have eternal life committed to him.
John 5:26
The Father and the Son
25Truly, truly, I tell you, the hour is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.26For as the Father has life in Himself, so also He has granted the Son to have life in Himself.27And He has given Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Self-Sufficiency of God
By A.W. Tozer3.2K38:18God's CharacterPSA 30:5PSA 84:11PRO 3:5MAT 3:10MAT 6:33JHN 5:26In this sermon, Dr. Tazer focuses on the profound observation that the Father has life in himself, as stated in John's Gospel, Chapter 5, Verse 26. He emphasizes that Jesus condensed this profound truth into six simple words of one and two syllables. Dr. Tazer explains that God is self-sufficient and does not depend on anyone or anything for life. He dismisses the idea that God needs human assistance or validation, and encourages the congregation to trust in God's power and not be swayed by external influences or fear tactics.
Of the Life of God.
By John Gill0The Nature of GodSpiritual LifeDEU 30:20PSA 36:9JER 10:10JHN 5:26JHN 10:28ACT 17:25ROM 8:2EPH 4:18JAS 2:261JN 5:20John Gill expounds on the life of God, emphasizing that God's essence is life itself, distinct from all created beings. He explains that while creatures exhibit various forms of life, God's life is self-sustaining, eternal, and independent, making Him the ultimate source of life for all creation. Gill highlights that God's life is not only essential but also efficient, as He grants life to all beings, from plants to humans, and especially imparts spiritual life to the regenerated. He contrasts the living God with lifeless idols, affirming that true life is found only in God, who is eternal and immutable. Ultimately, Gill encourages believers to recognize their spiritual life as a reflection of God's divine nature, which is perfect and everlasting.
Of the Distinct Personality, and Deity of the Father.
By John Gill0The TrinityThe Deity of the FatherMAT 4:10MAT 11:27JHN 4:23JHN 5:26JHN 6:44ROM 15:6EPH 1:4EPH 2:1HEB 1:31PE 1:2John Gill emphasizes the distinct personality and deity of the Father, arguing that the Father is an individual divine person, distinguishable from the Son and the Holy Spirit. He supports this by referencing scriptural definitions of personhood, the Father's unique actions such as creation and providence, and His divine attributes that affirm His deity. Gill highlights that the Father is the source of life, knowledge, and power, and is the ultimate object of worship, thus establishing His role within the Trinity. The sermon underscores the importance of recognizing the Father's distinct personality while maintaining the equality of the Godhead.
The Heavenly Man and Eternal Life
By T. Austin-Sparks0RedemptionEternal LifeGEN 3:22MAT 13:44LUK 19:10JHN 1:4JHN 5:26JHN 10:10EPH 1:5REV 21:24T. Austin-Sparks emphasizes that Christ, as the Heavenly Man, embodies eternal life, which is the essence of His being and the foundation of redemption. He explains that eternal life was part of God's original intention for humanity, and through Christ, believers can access this divine life, which is not merely about existence but a transformative nature. The sermon highlights that redemption is not just a return to a previous state but a progressive journey towards maturity in Christ, where the life of God is continually at work within believers. Sparks also illustrates that the Church represents the treasure God seeks to recover, emphasizing its centrality in God's eternal purpose. Ultimately, he calls believers to embrace and lay hold of eternal life in their daily lives.
John 1:3
By St. John Chrysostom0JHN 1:3JHN 3:20JHN 5:26JHN 8:12JHN 14:23ROM 13:131CO 1:9EPH 5:12COL 1:16John Chrysostom preaches about the creation of all things by Christ, emphasizing that nothing was made without Him, including visible and invisible creations, while distinguishing the Son from the Spirit. He refutes heretical interpretations that suggest the Spirit or the Son was created, highlighting the precision of the Evangelist's teaching. Chrysostom explains the significance of Christ being the Life and the Light of men, shedding light on the darkness of sin and the need for a pure life to receive and retain the light of Christ. He urges believers to live honestly, avoid sin, and embrace the light of Christ to enjoy present and eternal blessings.
The Son and Life, and Word and Wisdom
By H.J. Vine0PRO 8:35JHN 1:4JHN 3:36JHN 5:26ACT 3:15ACT 13:46ROM 5:21TIT 1:21JN 2:241JN 5:12H.J. Vine preaches on the profound truth that eternal life is found in believing in the Son, a truth revealed by the Holy Spirit and declared in the Word of God. This eternal life, promised before time began, is a gift from God through His Son, Jesus Christ, who brought life to a world of death. Those who have the Son have life eternal, a present possession connected vitally with the Father and the Son, a promise to believers that will be fully realized in the coming glory.
The Person of the Father & the Son
By James Arminius0JHN 1:1JHN 5:26JHN 10:30ROM 8:9PHP 2:6James Arminius delves into the deep theological discussion on the Person of the Father and the Son, emphasizing the eternal relationship between them and the divine nature they both possess. He explains that the Father is the First Person in the Holy Trinity, who eternally begat the Son by communicating His own Divinity to Him. Arminius highlights the Son as the Word of the Father, begotten from Him from all eternity, and proceeding from Him by sharing the same Deity. He establishes the Son's divinity through the names, attributes, works, and Old Testament passages attributed to Him, affirming His equality with the Father in essence but distinction in mode of existence.
The Divinity of the Son of God
By James Arminius0PRO 30:4ISA 9:6JHN 1:14JHN 5:26JHN 10:30JHN 14:91CO 8:6COL 2:9HEB 1:31JN 5:7James Arminius addresses the controversy surrounding the Divinity of the Son of God, refuting the notion that the Son is autotheos, having His essence from Himself and not from the Father. Arminius defends the traditional belief that the Son derives His Deity from the Father by eternal generation, warning against the errors of Tri-theism and Sabellianism. He highlights the importance of upholding the truth of the ancient Church's teachings on the Trinity and the eternal generation of the Son.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Hath he given to the Son to have life, etc. - Here our Lord speaks of himself in his character of Messiah, or envoy of God.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
given to the Son, &c.--Does this refer to the essential life of the Son before all time (Joh 1:4) (as most of the Fathers, and OLSHAUSEN, STIER, ALFORD, &c., among the moderns), or to the purpose of God that this essential life should reside in the Person of the Incarnate Son, and be manifested thus to the world? [CALVIN, LUCKE, LUTHARDT, &c.] The question is as difficult as the subject is high. But as all that Christ says of His essential relation to the Father is intended to explain and exalt His mediatorial functions, so the one seems in our Lord's own mind and language mainly the starting-point of the other.
John Gill Bible Commentary
For as the Father hath life in himself,.... Is the living God, the fountain of life, and is the author of life to all living creatures; or rather has eternal life in his mind, his heart, his counsel, and his covenant, and in his hands, for all his chosen ones, which seems to he the peculiar sense here: so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; he hath not only made the purpose of it in him, and given the promise of it to him; but even eternal life itself, he has put into his hands, and secured it in him for them, Jo1 5:11, to give it to as many as he has given him: and he does give it to all his sheep, so that not one of them shall perish; which shows that he and his Father are one, though not in person, yet as in affection, will and power, so in nature and essence. The Son has life in himself, essentially, originally, and inderivatively as the Father has, being equally the living God, the fountain of life, and donor of it, as he; and therefore this is not a life which he gives, or communicates to him; but eternal life is what the one gives, and the other receives, according to the economy of salvation settled between them: and hence it is, that all that hear Christ's voice spiritually shall live eternally; for these words are a reason of the former, and confirm the truth of them, as well as show the equality of the Son with the Father, in that he is equal to such a trust, as to have eternal life committed to him.