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Selected Verse: John 5:26 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Joh 5:26	Strong Concordance	For [1063] as [5618] the Father [3962] hath [2192] life [2222] in [1722] himself [1438]; so [2532] [3779] hath he given [1325] to the Son [5207] to have [2192] life [2222] in [1722] himself [1438];
	King James	For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
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.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

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.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
As the Father hath life - God is the source of all life. He is thence called the living God, in opposition to idols which have no life. Act 14:15; "we preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities (idols) 'unto the living God,'" Jos 3:10; Sa1 17:26; Jer 10:10. See also Isa 40:18-31. In himself - This means that life in God, or existence, is not derived from any other being. Our life is derived from God. Gen 2:7; God "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul" - that is, a living being. All other creatures derive their life from him. Psa 104:30, Psa 104:29; "thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created; thou takest away their breath, they die and return to their dust." But God is underived. He always existed as he is. Psa 90:2; "from everlasting to everlasting thou art God." He is unchangeably the same, Jam 1:17. It cannot be said that he is "self-existent," because that is an absurdity; no being can originate or create himself; but he is not dependent on any other for "life." Of course, no being can take away his existence; and of course, also, no being can take away his happiness. He has "in himself" infinite sources of happiness, and no other being, no change in his universe can destroy that happiness. So - In a manner like his. It corresponds to the first "as," implying that one is the same as the other; life in the one is the "same," and possessed in the same manner, as in the other. Hath he given - This shows that the power or authority here spoken of was "given" or committed to the Lord Jesus. This evidently does not refer to the manner in which the second person of the Trinity exists, for the power and authority of which Christ here speaks is that which he exercises as "Mediator." It is the power of raising the dead and judging the world. In regard to his divine nature, it is not affirmed here that it is in any manner derived; nor does the fact that God is said to have "given" him this power prove that he was inferior in his nature or that his existence was derived. For: 1. It has reference merely "to office." As Mediator, he may be said to have been appointed by the Father. 2. Appointment to office does not prove that the one who is appointed is inferior in nature to him who appoints him. A son may be appointed to a particular work by a parent, and yet, in regard to talents and every other qualification, may be equal or superior to the father. He sustains the relation of a son, and in this relation there is an official inferiority. General Washington was not inferior in nature and talents to the men who commissioned him. He simply derived authority from them to do what he was otherwise fully "able" to do. So the Son, "as Mediator," is subject to the Father; yet this proves nothing about his nature. To have life - That is, the right or authority of imparting life to others, whether dead in their graves or in their sins. In himself - There is much that is remarkable in this expression. It is in Him as it is in God. He has the control of it, and can exercise it as he will. The prophets and apostles are never represented as having such power in themselves. They were dependent; they performed miracles in the name of God and of Jesus Christ Act 3:6; Act 4:30; Act 16:18; but Jesus did it by his own name, authority, and power. He had but to speak, and it was done, Mar 5:41; Luk 7:14; Joh 11:43. This wonderful commission he bore from God to raise up the dead as he pleased; to convert sinners when and where he chose; and finally to raise up all the dead, and pronounce on them an eternal doom according to the deeds done in the body. None could do this but he who had the power of creation - equal in omnipotence to the Father, and the power of searching all hearts - equal in omniscience to God.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

As the Father hath life - God is the source of all life. He is thence called the living God, in opposition to idols which have no life. Act 14:15; "we preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities (idols) 'unto the living God,'" Jos 3:10; Sa1 17:26; Jer 10:10. See also Isa 40:18-31.

In himself - This means that life in God, or existence, is not derived from any other being. Our life is derived from God. Gen 2:7; God "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul" - that is, a living being. All other creatures derive their life from him. Psa 104:30, Psa 104:29; "thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created; thou takest away their breath, they die and return to their dust." But God is underived. He always existed as he is. Psa 90:2; "from everlasting to everlasting thou art God." He is unchangeably the same, Jam 1:17. It cannot be said that he is "self-existent," because that is an absurdity; no being can originate or create himself; but he is not dependent on any other for "life." Of course, no being can take away his existence; and of course, also, no being can take away his happiness. He has "in himself" infinite sources of happiness, and no other being, no change in his universe can destroy that happiness.

So - In a manner like his. It corresponds to the first "as," implying that one is the same as the other; life in the one is the "same," and possessed in the same manner, as in the other.

Hath he given - This shows that the power or authority here spoken of was "given" or committed to the Lord Jesus. This evidently does not refer to the manner in which the second person of the Trinity exists, for the power and authority of which Christ here speaks is that which he exercises as "Mediator." It is the power of raising the dead and judging the world. In regard to his divine nature, it is not affirmed here that it is in any manner derived; nor does the fact that God is said to have "given" him this power prove that he was inferior in his nature or that his existence was derived. For:

1. It has reference merely "to office." As Mediator, he may be said to have been appointed by the Father.

2. Appointment to office does not prove that the one who is appointed is inferior in nature to him who appoints him. A son may be appointed to a particular work by a parent, and yet, in regard to talents and every other qualification, may be equal or superior to the father. He sustains the relation of a son, and in this relation there is an official inferiority. General Washington was not inferior in nature and talents to the men who commissioned him. He simply derived authority from them to do what he was otherwise fully "able" to do. So the Son, "as Mediator," is subject to the Father; yet this proves nothing about his nature.

To have life - That is, the right or authority of imparting life to others, whether dead in their graves or in their sins.

In himself - There is much that is remarkable in this expression. It is in Him as it is in God. He has the control of it, and can exercise it as he will. The prophets and apostles are never represented as having such power in themselves. They were dependent; they performed miracles in the name of God and of Jesus Christ Act 3:6; Act 4:30; Act 16:18; but Jesus did it by his own name, authority, and power. He had but to speak, and it was done, Mar 5:41; Luk 7:14; Joh 11:43. This wonderful commission he bore from God to raise up the dead as he pleased; to convert sinners when and where he chose; and finally to raise up all the dead, and pronounce on them an eternal doom according to the deeds done in the body. None could do this but he who had the power of creation - equal in omnipotence to the Father, and the power of searching all hearts - equal in omniscience to God.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
As - so (ὥσπερ - οὕτως) The correspondence is that of fact, not of degree. Hath he given (ἔδωκεν) Rev., more strictly, gave, the aorist tense pointing back to the eternal past.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
He hath given to the Son - By eternal generation, to have life in himself - Absolute, independent.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
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.

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⁴ In [1722] him [846] was [2258] life [2222]; and [2532] the life [2222] was [2258] the light [5457] of men [444].

⁴³ And [2532] when he thus [5023] had spoken [2036], he cried [2905] with a loud [3173] voice [5456], Lazarus [2976], come [1204] forth [1854].

¹⁴ And [2532] he came [4334] and touched [680] the bier [4673]: and [1161] they that bare [941] him stood still [2476]. And [2532] he said [2036], Young man [3495], I say [3004] unto thee [4671], Arise [1453].

⁴¹ And [2532] he took [2902] the damsel [3813] by the hand [5495], and said [3004] unto her [846], Talitha [5008] cumi [2891]; which [3739] is [2076], being interpreted [3177], Damsel [2877], I say [3004] unto thee [4671], arise [1453].

¹⁸ And [1161] this [5124] did she [4160] [1909] many [4183] days [2250]. But [1161] Paul [3972], being grieved [1278], turned [1994] and [2532] said [2036] to the spirit [4151], I command [3853] thee [4671] in [1722] the name [3686] of Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] to come [1831] out of [575] her [846]. And [2532] he came out [1831] the same [846] hour [5610].

³⁰ By [1722] [4571] stretching forth [1614] thine [4675] hand [5495] to [1519] heal [2392]; and [2532] that signs [4592] and [2532] wonders [5059] may be done [1096] by [1223] the name [3686] of thy [4675] holy [40] child [3816] Jesus [2424].

⁶ Then [1161] Peter [4074] said [2036], Silver [694] and [2532] gold [5553] have [5225] I [3427] none [3756]; but [1161] such as [3739] [5124] I have [2192] give I [1325] thee [4671]: In [1722] the name [3686] of Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] of Nazareth [3480] rise up [1453] and [2532] walk [4043].

¹⁷ Every [3956] good [18] gift [1394] and [2532] every [3956] perfect [5046] gift [1434] is [2076] from above [509], and cometh down [2597] from [575] the Father [3962] of lights [5457], with [3844] whom [3739] is [1762] no [3756] variableness [3883], neither [2228] shadow [644] of turning [5157].

² Before the mountains [02022] were brought forth [03205], or ever thou hadst formed [02342] the earth [0776] and the world [08398], even from everlasting [05769] to [05704] everlasting [05769], thou art God [0410].

²⁹ Thou hidest [05641] thy face [06440], they are troubled [0926]: thou takest away [0622] their breath [07307], they die [01478], and return [07725] to their dust [06083].

³⁰ Thou sendest [07971] forth thy spirit [07307], they are created [01254]: and thou renewest [02318] the face [06440] of the earth [0127].

⁷ And the LORD [03068] God [0430] formed [03335] man [0120] of the dust [06083] of [04480] the ground [0127], and breathed [05301] into his nostrils [0639] the breath [05397] of life [02416]; and man [0120] became a living [02416] soul [05315].

¹⁸ To whom then will ye liken [01819] God [0410]? or what likeness [01823] will ye compare [06186] unto him?
¹⁹ The workman [02796] melteth [05258] a graven image [06459], and the goldsmith [06884] spreadeth [07554] it over with gold [02091], and casteth [06884] silver [03701] chains [07577].
²⁰ He that is so impoverished [05533] [05534] that he hath no oblation [08641] chooseth [0977] a tree [06086] that will not rot [07537]; he seeketh [01245] unto him a cunning [02450] workman [02796] to prepare [03559] a graven image [06459], that shall not be moved [04131].
²¹ Have ye not known [03045]? have ye not heard [08085]? hath it not been told [05046] you from the beginning [07218]? have ye not understood [0995] from the foundations [04146] of the earth [0776]?
²² It is he that sitteth [03427] upon the circle [02329] of the earth [0776], and the inhabitants [03427] thereof are as grasshoppers [02284]; that stretcheth out [05186] the heavens [08064] as a curtain [01852], and spreadeth them out [04969] as a tent [0168] to dwell in [03427]:
²³ That bringeth [05414] the princes [07336] to nothing; he maketh [06213] the judges [08199] of the earth [0776] as vanity [08414].
²⁴ Yea, they shall not be planted [05193]; yea, they shall not be sown [02232]: yea, their stock [01503] shall not take root [08327] in the earth [0776]: and he shall also blow [05398] upon them, and they shall wither [03001], and the whirlwind [05591] shall take [05375] them away as stubble [07179].
²⁵ To whom then will ye liken [01819] me, or shall I be equal [07737]? saith [0559] the Holy One [06918].
²⁶ Lift up [05375] your eyes [05869] on high [04791], and behold [07200] who hath created [01254] these things, that bringeth out [03318] their host [06635] by number [04557]: he calleth [07121] them all by names [08034] by the greatness [07230] of his might [0202], for that he is strong [0533] in power [03581]; not one [0376] faileth [05737].
²⁷ Why sayest [0559] thou, O Jacob [03290], and speakest [01696], O Israel [03478], My way [01870] is hid [05641] from the LORD [03068], and my judgment [04941] is passed over [05674] from my God [0430]?
²⁸ Hast thou not known [03045]? hast thou not heard [08085], that the everlasting [05769] God [0430], the LORD [03068], the Creator [01254] of the ends [07098] of the earth [0776], fainteth [03286] not, neither is weary [03021]? there is no searching [02714] of his understanding [08394].
²⁹ He giveth [05414] power [03581] to the faint [03287]; and to them that have no might [0202] he increaseth [07235] strength [06109].
³⁰ Even the youths [05288] shall faint [03286] and be weary [03021], and the young men [0970] shall utterly [03782] fall [03782]:
³¹ But they that wait [06960] upon the LORD [03068] shall renew [02498] their strength [03581]; they shall mount up [05927] with wings [083] as eagles [05404]; they shall run [07323], and not be weary [03021]; and they shall walk [03212], and not faint [03286].

¹⁰ But the LORD [03068] is the true [0571] God [0430], he is the living [02416] God [0430], and an everlasting [05769] king [04428]: at his wrath [07110] the earth [0776] shall tremble [07493], and the nations [01471] shall not be able to abide [03557] his indignation [02195].

²⁶ And David [01732] spake [0559] to the men [0582] that stood [05975] by him, saying [0559], What shall be done [06213] to the man [0376] that killeth [05221] this [01975] Philistine [06430], and taketh away [05493] the reproach [02781] from Israel [03478]? for who is this uncircumcised [06189] Philistine [06430], that he should defy [02778] the armies [04634] of the living [02416] God [0430]?

¹⁰ And Joshua [03091] said [0559], Hereby ye shall know [03045] that the living [02416] God [0410] is among [07130] you, and that he will without fail [03423] drive out [03423] from before [06440] you the Canaanites [03669], and the Hittites [02850], and the Hivites [02340], and the Perizzites [06522], and the Girgashites [01622], and the Amorites [0567], and the Jebusites [02983].

¹⁵ And [2532] saying [3004], Sirs [435], why [5101] do ye [4160] these things [5130]? We [2249] also [2532] are [2070] men [444] of like passions [3663] with you [5213], and preach [2097] unto you [5209] that ye should turn [1994] from [575] these [5023] vanities [3152] unto [1909] the living [2198] God [2316], which [3739] made [4160] heaven [3772], and [2532] earth [1093], and [2532] the sea [2281], and [2532] all things [3956] that are therein [1722] [846]: