John 8:54

54 Jesus answered, “If I want glory for myself, it doesn’t count. But it is my Father who will glorify me. You say, ‘He is our God,’

John 8:54 Meaning and Commentary

John 8:54

Jesus answered, if I honour myself, my honour is nothing,
&c.] It is empty and vain, and will not continue; see ( 2 Corinthians 10:18 ) ;

it is my Father that honoureth me:
by a voice from heaven, both at his baptism, and transfiguration, declaring him to be his beloved Son, and by the works and miracles he did by him; as he afterwards also honoured him by raising him from the dead, and setting him at his own right hand, by pouring forth his Spirit on his disciples, and succeeding his Gospel in every place:

of whom ye say that he is your God;
your covenant God and Father, being the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; of this the Jews boasted. The Alexandrian copy, and some others, and all the Oriental versions read, "our God".

John 8:54 In-Context

52 The people said, “Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died, but you say, ‘Anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!’

53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”

54 Jesus answered, “If I want glory for myself, it doesn’t count. But it is my Father who will glorify me. You say, ‘He is our God,’

55 but you don’t even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But I do know him and obey him.

56 Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad.”

Footnotes

• [a]. Some manuscripts read You say he is your God.