John 8:54

54 Jesus answered, 1"If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. 2It is my Father who glorifies me, 3of whom you say, 'He is our God.'[a]

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 Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, 'If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.'
53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?"
54 Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, 'He is our God.'
55 But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word.
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad."

Cross References 3

  • 1. ver. 50
  • 2. John 13:32; John 17:1; Acts 3:13; Hebrews 5:5; 2 Peter 1:17
  • 3. ver. 41

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Some manuscripts your God
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.