John 10:38 kjv
But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
John 10:38 nkjv
but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him."
John 10:38 niv
But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father."
John 10:38 esv
but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father."
John 10:38 nlt
But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don't believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father."
John 10 38 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jn 5:36 | "the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, these very works...bear witness about me that the Father has sent me." | Works testify to Jesus' divine origin and mission. |
| Jn 14:10 | "Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say...the Father doing his works through me." | Reinforces mutual indwelling, words and works flow from unity. |
| Jn 14:11 | "Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves." | Appealing to works as tangible proof of His divine unity. |
| Jn 20:30-31 | "Now Jesus did many other signs...these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God..." | Purpose of recorded works is to engender faith in His identity. |
| Acts 2:22 | "Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him..." | God Himself authenticates Jesus through miraculous deeds. |
| Matt 11:4-5 | "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight...the dead are raised up..." | Jesus' works confirm His Messiahship and the Kingdom's arrival. |
| Lk 7:22 | "The blind receive their sight, the lame walk...the dead are raised..." | Parallel to Matthew, emphasizing works as messianic signs. |
| Jn 15:24 | "If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin..." | The works remove any excuse for unbelief. |
| Col 1:19 | "For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell..." | Directly supports the Father dwelling "in Him." |
| Col 2:9 | "For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily..." | Highlights the bodily presence of full deity in Christ. |
| Heb 1:3 | "He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature..." | Emphasizes Jesus as the perfect representation of the Father's essence. |
| Jn 17:21 | "that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you..." | The pattern for believer's unity, modeled on the Godhead. |
| 1 Jn 4:15 | "Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God." | Relates indwelling to believer's relationship with God through Christ. |
| 1 Jn 5:20 | "And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life." | Reinforces Jesus as the True God and connection to knowledge/truth. |
| Isa 9:6 | "For to us a child is born...and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." | Prophetic title for Messiah, indicating His divine nature ("Mighty God"). |
| Phil 3:10 | "that I may know him and the power of his resurrection..." | Desiring to experientially "know" Christ and His power. |
| Jer 24:7 | "I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD..." | God grants the ability to "know" Him experientially. |
| Jn 8:19 | "If you had known me, you would have known my Father also." | Knowledge of Jesus leads to knowledge of the Father. |
| Jn 12:45 | "And whoever sees me sees him who sent me." | Seeing Jesus is seeing the Father, demonstrating their unity. |
| 1 Jn 2:3 | "And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments." | Practical evidence of knowing God, complementing belief through works. |
| Exod 34:6-7 | "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious...keeping steadfast love for thousands..." | Reveals the nature and character of God, reflected in Jesus' works. |
| Psa 19:1 | "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork." | Creation testifies to God's works and existence, paralleling Jesus' works. |
John 10 verses
John 10 38 Meaning
John 10:38 conveys that Jesus’s divine works serve as undeniable proof of His intimate and essential unity with God the Father. Even if individuals initially struggle to believe His verbal claims of divinity, observing His miraculous deeds should lead them to recognize and trust in the profound, mutual indwelling relationship between the Father and the Son, validating Jesus's unique identity and authority.
John 10 38 Context
John 10:38 occurs during Jesus's discourse at the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem (Hanukkah). The Jewish leaders are pressuring Him to declare plainly if He is the Christ. Jesus asserts His identity by stating, "I and the Father are one" (Jn 10:30), leading them to accuse Him of blasphemy, claiming He, being a man, made Himself God. Jesus then appeals to the evidence of His divine works, arguing that these miraculous deeds bear witness to His claims. If they cannot accept His words, they should, at minimum, accept the manifest power behind His actions, which would then lead them to understand and believe in the profound unity between Him and the Father. This passage directly confronts their skepticism and denial of His divinity.
John 10 38 Word analysis
- but if I do them: The conjunction "but" (Greek: de, δέ) marks a contrast with the previous verse (Jn 10:37) where Jesus stated they should believe His works if they don't believe Him directly. "them" refers back to the "works" (Greek: erga, ἔργα) mentioned previously. These works are divine acts, miracles, and all manifestations of divine power and authority Jesus performed, demonstrating His divine origin and nature.
- though you believe not me: This acknowledges the profound spiritual blindness and stubbornness of His hearers. Their unbelief is directed at Jesus Himself – His person, His words, and His divine claims. Jesus is presenting a path to faith even for those who are currently rejecting Him.
- believe the works: "Believe" (Greek: pisteuō, πιστεύω) here means to trust, put faith in, or be convinced by. The "works" are objective, observable, and tangible proofs of God's presence and power. They are God's direct testimony through Jesus. This is an appeal to evidence-based faith.
- that you may know: "Know" (Greek: ginoskō, γινώσκω) refers to an experiential, intimate, and often progressive knowledge. It is more than intellectual assent; it implies a deeper understanding and recognition resulting from the observed evidence. This knowledge is dynamic and transformative.
- and believe: This "believe" (Greek: pisteuō, πιστεύω) signifies a conviction or trust that leads to an acknowledgment of truth. While "know" is about understanding the reality, "believe" is about trusting and acting upon that reality. The sequence implies knowledge leading to full belief.
- that the Father is in me: This refers to the indwelling of God the Father in Jesus Christ. The preposition "in" (Greek: en, ἐν) signifies an intimate union, essential presence, and complete identity of purpose, power, and being. It speaks to the unity of divine nature, not mere presence or influence.
- and I in him: This completes the statement of mutual indwelling and essential unity. It emphasizes the reciprocal and inseparable relationship between Jesus and the Father. They share one divine essence, perfectly aligned will, and co-eternal existence. This profound ontological union is a cornerstone of the doctrine of the Trinity.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "but if I do them... believe the works": This highlights Jesus' apologetic strategy. When direct belief in His person and words is withheld, the undeniable demonstration of divine power through His deeds becomes the pathway to conviction. The erga are not just displays of power, but intentional witnesses to His divine identity.
- "that you may know, and believe": This phrase shows a clear progression. First, observe and come to an experiential understanding (ginoskō) of the divine power at work. Second, that knowledge should lead to genuine faith and trust (pisteuō) in Jesus' identity and claims. It moves from intellectual apprehension to volitional assent and spiritual conviction.
- "that the Father is in me, and I in him": This is the core theological revelation of the verse, underpinning all of Jesus' claims and works. It is a declaration of the consubstantiality of the Son with the Father – that they are of the same essence and being. This mutual indwelling signifies perfect communion, co-operation, and oneness in their divine nature, establishing Jesus's deity.
John 10 38 Bonus section
The argument Jesus uses in John 10:38 is a strategic and potent one within Johannine Christology. It moves the conversation from Jesus' potentially ambiguous words to the undeniable power manifested through Him. This tactic prefigures His later arguments and underscores a central theme in John: that God the Father constantly bears witness to Jesus, primarily through the works given to Him (Jn 5:36-37). This verse also illustrates the process of coming to faith; for some, the path begins not with a theological declaration, but with the observation of divine activity, leading them to a deeper, experiential knowledge (ginosko) and eventual faith (pisteuo) in Jesus’ true identity as God in the flesh. The "works" thus function as tangible, irrefutable proof, making unbelief inexcusable (Jn 15:24).
John 10 38 Commentary
John 10:38 is a profound statement on the validation of Jesus's divine identity and authority through His works. Facing the Jews' rejection of His verbal testimony and His claim "I and the Father are one" (Jn 10:30), Jesus points them to tangible, irrefutable evidence. His "works" (miracles, healings, divine deeds) are not merely impressive acts; they are expressions of God the Father's own power operating through Him.
This verse presents a path to belief for the skeptical: even if personal prejudice prevents accepting Jesus' words, the objective reality of His divine works should compel an acknowledgment of His unique relationship with God. These works reveal His identity. They are God’s signature on His Son’s ministry.
The culmination of this belief is the understanding that "the Father is in me, and I in him." This is the pinnacle of Jesus' Christological claim, asserting a perfect, mutual indwelling, a unity of essence, purpose, and operation between God the Father and God the Son. It signifies that seeing Jesus and His works is, in essence, seeing God at work. This challenges humanity to move beyond superficial judgments and embrace the divine truth evident in Christ's unparalleled ministry.