John 12:21 kjv
The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
John 12:21 nkjv
Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus."
John 12:21 niv
They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus."
John 12:21 esv
So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus."
John 12:21 nlt
paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, "Sir, we want to meet Jesus."
John 12 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 10:30 | "I and the Father are one." | Jesus' divine unity with the Father |
| John 14:9 | "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father." | Seeing Jesus is seeing the Father |
| John 14:11 | "Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me." | Mutual indwelling and unity |
| John 10:38 | "...that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and that I am in the Father." | Further emphasis on unity |
| Isaiah 9:6 | "For to us a child is born... And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." | Prophecy of Christ's divine nature |
| Colossians 1:15 | "The Son is the image of the invisible God..." | Christ as the perfect image of God |
| Hebrews 1:3 | "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being..." | Christ's full representation of God |
| Philippians 2:6 | "...who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage..." | Christ's divine nature and equality |
| 1 John 5:7 | "For there are three that testify in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one." | The Trinity and unity of the Godhead |
| Genesis 1:26 | "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness..." | God speaking in plurality about Himself |
| Deuteronomy 6:4 | "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one." | Jewish confession of God's oneness |
| John 1:1 | "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." | Christ's pre-existence and divinity |
| John 1:14 | "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us..." | Incarnation of the divine Word |
| John 14:2 | "My Father’s house has many rooms..." | Jesus' relationship with the Father's dwelling |
| John 14:20 | "On that day you will realize that I am in my Father..." | Future revelation of unity |
| John 17:21 | "that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you..." | Jesus' prayer for the unity of believers with the Father and Son |
| John 17:22 | "...that they may be one even as we are one." | Prayer for unity mirroring divine unity |
| Acts 4:12 | "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." | Christ as the sole means of salvation |
| 1 Corinthians 8:6 | "...yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live." | The oneness of God and Lordship of Christ |
| Romans 1:3 | "concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh but who was declared to be the Son of God with power by the Spirit of holiness, by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord." | The dual nature and divine declaration of Christ |
John 12 verses
John 12 21 Meaning
Jesus responded to Philip's request to "show us the Father" by stating that He and the Father are one. This is a profound declaration of His divinity, signifying a unity of essence and purpose with God the Father. It emphasizes that seeing Jesus is equivalent to seeing the Father because Jesus perfectly reflects and represents Him.
John 12 21 Context
This verse is spoken by Jesus during His discourse with His disciples just before His arrest and crucifixion. Philip, one of the twelve apostles, had asked Jesus to show them the Father. This request likely stemmed from a desire to better understand God and perhaps to overcome any remaining doubts or confusion about Jesus' relationship with the Father. The preceding verses describe Jesus' promise to go to the Father and prepare a place for His followers. In this moment, Jesus uses Philip's earnest, yet somewhat earthly, request to articulate the depth of His divine union with the Father. This conversation takes place in the upper room during the Last Supper.
John 12 21 Word analysis
"Jesus said to him,": Indicates Jesus directly addressing Philip, responding to his question.
"I": Refers to Jesus Christ Himself.
"and the Father": Refers to God the Father.
"are one.": This is the crucial part of the statement. In Greek, the word used for "one" is hen, neuter form of heis. This typically denotes oneness in essence or substance, rather than just numerical oneness or unity of purpose.
Group analysis: The phrase "I and the Father are one" is a strong assertion of Jesus' deity. It goes beyond mere cooperation or shared mission. The use of the neuter "one" (hen) in Greek suggests a unity of essence or nature, not simply a unified action or agreement. This was a statement that his Jewish audience understood as claiming divine identity.
John 12 21 Bonus section
The Greek word heis can sometimes be used in masculine form (heis) to indicate numerical oneness, or unity of persons. However, the neuter form (hen) used here strongly implies oneness in essence or substance, an attribute exclusive to the Godhead. This distinction is crucial for understanding the depth of Jesus' claim. Many scholars highlight that this statement aligns with the concept of the Trinity, where three distinct persons exist in one divine essence. Jesus' claim of oneness with the Father differentiates Him from any mere prophet or messenger; it places Him squarely within the divine nature. This intimate relationship and shared essence is the basis for His authority and the ultimate assurance of salvation for believers.
John 12 21 Commentary
Jesus' response to Philip affirms the profound unity between Him and the Father. This oneness is not merely about shared purpose or mutual indwelling, but a unity of divine nature and essence. By stating "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father," Jesus emphasizes that His divine character and identity are perfectly revealed through Him. His actions, His words, and His very being are reflections of the Father. This declaration is a cornerstone of Christian theology, asserting Jesus' full divinity and His role as the ultimate revelation of God to humanity. It assures the disciples that understanding and knowing Jesus is to understand and know the Father.