John 14:11 kjv
Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
John 14:11 nkjv
Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.
John 14:11 niv
Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.
John 14:11 esv
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
John 14:11 nlt
Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.
John 14 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jn 10:30 | I and the Father are one. | Unity of Father and Son |
| Jn 10:38 | ...believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in him. | Works as evidence for unity |
| Jn 5:19 | The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do... | Son's actions aligned with Father |
| Jn 5:36 | ...the works which the Father hath given me to finish... bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. | Works attest to divine sending |
| Jn 14:9 | He that hath seen me hath seen the Father... | Seeing Jesus is seeing Father |
| Jn 17:21 | ...that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee... | Unity model for believers |
| Isa 9:6 | ...Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. | Prophecy of Divine Christ |
| Col 1:15 | Who is the image of the invisible God... | Christ as image of God |
| Heb 1:3 | ...the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person... | Christ's divine exactness |
| Acts 2:22 | Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs... | God attesting Jesus by works |
| Rom 1:4 | ...declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection... | Divine power through works/resurrection |
| Mt 11:4-5 | Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see... the blind receive their sight... | Works proving Jesus' identity |
| Mk 2:10-11 | ...that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins... I say unto thee, Arise... | Authority and works |
| Jn 3:2 | ...no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. | Nicodemus' acknowledgment of works |
| Jn 1:1-3 | In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... all things were made by him. | Christ's pre-existence and deity |
| Jn 8:58 | Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. | Jesus' eternal existence/divine name |
| Jn 20:30-31 | ...these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God... | Purpose of John's Gospel's signs |
| Phil 2:6 | Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God... | Christ's equality with God |
| 1 Jn 5:20 | ...This is the true God, and eternal life. | Christ as true God |
| Titus 2:13 | ...the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; | Christ as Great God and Saviour |
| 1 Tim 3:16 | And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh... | God manifest in Christ |
| Lk 7:22 | ...tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk... | Miracles as proof of Messiahship |
| Jn 6:38 | For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. | Unity of will and purpose |
John 14 verses
John 14 11 Meaning
John 14:11 presents two inseparable yet distinct reasons for the disciples to believe in Jesus: primarily, because He and the Father are mutually indwelling and perfectly united in essence and purpose, and secondarily, because the extraordinary works (miracles, signs, deeds) He performs irrefutably bear witness to this divine union and His identity as the Son of God. It is a profound declaration of Christ's inherent deity and the tangible evidence provided for belief.
John 14 11 Context
John chapter 14 begins Jesus' profound discourse of comfort and instruction to His disciples following His prediction of His departure and Peter's denial. The verse 11 is situated in the midst of Jesus' revelation of the intimate relationship He shares with God the Father, in response to Philip's request in John 14:8, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." Jesus responds in John 14:9, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father." This sets the stage for the crucial truth declared in John 14:11, where Jesus provides two distinct yet connected reasons for them to believe this extraordinary claim: His inherent, indwelling union with the Father and the undeniable evidence of His miraculous works. Historically, Jesus' claim of being "in the Father and the Father in me" would have been considered audacious, bordering on blasphemy, by monotheistic Jews who understood God as singularly unique and separate from humanity. His miracles served as undeniable "signs" (σημεῖα) in the Johannine narrative, proving His divine authority and origin in a way that resonated with contemporary understandings of divine intervention. This context emphasizes the directness and theological weight of Jesus' self-disclosure.
John 14 11 Word analysis
- Believe (Πιστεύετε - Pisteuete): This is a command (present active imperative, 2nd person plural). It calls for a continuous state of trust and conviction, not just a one-time intellectual assent. It implies complete reliance on Jesus' words and identity.
- me (μοι - moi): A direct and personal call to have faith in Jesus Himself, as the object of their belief.
- that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: This profound phrase articulates the mutual indwelling, or perichoresis (from Greek, a co-inherence), between Jesus and God the Father. It speaks of a perfect, inseparable unity of essence, purpose, and action, not merely a close relationship.
- I am (ἐγὼ ἐν τῷ Πατρὶ - egō en tō Patri): "I am" echoes God's self-revelation (Ex 3:14), signifying Jesus' divine identity. "In the Father" denotes essential unity and intimacy.
- and the Father in me (καὶ ὁ Πατὴρ ἐν ἐμοί - kai ho Patēr en emoi): Reciprocates the statement, reinforcing that the Father actively works through Jesus and is fully present in Him. This challenges any notion of Jesus acting independently or as a separate agent apart from the divine will.
- or else (εἰ δὲ μή - ei de mē): This transitional phrase introduces an alternative basis for belief. If the profound theological truth of their intrinsic unity is hard to grasp directly, there is still compelling evidence.
- believe me for the very works' sake: This presents an empirical and evidential basis for belief. The "works" (ἔργα - erga) refer to Jesus' miraculous deeds, teachings, and acts of power that served as tangible proof of His divine origin and authority. "Very" (αὐτά - auta) emphasizes that the works themselves, by their extraordinary nature, provide undeniable testimony.
- works (ἔργα - erga): In John's Gospel, these are not just general deeds but specific "signs" (σημεῖα - sēmeia) that reveal Jesus' glory and lead people to believe. They are demonstrations of divine power working through Him, authenticating His claims.
John 14 11 Bonus section
The structure of John 14:11 reveals Jesus' pastoral wisdom. He acknowledges the difficulty of comprehending divine mysteries (the unity of Father and Son) and therefore provides an additional, accessible path to faith through observing His mighty deeds. This twofold basis for belief underscores that faith is not blind, but has both a revelatory and an evidential foundation. The "works" are not just external proofs but are intrinsically tied to the Father's work, meaning that observing Jesus' actions is, in a profound sense, witnessing the Father at work. This verse, therefore, implicitly sets the groundwork for understanding the concept that Christ's entire life and ministry were the Father's manifestation on earth.
John 14 11 Commentary
John 14:11 encapsulates the heart of Jesus' Christological claims. He provides two compelling grounds for His disciples to believe in His divine identity and unity with the Father. The first and foundational reason is the spiritual reality of their mutual indwelling, an essential union of essence and being. This concept, often termed perichoresis, means they are not just united in purpose but intimately share existence. The second reason, offered as an alternative for those who might struggle with the profound theological claim, is the undeniable witness of His "works." These miraculous signs, healings, and acts of power are not mere theatrics but manifestations of God's presence and authority working through Jesus. They are external, verifiable evidence that corroborate His internal divine claims. For instance, His control over nature (calming storms), power over disease (healing the blind), and triumph over death (raising Lazarus) visibly demonstrate the very power of God acting in the world through Him. Thus, the verse bridges deep theological truth with tangible, miraculous proof, compelling faith.