Meaning, commentary and cross references
John 11:25
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
NIV · New International Version
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;
WEB · World English Bible
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies.
What does John 11:25 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on John 11:25
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life,.... Signifying, that he was able of himself to raise men from death to life, without asking it of his Father; and that he could do it now, as well as at the general resurrection; at which time Christ will be the efficient cause of it; and which will display both his omniscience and his omnipotence; as his resurrection is the earnest and pledge, and will be the model and exemplar of it. This is true of Christ, with regard to a spiritual resurrection, from a death of sin, to a life of grace; he is concerned both in the life itself, and in the resurrection to it: he is the meritorious and procuring cause of it; he died for his people…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible, on John 11:17–32
He said to her, I am the resurrection and the life, Joh 11:25, Joh 11:26. Two things Christ possesses her with the belief of, in reference to the present distress; and they are the things which our faith should fasten upon in the like cases. First, The power of Christ, his sovereign power: I am the resurrection and the life, the fountain of life, and the head and author of the resurrection. Martha believed that at his prayer God would give any thing, but he would have her know that by his word he could work anything.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
John Calvin · Commentaries, on John 11:18–27
25. I am the resurrection and the life. Christ first declares that he is the resurrection and the life, and then he explains, separately and distinctly, each clause of this sentence. His first statement is, that he is the resurrection, because the restoration from death to life naturally comes before the state of life.
John Calvin, Commentaries (Calvin Translation Society English text). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: John 11:22–28 (WEB)
22Even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” 23Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. 26Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, God’s Son, he who comes into the world.” 28When she had said this, she went away and called Mary, her sister, secretly, saying, “The Teacher is here and is calling you.”
Cross references
- 1 Thessalonians 4:14
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
- John 3:36
One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
- 1 John 5:11–12
The testimony is this: that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
- John 1:4
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
- Romans 8:10–11
If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
- John 5:21
For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires.
- Isaiah 26:19
Your dead shall live. Their dead bodies shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth will cast out the departed spirits.
- Romans 8:2
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.