Meaning, commentary and cross references
John 14:6
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
NIV · New International Version
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
WEB · World English Bible
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.
What does John 14:6 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way,.... Our Lord takes the opportunity of this discourse about the place he was going to, and the way unto it, more fully to instruct his disciples concerning himself, saying, "I am the way"; Christ is not merely the way, as he goes before his people as an example; or merely as a prophet, pointing out unto them by his doctrine the way of salvation; but he is the way of salvation itself by his obedience and sacrifice; nor is there any other; he is the way of his Father's appointing, and which is entirely agreeable to the perfections of God, and suitable to the case and condition of sinners; he is the way to all the blessings of the covenant of grace; and he is…
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 14:4–11
[1.] The nature of his mediation: He is the way, the truth, and the life. First, Let us consider these first distinctly. 1. Christ is the way, the highway spoken of, Isa 35:8.
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 14:1–7
6. I am the way. Though Christ does not give a direct reply to the question put to him, yet he passes by nothing that is useful to be known. It was proper that Thomas' curiosity should be checked; and, therefore, Christ does not explain what would be his condition when he should have departed out of this world to go to the Father, [62] but dwells on a subject far more necessary.
John Calvin, Commentaries (Calvin Translation Society English text). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: John 14:3–9 (WEB)
3If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also. 4You know where I go, and you know the way.” 5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. 7If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on, you know him and have seen him.” 8Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” 9Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you such a long time, and do you not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. How do you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Cross references
- Acts 4:12
There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved!”
- John 10:9
I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out and will find pasture.
- Ephesians 2:18
For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
- John 11:25–26
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies.
- John 1:4
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
- 1 John 5:20
We know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
- John 1:14
The Word became flesh and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the only born Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
- 1 John 5:11–12
The testimony is this: that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.