Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

John 14:6

ἐγώ εἰμι. see on John 6:35. The pronoun is emphatic; I and no other: Ego sum Via, Veritas, Vita. S. Thomas had wished rather to know about the goal; Christ shews that for him, and therefore for us, it is more important to know the way. Hence the order; although Christ is the Truth and the Life before He is the Way. The Word is the Truth and the Life from all eternity with the Father: He becomes the Way for us by taking our nature. He is the Way to the many abodes in His Father’s home, the Way to the Father Himself; and that by His doctrine and example, by His Death and Resurrection. In harmony with this passage ‘the Way’ soon became a recognised name for Christianity; Acts 9:2; Acts 19:9; Acts 19:23; Acts 22:4; Acts 24:22 (comp. Acts 24:14; 2 Peter 2:2). But this is obscured in our version by the common inaccuracy ‘this way’ or ‘that way’ for ‘the Way.’ (see on John 1:21; John 1:25; John 6:48.)

ἡ�. Being from all eternity in the form of God, Who cannot lie (Philippians 2:6; Hebrews 6:18), and being the representative on earth of a Sender Who is true (John 8:26). To know the Truth is also to know the Way to God, Who must be approached and worshipped in truth (John 4:23). Comp. Hebrews 11:6; 1 John 5:20.

ἡ ζωή. Comp. John 11:25. He is the Life, being one with the living Father and being sent by Him (John 10:30; John 6:57). see on John 1:4; John 6:50-51, and comp. 1 John 5:12; Galatians 2:20. Here again to know the Life is to know the Way to God. But the three thoughts must not be merged into one; ‘I am the true way of life,’ or ‘the living way of truth.’ The three, though interdependent, are distinct; and the Way is the most important to know, as Christ insists by adding οὐδεὶς ἔρχεται π. τ. π., εἰ μὴ δι' ἐμοῦ. Comp. δι' αὐτοῦ ἔχομεν τὴν προσαγωγὴν πρὸς τὸν πατέρα (Ephesians 2:18). See also Hebrews 10:19-22; 1 Peter 3:18.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

John 14:6

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