John 14:10
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
Original Language Analysis
πιστεύεις
Believest thou
G4100
πιστεύεις
Believest thou
Strong's:
G4100
Word #:
2 of 34
to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e., credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to ch
ὅτι
that
G3754
ὅτι
that
Strong's:
G3754
Word #:
3 of 34
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
τῷ
G3588
τῷ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 34
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πατὴρ
the Father
G3962
πατὴρ
the Father
Strong's:
G3962
Word #:
7 of 34
a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
8 of 34
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
9 of 34
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πατὴρ
the Father
G3962
πατὴρ
the Father
Strong's:
G3962
Word #:
10 of 34
a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)
τὰ
G3588
τὰ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
14 of 34
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ῥήματα
the words
G4487
ῥήματα
the words
Strong's:
G4487
Word #:
15 of 34
an utterance (individually, collectively or specially),; by implication, a matter or topic (especially of narration, command or dispute); with a negat
ἃ
that
G3739
ἃ
that
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
16 of 34
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
ἀπ'
of
G575
ἀπ'
of
Strong's:
G575
Word #:
20 of 34
"off," i.e., away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)
ἐμαυτοῦ
myself
G1683
ἐμαυτοῦ
myself
Strong's:
G1683
Word #:
21 of 34
of myself so likewise the dative case ?????? <pronunciation strongs="em-ow-to'"/>, and accusative case ??????? <pronunciation strongs="em-ow-ton'"/>
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
24 of 34
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πατὴρ
the Father
G3962
πατὴρ
the Father
Strong's:
G3962
Word #:
26 of 34
a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
27 of 34
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
μένων
that dwelleth
G3306
μένων
that dwelleth
Strong's:
G3306
Word #:
30 of 34
to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy)
αὐτὸς
he
G846
αὐτὸς
he
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
31 of 34
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ποιεῖ
doeth
G4160
ποιεῖ
doeth
Strong's:
G4160
Word #:
32 of 34
to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)
Cross References
John 5:19Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.John 10:38But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.John 10:30I and my Father are one.Acts 10:38How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.John 5:17But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.John 8:28Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.John 12:49For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.John 17:8For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.Colossians 2:9For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.1 John 5:7For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
Historical Context
This discourse occurred in the Upper Room on the night before Jesus's crucifixion (c. AD 30). Philip, a disciple from Bethsaida (1:44), had witnessed three years of Jesus's ministry yet still struggled to grasp His deity. Jesus's response corrects this misunderstanding by articulating the mutual indwelling of Father and Son—a cornerstone doctrine that the early church would formalize in the Nicene Creed (AD 325) as 'God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God.'
Questions for Reflection
- How does the mutual indwelling of Father and Son challenge your understanding of Jesus's claim to be 'the way, the truth, and the life' (14:6)?
- If Christ's words and works originated from the Father dwelling in Him, what does this teach about the nature of divine revelation and authority?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? Jesus responds to Philip's request to 'show us the Father' (v.8) with this profound declaration of mutual indwelling (περιχώρησις, perichoresis)—the interpenetration of persons in the Godhead. I am in the Father (ἐγὼ ἐν τῷ πατρί) and the Father in me (ὁ πατὴρ ἐν ἐμοί) is the foundation of Trinitarian theology, affirming both distinction of persons and unity of essence.
The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself (οὐκ ἀπ' ἐμαυτοῦ λαλῶ)—Christ's teaching carries divine authority because it originates from the Father. The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works (ὁ πατὴρ ἐν ἐμοὶ μένων αὐτὸς ποιεῖ τὰ ἔργα)—the verb μένω (meno, 'remain/abide/dwell') emphasizes permanent, continuous indwelling. Jesus's miracles are the Father's works performed through the incarnate Son, demonstrating their inseparable unity of will and action.