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John 12:25

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does John 12:25 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “He that loveth his life loseth it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

He that loveth his life loseth it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
John 12:25 — American Standard Version

Context — John 12

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
22Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: Andrew cometh, and Philip, and they tell Jesus.
23And Jesus answereth them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
24Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit.
25He that loveth his life loseth it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
26If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will the Father honor.
27Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. But for this cause came I unto this hour.
28Father, glorify thy name. There came therefore a voice out of heaven, [saying], I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“He that loveth his life shall lose it, etc.] The sense is, that whoever is so in love with this present temporal life, as to be anxiously careful of it, and takes all precautions to secure it; and rather than to expose it to any danger, chooses to deny the faith of Christ, and desert his cause and interest; as such an one shall not long enjoy this life, so he shall come short of an eternal one: and he that hateth his life in this world: on the other hand, whoever seems careless about it, and not to consult the safety of it, but is unconcerned about it; yea, as if he was throwing it away, as of no great moment and significancy, rather than do anything to preserve it, which would be scandalous…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal--(See on Luk 9:24). Did our Lord mean to exclude Himself from the operation of the great principle here expressed--self-renunciation, the law of self-preservation; and its converse, self-preservation, the law of self-destruction? On the contrary, as He became Man to exemplify this fundamental law of the Kingdom of God in its most sublime form, so the very utterance of it on this occasion served to sustain His own Spirit in the double prospect to which He had just alluded.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“He that loveth his life ... - This was a favorite principle, a sort of “axiom” with the Lord Jesus, which he applied to himself as well as to his followers. See the Matthew 10:39 note; Luke 9:24 note. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“He that loveth his life - More than the will of God; shall lose it eternally: and he that hateth his life - In comparison of the will of God, shall preserve it. Mat 10:39. John 12:26”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“12:25 For disciples, sacrifice and self-effacement are means of gaining the fullness of life provided by Jesus’ sacrifice. Those who renounce the world will join Jesus in eternity and be honored by God just as Jesus is.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“that loveth: Mat 10:39, Mat 16:25, Mat 19:29; Mar 8:35; Luk 9:23, Luk 9:24, Luk 17:33; Act 20:24, Act 21:13; Heb 11:35; Rev 12:11 hateth: Gen 29:30-33; Ecc 2:17; Luk 14:26 John 12:26”
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Related study paths

Read John 12 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification