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John 12:45

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does John 12:45 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And he that beholdeth me beholdeth him that sent me.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And he that beholdeth me beholdeth him that sent me.
John 12:45 — American Standard Version

Context — John 12

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
42Nevertheless even of the rulers many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess [it], lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
43for they loved the glory [that is] of men more than the glory [that is] of God.
44And Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
45And he that beholdeth me beholdeth him that sent me.
46I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me may not abide in the darkness.
47And if any man hear my sayings, and keep them not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
48He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day.
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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
“And he that seeth me, seeth him that sent me.] Not with bodily eyes, for there were many that saw Christ, who never saw the Father: they saw Christ as a mere man, and were offended at the meanness of his outward appearance; they saw nothing divine in him, nor the glory of the Father through him; but with the eyes of the understanding, whoever saw or perceived the glory of Christ in his miracles, saw the glory of God in them also, for the Father that dwelt in him did the works, (<430211>John 2:11 11:40 14:10), and whoever truly sees Christ with an eye of faith, sees his glory, as the glory of the only begotten of the Father, as the brightness of his Father’s glory, as having the fulness of…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Seeth me ... - This verse is a strong confirmation of his equality with God. In no other way can it be true that he who saw Jesus saw him that sent him, unless he were the same in essence. Of no man could it be affirmed that he who saw him saw God. To say this of Paul or Isaiah would have been blasphemy. And yet Jesus uses this language familiarly and constantly. It shows that he had a consciousness that he was divine, and that it was the natural and proper way of speaking when speaking of himself. Compare John 5:17. 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
“And he that seeth me - By the eye of faith. John 12:47”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Joh 12:41, Joh 14:9, Joh 14:10, Joh 15:24; Co2 4:6; Col 1:15; Heb 1:3; Jo1 5:20 John 12:46”
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Related study paths

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

Sources and verification