John 6:54

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does John 6:54 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:54 — American Standard Version

Context — John 6

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
54He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, etc.] Spiritually by faith, as explained in the preceding verse: hath eternal life; the principle of spiritual life, which is evidently implanted in him, as appears from his eating and drinking; and is a durable and lasting principle: grace is an incorruptible seed; every part of it is abiding and permanent; and it is itself the beginning, pledge, and earnest of everlasting life, and is inseparably connected with it: moreover, such have eternal life itself, not only in Christ their head, but in themselves: they have a right unto it, and a meetness for it: and may be assured of it, as if they were personally possessed of it, from their election to…”
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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
“Whoso eateth . . . hath, &c.--The former verse said that unless they partook of Him they had no life; this adds, that whoever does so "hath eternal life." and I will raise him up at the last day--For the fourth time this is repeated (see Joh 6:39-40, Joh 6:44) --showing most clearly that the "eternal life" which such a man "hath" cannot be the same with the future resurrection life from which it is carefully distinguished each time, but a life communicated here below immediately on believing (Joh 3:36; Joh 5:24-25); and giving to the resurrection of the body as that which consummates the redemption of the entire man, a prominence which in the current theology, it is to be feared, it has…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“In these verses Jesus repeats what he had in substance said before. Except ye eat the flesh ... - He did not mean that this should be understood literally, for it was never done, and it is absurd to suppose that it was intended to be so understood. Nothing can possibly be more absurd than to suppose that when he instituted the Supper, and gave the bread and wine to his disciples, they literally ate his flesh and drank his blood. Who can believe this? There he stood, a living man - his body yet alive, his blood flowing in his veins; and how can it be believed that this body was eaten and this blood drunk? Yet this absurdity must be held by those who hold that the bread and wine at the…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“eateth: Joh 6:27, Joh 6:40, Joh 6:63, Joh 4:14; Psa 22:26; Pro 9:4-6; Isa 25:6-8, Isa 55:1-3; Gal 2:20; Phi 3:7-10 hath: Joh 6:39, Joh 6:40, Joh 6:47 John 6:55”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification