The Meaning of John 6:68 Explained

John 6:68

KJV: Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

YLT: Simon Peter, therefore, answered him, 'Sir, unto whom shall we go? thou hast sayings of life age-during;

Darby: Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast words of life eternal;

ASV: Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then  Simon  Peter  answered  him,  Lord,  to  whom  shall we go?  thou hast  the words  of eternal  life. 

What does John 6:68 Mean?

Context Summary

John 6:60-71 - The Sifting Of Jesus' Followers
The teaching of this chapter involves a deliberate act of Christ to arrest the revolutionary movement that was gathering around His person and making Him its figure-head, John 6:15. He therefore set Himself to teach that these people had misconceived the meaning of His ministry, which was not intended to raise a standard of revolt against Rome, but to lead to a spiritual revolution. The effect of His words was precisely what he expected, and must have shattered any ambitions that had begun to stir in the hearts of His disciples. In John 6:41 the men who the night before wished to crown Him, murmured at Him. In John 6:52 they strove among themselves. In John 6:60 many of His disciples said that His sayings were hard to be understood, and still harder to be obeyed. In John 6:66 many went back. And now as the shades of evening began to fall and the synagogue was almost empty, he was left alone with the little company of twelve, who had sorrowfully watched the overthrow of their hopes. Christ's pathetic question-Will ye also go away?-elicited from Peter a reply which proved that the inner meaning of His words had already broken upon their souls. "Thy words give us and nourish within us the eternal life."
The questions on Section 1-28, to be found on pp. 232, 233, will serve as a review at this point. [source]

Chapter Summary: John 6

1  Jesus feeds five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes
15  Thereupon the people would have made him king;
16  but withdrawing himself, he walks on the sea to his disciples;
26  reproves the people flocking after him, and all the fleshly hearers of his word;
32  declares himself to be the bread of life to believers
66  Many disciples depart from him
68  Peter confesses him
70  Judas is a devil

Greek Commentary for John 6:68

Lord, to whom shall we go? [Κυριε προς τινα απελευσομετα]
Peter is the spokesman as usual and his words mean that, if such a thought as desertion crossed their minds when the crowd left, they dismissed it instantly. They had made their choice. They accepted these very words of Jesus that had caused the defection as “the words of eternal life.” [source]
Simon Peter []
Assailants of the authenticity of John's Gospel have asserted that it reveals an effort on the part of the writer to claim for the disciple whom Jesus loved a pre-eminence above Peter. The assertion is effectually contradicted by the narrative itself. See John 1:42; John 6:68; John 13:6; John 18:10, John 18:16; John 20:2, John 20:7; John 21:3, John 21:7, John 21:11, and notes on those passages. Peter's replying for the twelve, in this passage, is a case in point. [source]
The words of eternal life [ῥήματα ζωῆς αἰωνίου]
There is no article. Thou hast words. Words of life are words which carry life with them. Compare the phrases bread of life, light of life, water of life, tree of life. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 6:68

John 6:68 Simon Peter []
Assailants of the authenticity of John's Gospel have asserted that it reveals an effort on the part of the writer to claim for the disciple whom Jesus loved a pre-eminence above Peter. The assertion is effectually contradicted by the narrative itself. See John 1:42; John 6:68; John 13:6; John 18:10, John 18:16; John 20:2, John 20:7; John 21:3, John 21:7, John 21:11, and notes on those passages. Peter's replying for the twelve, in this passage, is a case in point. [source]
John 17:8 The words [τὰ ῥήματα]
Compare thy word ( λόγον ), John 17:6. That signified the gospel message in its entirety. This, the message considered in its constituent parts. See on Luke 1:37. Compare John 5:38, John 5:47; John 6:60, John 6:63, John 6:68; John 8:43, John 8:47, John 8:51; John 12:47, John 12:48; John 15:3, John 15:7. [source]
John 1:38 Turned [στραπεις]
Second aorist passive participle of στρεπω — strephō vividly picturing the sudden act of Jesus on hearing their steps behind him. Beheld First aorist middle participle of τεαομαι — theaomai (John 1:32). Both participles here express antecedent action to λεγει — legei (saith). Following Present active participle of ακολουτεω — akoloutheō (John 1:37). It was Christ‘s first experience of this kind and the two came from the Baptist to Jesus. What seek ye? Not “whom” Aramaic title for “Teacher” which John here translates by Διδασκαλε — Didaskale as he is writing late and for general readers. Luke, a Greek Christian, does not use it, but John recalls his first use of this term to Jesus and explains it. Matthew has it only in the greeting of Judas to the Master (Matthew 26:25, Matthew 26:49) and Mark once by Judas (Mark 14:45) and twice by Peter (Mark 9:5; Mark 11:21). John‘s Gospel has the disciples at first addressing Jesus by Rabbi while others address him by Κυριε — Kurie (Lord or Sir) as in John 4:11, John 4:49; John 5:7. Peter uses Κυριε — Kurie in John 6:68. In the end the disciples usually say Κυριε — Kurie (John 13:6, John 13:25, etc.), but Mary Magdalene says αββουνει — Rabbounei (John 20:16). Being interpreted Present passive participle of μετερμηνευω — methermēneuō late compound of μετα — meta and ερμηνευω — hermēneuō to explain (John 1:42), old word from ερμες — Hermes the god of speech (hermeneutics). John often explains Aramaic words (John 1:38, John 1:41, John 1:42; John 4:25; John 9:7, etc.). Where abidest thou? They wished a place for quiet converse with Jesus. [source]
John 12:50 Life eternal [ζωη αιωνιος]
See John 3:15; Matthew 25:46 for this great phrase. In John 6:68 Peter says to Jesus, “Thou hast the words of eternal life.” Jesus had just said (John 6:63) that his words were spirit and life. The secret lies in the source, “as the Father hath said to me” (ειρηκεν — eirēken). [source]
John 17:8 The words [τα ρηματα]
Plural, each word of God, as in John 3:34, and of Christ (John 5:47; John 6:63, John 6:68), while the singular Second aorist active indicative of γινωσκω — ginōskō like ελαβον — elabon in contrast with εγνωκαν — egnōkan (perfect) in John 17:7. They definitely “received and recognized truly” There was comfort to Christ in this fact. They believed Another aorist parallel with ελαβον — elabon and εγνωσαν — egnōsan The disciples believed in Christ‘s mission from the Father (John 6:69; Matthew 16:16). Note απεστειλας — apesteilas here as in John 17:3. Christ is God‘s Apostle to man (Hebrews 3:1). This statement, like a solemn refrain (Του διδστ σενδ με — Thou didst send me), occurs five times in this prayer (John 17:8, John 17:18, John 17:21, John 17:23, John 17:25). [source]
Acts 5:20 Of this life []
The eternal life which Christ revealed. It is a peculiar use of the phrase, which is commonly employed in contrast with the life to come, as 1 Corinthians 15:19. Compare John 6:63, John 6:68. Not equivalent to these words of life. [source]
Acts 5:20 All the words of this life [παντα τα ρηματα της ζωης ταυτης]
Not just a Hebraism for “all these words of life.” Probably “this life” which the Sadducees deny and of which the angel is now speaking, this eternal life. (John 6:63, John 6:68; 1 Corinthians 15:19). [source]
1 John 1:1 Of life [τῆς ζωῆς]
Lit., the life. See on John 1:4. The phrase ὁ λόγος τῆς ζωῆς , the Word of the Life, occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. The nearest approach to it is Philemon 2:16; but there neither word has the article. In the phrase words of eternal life (John 6:68), and in Acts 5:20, all the words of this life, ῥήματα is used. The question is whether λόγος is used here of the Personal Word, as John 1:1, or of the divine message or revelation. In the four passages of the Gospel where λόγος is used in a personal sense (John 1:1, John 1:14), it is used absolutely, the Word (compare Revelation 19:13). On the other hand, it is often used relatively in the New Testament; as word of the kingdom (Matthew 8:19); word of this salvation (Acts 8:26); word of His grace (Acts 20:32); word of truth (James 1:18). By John ζωῆς oflife, is often used in order to characterize the word which accompanies it. Thus, crown of life (Revelation 2:10); water of life (Revelation 21:6); book of life (Revelation 3:5); bread of life (John 6:35); i.e., the water which is living and communicates life; the book; which contains the revelation of life; the bread which imparts life. In the same sense, John 6:68; Acts 5:20. Compare Titus 1:2, Titus 1:3. Though the phrase, the Word of the Life, does not elsewhere occur in a personal sense, I incline to regard its primary reference as personal, from the obvious connection of the thought with John 1:1, John 1:4. “In the beginning was the Word, - in Him was life.” “As John does not purpose to say that he announces Christ as an abstract single idea, but that he declares his own concrete historical experiences concerning Christ, - so now he continues, not the Logos (Word), but concerning the Word, we make annunciation to you” (Ebrard). At the same time, I agree with Canon Westcott that it is most probable that the two interpretations are not to be sharply separated. “The revelation proclaims that which it includes; it has, announces, gives life. In Christ life as the subject, and life as the character of the revelation, were absolutely united.”-DIVIDER-
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What do the individual words in John 6:68 mean?

Answered Him Simon Peter Lord to whom will we go [The] words of life eternal You have
Ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ Σίμων Πέτρος Κύριε πρὸς τίνα ἀπελευσόμεθα ῥήματα ζωῆς αἰωνίου ἔχεις

Ἀπεκρίθη  Answered 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀποκρίνομαι  
Sense: to give an answer to a question proposed, to answer.
Σίμων  Simon 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Σίμων  
Sense: Peter was one of the apostles.
Πέτρος  Peter 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Πέτρος  
Sense: one of the twelve disciples of Jesus.
Κύριε  Lord 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
τίνα  whom 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: τίς  
Sense: who, which, what.
ἀπελευσόμεθα  will  we  go 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Middle, 1st Person Plural
Root: ἀπέρχομαι  
Sense: to go away, depart.
ῥήματα  [The]  words 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: ῥῆμα  
Sense: that which is or has been uttered by the living voice, thing spoken, word.
ζωῆς  of  life 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: ζωή  
Sense: life.
αἰωνίου  eternal 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: αἰώνιος  
Sense: without beginning and end, that which always has been and always will be.
ἔχεις  You  have 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἔχω  
Sense: to have, i.e. to hold.