“Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?”
The full verse · John 14:10 · KJV
Believest the , the ? the unto I : the that , the .
Asked by
Jesus: the Son of God and promised Messiah, comforting His disciples on the night before His death (John 14:1)
The Scene
At the supper, Jesus is still answering Philip's request, "shew us the Father," having just said, "he that hath seen me hath seen the Father" (John 14:8-9).
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionJesus asked Philip to look again at what he already believed. The question expects a yes: surely Philip believed this much. Jesus then gave him the grounds for it, His words and His works. Gill has Jesus saying, in effect, "The doctrines which I preach among you are a proof of what I assert." Matthew Henry explains that Jesus' words were not His own invention, but "it was the wisdom of God that indited it and the will of God that enforced it." The question invited Philip to move from wanting a sight to resting in faith.
The Response
What Scripture recordsJesus answered His own question by pointing to two kinds of evidence. His words: "the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself." His works: "the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works" (John 14:10). Then He urged, "Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake" (John 14:11). No reply from Philip is recorded.
Historical Context
The world behind the wordsIn the KJV, "Believest thou" is singular, spoken to Philip, but "unto you" in the same verse is plural, so Jesus' explanation is for all the disciples.
Barnes refers his readers back to Jesus' earlier words for this verse. In John 10:38 Jesus told the Jews, "believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him." In John 7:16 He said, "My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me." The disciples had heard these claims before. Now Jesus asked Philip to believe them for himself.
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyThis question shows the unity of the Father and the Son. Jesus did not speak "of myself" (John 14:10). The Father who dwells in Him does the works. Matthew Henry writes of the works, "The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth them; and therefore believe me for their sake."
Jesus is patient with weak faith. If Philip could not yet simply take Jesus at His word, Jesus offered him a second door: "believe me for the very works' sake" (John 14:11). Jesus did not mock Philip's need for reasons. He gave them.
Look Closer
What two things did Jesus point to as evidence?
Carry the question into prayer and conversation.
Lord Jesus, You gave Philip both Your words and Your works to trust; what have You already shown me that You want me to believe more deeply?
A prayer to carry into the day.
- Jesus asked a question that expected a yes. Where might you believe something about Jesus but not yet rest in it?
- Tell about something God has done that strengthened your trust in what He has said.
For you, a small group, a friend, or the dinner table.
Faith is not a blind leap. Jesus gave Philip reasons: His words, which came from the Father, and His works, which the Father did through Him. You can read those same words and works in the Gospels.
If believing feels hard, start where Jesus started with Philip. Look at what He has said and what He has done. Let the evidence of His works lead you to trust His words.
This does not mean faith waits until every question is answered. Jesus' first call was "Believe me" (John 14:11). The works help weak faith; they do not replace trust in Him.
Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources
Keep questioning
“Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? How sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?”
“Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?”
“Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?”
“Do ye now believe?”