John 17:3 Meaning: Eternal Life as Knowing God and Christ
This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ.
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
And this is life eternal, that they should know thee the only true God, and him whom thou didst send, even Jesus Christ.
and this is the life age-during, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and him whom Thou didst send--Jesus Christ;
And this is the eternal life, that they should know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.
Meaning in one sentence
In John 17:3, Jesus defines eternal life as knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent. Discover the profound meaning of this verse.
Context
Jesus is praying aloud in the hearing of His disciples on the night before His crucifixion. He has just told them He is going to the Father. Now He lifts His eyes to heaven and speaks directly to God. In the previous verse He says He has authority to give eternal life. Then He defines what that life really is. It is not endless existence on its own. It is something deeper and more personal. This verse sits at the heart of Jesus’ prayer, where He lays out the very nature of the salvation He came to bring. The disciples would soon face betrayal, denial, and the cross. Jesus grounds them in what matters most: knowing the Father and knowing the Son whom the Father sent. That is the life that never ends.
Key Words
The Greek word for “know” here is ginōskō. It is not just knowing facts about someone. It means to perceive, to come to know personally, to recognize. This same word is used in the Old Testament for intimate knowledge between people. The knowing is ongoing, a growing relationship, not a one-time event. The word “true” is alēthinos, meaning genuine, real, corresponding to the name. God is the only true God in contrast to false gods. Jesus Christ is included in this knowledge as the One sent by the Father. The word “eternal” is aiōnios, which means without end and also without beginning. It is a quality of life that belongs to God Himself. So eternal life is sharing in God’s own life through knowing Him and His Son. This knowing changes everything because it brings us into the very life of God.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have treasured this verse. Reformed teachers like John Calvin saw it as describing the saving knowledge that renews the heart and unites us to Christ. Wesleyan commentators like Adam Clarke emphasized that this knowledge includes loving, obedient faith that transforms the whole life. Many Protestant scholars note that the verse implicitly affirms Christ’s divinity, since knowing a creature could not give eternal life. Catholic teaching has long pointed to this knowledge as a relationship deepened through grace and the Church. While traditions emphasize different aspects, all agree: eternal life is not just a future hope but a present knowing of God through His Son.
A common misunderstanding
Some read “the only true God” as separating Jesus from being fully divine. In fact, the phrase contrasts God with false gods, not with the Son. Jesus places Himself alongside the Father as the object of saving knowledge. If knowing a creature could not give eternal life, then Jesus must share in the divine nature. The early church understood this as a clear affirmation of Christ’s deity.
Living This Out
This week, you might carry a heavy load. Jesus says eternal life is knowing God and knowing Him. That knowledge is not a distant fact. It is a conversation you can have right now. You could pause each day to ask: What is God showing me about Himself today? Not just a lesson, but a glimpse of His character. Also consider that knowing Jesus means trusting His mission as the One sent for you. You might write down one thing you learn about God from Scripture each day. Let that knowing shape your heart.
Main takeaway: Eternal life is knowing God the Father and Jesus Christ personally, not just living forever.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
In this verse, Jesus says that life that never ends is knowing God and knowing Jesus. That means you can start living forever right now by loving and trusting them. You can talk to God anytime because Jesus made a way.
For ages 9, 12
Eternal life is not just living forever. It is knowing God deeply, like really knowing someone you trust. Jesus says the most important thing in life is to know the true God and to know Him. That starts now by reading His Word, praying, and asking God to show you who He is. This knowing grows your whole life and never stops.
Questions People Ask
What does 'the only true God' mean in John 17:3?
Jesus calls the Father 'the only true God' to contrast Him with the false gods of pagan nations. This phrase does not deny the deity of Jesus or the Holy Spirit. Rather, it emphasizes that God alone is truly God, and all other so-called gods are idols. Christians understand that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together are the one true God.
Does John 17:3 teach that Jesus is not God since He calls the Father the only true God?
Some read it that way, but most Christian teaching holds that Jesus is included in the identity of the one true God. The verse places Jesus alongside the Father as the object of saving knowledge. If knowing a creature could not give eternal life, then Jesus must share in the divine nature. As one commentator noted, 'The knowledge of God and a creature could not be eternal life.'
What does it mean to 'know' God in John 17:3?
The Greek word for 'know' here is ginōskō, which means more than intellectual awareness. It implies personal, experiential knowledge, coming to know someone deeply and continuously. It includes love, trust, obedience, and relationship. This is not just knowing facts about God. It is knowing God Himself in an ongoing, intimate way.
How is eternal life knowing God and Jesus?
Eternal life is not merely endless existence. It is a quality of life that comes from being in a relationship with God. Jesus defines eternal life as knowing the Father and the Son. That knowledge begins now through faith and grows forever. So eternal life is not just something we get after death. It is something we enter into today.
Is eternal life only for the future or for now?
Eternal life is both present and future. In John 17:3, Jesus speaks of eternal life as something we can have now by knowing God. It is a life that begins when we come to faith in Christ and continues beyond physical death. It is eternal in duration and divine in quality. You can live in that life today.
For pastors & researchers
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