John 14:6 Text
King James Version (KJV)
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
World English Bible (WEB)
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.
What John 14:6 Means
Jesus answers a question from Thomas, who has just said the disciples do not know where he is going or how to get there. Jesus replies with one of seven I am statements in John, claiming to be the way, the truth, and the life. Way is the path itself, not a signpost pointing to it. Truth and life suggest that he is the reality of who God is and the source of real life. The second half states the claim directly: no one comes to the Father except through him. Christians have read this as teaching that Jesus is the only route to God, and it has been a central and sometimes controversial belief. Others emphasize that the context is relational, since Jesus is comforting his friends by saying that knowing him is knowing the Father.
Context of John 14:6
John's Gospel is traditionally attributed to the apostle John and was probably written late in the first century. This conversation happens at the Last Supper, hours before Jesus' arrest. He has told his followers that he is leaving, and they are troubled. Just before the verse, he says he is going to prepare a place for them, and just after, he tells Philip that seeing him is seeing the Father. To read the whole book, see random verse from John.
How to Apply John 14:6
Read in context, this verse is meant to calm a worried heart. If you are unsure which way to go, spiritually or otherwise, you can start by getting to know Jesus through the Gospels rather than by solving every question first. And when discussing it with people who disagree, speaking gently is more faithful than speaking sharply.
Related Verses
- Acts 4:12 – Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
- John 10:9 – I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
- John 1:14 – And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
- 1 Timothy 2:5 – For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Looking for more verses on this theme? Browse Bible Verses About Faith, each with a short note on its context.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does John 14:6 mean?
Jesus says that he is himself the path to God, the truth about God, and the source of life, and that people come to the Father through him. It was spoken to comfort disciples who did not know where he was going.
Does John 14:6 mean Jesus is the only way to God?
Traditional Christian teaching reads it that way, as a claim that salvation comes through Christ alone. Some readers stress different aspects, such as how God judges those who never heard of him. The words themselves clearly claim that access to the Father is through Jesus.
Want a different verse? Try the Bible verse randomizer or browse all popular Bible verses.