ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ὁ τὸν λόγον μου ἀκούων καὶ πιστεύων τῷ πέμψαντί με ἔχει ζωὴν αἰώνιον, καὶ εἰς κρίσιν οὐκ ἔρχεται, ἀλλὰ μεταβέβηκεν ἐκ τοῦ θανάτου εἰς τὴν ζωήν. (John 5:24)
The Living Word and Living Response
In John 5:24, Jesus declares a truth so vital, He begins with the double solemn formula: ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν — “Truly, truly I say to you.” This introduction signals not just authority but deep spiritual urgency. The Greek construction that follows combines present participles, dependent clauses, and perfect verbs to express the immediacy and certainty of eternal life.
This is not a future promise only — it’s a present spiritual reality. Let’s explore how Greek grammar communicates eternal truths in the present tense.
Present Participles of Action and Belief
The subject is not a simple noun but a compound participial clause:
ὁ τὸν λόγον μου ἀκούων καὶ πιστεύων τῷ πέμψαντί με
– “the one hearing my word and believing the one who sent me”
1. ἀκούων – “hearing”
- Present Active Participle, Nominative Masculine Singular
- From ἀκούω – “to hear”
- Direct object: τὸν λόγον μου (“my word”)
2. πιστεύων – “believing”
- Present Active Participle, Nominative Masculine Singular
- From πιστεύω – “to believe”
- Object: τῷ πέμψαντί με – “in the one who sent me”
Both participles share the article ὁ and function as the subject of the main verb ἔχει (“has”). They represent not momentary actions but continuous realities: the one who is hearing and is believing.
Verbal Flow: Tense and Aspect
Jesus uses three main verbs to structure His promise:
| Greek Verb | Tense / Mood | Function | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ἔχει | Present Indicative Active | Main verb – present possession | has eternal life |
| ἔρχεται | Present Indicative Middle/Passive | Negative future consequence | does not come into judgment |
| μεταβέβηκεν | Perfect Indicative Active | Completed past action with ongoing result | has passed over from death to life |
Notice the progression:
– Present participles describe continuous response.
– Present verbs show current possession of life and exemption from judgment.
– The perfect tense (μεταβέβηκεν) points to a past event with permanent effect.
The Power of the Perfect: μεταβέβηκεν
The verb μεταβέβηκεν (from μεταβαίνω, “to pass over”) is crucial. It’s not future-oriented but already accomplished. The perfect tense signifies an irreversible transition:
- ἐκ τοῦ θανάτου – “out of death” (source)
- εἰς τὴν ζωήν – “into life” (goal)
Thus, the one believing is not hoping for eternal life. They already have it, because they have passed from death to life. The Greek grammar affirms present possession grounded in a past event.
Negation with οὐ and the Judgment Clause
καὶ εἰς κρίσιν οὐκ ἔρχεται – “and does not come into judgment”
- οὐ – Negates the indicative verb
- εἰς κρίσιν – “into judgment” (motion towards)
The syntax stresses that judgment is not even part of the believer’s pathway. The **default movement is away from judgment** and toward life.
Grammar that Breathes the Gospel
This verse is not merely a declaration — it is a grammatical architecture of salvation. The present participles (ἀκούων, πιστεύων) define the one who believes. The present verb (ἔχει) confirms life now. The perfect (μεταβέβηκεν) confirms a past crossing, never to be reversed.
The Eternal Present
In Greek, eternal life is not just something to be awaited — it is already held by the believer. The verbs and participles of John 5:24 paint this reality with precision. The grammar sings the gospel: the one who hears and believes has passed from death to life.
And in the eternal voice of Jesus, that promise still echoes: “Truly, truly, I say to you…”
