Ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ μαρτυρῶν περὶ ἐμαυτοῦ, καὶ μαρτυρεῖ περὶ ἐμοῦ ὁ πέμψας με πατήρ. (John 8:18)
I am the one bearing witness concerning myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness concerning me.
The Witness Formula in Johannine Grammar
In John 8:18, Jesus declares the legitimacy of His testimony by appealing to the principle of two witnesses — Himself and the Father who sent Him. The Greek grammar undergirds the theological weight of His words: emphatic pronouns, participial identity, and the present tense of continuous witness. Let us examine the structure closely.
1. ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ μαρτυρῶν — The Emphatic “I Am” and the Participle of Identity
Parsing
- ἐγώ — nominative singular pronoun: “I”, used emphatically
- εἰμι — present active indicative, 1st singular of εἰμί: “am”
- ὁ μαρτυρῶν — present active participle, nominative masculine singular of μαρτυρέω: “the one testifying”
The structure literally reads: “I am the one testifying about myself.”
Here, the articular participle (ὁ μαρτυρῶν) functions as a substantive, identifying Jesus by what He does: testifying.
2. περὶ ἐμαυτοῦ — Reflexive Precision
– ἐμαυτοῦ — genitive singular reflexive pronoun: “about myself”
– Unlike the simple μου, the reflexive pronoun adds emphasis, highlighting that Jesus consciously acknowledges His own testimony.
3. καὶ μαρτυρεῖ περὶ ἐμοῦ — Parallel Witness
Parsing
- μαρτυρεῖ — present active indicative, 3rd singular of μαρτυρέω: “he testifies”
- ἐμοῦ — genitive singular pronoun: “concerning me”
The present tense indicates continuous, ongoing testimony. The Father’s witness is not a one-time event but an abiding reality.
4. ὁ πέμψας με πατήρ — The Sender Identified by a Participle
Parsing
- πέμψας — aorist active participle, nominative masculine singular of πέμπω: “having sent”
- πατήρ — nominative masculine singular noun: “Father”
This construction identifies the Father not abstractly, but specifically as the one who sent Jesus. The aorist participle underscores the completed action of sending, while His ongoing role as witness remains present.
Summary Table of Key Grammar
| Greek Word/Phrase | Parsing | Function | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| ἐγώ εἰμι | Pronoun + Present Indicative | Emphatic Assertion | I am |
| ὁ μαρτυρῶν | Present Active Participle | Substantive Identifier | The one testifying |
| ἐμαυτοῦ | Reflexive Pronoun, Gen. Sg. | Object of Testimony | About myself |
| μαρτυρεῖ | Present Active Indicative, 3rd Sg. | Main Verb | He testifies |
| ὁ πέμψας | Aorist Active Participle | Descriptor of Father | The one who sent |
Grammar as Witness
The verse’s grammar mirrors its theology. Jesus’ emphatic “I am” establishes His authority, while the present participle and verbs portray an ongoing testimony from both Son and Father. The aorist participle situates the Father’s sending as a completed act in history, but His witness continues in the present. Grammar here is not ornamental — it is the very framework through which Jesus reveals the divine legitimacy of His words.
