Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word

John 10:28

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

KJV

κἀγὼ δίδωμι αὐτοῖς ζωὴν αἰώνιον, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀπόλωνται εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, καὶ οὐχ ἁρπάσει τις αὐτὰ ἐκ τῆς χειρός μου.

Greek NT

et ego vitam æternam do eis, et non peribunt in æternum, et non rapiet eas quisquam de manu mea.

Vulgate

and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.

ASV

And I give them life everlasting: and they shall not perish for ever. And no man shall pluck them out of my hand.

Douay-Rheims

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In the original Greek

17 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.

αἰών
aion
noun · 124×
αἰώνιος
aionios
adjective · 70×
αὐτός
autos
pronoun · 5564×
δίδωμι
didomi
verb · 414×
εἰς
eis
preposition · 1769×
ζωή
zoe
noun · 135×
καί
kai
conjunction · 8973×
κἀγώ
kago
pronoun · 85×
μή
me
particle · 1033×
οὐ
ou
particle · 1626×
τὶς
tis
indefinite_pronoun · 527×
χείρ
cheir
noun · 175×
ἀπόλλυμι
apollumi
verb · 90×
ἁρπάζω
arpazo
verb · 14×
ἐγώ
ego
pronoun · 1720×
ἐκ
ek
preposition · 915×
ὁ
o
article · 19778×

Textual variants

1 variant unit attested by manuscript witnesses and modern critical editions.

minor
SBLGNT: δίδωμι αὐτοῖς ζωὴν αἰώνιον | WH/Treg/NIV: δίδωμι αὐτοῖς ζωὴν αἰώνιον | RP: ζωὴν αἰώνιον δίδωμι αὐτοῖς
  • δίδωμι αὐτοῖς ζωὴν αἰώνιον — SBLGNT
  • δίδωμι αὐτοῖς ζωὴν αἰώνιον — Westcott-Hort, Tregelles, Reader's GNT (NA27)
  • ζωὴν αἰώνιον δίδωμι αὐτοῖς — Robinson-Pierpont
source: sblgnt-apparatus

Themes

Historic Christian voices

15 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

1. There is nothing worse, nothing more shameful, than gluttony; it makes the mind gross, and the soul carnal; it blinds, and permits not to see clearly. Observe, for instance, how this is the case with the Jews; for because they were intent upon gluttony, entirely occupied with worldly things, and without any spiritual thoughts, though Christ leads them on by ten thousand sayi…
1. Great is the tyranny of despondency, and much courage do we need so as to stand manfully against the feeling, and after gathering from it what is useful, to let the superfluous go. It has somewhat useful; for when we ourselves or others sin, then only is it good to grieve; but when we fall into human vicissitudes, then despondency is useless. And now when it has overthrown t…
They whom God hath accepted in his Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace; but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved. This perseverance of the saints depends, not upon their own free-will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free …
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. Calvin expounds Christ's parable of the sheepfold. The good shepherd knows his sheep and is known by them. He has other sheep not of this fold — the Gentiles whom he will also bring in. No one takes his life from him; he lays it down of himself. "I and my Father are one" — Calvin shows this declares the un…
God's preservation of the saints in grace is consistent with their freedom, for God works in them both to will and to do of His good pleasure. The certainty of the saints' perseverance does not diminish but establishes the importance of the means of grace, for God has appointed these means as the channels through which His preserving grace flows.
Heidelberg Catechism · 2 passages
Q. Why is he called Christ, meaning anointed? A. Because he has been ordained by God the Father and has been anointed with the Holy Spirit to be our chief prophet and teacher who perfectly reveals to us the secret counsel and will of God for our deliverance; our only high priest who has set us free by the one sacrifice of his body, and who continually pleads our cause with the …
Q. How does this glory of Christ our head benefit us? A. First, through his Holy Spirit he pours out his gifts from heaven upon us his members. Second, by his power he defends us and keeps us safe from all enemies.
Canons of Dort · 3 passages
For God, who is rich in mercy, according to the unchangeable purpose of election does not take the Holy Spirit from his own completely, even when they fall grievously. Neither does God let them fall down so far that they forfeit the grace of adoption and the state of justification, or commit the sin which leads to death (the sin against the Holy Spirit), and plunge themselves, …
This teaching about the perseverance of true believers and saints, and about their assurance of it — a teaching which God has very richly revealed in his Word for the glory of his name and for the comfort of the godly and which he impresses on the hearts of believers — is something which the flesh does not understand, Satan hates, the world ridicules, the ignorant and the hypoc…
The Synod rejects the errors of those who teach that true believers and regenerate persons can and actually do in fact commit the sin that leads to death or sin against the Holy Spirit, and so fall from grace and perish.
We believe that such only are real believers as endure unto the end; that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; that a special Providence watches over their welfare; and that they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
God finishes what He starts. If He began a good work in you, He will carry it on to completion. Spurgeon argues that the doctrine of perseverance is not a license for carelessness but the ground of assurance — the sheep of Christ shall never perish because they are held in the Father's hand. Neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, can separate the believer from t…

Cross-references

  • 1Chr 4:10 — And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may
  • 1Cor 10:13 — There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to esca
  • 1Cor 15:45 — And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
  • 1John 2:17 — And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
  • 1John 2:19 — They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us
  • 1John 2:19 — They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us
  • 1John 2:25 — And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
  • 1John 2:25 — And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
  • 1John 4:4 — Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
  • 1John 4:9 — In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
  • 1John 5:11 — And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
  • 1John 5:11 — And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
  • 1John 5:13 — These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
  • 1Pet 1:5 — Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
  • 1Pet 1:5 — Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
  • 1Sam 2:9 — He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
  • 1Sam 22:23 — Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.
  • 1Tim 1:16 — Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
  • 2Thess 2:13 — But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the t
  • 2Tim 1:1 — Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,
  • 2Tim 1:9 — Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
  • 2Tim 1:12 — For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against th
  • 2Tim 1:12 — For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against th
  • 2Tim 4:18 — And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
  • Acts 3:15 — And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
  • Acts 7:59 — And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
  • Col 3:3 — For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
  • Col 3:3 — For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
  • Deut 33:3 — Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words.
  • Deut 33:3 — Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words.
  • Deut 33:27 — The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
  • Exod 39:15 — And they made upon the breastplate chains at the ends, of wreathen work of pure gold.
  • Ezek 46:18 — Moreover the prince shall not take of the people’s inheritance by oppression, to thrust them out of their possession; but he shall give his sons inheritance out of his own possession: that my people b
  • Gen 28:15 — And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to the
  • Heb 7:25 — Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
  • Heb 9:15 — And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive th
  • Isa 45:17 — But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.
  • Isa 45:17 — But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.
  • Isa 45:22 — Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
  • Isa 54:17 — No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteous