A.T. Robertson Commentary John 5:26

"For as the Father hath life in himself, even so gave he to the Son also to have life in himself:" — John 5:26 (ASV)

In himself (εν εαυτω). The Living God possesses life wholly in himself and so he has bestowed this power of life to the Son as already stated in the Prologue of the Logos (1:3). For "gave" (εδωκεν, timeless aorist active indicative) see also 3:35; 17:2,24. The particles "as" (ωσπερ) and "so" (ουτως) mark here the fact, not the degree (Westcott).