Expositor's Bible Commentary 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)

We do not have inherent life within ourselves, for our life is derived from others. Again Jesus claimed deity by saying he was not dependent on another for life, just as the Father derived his life from no one. Jesus possesses inherent life, the power to create and the power to renew life that has been extinguished.