John 8:55 Commentary - Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

1) "Yet ye have not known him;" (kai ouk egnokate auton) "And you all have not known him," or come to know Him, at all, in the true sense, whom to know is eternal life, for every believer, Joh 17:3; 1Jn 5:13. You all have not learned to know Him, by teaching or observation.

2) "But I know him:" (ego de oida auton) "Yet I do know, perceive, or comprehend him," as my Father who sent me and whose will I seek always to do Joh 5:30; Joh 6:38; Joh 7:29; Joh 17:4-5; Joh 20:21.

3) "And if I should say, I know him not," (kai eipo hoti ouk oida auton) "Even if I should assert that I do not know him," at any time, or in any sense, as my Father, Joh 1:14; Joh 17:1; Joh 17:5; Joh 17:25-26.

4) "I shall be a liar like unto you:" (esomai homoios humin pseustes) "I shall be a liar, very much like or similar to you all," as well as your father the Devil, I would be a hypocrite, as you all are, to deny my true relation to my Father who sent me, Mar 7:1; Mar 7:6.

5) "But I know him, and keep his saying." (alla oida auton kai ton logon autou tero) "But I do know or comprehend him, and I keep or guard his word," Joh 8:29; Joh 15:10; Joh 17:4; Joh 19:30.

The Gk. term -egnokate- means knowledge acquired through teaching or learning, while the term (oida) means direct and essential knowledge. it is the term used here.