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John 6:46

ESV not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father.
NIV No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father.
NASB Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father.
CSB not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God. He has seen the Father.
NLT (Not that anyone has ever seen the Father; only I, who was sent from God, have seen him.)
KJV Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
NKJV Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father.

What does John 6:46 mean?

The purpose of Jesus' earthly ministry was to become the link between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5). Nature and everyday experience point towards a Creator (Romans 1:18–20; Psalm 19:1). The written Word of God provides knowledge about Him (John 5:39), as well. But the ultimate experience of God only comes through Christ Himself (John 5:40; 6:29). The general theme of this passage has been drawing lines between earthly, material things and heavenly, eternal things. Jesus' miraculous feeding of thousands (John 6:9–14), like Moses' provision of manna (Exodus 16), was only a sign meant to point towards a greater truth. In this case, it is that God sends the Bread of Life, in the form of a person. Those who accept this Messiah, by believing in Him, are guaranteed eternal life (John 3:16–18; 6:29).

Here Jesus also repeats an important aspect of His ministry. Jesus has already claimed to have come from heaven (John 6:38). He will often claim the title of Son of Man, echoing Daniel's Old Testament prophecy (Daniel 7:13–14). As such, Jesus has knowledge which only He can possess. There are things about which He alone can speak, since only He has seen them. No other human being has experienced those heavenly things. This, among other reasons, is why Jesus alone is the sole legitimate authority for spiritual truth.
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