For the use of Just as … in the same way, see the note at verse 21.

Is himself the source of life is literally “has life in himself.” This statement is not a mere affirmation that “God is alive,” but rather an affirmation that God has the power to give life. Good News Translation makes this meaning explicit. Jerusalem Bible (“who is the source of life”) and New English Bible (“has life-giving power in himself”) also make this meaning clear. (See also 1.4.)

In many languages the Father must be rendered “my Father” and the source of life as a causative, for example, “in the same way as my Father is the one who causes people to live.” The same type of construction may be employed in the second half of verse 26, for example, “in that same way my Father has made me to cause people to live” or “… has given me the power to cause people to live.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .