Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
No one taketh it away from me (oudeiv airei authn ap emou). But Aleph B read hren (first aorist active indicative of airw, to take away), probably correct (Westcott and Hort). "John is representing Jesus as speaking sub specie aeternitatis" (Bernard). He speaks of his death as already past and the resurrection as already accomplished. Cf. John 3:16.
Of myself (ap emautou). The voluntariness of the death of Jesus repeated and sharpened. D omits it, probably because of superficial and apparent conflict with John 5:19. But there is no inconsistency as is shown by John 3:16; Romans 5:8. The Father "gave" the Son who was glad to be given and to give himself.
I have power to lay it down (ecousian exw qeinai authn). Ecousia is not an easy word to translate (right, authority, power, privilege). See John 1:12. Restatement of the voluntariness of his death for the sheep.
And I have power to take it again (kai ecousian exw palin labein authn). Note second aorist active infinitive in both cases (qeinai from tiqhmi and labein from lambanw), single acts. Recall John 2:19 where Jesus said: "And in three days I will raise it up." He did not mean that he will raise himself from the dead independently of the Father as the active agent (Romans 8:11).
I received from my Father (elabon para tou patrov mou). Second aorist active indicative of lambanw. He always follows the Father's command (entolh) in all things (John 12:49 f.; John 14:31). So now he is doing the Father's will about his death and resurrection.
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
John 10:1
2 John 1:4
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