King James Bible
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life."
Jesus uses the doubled "verily" (Greek: amen amen) to emphasize the absolute truth and authority of his statement. This solemn formula appears frequently in John's Gospel when Jesus makes profound theological declarations. The present tense "believeth" indicates ongoing faith rather than a single moment of belief. In John's Gospel, believing "on" or "in" Jesus means trusting him as the divine Son sent by the Father, not merely intellectual assent. The present tense "hath" reveals that eternal life is a current possession for believers, not just a future promise. This life is qualitatively different—sharing in God's own eternal nature—and begins the moment one believes.