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John 8

8 [ a ] [But Jesus went to the hill which is called the Mount of Olives.

The Pharisees bring a woman to Jesus

2 Early the next morning, Jesus returned to the temple in Jerusalem. All the people came to him. He sat down and he began to teach them. 3 The Pharisees and the teachers of God's Law brought a woman to him. They had found her with another man. She was having sex with a man who was not her husband. They made her stand in front of all the people there. 4 They said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, we found this woman. She was having sex with a man who was not her husband. 5 In God's Law Moses says that we should throw stones at this kind of woman, to kill her. What do you say about this?’ 6 They asked this question for a reason. They wanted Jesus to say something wrong, so that they could punish him. But Jesus bent himself down. He started to write on the ground with his finger.

7 The Pharisees and the teachers of God's Law continued to ask Jesus questions. So he stood up and he said to them, ‘Any person among you who is not guilty of any sin may throw the first stone to kill her.’ 8 Then he bent himself down again and he wrote on the ground. 9 When they heard what Jesus said, the people began to go away. They went one by one. The older people went first. After some time, only Jesus remained with the woman. She was still standing there. 10 Jesus stood up. He said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Is there nobody still here who wants to punish you?’ 11 She said, ‘There is nobody, sir.’ So Jesus said, ‘I also do not want to punish you. Go away now and change the way you live. Do not do wrong things again.’]

Jesus is the light of the world

12 Jesus spoke to the people again. He said, ‘I am the light of the world. [ b ] Those people who become my disciples will never walk in the dark. No, they will have the light that gives life.’

13 The Pharisees began to argue with him. They said, ‘You are saying things about yourself. But there is nobody else to agree that these things are true.’

14 Jesus answered, ‘What I say is true. Even if I do speak about myself, my words are true. I know where I have come from. I also know where I will go. As for you, you do not know where I came from. You do not know where I will go. 15 You judge in the way that people think. I do not judge anyone. 16 But if I did judge anyone, I would decide correctly what is right. That is because I am not alone. The Father has sent me, and he is with me. 17 Your own Law says, “There must be two people to agree that something is true.” [ c ] 18 I speak what is true about myself. The Father, who sent me, also speaks what is true about me.’

19 Then they asked him, ‘So where is your Father?’ Jesus answered, ‘You do not know either me or my Father. If you really knew me, you would also know my Father.’ 20 Jesus said all these words while he taught in the yard of the temple. He was near the place where they kept the gifts of money. But nobody took hold of him, because it was not the right time for that yet.

Jesus says that he comes from above

21 Jesus said to them again, ‘I will go away and you will look for me. But even when you die, God will still not have forgiven your sins. You cannot go where I will go.’ 22 So the Jewish leaders said to each other, ‘Perhaps he means that he will kill himself. He says, “You cannot go where I will go.” Perhaps that is why he says this.’ 23 Jesus answered, ‘You belong to the things down here in the world. But I have come from above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world. 24 I told you that when you die, God will not have forgiven you. You must believe that “I am who I am.” [ d ] If not, you will die and God will certainly not have forgiven you.’

25 Then the Jewish leaders asked Jesus, ‘So, who are you?’ He answered, ‘I have told you who I am from the beginning. 26 I have many things I could say about you. I could show that you have done many wrong things. But the one who sent me speaks to me. I tell people only what I have heard him say to me. What he says is true.’ 27 They did not understand that he was speaking to them about his Father. [ e ] 28 So Jesus said to them, ‘You will lift up the Son of Man on a cross. Then you will know that “I am who I am”. And you will know that I do nothing by myself. I say only what the Father has taught me to say. 29 He who sent me is with me. I always do the things that make him happy. So he has never gone away and left me alone.’ 30 Many people who heard Jesus say these things believed in him. [ f ]

The truth about God will make you free

31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who now believed him, ‘Continue to obey the words that I have spoken to you. If you do that, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know what is true. And that will make you free.’ 33 They answered him, ‘We are descendants of Abraham. We have never been anyone's slaves. But you say that we will become free. What do you mean?’

34 Jesus answered them, ‘I tell you this: Everyone who does wrong things is a slave to sin. 35 A slave does not belong to a family for ever. But a son does belong to a family for ever. 36 So, if the Son makes you free, you will really be free. 37 I know that you belong to Abraham's family. But you are looking for a way to kill me. That is because you have no place in yourselves for my words. 38 I speak about the things that my Father has shown me. You do the things that you have heard from your father.’

39 They answered, ‘Abraham is our father!’ Jesus replied, ‘If you really belonged to Abraham's family, you would do the same kind of things that Abraham did. 40 I have told you the true message that I have heard from God. But you want to kill me. Abraham did not do anything like that! 41 You do the same things that your own father does.’

They said to Jesus, ‘God himself is our only Father, and we are his proper sons!’

42 Jesus said to them, ‘If God was your Father, you would love me. I came from God and now I am here with you. I did not come on my own behalf, but God sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot really accept my message. 44 You belong to your father, the Devil, and you want to do the things that he wants. From the beginning, he has been someone who murders people. He refuses to accept the truth, because there is nothing true in him. When he tells lies, he is showing what he is really like. He always tells lies. He is the father of all lies. 45 As for me, I tell you what is true. And that is why you do not believe me. 46 None of you can show that I have done anything wrong. You should believe me, because I am telling you God's true message. 47 Someone who belongs to God accepts God's message. But you do not belong to God. That is why you do not accept his message.’

48 The Jews answered him, ‘What we say about you is right! You are from Samaria and you have a demon in you!’ [ g ] 49 Jesus replied, ‘There is no demon in me. I want people to know how great my Father is. But you want people to think bad things about me. 50 I myself do not want people to praise me. But there is someone who wants people to praise me. He is the one who decides if I am right. 51 I tell you this: Anyone who obeys my words will never die.’ 52 The Jews said, ‘Now we know that a demon lives in you! Abraham and all the prophets died. But you say, “Anyone who obeys my words will never know death!” 53 You cannot be greater than our father Abraham, and he died! You cannot be greater than the prophets, and they all died! Who do you think that you are?’

54 Jesus replied, ‘If I myself wanted people to praise me, that would be worth nothing. But it is my Father who wants that. And you say that he is your God. 55 You have never known him, but I know him. I might say, “I do not know him.” But then I would be telling a lie. So I would be like you. But I do know him, and I obey his words. 56 Your ancestor Abraham knew that I would come at some time. He was happy to know that he would see that time. He did see that time, and he was very happy.’

57 The Jews said, ‘You are not 50 years old yet. But you say that you have seen Abraham!’ 58 Jesus said, ‘I tell you this: Before Abraham was even born, “I am”.’ [ h ] 59 Then they picked up stones. They wanted to throw them at him and kill him. But Jesus hid himself from them. He went away from the temple.

Footnotes

  1. 8:1 Many old copies of John's book do not have John 8:1-11.
  2. 8:12 Jesus said that he was the light of the world. The Jews lit a special light in the temple during the Festival of Tabernacles.
  3. 8:17 See Deuteronomy 17:6 ; 19:15 .
  4. 8:24 The Jews used ‘I am’ as the name of God. Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world’ or only the words ‘I am’. He was saying that he is God.
  5. 8:27 The people did not believe that Jesus' Father was God.
  6. 8:30 Some people believed Jesus, but many did not believe him.
  7. 8:48 ‘You are from Samaria’. They were saying Jesus was not a Jew
  8. 8:58 The Jews used ‘I am’ as the name of God. When Jesus said, ‘I am,’ they would have recognized this name. Jesus was saying that he is God.

8 Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he went back to the Temple area. The people all came to him, and he sat and taught them.

3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought a woman they had caught in bed with a man who was not her husband. They forced her to stand in front of the people. 4 They said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 The Law of Moses commands us to stone to death any such woman. What do you say we should do?”

6 They were saying this to trick Jesus. They wanted to catch him saying something wrong so that they could have a charge against him. But Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with his finger. 7 The Jewish leaders continued to ask him their question. So he stood up and said, “Anyone here who has never sinned should throw the first stone at her.” 8 Then Jesus stooped down again and wrote on the ground.

9 When they heard this, they began to leave one by one. The older men left first, and then the others. Jesus was left alone with the woman standing there in front of him. 10 He looked up again and said to her, “Where did they all go? Did no one judge you guilty?”

11 She answered, “No one, sir.”

Then Jesus said, “I don’t judge you either. You can go now, but don’t sin again.” [ a ]

Jesus Is the Light of the World

12 Later, Jesus talked to the people again. He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never live in darkness. They will have the light that gives life.”

13 But the Pharisees said to Jesus, “When you talk about yourself, you are the only one to say that these things are true. So we cannot accept what you say.”

14 Jesus answered, “Yes, I am saying these things about myself. But people can believe what I say, because I know where I came from. And I know where I am going. But you don’t know where I came from or where I am going. 15 You judge me the way people judge other people. I don’t judge anyone. 16 But if I judge, my judging is true, because when I judge I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me. 17 Your own law says that when two witnesses say the same thing, you must accept what they say. 18 I am one of the witnesses who speaks about myself. And the Father who sent me is my other witness.”

19 The people asked, “Where is your father?”

Jesus answered, “You don’t know me or my Father. But if you knew me, you would know my Father too.” 20 Jesus said these things while he was teaching in the Temple area, near the room where the Temple offerings were kept. But no one arrested him, because the right time for him had not yet come.

Some Jews Don’t Understand Jesus

21 Again, Jesus said to the people, “I will leave you. You will look for me, but you will die in your sin. You cannot come where I am going.”

22 So the Jewish leaders asked themselves, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he said, ‘You cannot come where I am going’?”

23 But Jesus said to them, “You people are from here below, but I am from above. You belong to this world, but I don’t belong to this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins. Yes, if you don’t believe that I Am , [ b ] you will die in your sins.”

25 They asked, “Then who are you?”

Jesus answered, “I am what I have told you from the beginning. 26 I have much more I could say to judge you. But I tell people only what I have heard from the one who sent me, and he speaks the truth.”

27 They did not understand who he was talking about. He was telling them about the Father. 28 So he said to them, “You will lift up [ c ] the Son of Man. Then you will know that I Am . You will know that whatever I do is not by my own authority. You will know that I say only what the Father has taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me. I always do what pleases him. So he has not left me alone.” 30 While he was saying these things, many people believed in him.

Jesus Talks About Freedom From Sin

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him, “If you continue to accept and obey my teaching, you are really my followers. 32 You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

33 They answered, “We are Abraham’s descendants. And we have never been slaves. So why do you say that we will be free?”

34 Jesus said, “The truth is, everyone who sins is a slave—a slave to sin. 35 A slave does not stay with a family forever. But a son belongs to the family forever. 36 So if the Son makes you free, you are really free. 37 I know you are Abraham’s descendants. But you want to kill me, because you don’t want to accept my teaching. 38 I am telling you what my Father has shown me. But you do what your father has told you.”

39 They said, “Our father is Abraham.”

Jesus said, “If you were really Abraham’s descendants, you would do what Abraham did. 40 I am someone who has told you the truth I heard from God. But you are trying to kill me. Abraham did nothing like that. 41 So you are doing what your own father did.”

But they said, “We are not like children who never knew who their father was. God is our Father. He is the only Father we have.”

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were really your Father, you would love me. I came from God, and now I am here. I did not come by my own authority. God sent me. 43 You don’t understand the things I say, because you cannot accept my teaching. 44 Your father is the devil. You belong to him. You want to do what he wants. He was a murderer from the beginning. He was always against the truth. There is no truth in him. He is like the lies he tells. Yes, the devil is a liar. He is the father of lies.

45 “I am telling you the truth, and that’s why you don’t believe me. 46 Can any of you prove that I am guilty of sin? If I tell the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God accepts what he says. But you don’t accept what God says, because you don’t belong to God.”

Jesus Talks About Himself and Abraham

48 The Jews there answered, “We say you are a Samaritan. We say a demon is making you crazy! Are we not right when we say this?”

49 Jesus answered, “I have no demon in me. I give honor to my Father, but you give no honor to me. 50 I am not trying to get honor for myself. There is one who wants this honor for me. He is the judge. 51 I promise you, whoever continues to obey my teaching will never die.”

52 The Jews said to Jesus, “Now we know that you have a demon in you! Even Abraham and the prophets died. But you say, ‘Whoever obeys my teaching will never die.’ 53 Do you think you are greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”

54 Jesus answered, “If I give honor to myself, that honor is worth nothing. The one who gives me honor is my Father. And you say that he is your God. 55 But you don’t really know him. I know him. If I said I did not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I obey what he says. 56 Your father Abraham was very happy that he would see the day when I came. He saw that day and was happy.”

57 The Jews said to Jesus, “What? How can you say you have seen Abraham? You are not even 50 years old!”

58 Jesus answered, “The fact is, before Abraham was born, I Am .” 59 When he said this, they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus hid, and then he left the Temple area.

Footnotes

  1. John 8:11 The oldest and best Greek copies do not have verses 7:53–8:11. Other copies have this section in different places.
  2. John 8:24 I Am This is like the name of God used in the Old Testament. See Isa. 41:4; 43:10; Ex. 3:14. However, it can also mean “I am he,” meaning “I am the Messiah.” Also in verses 28, 58.
  3. John 8:28 lift up Meaning to be nailed to a cross and “lifted up” on it to die. It may also have a second meaning: to be “lifted up” from death to heaven.

8 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.

2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.

14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.

15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.

16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.

17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.

18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.

19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.

21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.

22 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.

23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.

24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.

26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.

27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.

28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.

31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

37 I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.

38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.

39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?

47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?

49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.

50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.

51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.

53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?

54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:

55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.

56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?

58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

The Adulterous Woman

8 But Jesus went to ( A ) the Mount of Olives. 2 And early in the morning He came again into the temple area , and all the people were coming to Him; and ( B ) He sat down and began teaching them. 3 Now the scribes and the Pharisees *brought a woman caught in the act of adultery, and after placing her in the center of the courtyard , 4 they *said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the very act of committing adultery. 5 Now in the Law, ( C ) Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” 6 Now they were saying this to ( D ) test Him, ( E ) so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. 7 When they persisted in asking Him, ( F ) He straightened up and said to them, “ ( G ) He who is without sin among you, let him be the ( H ) first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 Now when they heard this , they began leaving, one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman where she was, in the center of the courtyard . 10 And ( I ) straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” 11 She said, “No one, [ a ] Lord.” And Jesus said, “ ( J ) I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on do not ( K ) sin any longer.” ]]

Jesus Is the Light of the World

12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “ ( L ) I am the Light of the world; ( M ) the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” 13 So the Pharisees said to Him, “ ( N ) You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not [ b ] true.” 14 Jesus answered and said to them, “ ( O ) Even if I am testifying about Myself, My testimony is [ c ] true, because I know ( P ) where I came from and where I am going; but ( Q ) you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 15 ( R ) You judge [ d ] according to the flesh; ( S ) I am not judging anyone. 16 But even ( T ) if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it , but I and the Father who sent Me. 17 Even in ( U ) your Law it has been written that the testimony of ( V ) two people is [ e ] true. 18 I am He who testifies about Myself, and ( W ) the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.” 19 So they were saying to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father; ( X ) if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.” 20 These words He spoke [ f ] in ( Y ) the treasury, as ( Z ) He taught in the temple area ; and no one arrested Him, because ( AA ) His hour had not yet come.

21 Then He said again to them, “I am going away, and ( AB ) you will look for Me, and ( AC ) will die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come.” 22 So ( AD ) the Jews were saying, “Surely He will not kill Himself, will He, since He says, ‘ ( AE ) Where I am going, you cannot come’ ?” 23 And He was saying to them, “ ( AF ) You are from below, I am from above; ( AG ) you are of this world, ( AH ) I am not of this world. 24 Therefore I said to you that you ( AI ) will die in your sins; for unless you believe that [ g ] ( AJ ) I am, ( AK ) you will die in your sins.” 25 Then they were saying to Him, “Who are You?” Jesus said to them, “ [ h ] What have I even been saying to you from the beginning? 26 I have many things to say and to judge regarding you, but ( AL ) He who sent Me is true; and ( AM ) the things which I heard from Him, these I say to the world.” 27 They did not realize that He was speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you ( AN ) lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that [ i ] ( AO ) I am, and ( AP ) I do nothing [ j ] on My own, but I say these things as the Father instructed Me. 29 And He who sent Me is with Me; ( AQ ) He [ k ] has not left Me alone, for ( AR ) I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” 30 As He said these things, ( AS ) many came to believe in Him.

The Truth Will Set You Free

31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “ ( AT ) If you continue in My word, then you are truly My ( AU ) disciples; 32 and ( AV ) you will know the truth, and ( AW ) the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered Him, “ ( AX ) We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’ ?”

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly I say to you, ( AY ) everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 Now ( AZ ) the slave does not remain in the house forever; ( BA ) the son does remain forever. 36 So if the Son ( BB ) sets you free, you really will be free. 37 I know that you are ( BC ) Abraham’s descendants; yet ( BD ) you are seeking to kill Me, because My word [ l ] has no place in you. 38 I speak of the things which I have seen [ m ] with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from ( BE ) your father.”

39 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is ( BF ) our father.” Jesus *said to them, “ ( BG ) If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham. 40 But as it is, ( BH ) you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has ( BI ) told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do. 41 You are doing the deeds of ( BJ ) your father.” They said to Him, “We were not born as a result of sexual immorality; ( BK ) we have one Father: God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, ( BL ) you would love Me, ( BM ) for I came forth from God and am here; for I have ( BN ) not even come [ n ] on My own, but [ o ] ( BO ) He sent Me. 43 Why do you not understand [ p ] ( BP ) what I am saying? It is because you cannot ( BQ ) listen to My word. 44 ( BR ) You are of ( BS ) your father the devil, and ( BT ) you want to do the desires of your father. ( BU ) He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because ( BV ) there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells [ q ] a lie, he ( BW ) speaks from his own nature , because he is a liar and the father of [ r ] lies. 45 But because ( BX ) I say the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If ( BY ) I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 ( BZ ) The one who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them , because you are not of God.”

48 ( CA ) The Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not rightly say that You are a ( CB ) Samaritan, and You ( CC ) have a demon?” 49 Jesus answered, “I do not ( CD ) have a demon; on the contrary, I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. 50 But ( CE ) I am not seeking My glory; there is One who seeks it , and judges. 51 Truly, truly I say to you, if anyone ( CF ) follows My word, he will never ( CG ) see death.” 52 ( CH ) The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You ( CI ) have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets as well ; and yet You say, ‘If anyone ( CJ ) follows My word, he will never ( CK ) taste of death.’ 53 You ( CL ) are not greater than our father Abraham, who died, are You? The prophets died too. Whom do You make Yourself out to be ?” 54 Jesus answered, “ ( CM ) If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; ( CN ) it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God’; 55 and ( CO ) you have not come to know Him, ( CP ) but I know Him. And if I say that I do not know Him, I will be ( CQ ) a liar like you; ( CR ) but I do know Him, and I ( CS ) follow His word. 56 ( CT ) Your father Abraham was ( CU ) overjoyed that he would see My day, and he saw it and rejoiced.” 57 ( CV ) So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham [ s ] was born, [ t ] ( CW ) I am.” 59 Therefore they ( CX ) picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus ( CY ) hid Himself and left the temple grounds .

Footnotes

  1. John 8:11 Or Sir
  2. John 8:13 Or valid
  3. John 8:14 Or valid
  4. John 8:15 I.e., by a carnal standard
  5. John 8:17 I.e., valid or admissible
  6. John 8:20 Or at
  7. John 8:24 Or I AM, you will die... ; Jesus may be referring to Ex 3:14, I AM WHO I AM
  8. John 8:25 Or That which I have even been saying to you from the beginning
  9. John 8:28 Or I AM, and... ; (see note v 24)
  10. John 8:28 Or of Myself
  11. John 8:29 Or did not leave
  12. John 8:37 Or is making no headway among you
  13. John 8:38 Or in the presence of
  14. John 8:42 Or of Myself
  15. John 8:42 Lit that One
  16. John 8:43 Or My way of speaking
  17. John 8:44 Lit the lie
  18. John 8:44 Lit it
  19. John 8:58 Lit came into being
  20. John 8:58 Or I AM ; Jesus may be referring to Ex 3:14, I AM WHO I AM

8 1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. ( A )

2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. ( B ) 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. ( C ) Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, ( D ) in order to have a basis for accusing him. ( E )

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone ( F ) at her.” ( G ) 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

11 “No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” ( H ) Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” ( I )

Dispute Over Jesus’ Testimony

12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am ( J ) the light of the world. ( K ) Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” ( L )

13 The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.” ( M )

14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. ( N ) But you have no idea where I come from ( O ) or where I am going. 15 You judge by human standards; ( P ) I pass judgment on no one. ( Q ) 16 But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. ( R ) 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. ( S ) 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.” ( T )

19 Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”

“You do not know me or my Father,” ( U ) Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” ( V ) 20 He spoke these words while teaching ( W ) in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. ( X ) Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come. ( Y )

Dispute Over Who Jesus Is

21 Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die ( Z ) in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.” ( AA )

22 This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’ ?”

23 But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. ( AB ) 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, ( AC ) you will indeed die in your sins.”

25 “Who are you?” they asked.

“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. 26 “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, ( AD ) and what I have heard from him I tell the world.” ( AE )

27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up [ a ] the Son of Man, ( AF ) then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. ( AG ) 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, ( AH ) for I always do what pleases him.” ( AI ) 30 Even as he spoke, many believed in him. ( AJ )

Dispute Over Whose Children Jesus’ Opponents Are

31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, ( AK ) you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” ( AL )

33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants ( AM ) and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. ( AN ) 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. ( AO ) 36 So if the Son sets you free, ( AP ) you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, ( AQ ) because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, ( AR ) and you are doing what you have heard from your father. [ b ] ” ( AS )

39 “Abraham is our father,” they answered.

“If you were Abraham’s children,” ( AT ) said Jesus, “then you would [ c ] do what Abraham did. 40 As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, ( AU ) a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. ( AV ) Abraham did not do such things. 41 You are doing the works of your own father.” ( AW )

“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.” ( AX )

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, ( AY ) for I have come here from God. ( AZ ) I have not come on my own; ( BA ) God sent me. ( BB ) 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, ( BC ) and you want to carry out your father’s desires. ( BD ) He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. ( BE ) 45 Yet because I tell the truth, ( BF ) you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. ( BG ) The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

Jesus’ Claims About Himself

48 The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan ( BH ) and demon-possessed?” ( BI )

49 “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I am not seeking glory for myself; ( BJ ) but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.” ( BK )

52 At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! ( BL ) Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? ( BM ) He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”

54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, ( BN ) my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. ( BO ) 55 Though you do not know him, ( BP ) I know him. ( BQ ) If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word. ( BR ) 56 Your father Abraham ( BS ) rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it ( BT ) and was glad.”

57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”

58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, ( BU ) I am!” ( BV ) 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, ( BW ) but Jesus hid himself, ( BX ) slipping away from the temple grounds.

Footnotes

  1. John 8:28 The Greek for lifted up also means exalted .
  2. John 8:38 Or presence. Therefore do what you have heard from the Father.
  3. John 8:39 Some early manuscripts “If you are Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then
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