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耶穌不定犯姦淫婦人的罪

耶穌往橄欖山去。 黎明的時候,他又到聖殿去,眾人都來到他那裡,他就坐下教導他們。 經學家和法利賽人帶了一個行淫時被抓到的婦人來,叫她站在中間, 就對耶穌說:“先生,這婦人是正在犯姦淫的時候被抓到的。 摩西在律法上吩咐我們把這樣的婦人用石頭打死,你怎樣說呢?” 他們說這話是要試探耶穌,要找把柄來控告他。耶穌卻彎下身,用指頭在地上寫字。 他們不住地問耶穌,他就挺起身來,說:“你們中間誰是沒有罪的,他就可以先拿起石頭打她。” 於是又彎下身在地上寫字。 他們聽了這話,就從年老的開始,一個一個地都離開了,留下的只有耶穌和那個還站在那裡的婦人。 10 耶穌挺起身來,問她:“婦人,他們在哪裡?沒有人定你的罪嗎?” 11 她說:“主啊!沒有。”耶穌說:“我也不定你的罪。走吧,從現在起不要再犯罪了。”

耶穌是世界的光

12 耶穌又對眾人說:“我是世界的光,跟從我的,必定不在黑暗裡走,卻要得著生命的光。” 13 法利賽人對他說:“你為自己作證,你的見證不是真實的。” 14 耶穌回答:“即使我為自己作證,我的見證還是真實的,因為我知道我從哪裡來,往哪裡去,但你們卻不知道我從哪裡來,往哪裡去。 15 你們按著外貌判斷人,我卻不判斷人。 16 即使我判斷人,我的判斷也是正確的,因為我不是獨自一人,而是差我來的父和我在一起。 17 你們的律法上也寫著:‘兩個人的見證才是真的。’ 18 我為自己作證,差我來的父也為我作證。” 19 他們問:“你的父在哪裡?”耶穌回答:“你們不認識我,也不認識我的父;如果你們認識我,也就認識我的父了。” 20 這些話是耶穌在殿裡教導人的時候,在銀庫的院中說的。當時沒有人逮捕他,因為他的時候還沒有到。

不信基督的必在罪中死亡

21 耶穌又對他們說:“我要去了,你們要尋找我,並且要在自己的罪中死亡;我去的地方,你們不能到。” 22 於是猶太人說:“他說‘我去的地方,你們不能到’,難道他要自殺嗎?” 23 耶穌說:“你們是從地上來的,我是從天上來的;你們屬這世界,我卻不屬這世界, 24 所以我對你們說,你們要在自己的罪中死亡;你們若不信我就是‘那一位’,就要在自己的罪中死亡。” 25 他們就問:“你是誰?”耶穌說:“我不是從起初就告訴你們嗎? 26 關於你們,我有許多事要說,要判斷;但那差我來的是真實的,我從他那裡聽見的,就告訴世人。” 27 他們不明白耶穌是對他們講論父的事。 28 所以耶穌說:“你們舉起了人子以後,必定知道我就是‘那一位’,並且知道我不憑著自己作甚麼事;我說的這些話,是照著父所教導我的。 29 那差我來的和我同在,他沒有留下我獨自一人,因為我常作他喜悅的事。” 30 耶穌說這些話的時候,就有許多人信了他。

真理必使人自由

31 於是耶穌對信了他的猶太人說:“你們若持守我的道,就真是我的門徒了; 32 你們必定認識真理,真理必定使你們自由。” 33 他們說:“我們是亞伯拉罕的後裔,從來沒有被誰奴役過,你怎麼說‘你們必得自由’呢?” 34 耶穌說:“我實實在在告訴你們,凡犯罪的都是罪的奴隸。 35 奴隸不能永遠住在家裡,唯有兒子才可以永遠住在家裡。 36 所以, 神的兒子若使你們自由,你們就真的得自由了。 37 我知道你們是亞伯拉罕的後裔;但你們想殺我,因為你們心裡不能容納我的道。 38 我所說的,是我在父那裡看見的;但你們所作的,卻是從你們的父那裡聽見的。”

魔鬼的兒女不肯聽主的道

39 他們說:“我們的祖宗是亞伯拉罕。”耶穌說:“你們若是亞伯拉罕的子孫,就必作亞伯拉罕所作的。 40 現在我把從 神那裡聽見的真理告訴了你們,你們竟然想殺我,這不是亞伯拉罕所作的。 41 你們要作的,正是你們的父要作的。”他們說:“我們不是從淫亂生的;我們只有一位父,就是 神。” 42 耶穌說:“如果 神是你們的父,你們就必愛我,因為我是從 神那裡來的;我已經來到這裡。我不是憑著自己來的,而是 神差了我來。 43 你們為甚麼不明白我的話呢?因為我的道你們聽不進去。 44 你們是出於你們的父魔鬼,喜歡按著你們的父的私慾行事。他從起初就是殺人的兇手,不守真理,因為他心裡沒有真理。他說謊是出於本性,因為他本來就是說謊者,也是說謊的人的父。 45 我講真理,你們卻因此不信我。 46 你們中間有誰能指證我有罪呢?我既然講真理,你們為甚麼不信我呢? 47 出於 神的,就聽 神的話;你們不聽,因為你們不是出於 神的。”

亞伯拉罕以前耶穌已存在

48 猶太人對耶穌說:“我們說你是撒瑪利亞人,並且是鬼附的,不是很對嗎?” 49 耶穌回答:“我不是鬼附的。我尊敬我的父,你們卻侮辱我。 50 我不求自己的榮耀,但有一位是為我求榮耀,並且是審判人的。 51 我實實在在告訴你們,人若遵守我的道,必定永遠不見死亡。” 52 猶太人對他說:“現在我們知道你的確是鬼附的。亞伯拉罕死了,先知們也死了,你還說‘人若遵守我的道,必定永遠不嘗死味’, 53 難道你比我們的祖宗亞伯拉罕還大嗎?他死了,先知們也死了;你把自己當作甚麼人呢?” 54 耶穌回答:“如果我榮耀自己,我的榮耀就算不得甚麼;那使我得榮耀的是我的父,就是你們說是你們的 神的那一位。 55 可是你們不認識他,我卻認識他。如果我說我不認識他,我就像你們一樣是說謊的;然而我認識他,也遵守他的道。 56 你們的祖宗亞伯拉罕,因為可以看見我的日子就歡喜,既然看見了,他就很快樂。” 57 猶太人對他說:“你還不到五十歲,怎會見過亞伯拉罕呢?” 58 耶穌說:“我實實在在告訴你們,亞伯拉罕出生以前,我已經存在了。” 59 於是他們拿起石頭要打他。耶穌卻躲起來,從殿裡出去了。

Chapter 8

A Woman Caught in Adultery.[a] [53 Then each went to his own house, while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.[b](A) But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women.[c] So what do you say?”(B) They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.[d] [e]But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them,(C) “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. 10 Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”(D) 11 She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, [and] from now on do not sin any more.”](E)

The Light of the World.[f] 12 Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”(F) 13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You testify on your own behalf, so your testimony cannot be verified.” 14 Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I do testify on my own behalf, my testimony can be verified,[g] because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you do not know where I come from or where I am going.(G) 15 You judge by appearances,[h] but I do not judge anyone.(H) 16 And even if I should judge, my judgment is valid, because I am not alone, but it is I and the Father who sent me.(I) 17 Even in your law[i] it is written that the testimony of two men can be verified.(J) 18 I testify on my behalf and so does the Father who sent me.”(K) 19 So they said to him, “Where is your father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”(L) 20 He spoke these words while teaching in the treasury in the temple area. But no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.(M)

Jesus, the Father’s Ambassador.[j] 21 He said to them again, “I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin.[k] Where I am going you cannot come.”(N) 22 [l]So the Jews said, “He is not going to kill himself, is he, because he said, ‘Where I am going you cannot come’?” 23 He said to them, “You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world.(O) 24 That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I AM,[m] you will die in your sins.”(P) 25 [n]So they said to him, “Who are you?”(Q) Jesus said to them, “What I told you from the beginning. 26 I have much to say about you in condemnation. But the one who sent me is true, and what I heard from him I tell the world.”(R) 27 They did not realize that he was speaking to them of the Father. 28 So Jesus said [to them], “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father taught me.(S) 29 The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to him.” 30 Because he spoke this way, many came to believe in him.

Jesus and Abraham.[o] 31 Jesus then said to those Jews who believed in him,[p] “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”(T) 33 They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone.[q] How can you say, ‘You will become free’?”(U) 34 Jesus answered them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.(V) 35 A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son[r] always remains.(W) 36 So if a son frees you, then you will truly be free. 37 I know that you are descendants of Abraham. But you are trying to kill me, because my word has no room among you. 38 [s]I tell you what I have seen in the Father’s presence; then do what you have heard from the Father.”

39 [t]They answered and said to him, “Our father is Abraham.” Jesus said to them,(X) “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works of Abraham. 40 But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God; Abraham did not do this. 41 You are doing the works of your father!” [So] they said to him, “We are not illegitimate. We have one Father, God.”(Y) 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and am here; I did not come on my own, but he sent me.(Z) 43 Why do you not understand what I am saying? Because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You belong to your father the devil and you willingly carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father of lies.(AA) 45 But because I speak the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Can any of you charge me with sin? If I am telling the truth, why do you not believe me?(AB) 47 Whoever belongs to God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not listen, because you do not belong to God.”(AC)

48 The Jews answered and said to him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan[u] and are possessed?” 49 Jesus answered, “I am not possessed; I honor my Father, but you dishonor me. 50 I do not seek my own glory; there is one who seeks it and he is the one who judges.(AD) 51 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.”(AE) 52 [So] the Jews said to him, “Now we are sure that you are possessed. Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham,[v] who died? Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?”(AF) 54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ 55 You do not know him, but I know him. And if I should say that I do not know him, I would be like you a liar. But I do know him and I keep his word.(AG) 56 Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it[w] and was glad.(AH) 57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?”[x] 58 [y]Jesus said to them,(AI) “Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.(AJ)

Footnotes

  1. 7:53–8:11 The story of the woman caught in adultery is a later insertion here, missing from all early Greek manuscripts. A Western text-type insertion, attested mainly in Old Latin translations, it is found in different places in different manuscripts: here, or after Jn 7:36 or at the end of this gospel, or after Lk 21:38, or at the end of that gospel. There are many non-Johannine features in the language, and there are also many doubtful readings within the passage. The style and motifs are similar to those of Luke, and it fits better with the general situation at the end of Lk 21, but it was probably inserted here because of the allusion to Jer 17:13 (cf. note on Jn 8:6) and the statement, “I do not judge anyone,” in Jn 8:15. The Catholic Church accepts this passage as canonical scripture.
  2. 8:1 Mount of Olives: not mentioned elsewhere in the gospel tradition outside of passion week.
  3. 8:5 Lv 20:10 and Dt 22:22 mention only death, but Dt 22:23–24 prescribes stoning for a betrothed virgin.
  4. 8:6 Cf. Jer 17:13 (RSV): “Those who turn away from thee shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living water”; cf. Jn 7:38.
  5. 8:7 The first stones were to be thrown by the witnesses (Dt 17:7).
  6. 8:12–20 Jesus the light of the world. Jesus replaces the four torches of the illumination of the temple as the light of joy.
  7. 8:14 My testimony can be verified: this seems to contradict Jn 5:31, but the emphasis here is on Jesus’ origin from the Father and his divine destiny. Where I am going: indicates Jesus’ passion and glorification.
  8. 8:15 By appearances: literally, “according to the flesh.” I do not judge anyone: superficial contradiction of Jn 5:22, 27, 30; here the emphasis is that the judgment is not by material standards.
  9. 8:17 Your law: a reflection of later controversy between church and synagogue.
  10. 8:21–30 He whose ambassador I am is with me. Jesus’ origin is from God; he can reveal God.
  11. 8:21 You will die in your sin: i.e., of disbelief; cf. Jn 8:24. Where I am going you cannot come: except through faith in Jesus’ passion-resurrection.
  12. 8:22 The Jews suspect that he is referring to his death. Johannine irony is apparent here; Jesus’ death will not be self-inflicted but destined by God.
  13. 8:24, 28 I AM: an expression that late Jewish tradition understood as Yahweh’s own self-designation (Is 43:10); see note on Jn 4:26. Jesus is here placed on a par with Yahweh.
  14. 8:25 What I told you from the beginning: this verse seems textually corrupt, with several other possible translations: “(I am) what I say to you”; “Why do I speak to you at all?” The earliest attested reading (Bodmer Papyrus P66) has (in a second hand), “I told you at the beginning what I am also telling you (now).” The answer here (cf. Prv 8:22) seems to hinge on a misunderstanding of Jn 8:24that I AM” as “what I am.”
  15. 8:31–59 Jesus’ origin (“before Abraham”) and destiny are developed; the truth will free them from sin (Jn 8:34) and death (Jn 8:51).
  16. 8:31 Those Jews who believed in him: a rough editorial suture, since in Jn 8:37 they are described as trying to kill Jesus.
  17. 8:33 Have never been enslaved to anyone: since, historically, the Jews were enslaved almost continuously, this verse is probably Johannine irony, about slavery to sin.
  18. 8:35 A slave…a son: an allusion to Ishmael and Isaac (Gn 16; 21), or to the release of a slave after six years (Ex 21:2; Dt 15:12).
  19. 8:38 The Father: i.e., God. It is also possible, however, to understand the second part of the verse as a sarcastic reference to descent of the Jews from the devil (Jn 8:44), “You do what you have heard from [your] father.”
  20. 8:39 The works of Abraham: Abraham believed; cf. Rom 4:11–17; Jas 2:21–23.
  21. 8:48 Samaritan: therefore interested in magical powers; cf. Acts 7:14–24.
  22. 8:53 Are you greater than our father Abraham?: cf. Jn 4:12.
  23. 8:56 He saw it: this seems a reference to the birth of Isaac (Gn 17:7; 21:6), the beginning of the fulfillment of promises about Abraham’s seed.
  24. 8:57 The evidence of the third-century Bodmer Papyrus P75 and the first hand of Codex Sinaiticus indicates that the text originally read: “How can Abraham have seen you?”
  25. 8:58 Came to be, I AM: the Greek word used for “came to be” is the one used of all creation in the prologue, while the word used for “am” is the one reserved for the Logos.