耶稣却往橄榄山去。

淫妇被赦免

清晨,耶稣又来到圣殿,全体民众到他那里,他就坐下,开始教导他们。

这时,经文士们和法利赛人带来一个在通奸时被抓住的妇人,叫她站在中间。 他们对耶稣说:“老师,这妇人是正在通奸的时候被抓住的。 摩西在律法上吩咐我们用石头砸死这样的女人,既然如此,你怎么说呢?” 他们说这话是要试探耶稣,为要找把柄[a]来控告他。

耶稣却弯下腰,开始用指头在地上写字。 可是当他们不停地追问耶稣的时候,耶稣就直起身来,对他们说:“你们当中谁没有罪,谁就先用石头砸她吧!”

然后他又弯下腰去,继续在地上写字。 他们听了这话,[b]从年长的开始[c],一个接一个地走开了。最后,只剩下耶稣和那站在中间的妇人。 10 耶稣直起身来[d]问她:“妇人,他们[e]在哪里?没有人定你的罪吗?”

11 她说:“主啊,没有。”

耶稣说:“我也不定你的罪。你回去吧!从今以后不要再犯罪了。”[f]

世界的光

12 耶稣又对众人说:“我就是世界的光。跟从我的人,绝不会在黑暗里行走,却要得到生命的光。”

13 法利赛人对他说:“你为自己做见证,你的见证是无效[g]的。”

14 耶稣回答:“即使我为自己做见证,我的见证也是有效[h]的,因为我知道我从哪里来,往哪里去;而你们却不知道我从哪里来,往哪里去。 15 你们是按人[i]的标准来评断,我却不评断任何人。 16 不过,就算我评断,我的评断也是真实的,因为我不是独自一人,而是有那派我来的父与我同在。 17 连你们的律法上也记载着:两个人的见证才是有效的。 18 我为自己做见证,派我来的父也为我做见证。”

19 他们就问耶稣:“你的‘父’在哪里?”

耶稣回答:“你们既不认识我,也不认识我的父;如果你们认识我,也就认识我的父。” 20 这些话是耶稣在圣殿的奉献箱附近教导人的时候说的。可是没有人抓他,因为他的时候还没有到。

耶稣预言离世

21 后来,耶稣又对他们说:“我要去了,你们将要寻找我,并且将死在自己的罪中。我去的地方,你们不能去。”

22 那些犹太人就说:“他说‘我去的地方,你们不能去’,难道他要自杀吗?”

23 耶稣对他们说:“你们从下面来,我从上面来;你们属于这世界,我不属于这世界。 24 所以我对你们说过‘你们将死在自己的罪孽中。’事实上,你们如果不信我就是那一位,就将死在自己的罪孽中。”

25 他们问:“你到底是谁?”

耶稣说:“我从一开始就告诉你们了。 26 关于你们,我有很多事要说、要评断;不过派我来的那一位是真实的,我从他那里听了这些事,就向世人说出来。”

27 他们不明白耶稣对他们说的是有关父的事。 28 所以耶稣说:“你们举起人子的时候,你们那时就会明白我就是那一位,也会明白我不凭自己做什么,而且我说这些话,也是照着父所教导我的。 29 派我来的那一位与我同在;他[j]没有撇下我,使我独自一人,因为我一直做他所喜悦的事。”

真理与自由

30 耶稣说这些话的时候,许多人就信了他。 31 于是耶稣对信他的犹太人说:“你们如果住在我的话语中,就真是我的门徒了, 32 并且你们将明白真理,而真理将使你们自由。”

33 他们回答:“我们是亚伯拉罕的后裔,从来没有做过谁的奴仆。你怎么说‘你们将要得自由’呢?”

34 耶稣回答:“我确确实实地告诉你们:所有犯罪的,就是罪的奴隶。 35 奴隶不会永远住在家里,儿子却会永远住在家里。 36 所以,如果子使你们自由,你们就真正自由了。 37 我知道你们是亚伯拉罕的后裔。可是你们想要杀我,因为你们里面容不下我的话语。 38 我所说的,是我从我[k]父那里所看到的;而实际上,你们所做的,是从你们的[l]父那里所听到[m]的。”

39 他们回答说:“亚伯拉罕是我们的父!”

耶稣说:“如果你们是亚伯拉罕的儿女,就会做亚伯拉罕所做的事。 40 但如今,我把从神那里所听到的真理告诉了你们,你们就想杀我。亚伯拉罕没有做过这种事。 41 你们在做你们的父所做的事。”

他们回答说:“我们不是由淫乱所生的,我们只有一位父,就是神。”

42 耶稣说:“如果神是你们的父,你们就会爱我,因为我是出于神,并且从神那里来。要知道,我并不是凭自己而来的,而是那一位差派了我。 43 你们为什么不明白我的话呢?这是因为你们听不进我的话语。 44 你们属于你们的父——魔鬼,并且想要随你们父的欲望去做。他从起初就是杀人的,不站在真理之中,因为他里面没有真理。他说虚假之事是出于自己的本性,因为他本来就是个说谎者,并且是说谎者之父。 45 可是因为我讲真理,你们就不相信我! 46 你们当中谁能指证我有罪呢?既然我讲的是真理,你们为什么不相信我呢? 47 属神的人,就听神的话语;你们之所以不听,是因为你们不属于神。”

耶稣与亚伯拉罕

48 那些犹太人回答说:“我们说你是个撒马利亚人,并且有鬼魔附身,难道说得不对吗?”

49 耶稣回答:“我没有鬼魔附身。我尊重我的父,你们却侮辱我。 50 我不寻求自己的荣耀,但有寻求和判断的那一位。 51 我确确实实地告诉你们:人如果遵守我的话语,就绝不见死亡,直到永远。”

52 犹太人说:“现在我们知道你是有鬼魔附身的。亚伯拉罕死了,先知们也死了,你还说‘人如果遵守我的话语,就绝不会尝到死的滋味,直到永远。’ 53 难道你比我们的先祖亚伯拉罕更大吗?他死了,先知们也死了。你把自己当做什么人?”

54 耶稣回答:“如果我荣耀自己,我的荣耀就算不得什么。荣耀我的是我的父,就是你们说‘他是我们的神’的那一位。 55 你们不认识他,我却认识他。如果我说我不认识他,我就成了像你们那样的说谎者。但我认识他,也遵守他的话语。 56 你们的先祖亚伯拉罕因为将要看到我的日子就快乐。他看到了,就欢喜。”

57 犹太人就对他说:“你还不到五十岁,怎么会见过亚伯拉罕[n]

58 耶稣对他们说:“我确确实实地告诉你们:亚伯拉罕存在之前,我就存在了。”

59 他们因此拿起石头要砸他。耶稣却被隐藏,[o]离开了圣殿。

Footnotes

  1. 约翰福音 8:6 把柄——辅助词语。
  2. 约翰福音 8:9 有古抄本附“受到良心的责备,”。
  3. 约翰福音 8:9 有古抄本附“到年幼的”。
  4. 约翰福音 8:10 有古抄本附“除了那妇人以外没有见到任何人”。
  5. 约翰福音 8:10 他们——有古抄本作“那些控告你的人”。
  6. 约翰福音 8:11 有古抄本没有7:53-8:11。
  7. 约翰福音 8:13 无效——原文直译“不真实”。
  8. 约翰福音 8:14 有效——原文直译“真实”。
  9. 约翰福音 8:15 人——原文直译“肉体”。
  10. 约翰福音 8:29 他——有古抄本作“父”。
  11. 约翰福音 8:38 有古抄本没有“我”。
  12. 约翰福音 8:38 有古抄本没有“你们的”。
  13. 约翰福音 8:38 听到——有古抄本作“看到”。
  14. 约翰福音 8:57 怎么会见过亚伯拉罕?——有古抄本作“亚伯拉罕怎么会见过你?”
  15. 约翰福音 8:59 有古抄本附“从他们中间过去,”。

Ciisese wuxuu u baxay Buur Saytuun. Aroortii hore ayuu haddana macbudka yimid, dadkii oo dhammuna way u yimaadeen, oo intuu fadhiistay, ayuu wax baray. Culimmadii iyo Farrisiintii waxay u keeneen naag sino lagu qabtay. Markaasay dhexda joojiyeen, oo waxay isagii ku yidhaahdeen, Macallimow, naagtan waxaa lagu qabtay sino. Hadda Muuse wuxuu sharciga nagu amray in la dhagxiyo tan oo kale, adiguse maxaad ka leedahay iyada? Waxay waxaas u yidhaahdeen, iyagoo jirrabaya, si ay u helaan wax ay ku ashtakeeyaan. Laakiin Ciise waa foororsaday, oo farta ayuu dhulka wax ku qoray. Laakiin goortay sii wadeen inay weyddiiyaan, wuu istaagay, oo wuxuu ku yidhi, Kii idinka mid ah oo aan dembi lahayn, isagu horta dhagax ha ku tuuro. Mar kale ayuu foororsaday, oo haddana dhulka wax ku qoray. Iyagu markay waxaas maqleen, ayay iska daba baxeen midba mid, waayeelladii ka bilaabato ilaa kii u dambeeyey. Ciisena keligiis ayuu hadhay iyo naagtii dhexda joogtay. 10 Ciise ayaa istaagay oo ku yidhi iyadii, Naag yahay, xaggee bay joogaan? Ninna miyaanu ku xukumin? 11 Waxay ku tidhi, Ninna, Sayidow. Ciisena wuxuu ku yidhi, Anna ku xukumi maayo. Soco, oo hadda ka dib ha dembaabin.

Nuurka Dunida

12 Haddaba Ciise ayaa mar kale la hadlay iyaga, oo wuxuu ku yidhi, Anigu waxaan ahay nuurka dunida. Kii i soo raacaa, gudcurka kuma socon doono, wuxuuse lahaan doonaa nuurka nolosha. 13 Sidaa aawadeed Farrisiintu waxay ku yidhaahdeen, Marag baad isu furaysaa, maraggaagguna run ma aha. 14 Ciise baa u jawaabay oo wuxuu ku yidhi, In kastoo aan marag isu furo, maraggaygu waa run, waayo, waxaan garanayaa meeshaan ka imid iyo meeshaan tegayo, idinkuse garan maysaan meeshaan ka imid ama meeshaan tegayo. 15 Idinku waxaad wax ka xukuntaan xagga jidhka, aniguse ninna ma xukumo. 16 Haddaan xukumo, xukunkaygu waa run, waayo, anigu keligay ma ihi, laakiin waa aniga iyo Aabbahaygii i soo diray. 17 Sharcigiinna waxaa ku qoran, Laba nin maraggoodu waa run. 18 Anigu waxaan ahay kii isu marag fura, oo Aabbahaygii i soo dirayna ayaa ii marag fura. 19 Sidaas aawadeed waxay ku yidhaahdeen, Aabbahaa xaggee buu joogaa? Ciise ayaa ugu jawaabay, I garan maysaan, Aabbahayna garan maysaan. Haddaad i garanaysaan, Aabbahayna waad garan lahaydeen. 20 Hadalladaas ayuu kaga hadlay meeshii khasnaddu tiil intuu macbudka wax ku barayay. Oo ninna ma uu qaban isaga, waayo, saacaddiisii weli ma iman.

Digidda Ku Saabsan Xukunka Imanaya

21 Sidaas aawadeed wuxuu haddana ku yidhi iyaga, Waan tegayaa, waadna i doondooni doontaan, waadna ku dhiman doontaan dembigiinna. Meeshaan tegayo iman kari maysaan. 22 Sidaas daraaddeed Yuhuuddu waxay yidhaahdeen, Miyuu isdilayaa? Waayo, isagaa yidhi, Meeshaan tegayo iman kari maysaan. 23 Wuxuu ku yidhi iyaga, Idinku waxaad tihiin kuwa hoosta, aniguse waxaan ka mid ahay kuwa sare. Idinku waxaad tihiin kuwa dunidan, aniguse mid kama ihi kuwa dunidan. 24 Haddaba waxaan idinku idhi, Dembiyadiinna waad ku dhiman doontaan, waayo, haddaydnan rumaysan inaan isagii ahay, dembiyadiinna ayaad ku dhiman doontaan. 25 Haddaba waxay ku yidhaahdeen, Yaad tahay? Ciise wuxuu ku yidhi, Kii aan tan iyo bilowgii idinkala hadlay. 26 Waxaan hayaa wax badan oo aan idinkala hadlo oo aan idinku xukumo, laakiin kii i soo diray waa run, aniguna waxaan ka maqlay isaga, waxaas ayaan dunida kula hadlayaa. 27 Ma ayna garan inuu iyaga kala hadlay Aabbaha. 28 Sidaas aawadeed Ciise ayaa ku yidhi, Markaad Wiilka Aadanaha kor u qaaddaan, markaasaad garan doontaan inaan isagii ahay iyo inaanan keligay waxba samaynaynin, laakiin sida Aabbuhu ii baray ayaan waxyaalahaas ugu hadlaa. 29 Oo kii i soo diray ayaa ila jira, keligay igama uu tegin, waayo, mar kasta waxaan sameeyaa waxa ka farxiya isaga. 30 Intuu waxyaalahaas ku hadlayay, dad badan ayaa rumaystay isaga.

Ciise Wuxuu La Dooday Yuhuuddii

31 Sidaas aawadeed Ciise wuxuu ku yidhi Yuhuuddii isaga rumaysatay, Haddaad ereygayga ku sii socotaan, runtii waxaad tihiin xertayda. 32 Oo waxaad garan doontaan runta; runtiina waa idin xorayn doontaa. 33 Waxay ugu jawaabeen, Farcankii Ibraahim baannu nahay, oo weligayo addoommo ninna uma ahayn. Maxaad u leedahay, Waa laydin xorayn doonaa? 34 Ciise ayaa ugu jawaabay, Runtii, runtii, waxaan idinku leeyahay, Kii kasta oo dembi sameeyaa waa addoonkii dembiga. 35 Oo addoonkuna guriga kuma sii jiro, wiilkuse waa ku sii jiraa weligiis. 36 Sidaas aawadeed haddii Wiilku idin xoreeyo, runtii xor baad ahaan doontaan. 37 Waan garanayaa inaad farcankii Ibraahim tihiin, laakiin waxaad doonaysaan inaad i dishaan, waayo, hadalkaygu meel idinkuma haysto. 38 Waxaan xaggii Aabbahay ku soo arkay ayaan ka hadlaa, idinkuna waxaad samaysaan wixii aydin aabbihiin ka maqasheen. 39 Markaasay u jawaabeen oo waxay ku yidhaahdeen, Aabbahayo waa Ibraahim. Ciise ayaa ku yidhi, Haddaad carruurtii Ibraahim tihiin, shuqullada Ibraahim waad samayn lahaydeen. 40 Laakiin hadda waxaad doonaysaan inaad i dishaan, anoo ah ninkii idiin sheegay runtii aan xaggii Ilaah ka maqlay. Waxaas Ibraahim ma uu samayn jirin. 41 Waxaad samaysaan shuqullada aabbihiin. Markaasay ku yidhaahdeen, Annagu kuma aannu dhalan sino. Aabbe keliya ayaannu leennahay oo waa Ilaah. 42 Ciise wuxuu ku yidhi, Haddii Ilaah aabbihiin yahay, waad i jeclaan lahaydeen, maxaa yeelay, Ilaah baan ka soo baxay oo ka imid, aniguna iskama iman, ee isagaa i soo diray. 43 Maxaad hadalkayga u garan weydeen? Waayo, hadalkayga ma maqli karaysaane. 44 Idinku waxaad tihiin kuwo aabbahood Ibliiska yahay, oo waxaad doonaysaan inaad samaysaan damacyada aabbihiin. Tan iyo bilowgii wuxuu ahaa mid dhiig qaba, runtana kuma uu joogsan, waayo, runtu kuma jirto isaga. Markuu been ku hadlo, tiisuu ku hadlaa, waayo, waa beenaaleh, waana beenta aabbaheed. 45 Laakiin runta aan ku hadlo aawadeed waad i rumaysan weydeen. 46 Midkiinnee baa dembi igu caddaynaya? Haddaan runta sheego, maxaad ii rumaysan weydaan? 47 Kii Ilaah kuwiisa ka mid ah, erayada Ilaah ayuu maqlaa, sidaas daraaddeed idinku maqli maysaan, waayo, Ilaah kuwiisii ma ihidin.

48 Yuhuuddu waxay ugu jawaabeen, Miyaannan run ku hadlin markaannu nidhi, Reer Samaariya baad tahay, oo jinni baad qabtaa? 49 Ciise wuxuu ugu jawaabay, Jinni ma qabo, laakiin Aabbahay baan murweeyaa, idinkuna waad i murwad jebisaan. 50 Anigu ammaantayda ma doono, waxaase jira mid doona oo xukuma. 51 Runtii, runtii, waxaan idinku leeyahay, Haddii qof uun ereygayga xajiyo, weligiis dhimasho ma arki doono. 52 Yuhuuddu waxay ku yidhaahdeen isaga, Imminka waxaannu garanaynaa inaad jinni qabto. Ibraahim waa dhintay iyo nebiyadiiba, adiguna waxaad leedahay, Haddii qof uun hadalkayga xajiyo, weligiis dhimasho ma dhadhamin doono. 53 Miyaad ka sii weyn tahay aabbaheen Ibraahim oo dhintay, iyo nebiyadii dhintay? Yaad iska dhigaysaa? 54 Ciise wuxuu ugu jawaabay, Haddaan is-ammaano, ammaantaydu waxba ma aha. Waa Aabbahay kan i ammaanaa, kaad ku sheegtaan Ilaahiinna. 55 Mana aydnaan garan isaga, laakiinse anigu waa garanayaa, oo haddaan idhaahdo, Garan maayo isaga, sidiinna oo kalaan beenaaleh noqonayaa, laakiinse waan aqaan isaga, ereygiisana waan xajiyaa. 56 Aabbihiin Ibraahim waa ku reyreeyey inuu maalintayda arko, wuuna arkay oo ku farxay. 57 Sidaa aawadeed Yuhuuddii waxay ku yidhaahdeen, Weli konton sannadood ma aadan gaadhin, oo Ibraahim ma aragtay? 58 Ciise wuxuu ku yidhi, Runtii, runtii, waxaan idinku leeyahay, Intaan Ibraahim jirin anaa ah. 59 Markaasay dhagaxyo u gurteen inay ku tuuraan, laakiin Ciise waa dhuuntay, wuuna ka baxay macbudka.

An Adulteress Forgiven

But Jesus went to (A)the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and (B)He sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees *brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they *said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. Now in the Law (C)Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” They were saying this, (D)testing Him, (E)so that they might have evidence to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, (F)He straightened up and said to them, (G)Let him who is without sin among you be the (H)first to throw a stone at her.” Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. 10 (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, and from now on (K)sin no more.”]

I Am the Light of the World

12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, (L)I am the Light of the world; (M)he who follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” 13 So the Pharisees said to Him, “(N)You are bearing witness about Yourself; Your witness is not [b]true.” 14 Jesus answered and said to them, (O)Even if I bear witness about Myself, My witness is [c]true, for 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 witness of (V)two men is [e]true. 18 I am He who bears witness about Myself, and (W)the Father who sent Me bears witness 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 in (Y)the treasury, as (Z)He was teaching in the temple; and no one seized Him, because (AA)His hour had not yet come.

21 Then He said again to them, “I am going away, and (AB)you will seek 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, 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 [f](AJ)I am He, (AK)you will die in your sins.” 25 So they were saying to Him, “Who are You?” Jesus said to them, [g]What have I been saying to you from the beginning? 26 I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but (AL)He who sent Me is true; and (AM)the things which I heard from Him, these I am saying to the world.” 27 They did not know that He had been speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you (AN)lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that [h](AO)I am He, and (AP)I do nothing from Myself, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. 29 And He who sent Me is with Me; (AQ)He [i]has not left Me alone, for (AR)I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” 30 As He was speaking these things, (AS)many believed in Him.

The Son Will Make You Free

31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, (AT)If you abide in My word, then you are truly My (AU)disciples; 32 and (AV)you will know the truth, and (AW)the truth will make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “(AX)We are Abraham’s seed and have never yet 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 the slave of sin. 35 (AZ)And the slave does not remain in the house forever; (BA)the son does remain forever. 36 So if the Son (BB)makes you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are (BC)Abraham’s seed; yet (BD)you are seeking to kill Me, because My word [j]has no place in you. 38 I speak the things which I have seen [k]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, you would do the deeds of Abraham. 40 But now (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 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 proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have (BN)not even come of Myself, but [l](BO)He sent Me. 43 Why do you not understand [m](BP)what I am saying? It is because you cannot (BQ)hear 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 speaks [n]a lie, he (BW)speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of [o]lies. 45 But because (BX)I speak 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)He 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 say rightly that You are a (CB)Samaritan and (CC)have a demon?” 49 Jesus answered, “I do not (CD)have a demon, but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. 50 But (CE)I do not seek My glory; there is One who seeks and judges. 51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone (CF)keeps My word he will never (CG)see death—ever.” 52 (CH)The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You (CI)have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, ‘If anyone (CJ)keeps My word, he will never (CK)taste of death—ever.’ 53 Surely You (CL)are not greater than our father Abraham who died? 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 known 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 (CS)keep His word. 56 (CT)Your father Abraham (CU)rejoiced [p]to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” 57 (CV)So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, (CW)I am.” 59 Therefore they (CX)picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus [q](CY)hid Himself and went out of the temple.

Footnotes

  1. John 8:11 Or Sir
  2. John 8:13 Or valid
  3. John 8:14 Or valid
  4. John 8:15 By a carnal standard
  5. John 8:17 Valid or admissible
  6. John 8:24 Cf. Ex 3:14; Is 43:10 I AM HE
  7. John 8:25 Or That which I have been saying to you from the beginning
  8. John 8:28 Lit I AM (v 24 note)
  9. John 8:29 Or did not leave
  10. John 8:37 Or makes no progress
  11. John 8:38 Or in the presence of
  12. John 8:42 Lit that One
  13. John 8:43 Or My way of speaking
  14. John 8:44 Lit the lie
  15. John 8:44 Lit it
  16. John 8:56 Lit in order that he might see
  17. John 8:59 Lit was hidden

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

At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them.(B) The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women.(C) Now what do you say?” 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. 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) Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

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