John 5
New Testament for Everyone
The healing of the disabled man
5 After this there was a Jewish festival, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2 In Jerusalem, near the Sheep Gate, there is a pool which is called, in Hebrew, Bethesda. It has five porticoes, 3 where several sick people were lying. They were blind, lame and paralyzed.
5 There was a man who had been there, in the same sick state, for thirty-eight years. 6 Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had been there a long time already.
“Do you want to get well?” he asked him.
7 “Well, sir,” the sick man replied, “I don’t have anyone to put me into the pool when the water gets stirred up. While I’m on my way there, someone else gets down before me.”
8 “Get up,” said Jesus, “pick up your mattress and walk!”
9 At once the man was healed. He picked up his mattress and walked.
God’s son breaks the sabbath!
The day all this happened was a sabbath. 10 So the Judaeans confronted the man who had been healed.
“It’s the sabbath!” they said. “You shouldn’t be carrying your mattress!”
11 “Well,” he replied, “the man who cured me told me to pick up my mattress and walk!”
12 “Oh, really?” they said. “And who is this man, who told you to pick it up and walk?”
13 But the man who’d been healed didn’t know who it was. Jesus had gone away, and the place was crowded.
14 After this Jesus found the man in the Temple.
“Look!” he said. “You’re better again! Don’t sin anymore, or something worse might happen to you!”
15 The man went off and told the Judaeans that it was Jesus who had healed him. 16 That was why the Judaeans began to persecute Jesus, because he did these things on the sabbath.
17 This was Jesus’ response to them.
“My father,” he said, “is going on working, and so am I!”
18 So for this reason the Judaeans were all the more eager to kill him, because he not only broke the sabbath, but spoke of God as his own father, making himself equal to God.
The coming judgment
19 So Jesus made this response to them.
“I’m telling you the solemn truth,” he said. “The son can do nothing by himself. He can only do what he sees the father doing. Whatever the father does, the son does too, and in the same way. 20 The father loves the son, you see, and shows him all the things that he’s doing. Yes: he will show him even greater things than these, and that’ll amaze you! 21 For, just as the father raises the dead and gives them life, in the same way the son gives life to anyone he chooses.
22 “The father doesn’t judge anyone, you see; he has handed over all judgment to the son, 23 so that everyone should honor the son just as they honor the father. Anyone who doesn’t honor the son doesn’t honor the father who sent him.
24 “I’m telling you the solemn truth: anyone who hears my word, and believes in the one who sent me, has the life of God’s coming age. Such a person won’t come into judgment; they will have passed out of death into life. 25 I’m telling you the solemn truth: the time is coming—in fact, it’s here already!—when the dead will hear the voice of God’s son, and those who hear it will live. 26 You see, just as the father has life in himself, in the same way he has given the son the privilege of having life in himself. 27 He has even given him authority to pass judgment, because he is the son of man.
28 “Don’t be surprised at this. The time is coming, you see, when everyone in the tombs will hear his voice. 29 They will come out—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.”
The evidence in support of Jesus
30 “I can’t do anything on my own authority,” Jesus went on. “I judge on the basis of what I hear. And my judgment is just, because I’m not trying to carry out my own wishes, but the wishes of the one who sent me.
31 “If I give evidence about myself, my evidence isn’t true. 32 There is someone else who gives evidence about me, and I know that the evidence he brings about me is true. 33 You sent messengers to John, and he gave evidence about the truth. 34 Not that I need evidence from human beings; but I’m saying this so that you may be saved.
35 “John was a burning, bright lamp, and you were happy to celebrate in his light for a while. 36 But I have greater evidence on my side than that of John. The works which the father has given me to complete—these works, which I’m doing, will provide evidence about me, evidence that the father has sent me. 37 And the father who sent me has given evidence about me. You’ve never heard his voice; you’ve never seen his form. 38 What’s more, you haven’t got his word abiding in you, because you don’t believe in the one he sent.”
Jesus and Moses
39 “You study the Bible,” Jesus continued, “because you suppose that you’ll discover the life of God’s coming age in it. In fact, it’s the Bible which gives evidence about me! 40 But you won’t come to me so that you can have life.
41 “I’m not accepting glory from human beings; 42 but I know that you haven’t got the love of God within you. 43 I have come in the name of my father, and you won’t receive me. If someone else comes in his own name, you will receive him! 44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another, and you’re not looking for the glory which comes from the one and only God?
45 “Don’t think that I’m going to accuse you to the father. There is someone who accuses you, namely Moses, the one you look to in hope! 46 You see, if you’d believed Moses, you would have believed me—because it was me he was writing about. 47 But if you don’t believe his writings, how are you going to believe my words?”
John 5
Lexham English Bible
A Paralytic Is Healed
5 After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool called in Aramaic Bethzatha,[a] which has five porticoes. 3 In these were lying a large number of those who were sick, blind, lame, paralyzed.[b] 5 And a certain man was there who had been thirty-eight years in his sickness. 6 Jesus, when he[c] saw this one lying there and knew that he had been sick[d] a long time already, said to him, “Do you want to become well?” 7 The one who was sick answered him, “Sir, I do not have anyone that, whenever the water is stirred up, could put me into the pool. But while[e] I am coming, another goes down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk!” 9 And immediately the man became well and picked up his mat and began to walk.[f] (Now it was the Sabbath on that day.)
10 So the Jews were saying to the one who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not permitted for you to pick up the mat!”[g] 11 But he answered them, “The one who made me well—that one said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk!’” 12 So they asked him,[h] “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Pick up your mat[i] and walk?’” 13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn while[j] a crowd was in the place.
Equal with God
14 After these things Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “Look, you have become well! Sin no longer, lest something worse happen to you.” 15 The man went and reported to the Jews that Jesus was the one who made him well. 16 And on account of this the Jews began to persecute[k] Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But he answered[l] them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” 18 So on account of this the Jews were seeking even more to kill him, because he not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God his own Father, thus[m] making himself equal with God.
The Authority of the Son
19 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, the Son can do nothing from himself except what he sees the Father doing. For whatever that one does, these things also the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything that he himself is doing. And greater works than these he will show him, so that you will be astonished. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and makes them[n] alive, thus also the Son makes alive whomever he wishes. 22 For the Father does not judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to the Son, 23 in order that all people[o] will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly I say to you that the one who hears my word and who believes the one who sent me has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
25 “Truly, truly I say to you, that an hour is coming—and now is here—when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and the ones who hear will live. 26 For just as the Father has life in himself, thus also he has granted to the Son to have life in himself. 27 And he has granted him authority to carry out judgment, because he is the Son of Man.
28 “Do not be astonished at this, because an hour is coming in which all those in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and they will come out—those who have done good things to a resurrection of life, but those who have practiced evil things to a resurrection of judgment. 30 I am able to do nothing from myself. Just as I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will, but the will of the one who sent me.
Further Testimony About the Son
31 “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who testifies about me, and I know that the testimony which he testifies about me is true. 33 You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. 34 (And I do not receive testimony from people, but I say these things in order that you may be saved.) 35 That one was the lamp which was burning and shining, and you wanted to rejoice for an hour in his light.
36 “But I have a testimony greater than John’s, for the works which the Father has given to me that I should complete them—the very works which I am doing—these testify about me, that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me, that one has testified about me. You have neither heard his voice at any time nor seen his form. 38 And you do not have his word residing in yourselves, because the one whom that one sent, in this one you do not believe. 39 You search[p] the scriptures because you think that you have eternal life in them, and it is these that testify about me. 40 And you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life.
41 “I do not accept glory[q] from people, 42 but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me. If another should come in his own name, you would accept that one! 44 How are you able to believe, if you[r] accept glory from one another, and do not seek the glory which is from the only God? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father! The one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have put your hope! 46 For if you had believed Moses, you would believe me, for that one wrote about me. 47 But if you do not believe that one’s writings, how will you believe my words?”
Footnotes
- John 5:2 The majority of later manuscripts read “Bethesda,” while other early manuscripts read “Bethsaida”
- John 5:3 The majority of later manuscripts add the following words: “waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel of the Lord from time to time went down in the pool and stirred up the water. So the one who went in first after the stirring of the water was healed of whatever disease he suffered.”
- John 5:6 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
- John 5:6 The phrase “been sick” is not in the Greek text, but is supplied from the context
- John 5:7 Literally “during which time”
- John 5:9 *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to walk”)
- John 5:10 Some manuscripts have “your mat”
- John 5:12 Some manuscripts have “They asked him”
- John 5:12 In Greek the direct object (“your mat”) is not in the Greek text but the repetition is implied from the previous verse
- John 5:13 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was”)
- John 5:16 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to persecute”)
- John 5:17 Some manuscripts have “Jesus answered”
- John 5:18 Here “thus” is supplied as a component of the participle (“making”) which is understood as result
- John 5:21 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- John 5:23 The word “people” is not in the Greek text but is implied
- John 5:39 Or “Search” (an imperative)
- John 5:41 Or “honor”
- John 5:44 Here “if” is supplied as a component of the participle (“accept”) which is understood as conditional
John 5
Legacy Standard Bible
The Healing at Bethesda
5 After these things there was (A)a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2 Now there is in Jerusalem by (B)the sheep gate a pool, which is called (C)in [a]Hebrew [b]Bethesda, having five porticoes. 3 In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, [c][waiting for the moving of the waters; 4 for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever sickness with which he was afflicted.] 5 And a man was there who had been sick for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been sick a long time, He *said to him, “Do you wish to get well?” 7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when (D)the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus *said to him, “(E)Get up, pick up your mat and walk.” 9 And immediately the man became well, and picked up his mat and began to walk.
(F)Now it was the Sabbath on that day. 10 So (G)the Jews were saying to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and (H)it is not lawful for you to carry your mat.” 11 But he answered them, “He who made me well was the one who said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’” 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Pick up your mat and walk’?” 13 But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place. 14 Afterward Jesus *found him in the temple and said to him, “Behold, you have become well; do not (I)sin anymore, (J)so that nothing worse happens to you.” 15 The man went away, and disclosed to (K)the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16 And for this reason (L)the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”
Jesus’ Equality with the Father
18 For this reason therefore (M)the Jews (N)were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, (O)making Himself equal with God.
19 Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, (P)the Son can do nothing from Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever [d]the Father does, these things the Son also does in the same manner. 20 (Q)For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him (R)greater works than these, so that you will marvel. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and (S)gives them life, even so (T)the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. 22 For not even the Father judges anyone, but (U)He has given all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. (V)He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and (W)believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and (X)does not come into judgment, but has (Y)passed out of death into life.
Two Resurrections
25 Truly, truly, I say to you, (Z)an hour is coming and now is, when (AA)the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who (AB)hear will live. 26 For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He (AC)gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; 27 and He gave Him authority to (AD)execute judgment, because He is [e]the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for (AE)an hour is coming, in which (AF)all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, 29 and will come forth; (AG)those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.
30 “(AH)I can do nothing from Myself. As I hear, I judge; and (AI)My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will, but (AJ)the will of Him who sent Me.
31 “(AK)If I alone bear witness about Myself, My witness is not [f]true. 32 There is (AL)another who bears witness about Me, and I know that the witness which He gives about Me is true.
Witnesses to Jesus: The Father and the Scriptures
33 You have sent to John, and he (AM)has borne witness to the truth. 34 But (AN)the witness I receive is not from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35 He was (AO)the lamp that was burning and shining and you (AP)were willing to rejoice for [g]a while in his light. 36 But the witness I have is greater than the witness of John; for (AQ)the works which the Father has given Me (AR)to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness about Me, that the Father (AS)has sent Me. 37 And the Father who sent Me, (AT)He has borne witness about Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form. 38 And you do not have (AU)His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He (AV)sent. 39 [h](AW)You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is (AX)these that bear witness about Me; 40 and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. 41 (AY)I do not receive glory from men; 42 but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. 43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; (AZ)if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 How can you believe, when you (BA)receive [i]glory from one another and you do not seek (BB)the [j]glory that is from (BC)the only God? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father; the one who accuses you is (BD)Moses, in whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for (BE)he wrote about Me. 47 But (BF)if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”
Footnotes
- John 5:2 Jewish Aramaic
- John 5:2 Some early mss Bethsaida, Bethzatha
- John 5:3 Early mss omit rest of v 3, and v 4
- John 5:19 Lit that One
- John 5:27 Or a son of man
- John 5:31 Admissible as legal evidence
- John 5:35 Lit an hour
- John 5:39 Or Search the Scriptures!; Gr imperative
- John 5:44 Or honor, fame
- John 5:44 Or honor, fame
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.
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