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John 8
New International Reader's Version

8 1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

2 At sunrise he arrived again in the temple courtyard. All the people gathered around him there. He sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman. She had been caught committing adultery. They made her stand in front of the group. 4 They said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught sleeping with a man who was not her husband. 5 In the Law, Moses commanded us to kill such women by throwing stones at them. Now what do you say?” 6 They were trying to trap Jesus with that question. They wanted to have a reason to bring charges against him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 They kept asking him questions. So he stood up and said to them, “Has any one of you not sinned? Then you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 He bent down again and wrote on the ground.

9 Those who heard what he had said began to go away. They left one at a time, the older ones first. Soon only Jesus was left. The woman was still standing there. 10 Jesus stood up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Hasn’t anyone found you guilty?”

11 “No one, sir,” she said.

“Then I don’t find you guilty either,” Jesus said. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Challenge to What Jesus Says About Himself

12 Jesus spoke to the people again. He said, “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in darkness. They will have that light. They will have life.”

13 The Pharisees argued with him. “Here you are,” they said, “appearing as your own witness. But your witness does not count.”

14 Jesus answered, “Even if I am a witness about myself, what I say does count. I know where I came from. And I know where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge by human standards. I don’t judge anyone. 16 But if I do judge, what I decide is true. This is because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17 Your own Law says that the witness of two people proves the truth about something. 18 I am a witness about myself. The other witness about me is the Father, who sent me.”

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

“You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 He spoke these words while he was teaching in the temple courtyard. He was near the place where the offerings were put. But no one arrested him. That’s because the time for him to die had not yet come.

Challenge to Who Jesus Claims to Be

21 Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away. You will look for me, and you will die in your sin. You can’t come where I am going.”

22 This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘You can’t come where I am going’?”

23 But Jesus said, “You are from below. I am from heaven. You are from this world. I am not from this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins. This will happen if you don’t believe that I am he. If you don’t believe, you will certainly 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 a lot to say that will judge you. But the one who sent me can be trusted. And I tell the world what I have heard from him.”

27 They did not understand that Jesus was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, “You will lift up the Son of Man. Then you will know that I am he. You will also know that I do nothing on my own. I speak just what the Father has taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what pleases him.” 30 Even while Jesus was speaking, many people believed in him.

Challenge to the Claim to Be Children of Abraham

31 Jesus spoke to the Jews who had believed him. “If you obey my teaching,” he said, “you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth. And the truth will set you free.”

33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s children. We have never been slaves of anyone. So how can you say that we will be set free?”

34 Jesus replied, “What I’m about to tell you is true. Everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave has no lasting place in the family. But a son belongs to the family forever. 36 So if the Son of Man sets you free, you will really be free. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s children. But you are looking for a way to kill me. You have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. You are doing what you have heard from your father.”

39 “Abraham is our father,” they answered.

Jesus said, “Are you really Abraham’s children? If you are, you will do what Abraham did. 40 But you are looking for a way to kill me. I am a man who has told you the truth I heard from God. Abraham didn’t do the things you want to do. 41 You are doing what your own father does.”

“We have the right to claim to be God’s children,” they objected. “The only Father we have is God himself.”

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me. I have come here from God. I have not come on my own. God sent me. 43 Why aren’t my words clear to you? Because you can’t really hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil. You want to obey your father’s wishes. From the beginning, the devil was a murderer. He has never obeyed the truth. There is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his natural language. He does this because he is a liar. He is the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you don’t believe me! 46 Can any of you prove I am guilty of sinning? Am I not telling the truth? Then why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you don’t hear is that you don’t belong to God.”

Jesus Makes Claims About Himself

48 The Jews answered Jesus, “Aren’t we right when we say you are a Samaritan? Aren’t you controlled by a demon?”

49 “I am not controlled by a demon,” said Jesus. “I honor my Father. You do not honor me. 50 I am not seeking glory for myself. But there is one who brings glory to me. He is the judge. 51 What I’m about to tell you is true. Whoever obeys my word will never die.”

52 Then they cried out, “Now we know you are controlled by a demon! Abraham died. So did the prophets. But you say that whoever obeys your word will never die. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died. So did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”

54 Jesus replied, “If I bring glory to myself, my glory means nothing. You claim that my Father is your God. He is the one who brings glory to me. 55 You do not know him. But I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him. And I obey his word. 56 Your father Abraham was filled with joy at the thought of seeing my day. He saw it and was glad.”

57 “You are not even 50 years old,” they said to Jesus. “And you have seen Abraham?”

58 “What I’m about to tell you is true,” Jesus answered. “Before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 When he said this, they picked up stones to kill him. But Jesus hid himself. He slipped away from the temple area.

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John 8
New American Standard Bible

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
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