耶稣的弟弟们不信

这些事以后,耶稣走遍加利利。原来他不愿意在犹太地区往来,因为那些犹太人想要杀害他。 犹太人的住棚节快到了, 耶稣的弟弟们对他说:“你离开这里到犹太去吧,好让你的门徒们也能看到你所做的事。 因为人不会又想要出名,又在隐秘中做事。你既然要做这些事,就把自己显明给世人看吧!” 原来连他的弟弟们也不信他。

耶稣对他们说:“我的时候还没有来到,而你们的时候随时都方便。 世界不能恨你们,却是恨我,因为我见证世界的行为是邪恶的。 你们上去过节吧,我现在不[a]上去,因为我的时候还没有到。” 说了这些话,耶稣仍然留在加利利地区。

耶稣在住棚节

10 不过当他的弟弟们上去过节以后,他也上去了,但没有公开,像是悄悄去的。 11 节日期间,那些犹太人搜寻耶稣,说:“那个人在哪里?” 12 人群中有许多人对他议论纷纷;有的说:“他是好人。”也有的说:“不,他是迷惑民众的。” 13 只是没有人公开地讲论他的事,因为怕那些犹太人。

14 可是住棚节已经过了一半,耶稣上圣殿去,开始教导人。 15 那些犹太人感到惊奇,说:“这个人没学过,怎么懂得经文呢?”

16 耶稣回答他们,说:“我的教导不是我自己的,而是那派我来者的。 17 人如果愿意遵行神的旨意,就会明白这教导究竟是从神而来的,还是我凭自己而讲的。 18 凭自己讲话的人,是寻求自己的荣耀;但是,寻求那派他来者之荣耀的,他才是真实的,在他里面没有不义。 19 摩西不是把律法传给你们了吗?你们当中却没有一个人遵行这律法。你们为什么想要杀我呢?”

20 众人回答:“你有鬼魔附身!谁想要杀你?”

21 耶稣对他们说:“我做了一件事,你们都感到惊奇。 22 摩西把割礼传给你们,你们就在安息日给人施行割礼——其实割礼不是从摩西开始的,而是从祖先开始的。 23 既然人在安息日受割礼,是为了不违犯摩西的律法;那么,因为我在安息日使一个人完全康复,你们就对我生气吗? 24 不要按着外表做判断,而要按着公义做判断。”

基督的身份

25 有些耶路撒冷的人说:“这不是他们想要杀的那个人吗? 26 看,他还在公开讲话,他们也没有对他说什么。难道首领们真的认为这个人就是[b]基督吗? 27 可是,基督出现的时候,没有人会知道他从哪里来;而这个人,我们却很清楚他是从哪里来的。”

28 耶稣在圣殿里教导人,呼喊说:“你们认识我,也知道我是从哪里来的。其实我不是凭自己而来的;派我来的那一位是真实的,你们却不认识他; 29 而我认识他,因为我是从他而来,也是他差派了我。”

30 因此他们想要抓耶稣,只是没有人下手,因为他的时候还没有到。 31 但是人群中有许多人信了耶稣,他们说:“基督来的时候,难道会比这个人行更多的神迹吗?”

32 法利赛人听到了众人私下议论耶稣的这些事。于是祭司长们和法利赛人就派差役们去抓他。

33 耶稣说:“我与你们在一起的时候不多了,我要回到派我来的那一位面前。 34 你们将要寻找我,却找不到;我所在的地方,你们不能去。”

35 那些犹太人彼此问:“这个人要到哪里去,让我们找不到他呢?难道他要往散居在希腊人中的犹太侨民那里,去教导希腊人吗? 36 他所说的‘你们将要寻找我,却找不到;我所在的地方,你们不能去’,这话是什么意思呢?”

有关圣灵的应许

37 节期的最后一天,也是最盛大的日子,耶稣站起来呼喊说:“如果有人渴了,就到我这里[c]来喝吧! 38 信我的人,就如经上所说的,从他的腹中将要涌流出活水的江河。” 39 耶稣这话是指着信他的人所要领受的圣灵而说的。当时,圣灵[d]还没有临到[e],因为耶稣还没有得荣耀。

群众因耶稣而分歧

40 众人听了这话,有些[f]人说:“这个人确实是那位先知!” 41 另有的说:“这个人就是基督。”还有的却说:“难道基督会出自加利利吗? 42 经上不是说,基督是大卫的后裔,是出自大卫的故乡伯利恒吗?” 43 于是众人因耶稣就产生了分裂; 44 其中有些人想要抓他,可是没有人下手。

官员因耶稣而争辩

45 差役们回到祭司长们和法利赛人那里。那些人问:“为什么没有把他带来?”

46 差役们回答:“从来没有人像这个人[g]那样讲话!”

47 法利赛人说:“难道你们也被迷惑了吗? 48 难道首领或法利赛人中有信他的吗? 49 这不懂律法的民众是被诅咒的!”

50 他们当中有一个人,就是原先[h]来到耶稣那里的尼克迪莫,对他们说: 51 “如果不先听本人的口供,并且了解他做了什么,我们的律法就定不了他的罪,难道不是吗?”

52 他们回答说:“你也不会是加利利人吧?你去查一查看,先知是不会从加利利兴起的!”

53 然后他们每个人都回家去了。

Footnotes

  1. 约翰福音 7:8 现在不——有古抄本作“不”。
  2. 约翰福音 7:26 就是——有古抄本作“真是”。
  3. 约翰福音 7:37 有古抄本没有“到我这里”。
  4. 约翰福音 7:39 有古抄本没有“圣”。
  5. 约翰福音 7:39 临到——有古抄本作“赐下来”。
  6. 约翰福音 7:40 有些——有古抄本作“许多”。
  7. 约翰福音 7:46 有古抄本没有“像这个人”。
  8. 约翰福音 7:50 原先——有古抄本作“夜里”。

The Unbelief of Jesus’ Brethren

After this Jesus went about in Galilee; he would not go about in Judea, because the Jews[a] sought to kill him. Now the Jews’ feast of Tabernacles was at hand. So his brethren[b] said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples may see the works you are doing. For no man works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” For even his brethren did not believe in him. Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify of it that its works are evil. Go to the feast yourselves; I am not[c] going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” So saying, he remained in Galilee.

Jesus at the Festival of Booths

10 But after his brethren had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private. 11 The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, “Where is he?” 12 And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.” 13 Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.

14 About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. 15 The Jews marveled at it, saying, “How is it that this man has learning,[d] when he has never studied?” 16 So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me; 17 if any man’s will is to do his will, he shall know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. 18 He who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. 19 Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?” 20 The people answered, “You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?” 21 Jesus answered them, “I did one deed, and you all marvel at it. 22 Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man upon the sabbath. 23 If on the sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the sabbath I made a man’s whole body well? 24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

Is This the Christ?

25 Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, “Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? 26 And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? 27 Yet we know where this man comes from; and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.” 28 So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from? But I have not come of my own accord; he who sent me is true, and him you do not know. 29 I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.” 30 So they sought to arrest him; but no one laid hands on him, because his hour had not yet come. 31 Yet many of the people believed in him; they said, “When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?”

Officers Are Sent to Arrest Jesus

32 The Pharisees heard the crowd thus muttering about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent officers to arrest him. 33 Jesus then said, “I shall be with you a little longer, and then I go to him who sent me; 34 you will seek me and you will not find me; where I am you cannot come.” 35 The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we shall not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 36 What does he mean by saying, ‘You will seek me and you will not find me,’ and, ‘Where I am you cannot come’?”

Rivers of Living Water

37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and proclaimed, “If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink. 38 He who believes in me, as[e] the scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, which those who believed in him were to receive; for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Division among the People

40 When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This is really the prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? 42 Has not the scripture said that the Christ is descended from David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” 43 So there was a division among the people over him. 44 Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

The Unbelief of Those in Authority

45 The officers then went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” 46 The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this man!” 47 The Pharisees answered them, “Are you led astray, you also? 48 Have any of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49 But this crowd, who do not know the law, are accursed.” 50 Nicode′mus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, 51 “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” 52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and you will see that no prophet is to rise from Galilee.” 53 They went each to his own house,

Footnotes

  1. John 7:1 Or Judeans
  2. 7.3 brethren: See note on Mt 12.46.
  3. John 7:8 Other ancient authorities add yet
  4. John 7:15 Or this man knows his letters
  5. John 7:38 Or let him come to me, and let him who believes in me drink. As

Jesus Goes to the Festival of Tabernacles

After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want[a] to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders(A) there were looking for a way to kill him.(B) But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles(C) was near, Jesus’ brothers(D) said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” For even his own brothers did not believe in him.(E)

Therefore Jesus told them, “My time(F) is not yet here; for you any time will do. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me(G) because I testify that its works are evil.(H) You go to the festival. I am not[b] going up to this festival, because my time(I) has not yet fully come.” After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee.

10 However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. 11 Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus(J) and asking, “Where is he?”

12 Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.”

Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.”(K) 13 But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders.(L)

Jesus Teaches at the Festival

14 Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach.(M) 15 The Jews(N) there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning(O) without having been taught?”(P)

16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me.(Q) 17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out(R) whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18 Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory,(S) but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. 19 Has not Moses given you the law?(T) Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?”(U)

20 “You are demon-possessed,”(V) the crowd answered. “Who is trying to kill you?”

21 Jesus said to them, “I did one miracle,(W) and you are all amazed. 22 Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision(X) (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs),(Y) you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath. 23 Now if a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing a man’s whole body on the Sabbath? 24 Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”(Z)

Division Over Who Jesus Is

25 At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill?(AA) 26 Here he is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities(AB) really concluded that he is the Messiah?(AC) 27 But we know where this man is from;(AD) when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.”

28 Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts,(AE) cried out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from.(AF) I am not here on my own authority, but he who sent me is true.(AG) You do not know him, 29 but I know him(AH) because I am from him and he sent me.”(AI)

30 At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him,(AJ) because his hour had not yet come.(AK) 31 Still, many in the crowd believed in him.(AL) They said, “When the Messiah comes, will he perform more signs(AM) than this man?”

32 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him.

33 Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time,(AN) and then I am going to the one who sent me.(AO) 34 You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.”(AP)

35 The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him? Will he go where our people live scattered(AQ) among the Greeks,(AR) and teach the Greeks? 36 What did he mean when he said, ‘You will look for me, but you will not find me,’ and ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?”(AS)

37 On the last and greatest day of the festival,(AT) Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.(AU) 38 Whoever believes(AV) in me, as Scripture has said,(AW) rivers of living water(AX) will flow from within them.”[c](AY) 39 By this he meant the Spirit,(AZ) whom those who believed in him were later to receive.(BA) Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.(BB)

40 On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.”(BC)

41 Others said, “He is the Messiah.”

Still others asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee?(BD) 42 Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants(BE) and from Bethlehem,(BF) the town where David lived?” 43 Thus the people were divided(BG) because of Jesus. 44 Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.(BH)

Unbelief of the Jewish Leaders

45 Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”

46 “No one ever spoke the way this man does,”(BI) the guards replied.

47 “You mean he has deceived you also?”(BJ) the Pharisees retorted. 48 “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him?(BK) 49 No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”

50 Nicodemus,(BL) who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, 51 “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?”

52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”(BM)


[The earliest manuscripts and many other ancient witnesses do not have John 7:53—8:11. A few manuscripts include these verses, wholly or in part, after John 7:36, John 21:25, Luke 21:38 or Luke 24:53.]

53 Then they all went home,

Footnotes

  1. John 7:1 Some manuscripts not have authority
  2. John 7:8 Some manuscripts not yet
  3. John 7:38 Or me. And let anyone drink 38 who believes in me.” As Scripture has said, “Out of him (or them) will flow rivers of living water.”