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耶穌的弟弟也不信他

這事以後,耶穌周遊加利利,不願在猶太往來,因為猶太人想要殺他。 猶太人的住棚節快到了, 耶穌的弟弟就對他說:“你應當離開這裡上猶太去,好讓你的門徒也可以看見你所行的事; 因為沒有人想引人注目,卻在暗處行事的。你既然行這些事,就應該向世人顯明自己。” 原來連他的弟弟也不信他。 耶穌就對他們說:“我的時候還沒有到,你們的時候卻常常是方便的。 世人不能恨你們,卻憎恨我,因為我指證他們的行為是邪惡的。 你們上去過節吧!我現在不上去過這個節,因為我的時機還沒有成熟。” 他說了這些話以後,仍然住在加利利。

住棚節時在殿裡教導人

10 然而,他的弟弟上去過節以後,他也上去過節,不是公開地去,卻是暗中地去。 11 過節的時候,猶太人尋找耶穌,說:“那人在哪裡呢?” 12 群眾因他紛紛議論,有的說:“他是好人。”有的說:“不,他是欺騙眾人的。” 13 但沒有人敢公開講論他,因為怕猶太人。

14 節期當中,耶穌上聖殿去教導人。 15 猶太人就希奇,說:“這個人沒有學過,怎會通曉經書呢?” 16 耶穌說:“我的教訓不是我自己的,而是出於那差我來的。 17 人若願意遵行 神的旨意,就會知道這教訓是出於 神,還是我憑著自己的意思說的。 18 那憑著自己的意思說的,是求自己的榮譽;但那尋求差他來者的榮耀的,才是真誠的人,在他裡面沒有不義。 19 摩西不是曾經把律法傳給你們嗎?你們竟然沒有一個人遵行律法。你們為甚麼想要殺我呢?” 20 群眾回答:“你是鬼附的,誰想要殺你呢?” 21 耶穌說:“我行了一件事,你們都以為希奇。 22 摩西曾經把割禮傳給你們(其實割禮不是從摩西開始的,而是從列祖開始的),因此,你們在安息日也給人行割禮。 23 如果人在安息日行割禮,為的是要遵守摩西的律法,那麼我在安息日使一個人全身健康,你們就向我生氣嗎? 24 不要按外貌判斷人,總要公公平平地判斷人。”

他是基督嗎?

25 當時,有些耶路撒冷人說:“這不是他們想要殺的人嗎? 26 你看,他還在公開地講話,竟然沒有人對他說甚麼,難道官長們真的認為這個人就是基督嗎? 27 可是我們知道這個人是從哪裡來的,只是基督來的時候,沒有人知道他是從哪裡來的!” 28 當時耶穌在殿裡教導人,大聲說:“你們以為認識我,也知道我從哪裡來,其實我不是憑著自己的意思來的,但那差我來的是真實的,你們卻不認識他。 29 然而我認識他,因為我從他那裡來,也是他差我來的。” 30 於是他們想逮捕他,只是沒有人下手,因為他的時候還沒有到。 31 群眾中有許多人信了他。他們說:“基督來的時候,他所行的神蹟,能比這人所行的更多嗎?”

法利賽人等想逮捕耶穌

32 法利賽人聽見群眾紛紛議論這些關於耶穌的事,祭司長和法利賽人就派差役去逮捕耶穌。 33 於是耶穌說:“我跟你們在一起的時候不多了,我要回到那差我來的那裡去。 34 你們要尋找我,卻找不著;我所在的地方,你們是不能去的。” 35 猶太人彼此說:“這個人要到哪裡去,使我們找不著他呢?難道他要到散居在希臘人中的猶太人那裡,去教導希臘人嗎? 36 他說‘你們要尋找我,卻找不著;我所在的地方,你們是不能去的’這話,是甚麼意思呢?”

信的人要接受聖靈

37 節期的最後一天,就是最隆重的那一天,耶穌站著高聲說:“人若渴了,可以到我這裡來喝! 38 信我的人,就像聖經所說的,從他的腹中要湧流出活水的江河來。” 39 他這話是指著信他的人要接受聖靈說的;那時聖靈還沒有降臨,因為耶穌還沒有得著榮耀。

群眾因耶穌起了紛爭

40 群眾中有人聽了這些話,就說:“這真是‘那位先知’!” 41 另有人說:“他是基督。”還有人說:“基督是從加利利出來的嗎? 42 聖經不是說基督是大衛的後裔,是從大衛本鄉伯利恆出來的嗎?” 43 群眾因為耶穌的緣故,就起了紛爭。 44 他們中間有人想逮捕耶穌,只是沒有人下手。

官長不信耶穌

45 差役回到祭司長和法利賽人那裡。他們就問差役:“你們為甚麼沒有把他帶來?” 46 差役回答:“從來沒有人像他這樣講話的!” 47 法利賽人說:“連你們也受了欺騙嗎? 48 官長或法利賽人中間有誰是信他的呢? 49 至於這群不明白律法的人,他們是可咒詛的。” 50 他們當中有一個人,就是以前來見耶穌的尼哥德慕,對他們說: 51 “如果不先聽取他本人的口供,查明他所作的事,我們的律法怎能把他定罪呢?” 52 他們回答:“你也是從加利利出來的嗎?你去考查一下,就知道先知是不會從加利利興起的。”

53 於是各人都回家去了。(後期抄本才加上7:53~8:11)

Chapter 7

The Feast of Tabernacles. [a]After this, Jesus moved about within Galilee; but he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him.(A) But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near.(B) So his brothers[b] said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. No one works in secret if he wants to be known publicly. If you do these things, manifest yourself to the world.”(C) For his brothers did not believe in him. [c]So Jesus said to them, “My time is not yet here, but the time is always right for you. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me, because I testify to it that its works are evil.(D) You go up to the feast. I am not going up[d] to this feast, because my time has not yet been fulfilled.” After he had said this, he stayed on in Galilee.

10 But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, he himself also went up, not openly but [as it were] in secret. 11 The Jews were looking for him at the feast and saying, “Where is he?” 12 And there was considerable murmuring about him in the crowds. Some said, “He is a good man,” [while] others said, “No; on the contrary, he misleads the crowd.” 13 Still, no one spoke openly about him because they were afraid of the Jews.(E)

The First Dialogue.[e] 14 When the feast was already half over, Jesus went up into the temple area and began to teach. 15 [f](F)The Jews were amazed and said, “How does he know scripture without having studied?” 16 Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not my own but is from the one who sent me. 17 Whoever chooses to do his will[g] shall know whether my teaching is from God or whether I speak on my own.(G) 18 Whoever speaks on his own seeks his own glory, but whoever seeks the glory of the one who sent him is truthful, and there is no wrong in him. 19 Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?”(H) 20 The crowd answered, “You are possessed![h] Who is trying to kill you?”(I) 21 Jesus answered and said to them, “I performed one work[i] and all of you are amazed(J) 22 because of it. Moses gave you circumcision—not that it came from Moses but rather from the patriarchs—and you circumcise a man on the sabbath.(K) 23 If a man can receive circumcision on a sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I made a whole person well on a sabbath?(L) 24 Stop judging by appearances, but judge justly.”(M)

25 So some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, “Is he not the one they are trying to kill? 26 And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him. Could the authorities[j] have realized that he is the Messiah? 27 But we know where he is from. When the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.”(N) 28 So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, “You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true.(O) 29 I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.”(P) 30 So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come.(Q) 31 But many of the crowd began to believe in him, and said, “When the Messiah comes, will he perform more signs than this man has done?”(R)

Officers Sent to Arrest Jesus.[k] 32 The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring about him to this effect, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent guards to arrest him. 33 So Jesus said, “I will be with you only a little while longer, and then I will go to the one who sent me.(S) 34 You will look for me but not find [me], and where I am you cannot come.”(T) 35 So the Jews said to one another, “Where is he going that we will not find him? Surely he is not going to the dispersion[l] among the Greeks to teach the Greeks, is he? 36 What is the meaning of his saying, ‘You will look for me and not find [me], and where I am you cannot come’?”

Rivers of Living Water.[m] 37 On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and exclaimed, “Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink.(U) 38 Whoever believes in me, as scripture says:

‘Rivers of living water[n] will flow from within him.’”(V)

39 He said this in reference to the Spirit that those who came to believe in him were to receive. There was, of course, no Spirit yet,[o] because Jesus had not yet been glorified.(W)

Discussion About the Origins of the Messiah.[p] 40 Some in the crowd who heard these words said, “This is truly the Prophet.”(X) 41 Others said, “This is the Messiah.” But others said, “The Messiah will not come from Galilee, will he? 42 Does not scripture say that the Messiah will be of David’s family and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”(Y) 43 So a division occurred in the crowd because of him. 44 Some of them even wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

45 So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not bring him?” 46 The guards answered, “Never before has anyone spoken like this one.” 47 So the Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? 48 Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?(Z) 49 But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed.” 50 Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them,(AA) 51 “Does our law condemn a person before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?”(AB) 52 They answered and said to him, “You are not from Galilee also, are you? Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”

Chapter 8

A Woman Caught in Adultery.[q] [53 Then each went to his own house,

Footnotes

  1. 7–8 These chapters contain events about the feast of Tabernacles (Sukkoth, Ingathering: Ex 23:16; Tents, Booths: Dt 16:13–16), with its symbols of booths (originally built to shelter harvesters), rain (water from Siloam poured on the temple altar), and lights (illumination of the four torches in the Court of the Women). They continue the theme of the replacement of feasts (Passover, Jn 2:13; 6:4; Hanukkah, Jn 10:22; Pentecost, Jn 5:1), here accomplished by Jesus as the Living Water. These chapters comprise seven miscellaneous controversies and dialogues. There is a literary inclusion with Jesus in hiding in Jn 7:4, 10; 8:59. There are frequent references to attempts on his life: Jn 7:1, 13, 19, 25, 30, 32, 44; 8:37, 40, 59.
  2. 7:3 Brothers: these relatives (cf. Jn 2:12 and see note on Mk 6:3) are never portrayed as disciples until after the resurrection (Acts 1:14). Mt 13:55 and Mk 6:3 give the names of four of them. Jesus has already performed works/signs in Judea; cf. Jn 2:23; 3:2; 4:45; 5:8.
  3. 7:6 Time: the Greek word means “opportune time,” here a synonym for Jesus’ “hour” (see note on Jn 2:4), his death and resurrection. In the wordplay, any time is suitable for Jesus’ brothers, because they are not dependent on God’s will.
  4. 7:8 I am not going up: an early attested reading “not yet” seems a correction, since Jesus in the story does go up to the feast. “Go up,” in a play on words, refers not only to going up to Jerusalem but also to exaltation at the cross, resurrection, and ascension; cf. Jn 3:14; 6:62; 20:17.
  5. 7:14–31 Jesus teaches in the temple; debate with the Jews.
  6. 7:15 Without having studied: literally, “How does he know letters without having learned?” Children were taught to read and write by means of the scriptures. But here more than Jesus’ literacy is being discussed; the people are wondering how he can teach like a rabbi. Rabbis were trained by other rabbis and traditionally quoted their teachers.
  7. 7:17 To do his will: presumably a reference back to the “work” of Jn 6:29: belief in the one whom God has sent.
  8. 7:20 You are possessed: literally, “You have a demon.” The insane were thought to be possessed by a demoniacal spirit.
  9. 7:21 One work: the cure of the paralytic (Jn 5:1–9) because of the reference to the sabbath (Jn 7:22; 5:9–10).
  10. 7:26 The authorities: the members of the Sanhedrin (same term as Jn 3:1).
  11. 7:32–36 Jesus announces his approaching departure (cf. also Jn 8:21; 12:36; 13:33) and complete control over his destiny.
  12. 7:35 Dispersion: or “diaspora”: Jews living outside Palestine. Greeks: probably refers to the Gentiles in the Mediterranean area; cf. Jn 12:20.
  13. 7:37, 39 Promise of living water through the Spirit.
  14. 7:38 Living water: not an exact quotation from any Old Testament passage; in the gospel context the gift of the Spirit is meant; cf. Jn 3:5. From within him: either Jesus or the believer; if Jesus, it continues the Jesus-Moses motif (water from the rock, Ex 17:6; Nm 20:11) as well as Jesus as the new temple (cf. Ez 47:1). Grammatically, it goes better with the believer.
  15. 7:39 No Spirit yet: Codex Vaticanus and early Latin, Syriac, and Coptic versions add “given.” In this gospel, the sending of the Spirit cannot take place until Jesus’ glorification through his death, resurrection, and ascension; cf. Jn 20:22.
  16. 7:40–53 Discussion of the Davidic lineage of the Messiah.
  17. 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.

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.”