淫妇获赦

众人都回家去了,耶稣却上了橄榄山。 第二天清晨,祂又回到圣殿。百姓聚集在祂那里,祂就坐下来教导他们。 这时候,律法教师和法利赛人带来一个通奸时被捉的女人,让她站在众人面前, 然后问耶稣:“老师,这个女人是在通奸时被捉到的。 按摩西的律法,我们要用石头把她打死,你说该怎么处置她呢?”

他们这样问是要使耶稣落在他们的圈套里,可以有借口控告祂。耶稣却只是弯着腰用指头在地上写字。 他们不断地追问耶稣,于是祂直起腰来,对他们说:“你们中间谁没有罪,谁就先拿石头打她吧。” 说完,又弯下腰在地上写字。

他们听了这句话,就从老到少一个一个地走了,只剩下耶稣和那个女人在那里。 10 耶稣直起腰来,说:“妇人,他们到哪里去了?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。回去吧,从今以后不要再犯罪了。”

世界的光

12 耶稣又对众人说:“我是世界的光,凡跟从我的,必不会走在黑暗里,必要得到生命的光。”

13 法利赛人对祂说:“你自己为自己做见证,你的见证不真实。”

14 耶稣说:“即便我自己为自己做见证,我的见证仍是真实的,因为我知道自己从哪里来、要到哪里去,你们却不知道我从哪里来、要到哪里去。 15 你们只凭外表判断别人,我却不判断人。 16 就算我判断人,我的判断也是正确的,因为我不是独自一人,还有差我来的父与我同在。 17 你们的律法不是说两个人做见证就有效吗? 18 我是自己为自己做见证,差我来的父也为我做见证。”

19 他们问:“你的父在哪里?”

耶稣回答说:“你们不认识我,也不认识我的父。如果你们认识我,也会认识我的父。” 20 耶稣在圣殿的库房这样教导人,但没有人抓祂,因为祂的时候还没有到。

警告不信的人

21 耶稣又对他们说:“我要走了,你们会寻找我,你们将死在自己的罪中。我去的地方,你们不能去。”

22 犹太人说:“祂说祂去的地方我们不能去,难道祂想自杀吗?”

23 耶稣对他们说:“你们是从下面来的,我是从上面来的。你们属于这世界,我不属于这世界。 24 所以我说你们将死在自己的罪中,你们如果不相信我就是[a]那一位,一定会死在自己的罪中。”

25 他们问:“你到底是谁?”

耶稣回答说:“我不是早就告诉你们了吗? 26 关于你们,我有许多要说、要审判的,但差我来的那位是真实的,我把从祂那里听到的告诉世人。” 27 他们不明白耶稣是指着父说的。

28 于是耶稣说:“你们举起人子以后,必知道我就是那一位,并且知道我没有一件事是凭自己做的,我所说的都是父教导我的。 29 差我来的那位跟我在一起,祂没有撇下我,让我孤单一人,因为我做的都是祂所喜悦的。” 30 许多人因为这番话而信了耶稣。

真正的自由

31 耶稣对信祂的犹太人说:“你们若持守我的道,就真是我的门徒了。 32 你们必认识真理,真理必叫你们得到自由。”

33 他们说:“我们是亚伯拉罕的子孙,从来没有做过奴隶,你为什么说我们可以得到自由呢?”

34 耶稣说:“我实实在在地告诉你们,所有犯罪的人都是罪的奴隶。 35 奴隶不能永远留在主人的家里,只有儿子才可以。 36 所以,如果上帝的儿子释放了你们,你们就真正自由了!

耶稣和亚伯拉罕

37 “我知道你们是亚伯拉罕的子孙,但你们却想杀我,因为你们心里容不下我的道。 38 我所说的,是我从父那里看到的,你们却照着你们父[b]的话去做。”

39 他们说:“我们的父就是亚伯拉罕!”

耶稣说:“你们如果真是亚伯拉罕的子孙,一定会做他所做的事。 40 我把从上帝那里听到的真理告诉你们,你们反要杀我,亚伯拉罕绝不做这样的事。 41 你们是在做你们父所做的事。”

他们说:“我们不是从淫乱生的!我们只有一位父,就是上帝。”

42 耶稣说:“如果上帝是你们的父,你们一定会爱我,因为我来自上帝。如今我在这里,我不是凭自己来的,而是上帝差我来的, 43 你们为什么不明白我的话呢?因为你们听不进去我的道。 44 你们是出于你们的父魔鬼,你们乐意顺着它的私欲行。魔鬼从起初就是个杀人凶手,从不站在真理这一边,因为它心里根本没有真理。撒谎是它的本性,因为它是撒谎者,又是撒谎者的始祖。 45 所以,我讲真理的时候,你们不信我。 46 你们谁能指证我有罪呢?我既然把真理告诉了你们,你们为什么还不信我呢? 47 出于上帝的人听上帝的话,你们不听上帝的话,因为你们不是出于上帝。”

48 犹太人对祂说:“我们说你是撒玛利亚人[c],被鬼附身了,难道不对吗?”

49 耶稣说:“我没有被鬼附身。我尊敬我的父,你们却侮辱我。 50 我不为自己寻求荣耀,但有一位会为我寻求,祂也会断定谁是谁非。 51 我实实在在地告诉你们,人如果遵行我的道,必永远不死。”

52 那些犹太人说:“现在我们的确知道你是被鬼附身了!亚伯拉罕和众先知都死了,你还说人如果遵行你的道,必永远不死。 53 难道你比我们的祖先亚伯拉罕还大吗?他死了,先知们也死了,你以为你是谁?”

54 耶稣说:“如果我为自己争取荣耀,那荣耀算不了什么。但使我得荣耀的是我的父,你们也称祂为你们的上帝。 55 你们不认识祂,我却认识祂。如果我说我不认识祂,那我就像你们一样是说谎的。然而,我认识祂,并且遵行祂的道。 56 你们的祖先亚伯拉罕曾经欢欢喜喜地盼望看见我来的日子。他看见了,就欢喜快乐。”

57 犹太人说:“你还不到五十岁,怎么会见过亚伯拉罕呢?”

58 耶稣说:“我实实在在地告诉你们,亚伯拉罕还没有出生,我就已经存在了[d]。” 59 于是,他们就拿起石头要打祂,耶稣却避开他们,离开了圣殿。

Footnotes

  1. 8:24 耶稣用“我就是”这个词提醒听众祂就是出埃及记3:14节提到的那位自有永有的上帝,8:28同。
  2. 8:38 犹太文化中,“父”可指生身的父,亦可泛指祖先。
  3. 8:48 撒玛利亚人血统不纯,常被犹太人藐视,并当作骂人的话。
  4. 8:58 我就已经存在了”希腊文是“我是”,参见8:24注。

The Woman Caught in Adultery

Jesus, however, went to the Mount of Olives. At daybreak he appeared again in the Temple, and all the people came to him. So he sat down and began to teach them. But the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery.[a] After setting her before them,[b] they told him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the very act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women to death. What do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they might have a charge against him. But Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.

When they persisted in questioning him, he straightened up and told them, “Let the person among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Then he bent down again and continued writing on the ground.[c] When they heard this, they went away one by one,[d] beginning with the oldest,[e] and he was left alone with the woman standing there.[f] 10 Then Jesus stood up and asked her, “Dear lady,[g] where are your accusers?[h] Hasn’t anyone condemned you?”

11 “No one, sir,”[i] she replied.

Then Jesus said, “I don’t condemn you, either. Go home, and from now on don’t sin anymore.”[j]

Jesus the Light of the World

12 Later on, Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

13 The Pharisees told him, “You’re testifying about yourself. Your testimony isn’t valid.”[k]

14 Jesus answered them, “Even though I’m testifying about myself, my testimony is valid[l] because I know where I’ve come from and where I’m going. But you don’t know where I come from or where I’m going. 15 You’re judging by human standards,[m] but I’m not judging anyone. 16 Yet even if I should judge, my judgment would be valid,[n] because it is not I alone who judges, but I and the one who sent me. 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two people is valid.[o] 18 I’m testifying about myself, and the Father who sent me is testifying about me.”

19 Then they asked him, “Where is this Father of yours?”

Jesus replied, “You don’t know me or my Father. If you had known me, you would’ve known my Father, too.” 20 He spoke these words in the treasury, while he was teaching in the Temple. Yet no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

The One from Above

21 Later on, he told them again, “I’m going away, and you’ll look for me, but you will die in your sin.[p] You cannot come where I’m going.”

22 So the Jewish leaders[q] were asking, “He isn’t going to kill himself, is he? Is that why he said,[r] ‘You cannot come where I’m going’?”

23 He told them, “You are from below, I’m from above. You are of this world, but I’m not of this world. 24 That is why I told you that you will die in your sins, for unless you believe that I AM, you’ll die in your sins.”

25 Then they asked him, “Who are you?”

Jesus told them, “What have I been telling you all along?[s] 26 I have much to say about you and to condemn you for.[t] But the one who sent me is truthful,[u] and what I’ve heard from him I declare to the world.”

27 They didn’t realize that he was talking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus told them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own authority. Instead, I speak only what the Father has taught me. 29 Moreover, the one who sent me is with me. He has never left me alone, because I always do what pleases him.” 30 While he was saying these things, many believed in him.

Freedom and Slavery

31 So Jesus told those Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are really my disciples. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

33 They replied to him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves to anybody. So how can you say, ‘You will be set free’?”

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, I tell all of you[v] emphatically, that everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.[w] 35 The slave does not remain in the household forever, but the son does remain forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!”

The Real Children of Abraham

37 “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are trying to kill me because you’ve not received what I’ve told you. 38 I declare what I’ve seen in my[x] Father’s presence, and you’re doing what you’ve heard from your father.”

39 They replied to him, “Our father is Abraham!”

Jesus told them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing what Abraham did.[y] 40 But now you’re trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham wouldn’t have done that. 41 You are doing your father’s actions.”

They told him, “We’re not illegitimate children. We have one Father, God himself.”

42 Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would’ve loved me, because I came from God and am here. I haven’t come on my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why don’t you understand what I’ve said? It’s because you can’t listen to my words. 44 You belong to your father the Devil, and you want to carry out the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and has never stood for truth, since there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But it is because I speak the truth that you don’t believe me. 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I’m telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 The one who belongs to God listens to the words of God. The reason you don’t listen is because you don’t belong to God.”

Jesus is Superior to Abraham

48 The Jewish leaders[z] replied to him, “Surely we’re right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon, aren’t we?”

49 Jesus answered, “I don’t have a demon. On the contrary, I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50 I don’t seek my own glory. There is one who seeks it, and he is the Judge. 51 Truly, I tell all of you[aa] emphatically, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”

52 Then the Jewish leaders[ab] told him, “Now we really know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets, but you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ 53 You aren’t greater than our father Abraham, who died, are you? The prophets also died. Who are you making yourself out to be?”

54 Jesus answered, “If I were trying to glorify myself, my glory would mean nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ 55 You don’t know him, but I know him. If I were to say that I don’t know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him and keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day, and he saw it and was glad.”

57 Then the Jewish leaders[ac] asked him, “You are not even 50 years old, yet you have seen Abraham?”[ad]

58 Jesus told them, “Truly, I tell all of you[ae] emphatically, before there was an Abraham, I AM!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the Temple.

Footnotes

  1. John 8:3 Other mss. read in sin
  2. John 8:3 Lit. in the middle
  3. John 8:8 Other mss read ground the sins of each one of them
  4. John 8:9 Other mss. read one by one, being convicted by their conscience
  5. John 8:9 Other mss. read from the oldest to the youngest
  6. John 8:9 Lit. in the middle
  7. John 8:10 Or Woman
  8. John 8:10 Other mss. read where are they?
  9. John 8:11 Or Lord
  10. John 8:11 Some mss. lack 7:53-8:11; one ms. locates the text after Luke 21:38; some mss. locate it after John 7:36, some after John 7:52, and some after John 21:25.
  11. John 8:13 Or true
  12. John 8:14 Or true
  13. John 8:15 Lit. according to the flesh
  14. John 8:16 Or true
  15. John 8:17 Or true
  16. John 8:21 I.e. their sinful nature
  17. John 8:22 I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews
  18. John 8:22 Lit. Because he said
  19. John 8:25 Or from the beginning
  20. John 8:26 The Gk. lacks you for
  21. John 8:26 Or true
  22. John 8:34 The Gk. pronoun you is pl.
  23. John 8:34 Other mss. lack of sin
  24. John 8:38 Other mss. read the
  25. John 8:39 Lit. the works of Abraham
  26. John 8:48 I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews
  27. John 8:51 The Gk. pronoun you is pl.
  28. John 8:52 I.e. Judean leaders; lit. The Jews
  29. John 8:57 I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews
  30. John 8:57 Other mss. read Abraham has seen you?
  31. John 8:58 The Gk. pronoun you is pl.