²⁴ That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I AM,^[a] you will die in your sins.”^{(A) 25 [b]}So they said to him, “Who are you?”^(B) Jesus said to them, “What I told you from the beginning. ²⁶ I have much to say about you in condemnation. But the one who sent me is true, and what I heard from him I tell the world.”^{(C) 27} They did not realize that he was speaking to them of the Father. ²⁸ So Jesus said [to them], “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father taught me.^{(D) 29} The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to him.” ³⁰ Because he spoke this way, many came to believe in him.

Jesus and Abraham.^{[c] 31} Jesus then said to those Jews who believed in him,^[d] “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, ³² and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”^{(E) 33} They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone.^[e] How can you say, ‘You will become free’?”^{(F) 34} Jesus answered them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.^{(G) 35} A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son^[f] always remains.^{(H) 36} So if a son frees you, then you will truly be free. ³⁷ I know that you are descendants of Abraham. But you are trying to kill me, because my word has no room among you. ^38 [g]I tell you what I have seen in the Father’s presence; then do what you have heard from the Father.”

^39 [h]They answered and said to him, “Our father is Abraham.” Jesus said to them,^(I) “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works of Abraham. ⁴⁰ But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God; Abraham did not do this. ⁴¹ You are doing the works of your father!” [So] they said to him, “We are not illegitimate. We have one Father, God.”^{(J) 42} Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and am here; I did not come on my own, but he sent me.^{(K) 43} Why do you not understand what I am saying? Because you cannot bear to hear my word. ⁴⁴ You belong to your father the devil and you willingly carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father of lies.^{(L) 45} But because I speak the truth, you do not believe me. ⁴⁶ Can any of you charge me with sin? If I am telling the truth, why do you not believe me?^{(M) 47} Whoever belongs to God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not listen, because you do not belong to God.”^(N)

⁴⁸ The Jews answered and said to him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan^[i] and are possessed?” ⁴⁹ Jesus answered, “I am not possessed; I honor my Father, but you dishonor me. ⁵⁰ I do not seek my own glory; there is one who seeks it and he is the one who judges.^{(O) 51} Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.”^{(P) 52} [So] the Jews said to him, “Now we are sure that you are possessed. Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’ ⁵³ Are you greater than our father Abraham,^[j] who died? Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?”^{(Q) 54} Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ ⁵⁵ You do not know him, but I know him. And if I should say that I do not know him, I would be like you a liar. But I do know him and I keep his word.^{(R) 56} Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it^[k] and was glad.^{(S) 57} So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?”^{[l] 58 [m]}Jesus said to them,^(T) “Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.”