The Authority of the Son

16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. 17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father(A) is always at his work(B) to this very day, and I too am working.” 18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him;(C) not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.(D)

19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself;(E) he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son(F) and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these,(G) so that you will be amazed. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life,(H) even so the Son gives life(I) to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,(J) 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.(K)

24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me(L) has eternal life(M) and will not be judged(N) but has crossed over from death to life.(O) 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come(P) when the dead will hear(Q) the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life(R) in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge(S) because he is the Son of Man.

28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming(T) when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned.(U) 30 By myself I can do nothing;(V) I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just,(W) for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.(X)

Testimonies About Jesus

31 “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.(Y) 32 There is another who testifies in my favor,(Z) and I know that his testimony about me is true.

33 “You have sent to John and he has testified(AA) to the truth. 34 Not that I accept human testimony;(AB) but I mention it that you may be saved.(AC) 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light,(AD) and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John.(AE) For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing(AF)—testify that the Father has sent me.(AG) 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me.(AH) You have never heard his voice nor seen his form,(AI) 38 nor does his word dwell in you,(AJ) for you do not believe(AK) the one he sent.(AL) 39 You study[a] the Scriptures(AM) diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life.(AN) These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,(AO) 40 yet you refuse to come to me(AP) to have life.

41 “I do not accept glory from human beings,(AQ) 42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God[b]?(AR)

45 “But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses,(AS) on whom your hopes are set.(AT) 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.(AU) 47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”(AV)

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Footnotes

  1. John 5:39 Or 39 Study
  2. John 5:44 Some early manuscripts the Only One

16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.

17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.

32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.

33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.

34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.

35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.

36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.

38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.

39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

41 I receive not honour from men.

42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.

43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.

46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.

47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

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