John 8:48-59
New Catholic Bible
48 The Jews answered, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and are possessed?” 49 Jesus said,
“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 judge.
51 Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever keeps my word
will never see death.”
52 The Jews retorted, “Now we are positive that you are possessed. Abraham died, and the Prophets are dead. Yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He is dead, and the Prophets are also dead. Who do you claim to be?” 54 Jesus answered,
“If I glorify myself,
that glory is of no value.
It is my Father who glorifies me,
the one about whom you say,
‘He is our God,’
55 even though you do not know him.
However, I do know him.
If I would say
that I do not know him,
I would be a liar like you.
But I do know him,
and I keep his word.
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced
that he would see my day.
He saw it and was glad.”[a]
57 The Jews then said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old. How can you have seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus responded,
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
before Abraham was,
I AM.”[b]
59 Then they picked up stones to throw at him, but he hid himself and left the temple.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- John 8:56 Abraham rejoiced at the promise given to him by the Lord that the future Messiah would come from his descendants (Gen 12:7; 15:2f; 17:15f; see Gal 3:16). My day: that is, the presence of the Messiah, whom Abraham saw and greeted “from a distance” (Heb 11:13).
- John 8:58 I AM: see notes on Jn 6:20 and 6:35.
