But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.(A)

An Adulteress Forgiven

At dawn he went to the temple(B) again, and all the people were coming to him.(C) He sat down(D) and began to teach them.

Then the scribes and the Pharisees(E) brought a woman caught in adultery,(F) making her stand in the center. “Teacher,” they said to him, “this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery.(G) In the law Moses(H) commanded us to stone such women.(I) So what do you say?” They asked this to trap him,(J) in order that they might have evidence to accuse him.

Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with his finger. When they persisted in questioning him, he stood up and said to them, “The one without sin(K) among you(L) should be the first to throw a stone at her.”(M) Then he stooped down again and continued writing on the ground. When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only he was left, with the woman in the center. 10 When Jesus stood up, he said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

11 “No one, Lord,”[a] she answered.

“Neither do I condemn you,”(N) said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”]

The Light of the World

12 Jesus spoke to them again: “I am(O) the light(P) of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”(Q)

13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are testifying about yourself. Your testimony is not valid.”

14 “Even if I testify about myself,” Jesus replied, “my testimony is true, because I know where I came from and where I’m going. But you don’t know where I come from or where I’m going.(R) 15 You judge(S) by human standards.[b](T) I judge no one.(U) 16 And if I do judge, my judgment is true, because it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me.(V) 17 Even in your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true.(W) 18 I am the one who testifies(X) about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me.”

19 Then they asked him, “Where is your Father?”

“You know neither me nor my Father,”(Y) Jesus answered. “If you knew me, you would also know my Father.”(Z) 20 He spoke these words by the treasury,(AA) while teaching in the temple. But no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.

Jesus Predicts His Departure

21 Then he said to them again, “I’m going away; (AB) you will look for me, and you will die in your sin.(AC) Where I’m going, you cannot come.”(AD)

22 So the Jews said again, “He won’t kill himself, will he, since he says, ‘Where I’m going, you cannot come’(AE)?”

23 “You are from below,” he told them, “I am from above.(AF) You are of this world; (AG) I am not of this world.(AH) 24 Therefore I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.”

25 “Who are you?” they questioned.

“Exactly what I’ve been telling you from the very beginning,” Jesus told them. 26 “I have many things to say and to judge about you, but the one who sent me(AI) is true, and what I have heard from him—these things I tell the world.”(AJ)

27 They did not know he was speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man,(AK) then you will know that I am(AL) he, and that I do nothing on my own.(AM) But just as the Father taught me, I say these things. 29 The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone,(AN) because I always do what pleases him.”

Truth and Freedom

30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him.

31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word,[c](AO) you really are my disciples. 32 You will know the truth,(AP) and the truth will set you free.”

33 “We are descendants[d] of Abraham,”(AQ) they answered him, “and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will become free’?”

34 Jesus responded, “Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.(AR) 35 A slave does not remain in the household forever,(AS) but a son does remain forever.(AT) 36 So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free. 37 I know you are descendants of Abraham,(AU) but you are trying to kill me because my word has no place among you. 38 I speak what I have seen(AV) in the presence of the Father; [e](AW) so then, you do what you have heard from your father.”

39 “Our father is Abraham,” they replied.

“If you were Abraham’s children,” Jesus told them, “you would do what Abraham did.(AX) 40 But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth(AY) that I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 You’re doing what your father does.”(AZ)

“We weren’t born(BA) of sexual immorality,”(BB) they said. “We have one Father—God.”(BC)

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me,(BD) because I came from God(BE) and I am here. For I didn’t come on my own, but he sent me. 43 Why don’t you understand what I say? Because you cannot listen to[f] my word.(BF) 44 You are of your father the devil,(BG) and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer(BH) from the beginning(BI) and does not stand in the truth,(BJ) because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature,[g] because he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Who among you can convict me of sin?(BK) If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 The one who is from God listens to God’s words. This is why you don’t listen, because you are not from God.”

Jesus and Abraham

48 The Jews responded to him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you’re a Samaritan(BL) and have a demon?” (BM)

49 “I do not have a demon,” Jesus answered. “On the contrary, I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I do not seek my own glory; (BN) there is one who seeks it and judges. 51 Truly I tell you, if anyone keeps my word,(BO) he will never see death.”

52 Then the Jews said, “Now we know you have a demon. Abraham died and so did the prophets. You say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham who died? And the prophets died. Who do you claim to be?”

54 “If I glorify myself,” Jesus answered, “my glory is nothing. My Father—about whom you say, ‘He is our God’—he is the one who glorifies me. 55 You do not know him, but I know him. If I were to say I don’t know him,(BP) I would be a liar like you. But I do know him,(BQ) and I keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw it(BR) and was glad.”

57 The Jews replied, “You aren’t fifty years old yet, and you’ve seen Abraham?” [h]

58 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.”(BS)

59 So they picked up stones(BT) to throw at him.(BU) But Jesus was hidden[i](BV) and went out of the temple.[j](BW)

Footnotes

  1. 8:11 Or Sir; Jn 4:15,49; 5:7; 6:34; 9:36
  2. 8:15 Lit You judge according to the flesh
  3. 8:31 Or my teaching, or my message, also in v. 37
  4. 8:33 Or offspring; lit seed, also in v. 37; Jn 7:42
  5. 8:38 Other mss read of my Father
  6. 8:43 Or cannot hear
  7. 8:44 Lit from his own things
  8. 8:57 Other mss read and Abraham has seen you?
  9. 8:59 Or Jesus hid himself
  10. 8:59 Other mss add and having gone through their midst, he passed by

but Jesus walked out to the Mount of Olives. Then early the next morning he went to the temple. The people came to him, and he sat down[a] and started teaching them.

The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of Moses brought in a woman who had been caught in bed with a man who wasn't her husband. They made her stand in the middle of the crowd. Then they said, “Teacher, this woman was caught sleeping with a man who isn't her husband. (A) The Law of Moses teaches that a woman like this should be stoned to death! What do you say?”

They asked Jesus this question, because they wanted to test him and bring some charge against him. But Jesus simply bent over and started writing on the ground with his finger.

(B) They kept on asking Jesus about the woman. Finally, he stood up and said, “If any of you have never sinned, then go ahead and throw the first stone at her!” Once again he bent over and began writing on the ground. The people left one by one, beginning with the oldest. Finally, Jesus and the woman were there alone.

10 Jesus stood up and asked her, “Where is everyone? Isn't there anyone left to accuse you?”

11 “No sir,” the woman answered.

Then Jesus told her, “I am not going to accuse you either. You may go now, but don't sin anymore.”[b]

Jesus Is the Light for the World

12 (C) Once again Jesus spoke to the people. This time he said, “I am the light for the world! Follow me, and you won't be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life.”

13 (D) The Pharisees objected, “You are the only one speaking for yourself, and what you say isn't true!”

14 Jesus replied:

Even if I do speak for myself, what I say is true! I know where I came from and where I am going. But you don't know where I am from or where I am going. 15 You judge in the same way that everyone else does, but I don't judge anyone. 16 If I did judge, I would judge fairly, because I would not be doing it alone. The Father who sent me is here with me. 17 (E) Your Law requires two witnesses to prove that something is true. 18 I am one of my witnesses, and the Father who sent me is the other one.

19 “Where is your Father?” they asked.

“You don't know me or my Father!” Jesus answered. “If you knew me, you would know my Father.”

20 Jesus said this while he was still teaching in the place where the temple treasures were stored. But no one arrested him, because his time had not yet come.[c]

You Cannot Go Where I Am Going

21 Jesus also told them, “I am going away, and you will look for me. But you cannot go where I am going, and you will die with your sins unforgiven.”

22 The people asked, “Does he intend to kill himself? Is that what he means by saying we cannot go where he is going?”

23 Jesus answered, “You are from below, but I am from above. You belong to this world, but I don't. 24 This is why I said you will die with your sins unforgiven. If you don't have faith in me for who I am,[d] you will die, and your sins will not be forgiven.”

25 “Who are you?” they asked Jesus.

Jesus answered, “I am exactly who I told you at the beginning. 26 There is a lot more I could say to condemn you. But the one who sent me is truthful, and I tell the people of this world only what I have heard from him.”

27 No one understood that Jesus was talking to them about the Father.

28 Jesus went on to say, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man,[e] you will know who I am. You will also know that I don't do anything on my own. I say only what my Father taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me. I always do what pleases him, and he will never leave me.”

30 After Jesus said this, many of the people put their faith in him.

The Truth Will Set You Free

31 Jesus told the people who had faith in him, “If you keep on obeying what I have said, you truly are my disciples. 32 (F) You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

33 (G) They answered, “We are Abraham's children! We have never been anyone's slaves. How can you say we will be set free?”

34 Jesus replied:

I tell you for certain that anyone who sins is a slave of sin! 35 And slaves don't stay in the family forever, though the Son will always remain in the family. 36 If the Son gives you freedom, you are free! 37 I know that you are from Abraham's family. Yet you want to kill me, because my message isn't really in your hearts. 38 I am telling you what my Father has shown me, just as you are doing what your father has taught you.

Your Father Is the Devil

39 The people said to Jesus, “Abraham is our father!”

Jesus replied, “If you were Abraham's children, you would do what Abraham did. 40 Instead, you want to kill me for telling you the truth that God gave me. Abraham never did anything like that. 41 But you are doing exactly what your father does.”

“Don't accuse us of having someone else as our father!” they said. “We just have one father, and he is God.”

42 Jesus answered:

If God were your Father, you would love me, because I came from God and now I am here. He sent me. I did not come on my own. 43 Why can't you understand what I am talking about? Can't you stand to hear what I am saying? 44 (H) Your father is the devil, and you do exactly what he wants. He has always been a murderer and a liar. There is nothing truthful about him. He speaks on his own, and everything he says is a lie. Not only is he a liar himself, but he is also the father of all lies.

45 Everything I have told you is true, and you still refuse to have faith in me. 46 Can any of you accuse me of sin? If you cannot, why won't you have faith in me? After all, I am telling you the truth. 47 Anyone who belongs to God will listen to his message. But you refuse to listen, because you don't belong to God.

Jesus and Abraham

48 The people told Jesus, “We were right to say that you are a Samaritan[f] and that you have a demon in you!”

49 Jesus answered, “I don't have a demon in me. I honor my Father, and you refuse to honor me. 50 I don't want honor for myself. But there is one who wants me to be honored, and he is also the one who judges. 51 I tell you for certain that if you obey my words, you will never die.”

52 Then the people said, “Now we are sure that you have a demon. Abraham is dead, and so are the prophets. How can you say that no one who obeys your words will ever die? 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”

54 Jesus replied, “If I honored myself, it would mean nothing. My Father is the one who honors me. You claim that he is your God, 55 even though you don't really know him. If I said I didn't know him, I would be a liar, just like all of you. But I know him, and I do what he says. 56 Your father Abraham was really glad to see me.”

57 “You are not even 50 years old!” they said. “How could you have seen Abraham?”

58 Jesus answered, “I tell you for certain that even before Abraham was, I was, and I am.”[g] 59 The people picked up stones to kill Jesus, but he hid and left the temple.

Footnotes

  1. 8.2 sat down: See the note at 6.3,4.
  2. 8.11 don't sin anymore: Verses 1-11 are not in some manuscripts. In other manuscripts these verses are placed after 7.36 or after 21.25 or after Luke 21.38, with some differences in the text.
  3. 8.20 his time had not yet come: See the note at 2.4.
  4. 8.24 I am: For the Jewish people the most holy name of God is “Yahweh,” which may be translated “I am.” In the Gospel of John “I am” is sometimes used by Jesus to show that he is that one.
  5. 8.28 lifted up the Son of Man: See the note at 7.39.
  6. 8.48 Samaritan: See 4.9 and the note there.
  7. 8.58 I am: See the note at 8.24.

But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.(A)

An Adulteress Forgiven

At dawn He went to the temple complex(B) again, and all the people were coming to Him.(C) He sat down(D) and began to teach them.

Then the scribes and the Pharisees(E) brought a woman caught in adultery,(F) making her stand in the center. “Teacher,” they said to Him, “this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery.(G) In the law Moses(H) commanded us to stone such women.(I) So what do You say?” They asked this to trap Him,(J) in order that they might have evidence to accuse Him.

Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with His finger. When they persisted in questioning Him, He stood up and said to them, “The one without sin(K) among you(L) should be the first to throw a stone at her.”(M)

Then He stooped down again and continued writing on the ground. When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only He was left, with the woman in the center. 10 When Jesus stood up, He said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

11 “No one, Lord,”[a] she answered.

“Neither do I condemn you,”(N) said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”][b]

The Light of the World

12 Then Jesus spoke to them again: “I am(O) the light(P) of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”(Q)

13 So the Pharisees said to Him, “You are testifying about Yourself. Your testimony is not valid.”[c]

14 “Even if I testify about Myself,” Jesus replied, “My testimony is valid,[d] because I know where I came from and where I’m going. But you don’t know where I come from or where I’m going.(R) 15 You judge(S) by human standards.[e](T) I judge no one.(U) 16 And if I do judge, My judgment is true, because I am not alone, but I and the Father who sent Me judge(V) together.(W) 17 Even in your law it is written that the witness of two men is valid.(X) 18 I am the One who testifies(Y) about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.”

19 Then they asked Him, “Where is Your Father?”

“You know neither Me nor My Father,”(Z) Jesus answered. “If you knew Me, you would also know My Father.”(AA) 20 He spoke these words by the treasury,[f](AB) while teaching in the temple complex. But no one seized Him, because His hour[g] had not come.

Jesus Predicts His Departure

21 Then He said to them again, “I’m going away;(AC) you will look for Me, and you will die in your sin.(AD) Where I’m going, you cannot come.”(AE)

22 So the Jews said again, “He won’t kill Himself, will He, since He says, ‘Where I’m going, you cannot come’(AF)?”

23 “You are from below,” He told them, “I am from above.(AG) You are of this world;(AH) I am not of this world.(AI) 24 Therefore I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I am He,[h] you will die in your sins.”

25 “Who are You?” they questioned.

“Precisely what I’ve been telling you from the very beginning,” Jesus told them. 26 “I have many things to say and to judge about you, but the One who sent Me(AJ) is true, and what I have heard from Him—these things I tell the world.”(AK)

27 They did not know He was speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man,(AL) then you will know that I am(AM) He, and that I do nothing on My own.(AN) But just as the Father taught Me, I say these things. 29 The One who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone,(AO) because I always do what pleases Him.”

Truth and Freedom

30 As He was saying these things, many believed in Him. 31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word,[i](AP) you really are My disciples. 32 You will know the truth,(AQ) and the truth will set you free.”

33 “We are descendants[j] of Abraham,”(AR) they answered Him, “and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will become free’?”

34 Jesus responded, “I assure you: Everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.(AS) 35 A slave does not remain in the household forever,(AT) but a son does remain forever.(AU) 36 Therefore, if the Son sets you free, you really will be free. 37 I know you are descendants[k] of Abraham,(AV) but you are trying to kill Me because My word[l] is not welcome among you. 38 I speak what I have seen(AW) in the presence of the Father;[m](AX) therefore, you do what you have heard from your father.”

39 “Our father is Abraham!” they replied.

“If you were Abraham’s children,” Jesus told them, “you would do what Abraham did.(AY) 40 But now you are trying to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth(AZ) that I heard from God. Abraham did not do this! 41 You’re doing what your father does.”(BA)

“We weren’t born(BB) of sexual immorality,”(BC) they said. “We have one Father—God.”(BD)

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me,(BE) because I came from God(BF) and I am here. For I didn’t come on My own, but He sent Me. 43 Why don’t you understand what I say? Because you cannot listen to[n] My word.(BG) 44 You are of your father the Devil,(BH) and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer(BI) from the beginning(BJ) and has not stood in the truth,(BK) because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature,[o] because he is a liar and the father of liars.[p] 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Who among you can convict Me of sin?(BL) If I tell the truth, why don’t you believe Me? 47 The one who is from God listens to God’s words. This is why you don’t listen, because you are not from God.”

Jesus and Abraham

48 The Jews responded to Him, “Aren’t we right in saying that You’re a Samaritan(BM) and have a demon?”(BN)

49 “I do not have a demon,” Jesus answered. “On the contrary, I honor My Father and you dishonor Me. 50 I do not seek My glory;(BO) the One who seeks it also judges. 51 I assure you: If anyone keeps My word,(BP) he will never see death—ever!”

52 Then the Jews said, “Now we know You have a demon. Abraham died and so did the prophets. You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste death—ever!’ 53 Are You greater than our father Abraham who died? Even the prophets died. Who do You pretend to be?”[q]

54 “If I glorify Myself,” Jesus answered, “My glory is nothing. My Father—you say about Him, ‘He is our God’—He is the One who glorifies Me. 55 You’ve never known Him, but I know Him. If I were to say I don’t know Him,(BQ) I would be a liar like you. But I do know Him,(BR) and I keep His word. 56 Your father Abraham was overjoyed that he would see My day; he saw it(BS) and rejoiced.”

57 The Jews replied, “You aren’t 50 years old yet, and You’ve seen Abraham?”[r]

58 Jesus said to them, “I assure you: Before Abraham was, I am.”[s](BT)

59 At that, they picked up stones(BU) to throw at Him.(BV) But Jesus was hidden[t](BW) and went out of the temple complex.[u](BX)

Footnotes

  1. John 8:11 Or Sir; Jn 4:15,49; 5:7; 6:34; 9:36
  2. John 8:11 Other mss omit bracketed text
  3. John 8:13 The law of Moses required at least 2 witnesses to make a claim legally valid (v. 17).
  4. John 8:14 Or true
  5. John 8:15 Lit You judge according to the flesh
  6. John 8:20 A place for offerings to be given, perhaps in the court of women
  7. John 8:20 The time of His sacrificial death and exaltation; Jn 2:4; 7:30; 12:23,27; 13:1; 17:1
  8. John 8:24 Jesus claimed to be deity, but the Pharisees didn’t understand His meaning.
  9. John 8:31 Or My teaching, or My message
  10. John 8:33 Or offspring; lit seed; Jn 7:42
  11. John 8:37 Or offspring; lit seed; Jn 7:42
  12. John 8:37 Or My teaching, or My message
  13. John 8:38 Other mss read of My Father
  14. John 8:43 Or cannot hear
  15. John 8:44 Lit from his own things
  16. John 8:44 Lit of it
  17. John 8:53 Lit Who do You make Yourself?
  18. John 8:57 Other mss read and Abraham has seen You?
  19. John 8:58 I AM is the name God gave Himself at the burning bush; Ex 3:13-14; see note at Jn 8:24.
  20. John 8:59 Or Jesus hid Himself
  21. John 8:59 Other mss add and having gone through their midst, He passed by

but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.(A)

At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them.(B) The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women.(C) Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap,(D) in order to have a basis for accusing him.(E)

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone(F) at her.”(G) Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

11 “No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,”(H) Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”(I)


Dispute Over Jesus’ Testimony

12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am(J) the light of the world.(K) Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”(L)

13 The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”(M)

14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going.(N) But you have no idea where I come from(O) or where I am going. 15 You judge by human standards;(P) I pass judgment on no one.(Q) 16 But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me.(R) 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true.(S) 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”(T)

19 Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”

“You do not know me or my Father,”(U) Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”(V) 20 He spoke these words while teaching(W) in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put.(X) Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.(Y)

Dispute Over Who Jesus Is

21 Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die(Z) in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”(AA)

22 This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”

23 But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.(AB) 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he,(AC) you will indeed die in your sins.”

25 “Who are you?” they asked.

“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. 26 “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy,(AD) and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”(AE)

27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up[a] the Son of Man,(AF) then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.(AG) 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone,(AH) for I always do what pleases him.”(AI) 30 Even as he spoke, many believed in him.(AJ)

Dispute Over Whose Children Jesus’ Opponents Are

31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching,(AK) you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”(AL)

33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants(AM) and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.(AN) 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.(AO) 36 So if the Son sets you free,(AP) you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me,(AQ) because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence,(AR) and you are doing what you have heard from your father.[b](AS)

39 “Abraham is our father,” they answered.

“If you were Abraham’s children,”(AT) said Jesus, “then you would[c] do what Abraham did. 40 As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me,(AU) a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God.(AV) Abraham did not do such things. 41 You are doing the works of your own father.”(AW)

“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”(AX)

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me,(AY) for I have come here from God.(AZ) I have not come on my own;(BA) God sent me.(BB) 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil,(BC) and you want to carry out your father’s desires.(BD) He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.(BE) 45 Yet because I tell the truth,(BF) you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says.(BG) The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

Jesus’ Claims About Himself

48 The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan(BH) and demon-possessed?”(BI)

49 “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I am not seeking glory for myself;(BJ) but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”(BK)

52 At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed!(BL) Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham?(BM) He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”

54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself,(BN) my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.(BO) 55 Though you do not know him,(BP) I know him.(BQ) If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word.(BR) 56 Your father Abraham(BS) rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it(BT) and was glad.”

57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”

58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born,(BU) I am!”(BV) 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him,(BW) but Jesus hid himself,(BX) slipping away from the temple grounds.

Footnotes

  1. John 8:28 The Greek for lifted up also means exalted.
  2. John 8:38 Or presence. Therefore do what you have heard from the Father.
  3. John 8:39 Some early manuscripts “If you are Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then