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but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

The Pharisees Bring Jesus a Woman Caught In Adultery

Now at dawn, He again arrived in the temple. And all the people were coming to Him. And having sat-down, He was teaching them. And the scribes and the Pharisees bring a woman having been caught in adultery. And having stood her in the middle, they say to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the-act, while committing-adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to be stoning such women[a]. What then do You say?” Now they were saying this testing Him, in order that they might have grounds to be accusing Him. But Jesus, having stooped down, was writing in the ground with His finger. But as they were continuing-on asking Him, He straightened-up and said to them, “Let the sinless one among you throw a stone at her first”. And again having stooped-down, He was writing in the ground. And the ones, having heard it, were going out one by one, beginning from the older ones. And He was left-behind alone, and the woman being in the middle. 10 And Jesus, having straightened up, said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” 11 And the one said, “No one, Sir”. And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn[b] you. Go. And from now on, do not be sinning any longer”.

I Am The Light of The World, To Which I And My Father Are Testifying

12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. The one following Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of [c] life”. 13 So the Pharisees said to Him, “You are testifying about Yourself— Your testimony is not true”. 14 Jesus responded and said to them, “Even if I am testifying about Myself, My testimony is true, because I know from where I came, and where I am going. But you do not know from where I come, or where I am going. 15 You are judging according to the flesh. I am not judging anyone. 16 But even if I am judging, My judgment is true, because I am not alone— but it is I and the Father having sent Me. 17 But even in your Law, it has been written that the testimony of two people is true. 18 I am the One testifying about Myself. And the Father having sent Me is testifying about Me”. 19 So they were saying to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father. If you knew Me, you would also know My Father”. 20 These words He spoke in the treasury, while teaching in the temple. And no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.

I Am Going Away. Unless You Believe That I Am The One, You Will Die In Your Sins

21 Then He said again to them, “I am going away. And you will seek Me. And you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you are not able to come”. 22 So the Jews were saying, “He will not kill Himself, will He— because He says, ‘Where I am going, you are not able to come’?” 23 And He was saying to them, “You are from below, I am from above. You are from this world, I am not from this world. 24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am[d] the One, you will die in your sins”.

I Am What I Have Been Saying I Am From The Beginning

25 So they were saying to Him, “Who[e] are You?” Jesus said to them, “What[f] thing from the beginning I am indeed telling you! 26 I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you. However, the One having sent Me is true. And what things I heard from Him— these things I am speaking to the world”. 27 They did not know that He was speaking to them about the Father.

When You Lift Up The Son of Man, You Will Know I Am The One

28 Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift-up[g] the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the One, and I am doing nothing from Myself, but I am speaking these things just as the Father taught Me. 29 And the One having sent Me is with Me. He did not leave Me alone, because I am always doing the things pleasing to Him”. 30 While He was speaking these things, many believed in Him.

If You Remain In My Word, Then You Are Truly My Disciples And The Truth Will Set You Free

31 Then Jesus was saying to the Jews having believed Him, “If you remain[h] in My word, you are truly My disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”.

You Are Slaves of Sin. If The Son Sets You Free, You Will Truly Be Free

33 They responded to Him, “We are the seed of Abraham, and to no one have we ever been slaves[i]. How is it You say that ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you that everyone doing[j] sin is a slave of sin. 35 Now the slave does not remain in the house forever. The son remains forever. 36 Therefore if the Son sets you free, you will really[k] be free. 37 I know that you are the seed of Abraham. But you are seeking to kill Me, because My word is not advancing[l] in you. 38 I am speaking the things which I have seen with My[m] Father. And you therefore are doing[n] the things which you heard from your father”.

You Are Doing The Works of Your Father, Not Abraham

39 They responded and said to Him, “Our father is Abraham”. Jesus says to them, “If you are children of Abraham, you would be doing the works of Abraham. 40 But now[o] you are seeking to kill Me— a man Who has told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 You are doing the works of your father”.

If God Were Your Father, You Would Be Loving Me. Your Father Is The Devil

So they said to Him, “We have not been born out of sexuality-immorality; we have one father— God”. 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would be loving Me, for I came-forth and am-here from God. For I have not even come of Myself, but that One sent Me forth. 43 For what reason are you not understanding My speaking? It is because you are not able to hear My word. 44 You are of your father the devil. And you are wanting[p] to do the desires of your father. That one was a murderer from the beginning, and was not standing[q] in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks the lie[r], he speaks from his own things, because he is a liar, and the father of it. 45 And because I am speaking the truth, you are not believing Me. 46 Which of you convicts Me concerning sin? If I am speaking truth, for what reason are you not believing Me? 47 The one being of [s] God hears the words of God. For this reason you are not hearing— because you are not of God”.

I Am Honoring My Father. If You Keep My Word, You Will Never See Death

48 The Jews responded and said to Him, “Do we not rightly say that You are a Samaritan[t] and have a demon?” 49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I am honoring My Father, and you are dishonoring Me. 50 But I am not seeking My glory. There is the One seeking it, and judging. 51 Truly, truly, I say to you— if anyone keeps My word, he will never[u] see death, ever”.

You Do Not Know God, But I Do. And Abraham Was Glad When He Saw My Day

52 So the Jews said to Him, “Now we have come-to-know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets! And You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste death, ever!’ 53 You are not greater than our father Abraham who died, are you? The prophets died also. Whom do You make Yourself ?” 54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing. The One glorifying Me is My Father— Whom you say that ‘He is our God’. 55 And you have not come-to-know Him, but I know Him. And if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you. But I know Him, and I am keeping His word. 56 Abraham your father rejoiced-greatly to see My day. And he saw it, and was glad”.

Before Abraham Was, I Am. Hearing This, They Picked Up Stones To Kill Jesus

57 So the Jews said to Him, “You do not yet have fifty years, and You have seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you— before Abraham came-into-being[v], I am[w]”. 59 Therefore they picked up stones in order that they might throw them at Him. But Jesus was hidden[x], and went out of the temple.

Footnotes

  1. John 8:5 Actually, Deut 22:22-24 and Lev 20:10 say both should be stoned.
  2. John 8:11 That is, execute sentence upon you at this time.
  3. John 8:12 That is, proceeding from; or, leading to.
  4. John 8:24 Or, I am He; that is, the Christ. Or, I am.
  5. John 8:25 The Jews try to get Jesus to state explicitly that He is the Christ, the Son of God, but He refuses to allow them to hear such a direct statement until His hour comes in Mt 27:63-64.
  6. John 8:25 Or this may be a question. Or, Exactly what thing I am. This is an idiomatic response, and scholars are not certain of the exact nuance. Plus there is a textual variant that allows this to be, How is it that I am even speaking to you at all? In any case, the point is clear: You ought to know who I am by now!
  7. John 8:28 Or, exalt, raise-high.
  8. John 8:31 Or, continue, abide, stay.
  9. John 8:33 That is, in a spiritual/religious sense. We have always freely worshiped the true God.
  10. John 8:34 Or, committing.
  11. John 8:36 Or, in-reality, in-truth. The Son will set you free to live in the Master’s (God’s) house as a family member.
  12. John 8:37 Or, making progress; or, making room, having a place.
  13. John 8:38 Or, the.
  14. John 8:38 Or this may be a command, Be doing.
  15. John 8:40 That is, at-the-present; or, as-it-is.
  16. John 8:44 Or, intending.
  17. John 8:44 Or, does not stand.
  18. John 8:44 Or, falsehood.
  19. John 8:47 That is, belonging to God.
  20. John 8:48 That is, you are making up your own religion.
  21. John 8:51 Or, by no means.
  22. John 8:58 Or, came-to-be, and in this sense ‘was’ or ‘was born’.
  23. John 8:58 Jesus is claiming to preexist Abraham, and therefore unlike v 24 and 28, His meaning is clear to them: He is claiming to be God, as in Ex 3:14; Isa 41:4; 43:10; 48:12, etc.
  24. John 8:59 That is, was hidden from them amidst the crowds as He went out of the temple. They could not find Him to stone Him. Or, hid Himself.

ιησους δε επορευθη εις το ορος των ελαιων

ορθρου δε παλιν παρεγενετο εις το ιερον [και πας ο λαος ηρχετο προς αυτον και καθισας εδιδασκεν αυτους]

αγουσιν δε οι γραμματεις και οι φαρισαιοι γυναικα επι μοιχεια κατειλημμενην και στησαντες αυτην εν μεσω

λεγουσιν αυτω διδασκαλε αυτη η γυνη κατειληπται επ αυτοφωρω μοιχευομενη

εν δε τω νομω [ημιν] μωυσης ενετειλατο τας τοιαυτας λιθαζειν συ ουν τι λεγεις

[τουτο δε ελεγον πειραζοντες αυτον ινα εχωσιν κατηγορειν αυτου] ο δε ιησους κατω κυψας τω δακτυλω κατεγραφεν εις την γην

ως δε επεμενον ερωτωντες [αυτον] ανεκυψεν και ειπεν [αυτοις] ο αναμαρτητος υμων πρωτος επ αυτην βαλετω λιθον

και παλιν κατακυψας εγραφεν εις την γην

οι δε ακουσαντες εξηρχοντο εις καθ εις αρξαμενοι απο των πρεσβυτερων και κατελειφθη μονος και η γυνη εν μεσω ουσα

10 ανακυψας δε ο ιησους ειπεν αυτη γυναι που εισιν ουδεις σε κατεκρινεν

11 η δε ειπεν ουδεις κυριε ειπεν δε ο ιησους ουδε εγω σε κατακρινω πορευου απο του νυν μηκετι αμαρτανε]]

12 παλιν ουν αυτοις ελαλησεν [ο] ιησους λεγων εγω ειμι το φως του κοσμου ο ακολουθων μοι ου μη περιπατηση εν τη σκοτια αλλ εξει το φως της ζωης

13 ειπον ουν αυτω οι φαρισαιοι συ περι σεαυτου μαρτυρεις η μαρτυρια σου ουκ εστιν αληθης

14 απεκριθη ιησους και ειπεν αυτοις καν εγω μαρτυρω περι εμαυτου αληθης εστιν η μαρτυρια μου οτι οιδα ποθεν ηλθον και που υπαγω υμεις δε ουκ οιδατε ποθεν ερχομαι η που υπαγω

15 υμεις κατα την σαρκα κρινετε εγω ου κρινω ουδενα

16 και εαν κρινω δε εγω η κρισις η εμη αληθινη εστιν οτι μονος ουκ ειμι αλλ εγω και ο πεμψας με [πατηρ]

17 και εν τω νομω δε τω υμετερω γεγραπται οτι δυο ανθρωπων η μαρτυρια αληθης εστιν

18 εγω ειμι ο μαρτυρων περι εμαυτου και μαρτυρει περι εμου ο πεμψας με πατηρ

19 ελεγον ουν αυτω που εστιν ο πατηρ σου απεκριθη ιησους ουτε εμε οιδατε ουτε τον πατερα μου ει εμε ηδειτε και τον πατερα μου αν ηδειτε

20 ταυτα τα ρηματα ελαλησεν εν τω γαζοφυλακιω διδασκων εν τω ιερω και ουδεις επιασεν αυτον οτι ουπω εληλυθει η ωρα αυτου

21 ειπεν ουν παλιν αυτοις εγω υπαγω και ζητησετε με και εν τη αμαρτια υμων αποθανεισθε οπου εγω υπαγω υμεις ου δυνασθε ελθειν

22 ελεγον ουν οι ιουδαιοι μητι αποκτενει εαυτον οτι λεγει οπου εγω υπαγω υμεις ου δυνασθε ελθειν

23 και ελεγεν αυτοις υμεις εκ των κατω εστε εγω εκ των ανω ειμι υμεις εκ τουτου του κοσμου εστε εγω ουκ ειμι εκ του κοσμου τουτου

24 ειπον ουν υμιν οτι αποθανεισθε εν ταις αμαρτιαις υμων εαν γαρ μη πιστευσητε οτι εγω ειμι αποθανεισθε εν ταις αμαρτιαις υμων

25 ελεγον ουν αυτω συ τις ει ειπεν αυτοις [ο] ιησους την αρχην ο τι και λαλω υμιν

26 πολλα εχω περι υμων λαλειν και κρινειν αλλ ο πεμψας με αληθης εστιν καγω α ηκουσα παρ αυτου ταυτα λαλω εις τον κοσμον

27 ουκ εγνωσαν οτι τον πατερα αυτοις ελεγεν

28 ειπεν ουν ο ιησους οταν υψωσητε τον υιον του ανθρωπου τοτε γνωσεσθε οτι εγω ειμι και απ εμαυτου ποιω ουδεν αλλα καθως εδιδαξεν με ο πατηρ ταυτα λαλω

29 και ο πεμψας με μετ εμου εστιν ουκ αφηκεν με μονον οτι εγω τα αρεστα αυτω ποιω παντοτε

30 ταυτα αυτου λαλουντος πολλοι επιστευσαν εις αυτον

31 ελεγεν ουν ο ιησους προς τους πεπιστευκοτας αυτω ιουδαιους εαν υμεις μεινητε εν τω λογω τω εμω αληθως μαθηται μου εστε

32 και γνωσεσθε την αληθειαν και η αληθεια ελευθερωσει υμας

33 απεκριθησαν προς αυτον σπερμα αβρααμ εσμεν και ουδενι δεδουλευκαμεν πωποτε πως συ λεγεις οτι ελευθεροι γενησεσθε

34 απεκριθη αυτοις [ο] ιησους αμην αμην λεγω υμιν οτι πας ο ποιων την αμαρτιαν δουλος εστιν [της αμαρτιας]

35 ο δε δουλος ου μενει εν τη οικια εις τον αιωνα ο υιος μενει εις τον αιωνα

36 εαν ουν ο υιος υμας ελευθερωση οντως ελευθεροι εσεσθε

37 οιδα οτι σπερμα αβρααμ εστε αλλα ζητειτε με αποκτειναι οτι ο λογος ο εμος ου χωρει εν υμιν

38 α εγω εωρακα παρα τω πατρι λαλω και υμεις ουν α ηκουσατε παρα του πατρος ποιειτε

39 απεκριθησαν και ειπαν αυτω ο πατηρ ημων αβρααμ εστιν λεγει αυτοις [ο] ιησους ει τεκνα του αβρααμ εστε τα εργα του αβρααμ ποιειτε

40 νυν δε ζητειτε με αποκτειναι ανθρωπον ος την αληθειαν υμιν λελαληκα ην ηκουσα παρα του θεου τουτο αβρααμ ουκ εποιησεν

41 υμεις ποιειτε τα εργα του πατρος υμων ειπαν αυτω ημεις εκ πορνειας ουκ εγεννηθημεν ενα πατερα εχομεν τον θεον

42 ειπεν αυτοις [ο] ιησους ει ο θεος πατηρ υμων ην ηγαπατε αν εμε εγω γαρ εκ του θεου εξηλθον και ηκω ουδε γαρ απ εμαυτου εληλυθα αλλ εκεινος με απεστειλεν

43 δια τι την λαλιαν την εμην ου γινωσκετε οτι ου δυνασθε ακουειν τον λογον τον εμον

44 υμεις εκ του πατρος του διαβολου εστε και τας επιθυμιας του πατρος υμων θελετε ποιειν εκεινος ανθρωποκτονος ην απ αρχης και εν τη αληθεια ουκ εστηκεν οτι ουκ εστιν αληθεια εν αυτω οταν λαλη το ψευδος εκ των ιδιων λαλει οτι ψευστης εστιν και ο πατηρ αυτου

45 εγω δε οτι την αληθειαν λεγω ου πιστευετε μοι

46 τις εξ υμων ελεγχει με περι αμαρτιας ει αληθειαν λεγω δια τι υμεις ου πιστευετε μοι

47 ο ων εκ του θεου τα ρηματα του θεου ακουει δια τουτο υμεις ουκ ακουετε οτι εκ του θεου ουκ εστε

48 απεκριθησαν οι ιουδαιοι και ειπαν αυτω ου καλως λεγομεν ημεις οτι σαμαριτης ει συ και δαιμονιον εχεις

49 απεκριθη ιησους εγω δαιμονιον ουκ εχω αλλα τιμω τον πατερα μου και υμεις ατιμαζετε με

50 εγω δε ου ζητω την δοξαν μου εστιν ο ζητων και κρινων

51 αμην αμην λεγω υμιν εαν τις τον εμον λογον τηρηση θανατον ου μη θεωρηση εις τον αιωνα

52 ειπον αυτω οι ιουδαιοι νυν εγνωκαμεν οτι δαιμονιον εχεις αβρααμ απεθανεν και οι προφηται και συ λεγεις εαν τις τον λογον μου τηρηση ου μη γευσηται θανατου εις τον αιωνα

53 μη συ μειζων ει του πατρος ημων αβρααμ οστις απεθανεν και οι προφηται απεθανον τινα σεαυτον ποιεις

54 απεκριθη ιησους εαν εγω δοξασω εμαυτον η δοξα μου ουδεν εστιν εστιν ο πατηρ μου ο δοξαζων με ον υμεις λεγετε οτι θεος υμων εστιν

55 και ουκ εγνωκατε αυτον εγω δε οιδα αυτον καν ειπω οτι ουκ οιδα αυτον εσομαι ομοιος υμιν ψευστης αλλα οιδα αυτον και τον λογον αυτου τηρω

56 αβρααμ ο πατηρ υμων ηγαλλιασατο ινα ιδη την ημεραν την εμην και ειδεν και εχαρη

57 ειπον ουν οι ιουδαιοι προς αυτον πεντηκοντα ετη ουπω εχεις και αβρααμ εωρακας

58 ειπεν αυτοις ιησους αμην αμην λεγω υμιν πριν αβρααμ γενεσθαι εγω ειμι

59 ηραν ουν λιθους ινα βαλωσιν επ αυτον ιησους δε εκρυβη και εξηλθεν εκ του ιερου

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

Chapter 8

Jesus, Savior of Sinners

A Woman Caught in Adultery.[a] [7:53Then each of them returned home. But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At daybreak he entered the temple courts, and all the people gathered around him. He sat down and began to teach them.

The scribes and the Pharisees brought in a woman who had been caught in adultery. Forcing her to stand in their midst, they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of adultery.[b] Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women.[c] What do you have to say?”

They asked him this question as a test so that they could bring a charge against him. Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they continued to persist in their question, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”[d] Then he again bent down and wrote on the ground.

When they heard his response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders, until Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She replied, “No one, sir.” “Neither do I condemn you,” Jesus said. “Go on your way, and sin no more.”]

The Light Triumphs over Darkness

12 The Light of the World.[e] Jesus addressed them once again, saying,

“I am[f] the light of the world.
The one who follows me
will never walk in darkness.
Rather, he will have the light of life.”

13 On hearing this, the Pharisees said to him, “You are testifying on your own behalf. Your testimony is not true.” 14 Jesus replied,

“Even though I testify on my own behalf,
my testimony is true,
because I know where I have come from
and where I am going,
whereas you do not know
where I have come from
or where I am going.
15 You judge by the flesh,
whereas I do not judge anyone.
16 Yet even if I do judge,
my judgment is true
because it is not I alone who judge,
but it is I and the Father who sent me.
17 “In your Law it is written
that the testimony of two witnesses is true.
18 I testify on my own behalf,
and the Father who sent me
also testifies on my behalf.”

19 They continued to question him, saying, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered,

“You know neither me nor my Father.
If you knew me,
you would know my Father also.”

20 He spoke these words while he was teaching at the treasury of the temple.[g] However, no one arrested him because his hour had not yet come.

21 I AM![h] Again he said to them,

“I am going away,
and you will search for me
but you will die in your sin.
Where I am going, you cannot come.”

22 Then the Jews wondered, “Is he planning to kill himself—because he was saying, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” 23 He continued,

“You belong to what is below,
whereas I belong to what is above.
You belong to this world,
but I am not of this world.
24 That is why I told you
that you would die in your sins.
For if you do not believe
that I AM,
you will die in your sins.”

25 “Who are you then?” they asked him. Jesus answered,

“Just what I have been telling you
from the beginning.
26 I have much to say about you,
and much to condemn.
But the one who sent me is true,
and what I have heard from him
I declare to the world.”

27 They did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father. 28 Therefore, Jesus said,

“When you have lifted up the Son of Man,
then you will know
that I AM,
that I do nothing on my own authority
and I say nothing except what
the Father has taught me.
29 He who sent me is with me.
He has not left me alone,
for I always do what pleases him.”

30 On hearing these words, many came to believe in him.

31 Jesus and Abraham.[i] Then Jesus said to those Jews who did believe in him,

“If you remain faithful to my word,
you will truly be my disciples.
32 You will know the truth,
and the truth will set you free.”

33 They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham, and we have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be set free’?” 34 Jesus replied,

“Amen, amen, I say to you,
everyone who sins
is a slave of sin.
35 A slave does not remain in a household forever,
but a son remains in it forever.
36 Therefore, if the Son sets you free,
you then will truly be free.
37 “I know that you are descendants of Abraham,
but you seek to kill me
because my word has no place in your heart.
38 I speak of what I have seen
in my Father’s presence,
whereas you do what you have heard
from your father.”

39 The Jews said to him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them,

“If you were Abraham’s children,
you would be doing the works that Abraham did.
40 But now you seek to kill me,
a man who has told you the truth
that I heard from God.
This is not what Abraham did.
41 You are doing the works of your father!”

They retorted, “We are not illegitimate children. We have one father—God.” 42 Jesus said to them,

“If God were your father,
you would love me,
for I came from God;
neither did I come of my own will,
but he was the one who sent me.
43 Why do you not understand
what I am saying?
It is because you cannot bear
to hear my words.
44 “You are from your father, the devil,
and you choose to carry out your father’s desires.
He was a murderer from the beginning,
and he does not abide by the truth,
for there is no truth in him.
When he lies,
he speaks in accord with his own nature,
for he is a liar
and the father of lies.
45 But because I speak the truth
you refuse to believe me.
46 “Which of you can convict me of sin?
If I say what is true,
why do you not believe me?
47 Whoever comes from God
listens to the words of God.
The reason why you refuse to listen
is that you do not belong to God.”

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.”[j]

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.”[k]

59 Then they picked up stones to throw at him, but he hid himself and left the temple.

Footnotes

  1. John 8:1 This story is missing in a number of ancient manuscripts and is inserted at other points in others; it does not seem to be from the author of the fourth Gospel, for it is written in quite a different style. However, it has been accepted by the Church as the work of an inspired author.
    We are struck by the portrait of Jesus found herein: his silence, his sober gesture, his refusal to use religion as a pretext to spy on and judge others, and his courage to proclaim his own truth. It is pointless to ask what he wrote on the ground. Let us dwell on what he considered the Law to be: it condemns sin not so that people may judge one another but so that they may feel the need to be saved by God. And it is to this salvation that he bears witness.
  2. John 8:4 Caught in the very act of adultery: Jewish law required witnesses to have seen the act.
  3. John 8:5 Stone such women: stoning was required only if the woman was a betrothed virgin (Deut 22:23-24). The Law also demanded the execution of both parties (Lev 20:10; Deut 22:22).
  4. John 8:7 The Law stipulated that the first stones were to be cast by the witnesses (Deut 17:7).
  5. John 8:12 Here is another symbol, which has the feast of Lights for its setting and enables us to understand more fully the part Jesus intends to play in the life of human beings: he is light. We may think of the luminous cloud during the journey in the wilderness (see Ex 13:21; Wis 18:3), the form in which God was leading his people.
  6. John 8:12 I am: see notes on Jn 6:20 and 6:35.
  7. John 8:20 The treasury of the temple: not the place where the offerings were stored, since this was closed to the public, but the adjacent room where the boxes for the offerings stood (see Mk 12:41; Lk 21:1).
  8. John 8:21 The discussion is continued so that the reader may come into direct contact with the mystery of Jesus. Who then is he? He does not belong to the world of sin but gathers around himself those who believe in him. Without this faith in him, people remain shut up in death, cast off from God. A sudden word is uttered: I am, the name by which God revealed himself to Moses (Ex 3:14). Jesus is so closely united to his Father that he can claim the title “Lord” for himself. Jesus will appear as Judge and Lord when he is lifted up on the cross (Jn 3:14; 19:37).
  9. John 8:31 The Jews can rightly protest that they are not illegitimate children, that is, using the imagery of the time, they have not grown up in idolatry but in faith in the true God. But that is not enough. To oppose Jesus and reject the truth means entering into an agreement with the devil. Jesus says that he is superior even to Abraham, the father of the people.
  10. 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).
  11. John 8:58 I AM: see notes on Jn 6:20 and 6:35.