John 8
Holman Christian Standard Bible
8 1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.(A)
An Adulteress Forgiven
2 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.
3 Then the scribes and the Pharisees(E) brought a woman caught in adultery,(F) making her stand in the center. 4 “Teacher,” they said to Him, “this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery.(G) 5 In the law Moses(H) commanded us to stone such women.(I) So what do You say?” 6 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. 7 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)
8 Then He stooped down again and continued writing on the ground. 9 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
- John 8:11 Or Sir; Jn 4:15,49; 5:7; 6:34; 9:36
- John 8:11 Other mss omit bracketed text
- John 8:13 The law of Moses required at least 2 witnesses to make a claim legally valid (v. 17).
- John 8:14 Or true
- John 8:15 Lit You judge according to the flesh
- John 8:20 A place for offerings to be given, perhaps in the court of women
- John 8:20 The time of His sacrificial death and exaltation; Jn 2:4; 7:30; 12:23,27; 13:1; 17:1
- John 8:24 Jesus claimed to be deity, but the Pharisees didn’t understand His meaning.
- John 8:31 Or My teaching, or My message
- John 8:33 Or offspring; lit seed; Jn 7:42
- John 8:37 Or offspring; lit seed; Jn 7:42
- John 8:37 Or My teaching, or My message
- John 8:38 Other mss read of My Father
- John 8:43 Or cannot hear
- John 8:44 Lit from his own things
- John 8:44 Lit of it
- John 8:53 Lit Who do You make Yourself?
- John 8:57 Other mss read and Abraham has seen You?
- 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.
- John 8:59 Or Jesus hid Himself
- John 8:59 Other mss add and having gone through their midst, He passed by
John 8
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
8 1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
The Pharisees Bring Jesus a Woman Caught In Adultery
2 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. 3 And the scribes and the Pharisees bring a woman having been caught in adultery. And having stood her in the middle, 4 they say to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the-act, while committing-adultery. 5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to be stoning such women[a]. What then do You say?” 6 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. 7 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”. 8 And again having stooped-down, He was writing in the ground. 9 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
- John 8:5 Actually, Deut 22:22-24 and Lev 20:10 say both should be stoned.
- John 8:11 That is, execute sentence upon you at this time.
- John 8:12 That is, proceeding from; or, leading to.
- John 8:24 Or, I am He; that is, the Christ. Or, I am.
- 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.
- 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!
- John 8:28 Or, exalt, raise-high.
- John 8:31 Or, continue, abide, stay.
- John 8:33 That is, in a spiritual/religious sense. We have always freely worshiped the true God.
- John 8:34 Or, committing.
- 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.
- John 8:37 Or, making progress; or, making room, having a place.
- John 8:38 Or, the.
- John 8:38 Or this may be a command, Be doing.
- John 8:40 That is, at-the-present; or, as-it-is.
- John 8:44 Or, intending.
- John 8:44 Or, does not stand.
- John 8:44 Or, falsehood.
- John 8:47 That is, belonging to God.
- John 8:48 That is, you are making up your own religion.
- John 8:51 Or, by no means.
- John 8:58 Or, came-to-be, and in this sense ‘was’ or ‘was born’.
- 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.
- 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.
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Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
