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

And at dawn he came again to the temple,

and all the people were coming unto him, and having sat down, he was teaching them;

and the scribes and the Pharisees bring unto him a woman having been taken in adultery, and having set her in the midst,

they say to him, `Teacher, this woman was taken in the very crime -- committing adultery,

and in the law, Moses did command us that such be stoned; thou, therefore, what dost thou say?'

and this they said, trying him, that they might have to accuse him. And Jesus, having stooped down, with the finger he was writing on the ground,

and when they continued asking him, having bent himself back, he said unto them, `The sinless of you -- let him first cast the stone at her;'

and again having stooped down, he was writing on the ground,

and they having heard, and by the conscience being convicted, were going forth one by one, having begun from the elders -- unto the last; and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

10 And Jesus having bent himself back, and having seen no one but the woman, said to her, `Woman, where are those -- thine accusers? did no one pass sentence upon thee?'

11 and she said, `No one, Sir;' and Jesus said to her, `Neither do I pass sentence on thee; be going on, and no more sin.'

12 Again, therefore, Jesus spake to them, saying, `I am the light of the world; he who is following me shall not walk in the darkness, but he shall have the light of the life.'

13 The Pharisees, therefore, said to him, `Thou of thyself dost testify, thy testimony is not true;'

14 Jesus answered and said to them, `And if I testify of myself -- my testimony is true, because I have known whence I came, and whither I go, and ye -- ye have not known whence I come, or whither I go.

15 `Ye according to the flesh do judge; I do not judge any one,

16 and even if I do judge my judgment is true, because I am not alone, but I and the Father who sent me;

17 and also in your law it hath been written, that the testimony of two men are true;

18 I am [one] who is testifying of myself, and the Father who sent me doth testify of me.'

19 They said, therefore, to him, `Where is thy father?' Jesus answered, `Ye have neither known me nor my Father: if me ye had known, my Father also ye had known.'

20 These sayings spake Jesus in the treasury, teaching in the temple, and no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come;

21 therefore said Jesus again to them, `I go away, and ye will seek me, and in your sin ye shall die; whither I go away, ye are not able to come.'

22 The Jews, therefore, said, `Will he kill himself, because he saith, Whither I go away, ye are not able to come?'

23 and he said to them, `Ye are from beneath, I am from above; ye are of this world, I am not of this world;

24 I said, therefore, to you, that ye shall die in your sins, for if ye may not believe that I am [he], ye shall die in your sins.'

25 They said, therefore, to him, `Thou -- who art thou?' and Jesus said to them, `Even what I did speak of to you at the beginning;

26 many things I have to speak concerning you and to judge, but He who sent me is true, and I -- what things I heard from Him -- these I say to the world.'

27 They knew not that of the Father he spake to them;

28 Jesus, therefore, said to them, `When ye may lift up the Son of Man then ye will know that I am [he]; and of myself I do nothing, but according as my Father did teach me, these things I speak;

29 and He who sent me is with me; the Father did not leave me alone, because I, the things pleasing to Him, do always.'

30 As he is speaking these things, many believed in him;

31 Jesus, therefore, said unto the Jews who believed in him, `If ye may remain in my word, truly my disciples ye are, and ye shall know the truth,

32 and the truth shall make you free.'

33 They answered him, `Seed of Abraham we are; and to no one have we been servants at any time; how dost thou say -- Ye shall become free?'

34 Jesus answered them, `Verily, verily, I say to you -- Every one who is committing sin, is a servant of the sin,

35 and the servant doth not remain in the house -- to the age, the son doth remain -- to the age;

36 if then the son may make you free, in reality ye shall be free.

37 `I have known that ye are seed of Abraham, but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you;

38 I -- that which I have seen with my Father do speak, and ye, therefore, that which ye have seen with your father -- ye do.'

39 They answered and said to him, `Our father is Abraham;' Jesus saith to them, `If children of Abraham ye were, the works of Abraham ye were doing;

40 and now, ye seek to kill me -- a man who hath spoken to you the truth I heard from God; this Abraham did not;

41 ye do the works of your father.' They said, therefore, to him, `We of whoredom have not been born; one Father we have -- God;'

42 Jesus then said to them, `If God were your father, ye were loving me, for I came forth from God, and am come; for neither have I come of myself, but He sent me;

43 wherefore do ye not know my speech? because ye are not able to hear my word.

44 `Ye are of a father -- the devil, and the desires of your father ye will to do; he was a man-slayer from the beginning, and in the truth he hath not stood, because there is no truth in him; when one may speak the falsehood, of his own he speaketh, because he is a liar -- also his father.

45 `And because I say the truth, ye do not believe me.

46 Who of you doth convict me of sin? and if I speak truth, wherefore do ye not believe me?

47 he who is of God, the sayings of God he doth hear; because of this ye do not hear, because of God ye are not.'

48 The Jews, therefore, answered and said to him, `Do we not say well, that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon?'

49 Jesus answered, `I have not a demon, but I honour my Father, and ye dishonour me;

50 and I do not seek my own glory; there is who is seeking and is judging;

51 verily, verily, I say to you, If any one may keep my word, death he may not see -- to the age.'

52 The Jews, therefore, said to him, `Now we have known that thou hast a demon; Abraham did die, and the prophets, and thou dost say, If any one may keep my word, he shall not taste of death -- to the age!

53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, who died? and the prophets died; whom dost thou make thyself?'

54 Jesus answered, `If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing; it is my Father who is glorifying me, of whom ye say that He is your God;

55 and ye have not known Him, and I have known Him, and if I say that I have not known Him, I shall be like you -- speaking falsely; but I have known Him, and His word I keep;

56 Abraham, your father, was glad that he might see my day; and he saw, and did rejoice.'

57 The Jews, therefore, said unto him, `Thou art not yet fifty years old, and Abraham hast thou seen?'

58 Jesus said to them, `Verily, verily, I say to you, Before Abraham's coming -- I am;'

59 they took up, therefore, stones that they may cast at him, but Jesus hid himself, and went forth out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

Jesus Speaks to the Teachers of the Law and the Proud Religious Law-Keepers

(*Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning He went back to the house of God and all the people came to Him. He sat down and taught them.

The teachers of the Law and the proud religious law-keepers came to Him. They brought a woman who had been caught doing a sex sin. They made her stand in front of them all. Then they said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of doing a sex sin. Moses told us in the Law to throw stones and kill a woman like this. What do You say about it?”

They were trying to set a trap to find something against Him. Jesus got down and began to write in the dust with His finger. They kept on asking Him. Then He stood up and said, “Anyone of you who is without sin can throw the first stone at her.” Again He got down and wrote in the dust. When they heard what He said, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones until they were all gone. Then Jesus was left alone with the woman.

10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are those who spoke against you? Has no man said you are guilty?” 11 She said, “No one, Sir.” Jesus said to her, “Neither do I say you are guilty. Go on your way and do not sin again.”)

Jesus Teaches about the Light of the World

12 Jesus spoke to all the people, saying, “I am the Light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will not walk in darkness. He will have the Light of Life.”

13 The proud religious law-keepers said to Him, “You are talking about Yourself. What You say about Yourself is not true.”

14 Jesus said, “Even if I speak of Myself, what I am saying is true. I know where I came from and where I am going. You do not know where I came from or where I am going. 15 You say as a man would say if people are guilty or not guilty. I am not saying anyone is guilty. 16 But even if I did, it would be true. I am not alone. The Father Who sent Me is with Me. 17 It is written in your Law that when two men agree about something, it proves it is true. (A) 18 I speak for Myself and the Father Who sent Me speaks for Me.”

19 The proud religious law-keepers asked Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus said, “You do not know Me or My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.”

20 Jesus spoke these words near the money box while He taught in the house of God. No one put his hands on Jesus because His time had not yet come.

Jesus Tells of His Going Away

21 Jesus spoke to the Jews again, saying, “I am going away. You will look for Me but you will die in your sins. Where I am going, you cannot come.” 22 The Jews said, “Will He kill Himself because He said, ‘Where I am going you cannot come’?”

23 He answered them, “You are from below. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world. 24 That is why I said that you will die in your sins. If you do not believe that I am the Christ, you will die in your sins.”

25 Then they said to Him, “Who are You?” Jesus answered, “The answer is the same as I told you from the beginning. 26 I have much to say about you. I must say if you are guilty. But He Who sent Me is true. I tell the world the things I have heard from Him.”

27 They did not understand that Jesus was speaking to them about the Father. 28 Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, you will know that I am the Christ. I do nothing of Myself. I say these things as My Father has taught Me. 29 He that sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone. I always do what He wants Me to do.” 30 As Jesus said these things, many people put their trust in Him. 31 He said to the Jews who believed, “If you keep and obey My Word, then you are My followers for sure. 32 You will know the truth and the truth will make you free.”

Jesus Teaches What It Means to Be Free

33 They said to Jesus, “We are children of Abraham. We have never been servants to anyone. What do you mean when You say, ‘You will be free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “For sure, I tell you, everyone who sins is the servant of sin because sin has a hold on him. 35 And the servant does not belong in the house. The son belongs in the house. 36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free for sure.

37 “I know that you are the children of Abraham. But you want to kill Me because My Word is not in your hearts. 38 I speak of what I saw when I was with My Father. You do what you have seen your father do.”

39 They said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said, “If you were children of Abraham, you would do what he did. 40 I am a Man Who has told you the truth as I heard it from God. Now you are trying to kill Me. Abraham never did anything like that. 41 You are doing the works of your father.” They said to Him, “We were born of parents who were faithful in marriage. We have one Father. He is God.”

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your father, you would love Me. I came from God. I did not come on My own, but God sent Me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you do not want to hear My teaching. 44 The devil is your father. You are from him. You want to do the sinful things your father, the devil, wants you to do. He has been a killer from the beginning. The devil has nothing to do with the truth. There is no truth in him. It is expected of the devil to lie, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 I tell you the truth and that is why you do not put your trust in Me. 46 Which one of you can say I am guilty of sin? If I tell you the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 Whoever is born of God listens to God’s Word. You do not hear His Word because you are not born of God.”

The Jews Say Jesus Has a Demon

48 The Jews said to Jesus, “Are we not right when we say You are from the country of Samaria, and You have a demon?” 49 Jesus said, “No, I do not have a demon. I honor My Father. You do not honor Me. 50 I am not looking for honor for Myself. There is One Who is looking for it. He says what is right from wrong. 51 For sure, I tell you, if anyone keeps My Word, that one will never die.”

52 Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know You have a demon. Abraham died. The early preachers died. You say, ‘If anyone keeps My Word, that one will never die.’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died and the early preachers died. Who do You think You are?” 54 Jesus said, “If I honor Myself, My honor would be worth nothing. My Father honors Me. You say He is your God. 55 You have never known Him, but I know Him. If I said I did not know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know the Father and obey His Word. 56 Your father Abraham was glad that he was to see My coming. He saw it and was happy.”

57 The Jews said to Jesus, “You are not even fifty years old. How could you have seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “For sure, I tell you, before Abraham was born, I was and am and always will be!”

59 Then they picked up stones to throw at Him. Jesus hid Himself *and left the house of God.

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