John 8
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
8 1
Jesus the Light of the World
12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”(E) 13 Then the Pharisees said to him, “You are testifying on your own behalf; your testimony is not valid.” 14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid because I know where I have come from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge by human standards;[c] I judge no one. 16 Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is valid, for it is not I alone who judge but I and the Father[d] who sent me. 17 In your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is valid.(F) 18 I testify on my own behalf, and the Father who sent me testifies on my behalf.”(G) 19 Then they said to him, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”(H) 20 He spoke these words while he was teaching in the treasury of the temple, but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.(I)
Jesus Foretells His Death
21 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.”(J) 22 Then the Jews said, “Is he going to kill himself? Is that what he means by saying, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” 23 He said to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are from this world, I am not from this world.(K) 24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he.”[e](L) 25 They said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Why do I speak to you at all?[f] 26 I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but the one who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.”(M) 27 They did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am he[g] and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak these things as the Father instructed me.(N) 29 And the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him.”(O) 30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him.
True Disciples
31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”(P) 33 They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free’?”(Q)
34 Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.(R) 35 The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever.(S) 36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are descendants of Abraham, yet you look for an opportunity to kill me because there is no place in you for my word. 38 I declare what I have seen in the Father’s presence; as for you, you should do what you have heard from the Father.”[h](T)
Jesus and Abraham
39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you are Abraham’s children, you would do[i] what Abraham did,(U) 40 but now you are trying 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 indeed doing what your father does.” They said to him, “We are not illegitimate children; we have one Father, God himself.”(V) 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God, and now I am here. I did not come on my own, but he sent me.(W) 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot accept my word. 44 You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.(X) 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.[j] 46 Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is from God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not from God.”(Y)
48 The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?”(Z) 49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50 Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge.(AA) 51 Very truly, I tell you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.”(AB) 52 The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets, yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’(AC) 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets also died. Who do you claim to be?”(AD) 54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, he of whom you say, ‘He is our God,’(AE) 55 though you do not know him. But I 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.(AF) 56 Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad.”(AG) 57 Then the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”[k] 58 Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.”(AH) 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.(AI)
Footnotes
- 8.11 Or Lord
- 8.11 The most ancient authorities lack 7.53–8.11; other authorities add the passage here or after 7.36 or after 21.25 or after Luke 21.38, with variations of text; some mark the passage as doubtful.
- 8.15 Gk according to the flesh
- 8.16 Other ancient authorities read he
- 8.24 Gk I am
- 8.25 Or What I have told you from the beginning
- 8.28 Gk I am
- 8.38 Other ancient authorities read you do what you have heard from your father
- 8.39 Other ancient authorities read you were . . . you would do or you are . . . then do
- 8.45 Or You do not believe even though I tell the truth
- 8.57 Other ancient authorities read has Abraham seen you?
John 8
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 8
Jesus, Savior of Sinners
A Woman Caught in Adultery.[a] [7:53Then each of them returned home. 1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At daybreak he entered the temple courts, and all the people gathered around him. He sat down and began to teach them.
3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought in a woman who had been caught in adultery. Forcing her to stand in their midst, 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of adultery.[b] 5 Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women.[c] What do you have to say?”
6 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. 7 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] 8 Then he again bent down and wrote on the ground.
9 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
- 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. - John 8:4 Caught in the very act of adultery: Jewish law required witnesses to have seen the act.
- 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).
- John 8:7 The Law stipulated that the first stones were to be cast by the witnesses (Deut 17:7).
- 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.
- John 8:12 I am: see notes on Jn 6:20 and 6:35.
- 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).
- 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).
- 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.
- John 8:56 Abraham rejoiced at the promise given to him by the Lord that the future Messiah would come from his descendants (Gen 12:7; 15:2f; 17:15f; see Gal 3:16). My day: that is, the presence of the Messiah, whom Abraham saw and greeted “from a distance” (Heb 11:13).
- John 8:58 I AM: see notes on Jn 6:20 and 6:35.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
