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31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples. 32 You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” Psalm 119:45

33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s offspring, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How do you say, ‘You will be made free’?”

34 Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin. 35 A bondservant doesn’t live in the house forever. A son remains forever. 36 If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s offspring, yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you. 38 I say the things which I have seen with my Father; and you also do the things which you have seen with your father.”

39 They answered him, “Our father is Abraham.”

Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham didn’t do this. 41 You do the works of your father.”

They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God.”

42 Therefore Jesus said to them, “If God were your father, you would love me, for I came out and have come from God. For I haven’t come of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why don’t you understand my speech? Because you can’t hear my word. 44 You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you don’t believe me. 46 Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 He who is of God hears the words of God. For this cause you don’t hear, because you are not of God.”

48 Then the Jews answered him, “Don’t we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?”

49 Jesus answered, “I don’t have a demon, but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 But I don’t seek my own glory. There is one who seeks and judges. 51 Most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death.”

52 Then the Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, as did the prophets; and you say, ‘If a man keeps my word, he will never taste of death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father, Abraham, who died? The prophets died. Who do you make yourself out to be?”

54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is our God. 55 You have not known him, but I know him. If I said, ‘I don’t know him,’ I would be like you, a liar. But I know him and keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it, and was glad.”

57 The Jews therefore said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old! Have you seen Abraham?”

58 Jesus said to them, “Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM.Exodus 3:14

59 Therefore they took up stones to throw at him, but Jesus was hidden, and went out of the temple, having gone through the middle of them, and so passed by.

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The Truth Will Set You Free

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, (A)“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will (B)know the truth, and the truth (C)will set you free.” 33 They answered him, (D)“We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, (E)everyone who practices sin is a slave[a] to sin. 35 (F)The slave does not remain in the house forever; (G)the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet (H)you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 (I)I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard (J)from your father.”

You Are of Your Father the Devil

39 They answered him, (K)“Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, (L)“If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now (M)you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth (N)that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, (O)“We were not born of sexual immorality. We have (P)one Father—even God.” 42 Jesus said to them, (Q)“If God were your Father, you would love me, for (R)I came from God and (S)I am here. (T)I came not of my own accord, but (U)he sent me. 43 (V)Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot (W)bear to hear my word. 44 (X)You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. (Y)He was a murderer from the beginning, and (Z)does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. (AA)When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 (AB)Whoever is of God hears the words of God. (AC)The reason why you do not hear them is that (AD)you are not of God.”

Before Abraham Was, I Am

48 The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and (AE)have a demon?” 49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but (AF)I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50 Yet (AG)I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Truly, truly, (AH)I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never (AI)see death.” 52 The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! (AJ)Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet (AK)you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never (AL)taste death.’ 53 (AM)Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” 54 Jesus answered, (AN)“If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. (AO)It is my Father who glorifies me, (AP)of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’[b] 55 But (AQ)you have not known him. (AR)I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be (AS)a liar (AT)like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. 56 (AU)Your father Abraham (AV)rejoiced (AW)that he would see my day. (AX)He saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”[c] 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, (AY)I am.” 59 So (AZ)they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

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Footnotes

  1. John 8:34 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; also verse 35
  2. John 8:54 Some manuscripts your God
  3. John 8:57 Some manuscripts has Abraham seen you?