1but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.2Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. (Mt 5:1; Lu 4:20; Lu 21:38)3The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst4they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.5Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” (Le 20:10; De 22:22; De 22:24; Eze 16:38; Eze 16:40)6This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. (Mt 16:1; Mt 19:3; Mt 22:18; Mt 22:35; Mr 8:11; Mr 10:2; Mr 12:15; Lu 10:25; Lu 11:16; Lu 11:54)7And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” (De 17:7; Ro 2:1; Ro 2:22)8And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground.9But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.10Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”11She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”]] (Lu 12:14; Joh 3:17; Joh 5:14; Joh 8:15)
I Am the Light of the World
12Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (Ps 36:9; Isa 42:6; Isa 49:6; Mal 4:2; Joh 1:4; Joh 1:9; Joh 7:37; Joh 12:26; Joh 12:35; Joh 21:19)13So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” (Joh 5:31)14Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. (Joh 7:28; Joh 7:33; Joh 8:21; Joh 9:29; Joh 13:3; Joh 16:28; Re 3:14)15You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. (1Sa 16:7; Job 10:4; Joh 7:24; Joh 8:11; Joh 12:47)16Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father[1] who sent me. (Joh 5:30; Joh 8:29; Joh 16:32)17In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. (Nu 35:30)18I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” (Joh 5:37)19They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” (Joh 8:55; Joh 14:7; Joh 16:3)20These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. (Mt 27:6; Joh 7:8; Joh 7:30)21So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” (Eze 3:18; Eze 33:8; Joh 7:34; Joh 8:24; Joh 14:2; Joh 14:28; Joh 16:7)22So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” (Joh 7:35)23He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. (Joh 3:31; Joh 8:44; Joh 17:14; Joh 17:16; 1Jo 4:5)24I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” (Mr 13:6; Lu 21:8; Joh 8:21; Joh 16:9)25So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. (Joh 1:19)26I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” (Joh 3:32; Joh 3:33; Joh 7:28; Joh 8:40; Joh 15:15; Joh 18:20; Ro 3:4; Re 1:1)27They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. (Joh 8:18; Joh 8:26)28So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. (Joh 3:14; Joh 5:30; Joh 7:16; Joh 8:24; Joh 12:32; Joh 12:34; Joh 16:8)29And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” (Joh 4:34; Joh 5:30; Joh 6:38; Joh 8:16; Joh 10:38; Joh 16:32; Ac 10:38; 1Jo 3:22)30As he was saying these things, many believed in him. (Joh 7:31)
The Truth Will Set You Free
31So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, (Joh 15:7; 2Jo 1:9)32and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (Joh 8:36; Ro 6:18; Ro 6:22; Ro 8:2; 1Co 7:22; 2Co 3:17; Ga 5:1; Ga 5:13; Jas 1:25; Jas 2:12; 1Pe 2:16; 2Jo 1:1)33They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” (Mt 3:9; Lu 19:9; Joh 8:37; Joh 8:39; Ro 9:7)34Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave[2] to sin. (Ro 6:16; Tit 3:3; 2Pe 2:19)35The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. (Ge 21:10; Lu 15:31; Ga 4:30)36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.37I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. (Joh 7:1; Joh 8:40)38I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.” (Joh 3:32; Joh 5:19; Joh 6:46; Joh 8:41; Joh 8:44)
You Are of Your Father the Devil
39They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, (Joh 8:33; Joh 8:56; Ga 3:7; Ga 3:9)40but 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. (Joh 8:26; Joh 8:37)41You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” (De 32:6; Isa 63:16; Isa 64:8; Ho 2:4; Joh 8:47)42Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. (Joh 3:17; Joh 7:28; Joh 16:28; Joh 17:8; Heb 10:9; 1Jo 5:1; 1Jo 5:20)43Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. (Jer 6:10; Joh 7:17; 1Co 2:14)44You are of your father the devil, and your will is 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 out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (Ge 3:4; Ge 4:8; Mt 13:38; Joh 8:23; Ro 5:12; 2Co 11:3; 1Jo 2:4; 1Jo 3:8; 1Jo 3:12; 1Jo 3:15; Re 12:9)45But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.46Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?47Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” (Joh 8:41; Joh 10:26; Joh 18:37; 1Jo 4:6)
Before Abraham Was, I Am
48The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” (Joh 7:20)49Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. (Joh 5:23; Joh 7:18)50Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. (Joh 5:41; Joh 8:54)51Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” (Lu 2:26; Joh 5:24; Joh 11:26)52The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ (Zec 1:5; Mt 16:28; Joh 8:51; Heb 2:9)53Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” (Joh 4:12)54Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’[3] (Joh 8:41; Joh 8:50; Joh 13:32; Joh 17:1; Ac 3:13; Heb 5:5; 2Pe 1:17)55But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. (Mt 11:27; Joh 7:28; Joh 7:29; Joh 8:19; Joh 8:44; 1Jo 1:6)56Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” (Mt 13:17; Lu 17:22; Joh 8:39; Heb 11:13)57So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”[4]58Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” (Ex 3:14)59So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple. (Joh 10:31)
John 8
King James Version
1Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.2And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.3And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,4They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.5Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?6This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.7So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.8And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.9And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.10When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?11She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.12Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.13The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.14Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.15Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.16And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.17It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.18I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.19Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.20These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.21Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.22Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.23And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.24I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.25Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.26I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.27They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.28Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.29And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.30As he spake these words, many believed on him.31Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;32And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.33They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?34Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.35And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.36If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.37I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.38I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.39They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.40But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.41Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.42Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.43Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.44Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.45And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.46Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?47He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.48Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?49Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.50And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.51Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.52Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.53Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?54Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:55Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.56Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.57Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?58Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.59Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
John 8
New International Reader’s Version
1But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.2At sunrise he arrived again in the temple courtyard. All the people gathered around him there. He sat down to teach them.3The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman. She had been caught committing adultery. They made her stand in front of the group.4They said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught sleeping with a man who was not her husband.5In the Law, Moses commanded us to kill such women by throwing stones at them. Now what do you say?’6They were trying to trap Jesus with that question. They wanted to have a reason to bring charges against him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.7They kept asking him questions. So he stood up and said to them, ‘Has any one of you not sinned? Then you be the first to throw a stone at her.’8He bent down again and wrote on the ground.9Those who heard what he had said began to go away. They left one at a time, the older ones first. Soon only Jesus was left. The woman was still standing there.10Jesus stood up and asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Hasn’t anyone found you guilty?’11‘No one, sir,’ she said. ‘Then I don’t find you guilty either,’ Jesus said. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’
Challenge to what Jesus says about himself
12Jesus spoke to the people again. He said, ‘I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in darkness. They will have that light. They will have life.’13The Pharisees argued with him. ‘Here you are,’ they said, ‘appearing as your own witness. But your witness does not count.’14Jesus answered, ‘Even if I am a witness about myself, what I say does count. I know where I came from. And I know where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going.15You judge by human standards. I don’t judge anyone.16But if I do judge, what I decide is true. This is because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me.17Your own Law says that the witness of two people proves the truth about something.18I am a witness about myself. The other witness about me is the Father, who sent me.’19Then they asked him, ‘Where is your father?’ ‘You do not know me or my Father,’ Jesus replied. ‘If you knew me, you would know my Father also.’20He spoke these words while he was teaching in the temple courtyard. He was near the place where the offerings were put. But no one arrested him. That’s because the time for him to die had not yet come.
Challenge to who Jesus claims to be
21Once more Jesus said to them, ‘I am going away. You will look for me, and you will die in your sin. You can’t come where I am going.’22This made the Jews ask, ‘Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, “You can’t come where I am going”?’23But Jesus said, ‘You are from below. I am from heaven. You are from this world. I am not from this world.24I told you that you would die in your sins. This will happen if you don’t believe that I am he. If you don’t believe, you will certainly 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 a lot to say that will judge you. But the one who sent me can be trusted. And I tell the world what I have heard from him.’27They did not understand that Jesus was telling them about his Father.28So Jesus said, ‘You will lift up the Son of Man. Then you will know that I am he. You will also know that I do nothing on my own. I speak just what the Father has taught me.29The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what pleases him.’30Even while Jesus was speaking, many people believed in him.
Challenge to the claim to be children of Abraham
31Jesus spoke to the Jews who had believed him. ‘If you obey my teaching,’ he said, ‘you are really my disciples.32Then you will know the truth. And the truth will set you free.’33They answered him, ‘We are Abraham’s children. We have never been slaves of anyone. So how can you say that we will be set free?’34Jesus replied, ‘What I’m about to tell you is true. Everyone who sins is a slave of sin.35A slave has no lasting place in the family. But a son belongs to the family for ever.36So if the Son of Man sets you free, you will really be free.37I know you are Abraham’s children. But you are looking for a way to kill me. You have no room for my word.38I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. You are doing what you have heard from your father.’39‘Abraham is our father,’ they answered. Jesus said, ‘Are you really Abraham’s children? If you are, you will do what Abraham did.40But you are looking for a way to kill me. I am a man who has told you the truth I heard from God. Abraham didn’t do the things you want to do.41You are doing what your own father does.’ ‘We have the right to claim to be God’s children,’ they objected. ‘The only Father we have is God himself.’42Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love me. I have come here from God. I have not come on my own. God sent me.43Why aren’t my words clear to you? Because you can’t really hear what I say.44You belong to your father, the devil. You want to obey your father’s wishes. From the beginning, the devil was a murderer. He has never obeyed the truth. There is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his natural language. He does this because he is a liar. He is the father of lies.45But because I tell the truth, you don’t believe me!46Can any of you prove I am guilty of sinning? Am I not telling the truth? Then why don’t you believe me?47Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you don’t hear is that you don’t belong to God.’
Jesus makes claims about himself
48The Jews answered Jesus, ‘Aren’t we right when we say you are a Samaritan? Aren’t you controlled by a demon?’49‘I am not controlled by a demon,’ said Jesus. ‘I honour my Father. You do not honour me.50I am not seeking glory for myself. But there is one who brings glory to me. He is the judge.51What I’m about to tell you is true. Whoever obeys my word will never die.’52Then they cried out, ‘Now we know you are controlled by a demon! Abraham died. So did the prophets. But you say that whoever obeys your word will never die.53Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died. So did the prophets. Who do you think you are?’54Jesus replied, ‘If I bring glory to myself, my glory means nothing. You claim that my Father is your God. He is the one who brings glory to me.55You do not know him. But I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him. And I obey his word.56Your father Abraham was filled with joy at the thought of seeing my day. He saw it and was glad.’57‘You are not even 50 years old,’ they said to Jesus. ‘And you have seen Abraham?’58‘What I’m about to tell you is true,’ Jesus answered. ‘Before Abraham was born, I am!’59When he said this, they picked up stones to kill him. But Jesus hid himself. He slipped away from the temple area.