John 8:12-58

New International Version

Dispute Over Jesus’ Testimony

¹² When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am^(A) the light of the world.^(B) Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”^(C)

¹³ The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”^(D)

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.^(E) But you have no idea where I come from^(F) or where I am going. ¹⁵ You judge by human standards;^(G) I pass judgment on no one.^{(H) 16} But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me.^{(I) 17} In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true.^{(J) 18} I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”^(K)

¹⁹ Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”

“You do not know me or my Father,”^(L) Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”^{(M) 20} He spoke these words while teaching^(N) in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put.^(O) Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.^(P)

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^(Q) in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”^(R)

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.^{(S) 24} I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he,^(T) 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,^(U) and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”^(V)

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,^(W) 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.^{(X) 29} The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone,^(Y) for I always do what pleases him.”^{(Z) 30} Even as he spoke, many believed in him.^(AA)

Dispute Over Whose Children Jesus’ Opponents Are

³¹ To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching,^(AB) you are really my disciples. ³² Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”^(AC)

³³ They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants^(AD) 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.^{(AE) 35} Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.^{(AF) 36} So if the Son sets you free,^(AG) you will be free indeed. ³⁷ I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me,^(AH) because you have no room for my word. ³⁸ I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence,^(AI) and you are doing what you have heard from your father.^[b]”^(AJ)

³⁹ “Abraham is our father,” they answered.

“If you were Abraham’s children,”^(AK) said Jesus, “then you would^[c] do what Abraham did. ⁴⁰ As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me,^(AL) a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God.^(AM) Abraham did not do such things. ⁴¹ You are doing the works of your own father.”^(AN)

“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”^(AO)

⁴² Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me,^(AP) for I have come here from God.^(AQ) I have not come on my own;^(AR) God sent me.^{(AS) 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,^(AT) and you want to carry out your father’s desires.^(AU) 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.^{(AV) 45} Yet because I tell the truth,^(AW) 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.^(AX) 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^(AY) and demon-possessed?”^(AZ)

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;^(BA) 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.”^(BB)

⁵² At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed!^(BC) 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?^(BD) He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”

⁵⁴ Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself,^(BE) my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.^{(BF) 55} Though you do not know him,^(BG) I know him.^(BH) If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word.^{(BI) 56} Your father Abraham^(BJ) rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it^(BK) 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,^(BL) I am!”^(BM)