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John chapter 8

English Standard Version

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. 3The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4they 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?” 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. 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.” 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.” ]] 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.” 13So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” 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. 15You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. 17In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. 18I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” 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.” 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.
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.” 22So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” 23He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” 25So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. 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.” 27They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. 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. 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.” 30As he was saying these things, many believed in him.
31So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 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’?”
34Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 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. 38I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”
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, 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. 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.” 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. 43Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 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. 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.”
48The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” 49Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” 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.’ 53Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” 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.’ 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. 56Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” 57So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” 58Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” 59So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.
New International Version

1but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4and said to Jesus, 'Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women.Now what do you say?'
6They were using this question as a trap,in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When 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 at her.' 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9At 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. 10Jesus straightened up and asked her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?'
11No one, sir,' she said. 'Then neither do I condemn you,'Jesus declared. 'Go now and leave your life of sin.'
12When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'
13The Pharisees challenged him, 'Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.'
14Jesus 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. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 15You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. 18I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness 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 teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.
21Once more Jesus said to them, 'I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.'
22This made the Jews ask, 'Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, 'Where I go, you cannot come'?'
23But he continued, 'You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.'
25Who are you?' they asked. 'Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,' Jesus replied. 26I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.'
27They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28So Jesus said, '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 but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.' 30Even as he spoke, many believed in him.
31To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, 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 descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?'
34Jesus replied, 'Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37I know that you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38I am telling you what I have seen in the Father's presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.'
39Abraham is our father,' they answered. 'If you were Abraham's children,' said Jesus, 'then you would do what Abraham did. 40As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things.
41You are doing the works of your own father.' 'We are not illegitimate children,' they protested. 'The only Father we have is God himself.'
42Jesus said to them, 'If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. 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. 45Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? 47Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.'
48The Jews answered him, 'Aren't we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?'
49I am not possessed by a demon,' said Jesus, 'but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.'
52At this they exclaimed, 'Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. 53Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?'
54Jesus replied, 'If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word. 56Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.'
57You are not yet fifty years old,' they said to him, 'and you have seen Abraham!'
58Very truly I tell you,' Jesus answered, 'before Abraham was born, I am!' 59At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
New American Standard Bible

1But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2And early in the morning He came again into the temple area, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began teaching them. 3Now the scribes and the Pharisees *brought a woman caught in the act of adultery, and after placing her in the center of the courtyard, 4they *said to Him, 'Teacher, this woman has been caught in the very act of committing adultery. 5Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?' 6Now they were saying this to test Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. 7When they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up and said to them, 'He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.' 8And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9Now when they heard this, they began leaving, one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman where she was, in the center of the courtyard. 10And straightening up, Jesus said to her, 'Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?' 11She said, 'No one, Lord.' And Jesus said, 'I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on do not sin any longer.']]
12Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, 'I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.' 13So the Pharisees said to Him, 'You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not true.' 14Jesus answered and said to them, 'Even if I am testifying about Myself, My testimony is true, because 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. 15You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone. 16But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me. 17Even in your Law it has been written that the testimony of two people is true. 18I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.' 19So they were saying 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.' 20These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple area; and no one arrested Him, because His hour had not yet come.
21Then He said again to them, 'I am going away, and you will look for Me, and will die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come.' 22So the Jews were saying, 'Surely He will not kill Himself, will He, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?' 23And He was saying to them, 'You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. 24Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am, you will die in your sins.' 25Then they were saying to Him, 'Who are You?' Jesus said to them, 'What have I even been saying to you from the beginning? 26I have many things to say and to judge regarding you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I say to the world.' 27They did not realize that He was speaking to them about the Father. 28So Jesus said, 'When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am, and I do nothing on My own, but I say these things as the Father instructed Me. 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.' 30As He said these things, many came to believe in Him.
31So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, 'If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples; 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' 33They answered Him, 'We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?'
34Jesus answered them, 'Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. 35Now the slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free. 37I know that you are Abraham’s descendants; yet you are seeking to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38I speak of the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father.'
39They answered and said to Him, 'Abraham is our father.' Jesus *said to them, 'If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham. 40But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do. 41You are doing the deeds of your father.' They said to Him, 'We were not born as a result of sexual immorality; we have one Father: God.' 42Jesus said to them, 'If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I came forth from God and am here; for I have not even come on My own, but He sent Me. 43Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot listen to My word. 44You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies. 45But because I say the truth, you do not believe Me. 46Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? 47The one who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.'
48The Jews answered and said to Him, 'Do we not rightly say that You are a Samaritan, and You have a demon?' 49Jesus answered, 'I do not have a demon; on the contrary, I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. 50But I am not seeking My glory; there is One who seeks it, and judges. 51Truly, truly I say to you, if anyone follows My word, he will never see death.' 52The Jews said to Him, 'Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets as well; and yet You say, ‘If anyone follows My word, he will never taste of death.’ 53You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died, are You? The prophets died too. Whom do You make Yourself out to be?' 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’; 55and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him. And if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you; but I do know Him, and I follow His word. 56Your father Abraham was overjoyed that he would see My day, and he saw it and rejoiced.' 57So the Jews said to Him, 'You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?' 58Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.' 59Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and left the temple grounds.
Christian Standard Bible

1But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2At dawn he went to the temple again, and all the people were coming to him. He sat down and began to teach them.
3Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, making her stand in the center. 4"Teacher," they said to him, "this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery. 5In the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say? "
6They asked this to trap him, in order that they might have evidence to accuse him.Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with his finger. 7When they persisted in questioning him, he stood up and said to them, "The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her." 8Then he stooped down again and continued writing on the ground. 9When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only he was left, with the woman in the center. 10When Jesus stood up, he said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? "
11"No one, Lord," she answered."Neither do I condemn you," said Jesus. "Go, and from now on do not sin anymore."
12Jesus spoke to them again: "I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life."
13So the Pharisees said to him, "You are testifying about yourself. Your testimony is not valid."
14"Even if I testify about myself," Jesus replied, "My testimony is true, 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. 15You judge by human standards. I judge no one. 16And if I do judge, my judgment is true, because it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. 17Even in your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. 18I am the one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me."
19Then they asked him, "Where is your Father? ""You know neither me nor my Father," Jesus answered. "If you knew me, you would also know my Father." 20He spoke these words by the treasury, while teaching in the temple. But no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.
21Then he said to them again, "I'm going away; you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I'm going, you cannot come."
22So the Jews said again, "He won't kill himself, will he, since he says, 'Where I'm going, you cannot come'? "
23"You are from below," he told them, "I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24Therefore I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I am he, you will die in your sins."
25"Who are you? " they questioned."Exactly 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 is true, and what I have heard from him--these things I tell the world."
27They did not know he was speaking to them about the Father. 28So Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own. But just as the Father taught me, I say these things. 29The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what pleases him."
30As he was saying these things, many believed in him.
31Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples. 32You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
33"We are descendants of Abraham," they answered him, "and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, 'You will become free'? "
34Jesus responded, "Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. 35A slave does not remain in the household forever, but a son does remain forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free. 37I know you are descendants of Abraham, but you are trying to kill me because my word has no place among you. 38I speak what I have seen in the presence of the Father; so then, 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. 40But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do this.
41You're doing what your father does.""We weren't born of sexual immorality," they said. "We have one Father--God."
42Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, because I came from God and I am here. For I didn't come on my own, but he sent me. 43Why don't you understand what I say? Because you cannot listen to my word. 44You are of your father the devil, and you want to carry out 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 tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies. 45Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46Who among you can convict me of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? 47The one who is from God listens to God's words. This is why you don't listen, because you are not from God."
48The Jews responded to him, "Aren't we right in saying that you're a Samaritan and have a demon? "
49"I do not have a demon," Jesus answered. "On the contrary, I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50I do not seek my own glory; there is one who seeks it and judges. 51Truly I tell you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death."
52Then 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.' 53Are you greater than our father Abraham who died? And the prophets died. Who do you claim to be? "
54"If I glorify myself," Jesus answered, "my glory is nothing. My Father--about whom you say, 'He is our God'--he is the one who glorifies me. 55You do not know him, but I know him. If I were to say I don't know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I keep his word. 56Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad."
57The Jews replied, "You aren't fifty years old yet, and you've seen Abraham? "
58Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am."
59So they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple.
New Living Translation

1Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, 2but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. 3As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.
4Teacher,' they said to Jesus, 'this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?'
6They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. 7They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, 'All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!' 8Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.
9When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. 10Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, 'Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?'
11No, Lord,' she said. And Jesus said, 'Neither do I. Go and sin no more.'
12Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, 'I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.'
13The Pharisees replied, 'You are making those claims about yourself! Such testimony is not valid.'
14Jesus told them, 'These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don’t know this about me. 15You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone. 16And if I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect because I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me. 17Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact. 18I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other.'
19Where is your father?' they asked. Jesus answered, 'Since you don’t know who I am, you don’t know who my Father is. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.' 20Jesus made these statements while he was teaching in the section of the Temple known as the Treasury. But he was not arrested, because his time had not yet come.
21Later Jesus said to them again, 'I am going away. You will search for me but will die in your sin. You cannot come where I am going.'
22The people asked, 'Is he planning to commit suicide? What does he mean, ‘You cannot come where I am going’?'
23Jesus continued, 'You are from below; I am from above. You belong to this world; I do not. 24That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I AM who I claim to be, you will die in your sins.'
25Who are you?' they demanded. Jesus replied, 'The one I have always claimed to be. 26I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but I won’t. For I say only what I have heard from the one who sent me, and he is completely truthful.' 27But they still didn’t understand that he was talking about his Father.
28So Jesus said, 'When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I AM he. I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me. 29And the one who sent me is with me — he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him.' 30Then many who heard him say these things believed in him.
31Jesus said to the people who believed in him, 'You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'
33But we are descendants of Abraham,' they said. 'We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?'
34Jesus replied, 'I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. 37Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because there’s no room in your hearts for my message. 38I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father.'
39Our father is Abraham!' they declared. 'No,' Jesus replied, 'for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example. 40Instead, you are trying to kill me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing.
41No, you are imitating your real father.' They replied, 'We aren’t illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father.'
42Jesus told them, 'If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. 43Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me! 44For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me! 46Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.'
48The people retorted, 'You Samaritan devil! Didn’t we say all along that you were possessed by a demon?'
49No,' Jesus said, 'I have no demon in me. For I honor my Father — and you dishonor me. 50And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God is going to glorify me. He is the true judge. 51I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!'
52The people said, 'Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died, but you say, ‘Anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!’ 53Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?'
54Jesus answered, 'If I want glory for myself, it doesn’t count. But it is my Father who will glorify me. You say, ‘He is our God,’ 55but you don’t even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But I do know him and obey him. 56Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad.'
57The people said, 'You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham? '
58Jesus answered, 'I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I AM! ' 59At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple.
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.

What does John chapter 8 mean?

The first section of this chapter describes Jesus' encounter with opponents who have brought Him a woman guilty of sin. In this incident, Jesus demonstrates that these men are acting hypocritically: attempting to trick Jesus using the law, while they themselves are not completely following it! At the same time, Jesus shows that simply having power, such as the authority to execute a guilty sinner, does not make using it the best choice. Instead, Jesus demonstrates mercy and fully applies both the letter and intent of the law, as God intended: with "right judgment."

This story of the adulterous woman, however, is almost certainly not original to the gospel of John. Different manuscripts have these verses in different places, sometimes attached to the end of completely different New Testament works. This, along with other evidence, has led scholars to believe the story of the adulterous woman to be a true, accurate description of a real event, but not one intended to be read in this exact place. So, this story is something of a side-note, and not part of Jesus' actions during the Feast of Booths. Instead, the action which was interrupted after John 7:52 will resume in John 8:12.

As Jesus continues to teach at the Feast of Booths, He uses another analogy related to festival rituals. In this case, it is the burning of lamps, whose wicks were made from priestly garments. Jesus makes the second of His seven "I AM" statements highlighted in the gospel of John, declaring that He is "the light of the world." This incorporates Jewish ideals of truth and knowledge, as well as professing to be the one and only source of spiritual truth.

This sets off a debate between Jesus and His most vehement opponents: the religious leaders of Jerusalem and their followers. John collectively refers to this faction as "The Jews" in His writing. Their stance is based on genealogy: they are the descendants of Abraham, so they claim to be favored by God. Jesus, however, points out that spiritual relationships matter more than family lines. Since children act like their fathers, those who legitimately follow God should be obedient to His message, as Abraham was. But the men seeking to oppose Jesus act more like the devil: they deal in lies and murder (John 8:44; John 5:18). Therefore, these men don't actually know God. In fact, they don't want to know God, since the truth is something they can't bear to hear (John 8:43).

As the conversation continues, it will become more and more charged. Jesus' critics will resort to insults, including smearing His birth (John 8:41) and suggesting that He is insane (John 8:48). Jesus will respond by continuing to discuss Abraham, and suggesting that He has first-hand knowledge of Abraham's response to His own ministry (John 8:56). When the crowd misunderstands, Jesus explicitly claims to be God by declaring "before Abraham was, 'I am,'" using the same name God applied to Himself when speaking to Moses (John 8:58; Exodus 3:14). The reaction, as one would expect, was not only angry, but violent. Jesus' enemies once again try—unsuccessfully—to kill Him.
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