[English Bible study] John chapter 8

Jn. 8:1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

Jn. 8:2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the

people gathered round him, and he sat down to teach them.

Jn. 8:3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a

woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the

group

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Jn. 8:4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act

of adultery.

Jn. 8:5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now

what do you say?”

Jn. 8:6 They 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.

Jn. 8:7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and

said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the

first to throw a stone at her.”

Jn. 8:8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

Jn. 8:9 At 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.

Jn. 8:10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are

they? Has no-one condemned you?”

Jn. 8:11 “No-one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,”

Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Jn. 8:12 When 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.”

Jn. 8:13 The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as

your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”

Jn. 8:14 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. But you have no idea where I come from or where

I am going.

Jn. 8:15 You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no-one.

Jn. 8:16 But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not

alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me.

Jn. 8:17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men

is valid.

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Jn. 8:18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the

Father, who sent me.”

Jn. 8:19 Then 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.”

Jn. 8:20 He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near

the place where the offerings were put. Yet no-one seized

him, because his time had not yet come.

Jn. 8:21 Once 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.”

Jn. 8:22 This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he

says, `Where I go, you cannot come’?”

Jn. 8:23 But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above.

You are of this world; I am not of this world.

Jn. 8:24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not

believe that I am the one I claim to be, [Or I am he; also in

verse 28] you will indeed die in your sins.”

Jn. 8:25 “Who are you?” they asked. “Just what I have been claiming

all along,” Jesus replied.

Jn. 8:26 “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me

is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”

Jn. 8:27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his

Father.

Jn. 8:28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then

you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do

nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught

me.

Jn. 8:29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for

I always do what pleases him.”

Jn. 8:30 Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him.

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Jn. 8:31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to

my teaching, you are really my disciples.

Jn. 8:32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Jn. 8:33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants [Greek:

seed; also in verse 37] and have never been slaves of anyone.

How can you say that we shall be set free?”

Jn. 8:34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a

slave to sin.

Jn. 8:35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son

belongs to it for ever.

Jn. 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Jn. 8:37 I know you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are ready to

kill me, because you have no room for my word.

Jn. 8:38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence,

and you do what you have heard from your father.” [Or

presence. Therefore do what you have heard from the

Father.]

Jn. 8:39 “Abraham is our father,” they answered. “If you were

Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would [Some

early manuscripts “If you are Abraham’s children,” said

Jesus, “then] do the things Abraham did.

Jn. 8:40 As it is, you are determined to kill me, a man who has told

you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do

such things.

Jn. 8:41 You are doing the things your own father does.” “We are not

illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we

have is God himself.”

Jn. 8:42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love

me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come

on my own; but he sent me.

Jn. 8:43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are

unable to hear what I say.

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Jn. 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry

out your father’s desire. 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.

Jn. 8:45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!

Jn. 8:46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the

truth, why don’t you believe me?

Jn. 8:47 He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason

you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

Jn. 8:48 The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you

are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?”

Jn. 8:49 “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honour

my Father and you dishonour me.

Jn. 8:50 I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks

it, and he is the judge.

Jn. 8:51 I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never

see death.”

Jn. 8:52 At this the Jews exclaimed, “Now we know that you are

demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet

you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste

death.

Jn. 8:53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so

did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”

Jn. 8:54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing.

My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who

glorifies me.

Jn. 8:55 Though 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 keep his

word.

Jn. 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my

day; he saw it and was glad.”

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Jn. 8:57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” the Jews said to him, “and

you have seen Abraham!”

Jn. 8:58 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was

born, I am!”

Jn. 8:59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid

himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.