8:19 Then they began asking 12 him, “Who is your father?” Jesus answered, “You do not know either me or my Father. If you knew me you would know my Father too.” 13 8:20 (Jesus 14 spoke these words near the offering box 15 while he was teaching in the temple courts. 16 No one seized him because his time 17 had not yet come.) 18
8:21 Then Jesus 19 said to them again, 20 “I am going away, and you will look for me 21 but will die in your sin. 22 Where I am going you cannot come.” 8:22 So the Jewish leaders 23 began to say, 24 “Perhaps he is going to kill himself, because he says, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’” 8:23 Jesus replied, 25 “You people 26 are from below; I am from above. You people are from this world; I am not from this world. 8:24 Thus I told you 27 that you will die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am he, 28 you will die in your sins.”
8:25 So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus replied, 29 “What I have told you from the beginning. 8:26 I have many things to say and to judge 30 about you, but the Father 31 who sent me is truthful, 32 and the things I have heard from him I speak to the world.” 33 8:27 (They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father.) 34
8:28 Then Jesus said, 35 “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, 36 and I do nothing on my own initiative, 37 but I speak just what the Father taught me. 38 8:29 And the one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, 39 because I always do those things that please him.” 8:30 While he was saying these things, many people 40 believed in him.
8:31 Then Jesus said to those Judeans 41 who had believed him, “If you continue to follow my teaching, 42 you are really 43 my disciples 8:32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 44 8:33 “We are descendants 45 of Abraham,” they replied, 46 “and have never been anyone’s slaves! How can you say, 47 ‘You will become free’?” 8:34 Jesus answered them, “I tell you the solemn truth, 48 everyone who practices 49 sin is a slave 50 of sin. 8:35 The slave does not remain in the family 51 forever, but the son remains forever. 52 8:36 So if the son 53 sets you free, you will be really free. 8:37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. 54 But you want 55 to kill me, because my teaching 56 makes no progress among you. 57 8:38 I am telling you the things I have seen while with the 58 Father; 59 as for you, 60 practice the things you have heard from the 61 Father!”
8:39 They answered him, 62 “Abraham is our father!” 63 Jesus replied, 64 “If you are 65 Abraham’s children, you would be doing 66 the deeds of Abraham. 8:40 But now you are trying 67 to kill me, a man who has told you 68 the truth I heard from God. Abraham did not do this! 69 8:41 You people 70 are doing the deeds of your father.”
Then 71 they said to Jesus, 72 “We were not born as a result of immorality! 73 We have only one Father, God himself.” 8:42 Jesus replied, 74 “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come from God and am now here. 75 I 76 have not come on my own initiative, 77 but he 78 sent me. 8:43 Why don’t you understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot accept 79 my teaching. 80 8:44 You people 81 are from 82 your father the devil, and you want to do what your father desires. 83 He 84 was a murderer from the beginning, and does not uphold the truth, 85 because there is no truth in him. Whenever he lies, 86 he speaks according to his own nature, 87 because he is a liar and the father of lies. 88 8:45 But because I am telling you 89 the truth, you do not believe me. 8:46 Who among you can prove me guilty 90 of any sin? 91 If I am telling you 92 the truth, why don’t you believe me? 8:47 The one who belongs to 93 God listens and responds 94 to God’s words. You don’t listen and respond, 95 because you don’t belong to God.” 96
8:48 The Judeans 97 replied, 98 “Aren’t we correct in saying 99 that you are a Samaritan and are possessed by a demon?” 100 8:49 Jesus answered, “I am not possessed by a demon, 101 but I honor my Father – and yet 102 you dishonor me. 8:50 I am not trying to get 103 praise for myself. 104 There is one who demands 105 it, and he also judges. 106 8:51 I tell you the solemn truth, 107 if anyone obeys 108 my teaching, 109 he will never see death.” 110
8:52 Then 111 the Judeans 112 responded, 113 “Now we know you’re possessed by a demon! 114 Both Abraham and the prophets died, and yet 115 you say, ‘If anyone obeys 116 my teaching, 117 he will never experience 118 death.’ 119 8:53 You aren’t greater than our father Abraham who died, are you? 120 And the prophets died too! Who do you claim to be?” 8:54 Jesus replied, 121 “If I glorify myself, my glory is worthless. 122 The one who glorifies me is my Father, about whom you people 123 say, ‘He is our God.’ 8:55 Yet 124 you do not know him, but I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, 125 I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I obey 126 his teaching. 127 8:56 Your father Abraham was overjoyed 128 to see my day, and he saw it and was glad.” 129
8:57 Then the Judeans 130 replied, 131 “You are not yet fifty years old! 132 Have 133 you seen Abraham?” 8:58 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the solemn truth, 134 before Abraham came into existence, 135 I am!” 136 8:59 Then they picked up 137 stones to throw at him, 138 but Jesus hid himself and went out from the temple area. 139
1 tn Grk “Jesus answered and said to them.”
2 tn The word “people” is supplied in the translation to indicate that the pronoun (“you”) and verb (“do not know”) in Greek are plural.
3 sn You people do not know where I came from or where I am going. The ignorance of the religious authorities regarding Jesus’ origin works on two levels at once: First, they thought Jesus came from Galilee (although he really came from Bethlehem in Judea) and second, they did not know that he came from heaven (from the Father), and this is where he would return. See further John 7:52.
4 tn The word “people” is supplied in the translation to indicate that the pronoun and verb (“judge”) in Greek are plural.
5 tn Or “judge according to external things”; Grk “according to the flesh.” These translations are given by BDAG 916 s.v. σάρξ 5.
6 sn What is the meaning of Jesus’ statement “I do not judge anyone”? It is clear that Jesus did judge (even in the next verse). The point is that he didn’t practice the same kind of judgment that the Pharisees did. Their kind of judgment was condemnatory. They tried to condemn people. Jesus did not come to judge the world, but to save it (3:17). Nevertheless, and not contradictory to this, the coming of Jesus did bring judgment, because it forced people to make a choice. Would they accept Jesus or reject him? Would they come to the light or shrink back into the darkness? As they responded, so were they judged – just as 3:19-21 previously stated. One’s response to Jesus determines one’s eternal destiny.
7 tn Grk “my judgment is true.”
8 tn The phrase “when I judge” is not in the Greek text, but is implied by the context.
9 tn The phrase “do so together” is not in the Greek text, but is implied by the context.
10 sn An allusion to Deut 17:6.
11 tn Grk “I am the one who testifies about myself.”
12 tn Grk “Then they were saying to him.” The imperfect verb has been translated with ingressive force here because of the introduction of a new line of questioning by the Pharisees. Jesus had just claimed his Father as a second witness; now his opponents want to know who his father is.
13 sn If you knew me you would know my Father too. Jesus’ reply is based on his identity with the Father (see also John 1:18; 14:9).
14 tn Grk “He”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
15 tn The term γαζοφυλάκιον (gazofulakion) can be translated “treasury” or “treasure room” in this context. BDAG 186 s.v. 1 notes, “It can be taken in this sense J 8:20 (sing.) in (or at) the treasury.” BDAG 186 s.v. 2 argues that the occurrences of this word in the synoptic gospels also refer to the treasury: “For Mk 12:41, 43; Lk 21:1 the mng. contribution box or receptacle is attractive. Acc. to Mishnah, Shekalim 6, 5 there were in the temple 13 such receptacles in the form of trumpets. But even in these passages the general sense of ‘treasury’ is prob., for the contributions would go [into] the treasury via the receptacles.” Based upon the extra-biblical evidence (see sn following), however, the translation opts to refer to the actual receptacles and not the treasury itself.
16 tn Grk “the temple.”
17 tn Grk “his hour.”
18 sn This is a parenthetical note by the author.
19 tn Grk “He”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
20 tn The expression οὖν πάλιν (oun palin) indicates some sort of break in the sequence of events, but it is not clear how long. The author does not mention the interval between 8:12-20 and this next recorded dialogue. The feast of Tabernacles is past, and the next reference to time is 10:22, where the feast of the Dedication is mentioned. The interval is two months, and these discussions could have taken place at any time within that interval, as long as one assumes something of a loose chronological framework. However, if the material in the Fourth Gospel is arranged theologically or thematically, such an assumption would not apply.
21 tn Grk “you will seek me.”
22 tn The expression ἐν τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ ὑμῶν ἀποθανεῖσθε (en th Jamartia Jumwn apoqaneisqe) is similar to an expression found in the LXX at Ezek 3:18, 20 and Prov 24:9. Note the singular of ἁμαρτία (the plural occurs later in v. 24). To die with one’s sin unrepented and unatoned would be the ultimate disaster to befall a person. Jesus’ warning is stern but to the point.
23 tn Or “the Jewish authorities”; Grk “the Jews.” In NT usage the term ᾿Ιουδαῖοι (Ioudaioi) may refer to the entire Jewish people, the residents of Jerusalem and surrounding territory, the authorities in Jerusalem, or merely those who were hostile to Jesus. (For further information see R. G. Bratcher, “‘The Jews’ in the Gospel of John,” BT 26 [1975]: 401-9.) Here the phrase refers to the Jewish authorities or leaders in Jerusalem. It was the Pharisees who had begun this line of questioning in John 8:13, and there has been no clear change since then in the identity of Jesus’ opponents.
24 tn The imperfect verb has been translated with ingressive force (“began to say”) because the comments that follow were occasioned by Jesus’ remarks in the preceding verse about his upcoming departure.
25 tn Grk “And he said to them.”
26 tn The word “people” is supplied in English to clarify the plural Greek pronoun and verb.
27 tn Grk “thus I said to you.”
28 tn Grk “unless you believe that I am.” In this context there is an implied predicate nominative (“he”) following the “I am” phrase. What Jesus’ hearers had to acknowledge is that he was who he claimed to be, i.e., the Messiah (cf. 20:31). This view is also reflected in English translations like NIV (“if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be”), NLT (“unless you believe that I am who I say I am”), and CEV (“if you don’t have faith in me for who I am”). For a different view that takes this “I am” and the one in 8:28 as nonpredicated (i.e., absolute), see R. E. Brown, John (AB), 1:533-38. Such a view refers sees the nonpredicated “I am” as a reference to the divine Name revealed in Exod 3:14, and is reflected in English translations like NAB (“if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins”) and TEV (“you will die in your sins if you do not believe that ‘I Am Who I Am’”).
29 tn Grk “Jesus said to them.”
30 tn Or “I have many things to pronounce in judgment about you.” The two Greek infinitives could be understood as a hendiadys, resulting in one phrase.
31 tn Grk “the one”; the referent (the Father) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
32 tn Grk “true” (in the sense of one who always tells the truth).
33 tn Grk “and what things I have heard from him, these things I speak to the world.”
34 sn They did not understand…about his Father is a parenthetical note by the author. This type of comment, intended for the benefit of the reader, is typical of the “omniscient author” convention adopted by the author, who is writing from a postresurrection point of view. He writes with the benefit of later knowledge that those who originally heard Jesus’ words would not have had.
35 tn Grk “Then Jesus said to them” (the words “to them” are not found in all
36 tn Grk “that I am.” See the note on this phrase in v. 24.
37 tn Grk “I do nothing from myself.”
38 tn Grk “but just as the Father taught me, these things I speak.”
39 tn That is, “he has not abandoned me.”
40 tn The word “people” is not in the Greek text, but is supplied for clarity and smoothness in the translation.
41 tn Grk “to the Jews.” In NT usage the term ᾿Ιουδαῖοι (Ioudaioi) may refer to the entire Jewish people, the residents of Jerusalem and surrounding territory (i.e., “Judeans”), the authorities in Jerusalem, or merely those who were hostile to Jesus. (For further information see R. G. Bratcher, “‘The Jews’ in the Gospel of John,” BT 26 [1975]: 401-9; also BDAG 479 s.v. ᾿Ιουδαῖος 2.e.) Here the phrase refers to the Jewish people in Jerusalem who had been listening to Jesus’ teaching in the temple and had believed his claim to be the Messiah, hence, “those Judeans who had believed him.” The term “Judeans” is preferred here to the more general “people” because the debate concerns descent from Abraham (v. 33).
42 tn Grk “If you continue in my word.”
43 tn Or “truly.”
44 tn Or “the truth will release you.” The translation “set you free” or “release you” (unlike the more traditional “make you free”) conveys more the idea that the hearers were currently in a state of slavery from which they needed to be freed. The following context supports precisely this idea.
45 tn Grk “We are the seed” (an idiom).
46 tn Grk “They answered to him.”
47 tn Or “How is it that you say.”
48 tn Grk “Truly, truly, I say to you.”
49 tn Or “who commits.” This could simply be translated, “everyone who sins,” but the Greek is more emphatic, using the participle ποιῶν (poiwn) in a construction with πᾶς (pas), a typical Johannine construction. Here repeated, continuous action is in view. The one whose lifestyle is characterized by repeated, continuous sin is a slave to sin. That one is not free; sin has enslaved him. To break free from this bondage requires outside (divine) intervention. Although the statement is true at the general level (the person who continually practices a lifestyle of sin is enslaved to sin) the particular sin of the Jewish authorities, repeatedly emphasized in the Fourth Gospel, is the sin of unbelief. The present tense in this instance looks at the continuing refusal on the part of the Jewish leaders to acknowledge who Jesus is, in spite of mounting evidence.
50 tn See the note on the word “slaves” in 4:51.
51 tn Or “household.” The Greek work οἰκία (oikia) can denote the family as consisting of relatives by both descent and marriage, as well as slaves and servants, living in the same house (more the concept of an “extended family”).
52 sn Jesus’ point is that while a slave may be part of a family or household, the slave is not guaranteed a permanent place there, while a son, as a descendant or blood relative, will always be guaranteed a place in the family (remains forever).
53 tn Or “Son.” The question is whether “son” is to be understood as a direct reference to Jesus himself, or as an indirect reference (a continuation of the generic illustration begun in the previous verse).
54 tn Grk “seed” (an idiom).
55 tn Grk “you are seeking.”
56 tn Grk “my word.”
57 tn Or “finds no place in you.” The basic idea seems to be something (in this case Jesus’ teaching) making headway or progress where resistance is involved. See BDAG 1094 s.v. χωρέω 2.
58 tc The first person pronoun μου (mou, “my”) may be implied, especially if ὑμῶν (Jumwn, “your”) follows the second mention of “father” in this verse (as it does in the majority of
59 tn Grk “The things which I have seen with the Father I speak about.”
60 tn Grk “and you.”
61 tc A few significant witnesses lack ὑμῶν (Jumwn, “your”) here (Ì66,75 B L W 070 pc), while the majority have the pronoun (א C D Θ Ψ 0250 Ë1,13 33 565 892 Ï al lat sy). However, these
62 tn Grk “They answered and said to him.”
63 tn Or “Our father is Abraham.”
64 tn Grk “Jesus said to them.”
65 tc Although most
66 tc Some important
67 tn Grk “seeking.”
68 tn Grk “has spoken to you.”
69 tn The Greek word order is emphatic: “This Abraham did not do.” The emphasis is indicated in the translation by an exclamation point.
70 tn The word “people” is not in the Greek text, but is supplied in English to clarify the plural Greek pronoun and verb.
71 tc ‡ Important and early witnesses (א B L W 070 it sys,p co) lack the conjunction here, while the earliest witnesses along with many others read οὖν (oun, “therefore”; Ì66,75 C D Θ Ψ 0250 Ë13 33 Ï). This conjunction occurs in John some 200 times, far more than in any other NT book. Even though the combined testimony of two early papyri for the conjunction is impressive, the reading seems to be a predictable scribal emendation. In particular, οὖν is frequently used with the plural of εἶπον (eipon, “they said”) in John (in this chapter alone, note vv. 13, 39, 48, 57, and possibly 52). On balance, it is probably best to consider the shorter reading as authentic, even though “Then” is virtually required in translation for English stylistic reasons. NA27 has the conjunction in brackets, indicating some doubt as to its authenticity.
72 tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) is specified in the translation for clarity.
73 sn We were not born as a result of immorality! is ironic, because Jesus’ opponents implied that it was not themselves but Jesus who had been born as a result of immoral behavior. This shows they did not know Jesus’ true origin and were not aware of the supernatural events surrounding his birth. The author does not even bother to refute the opponents’ suggestion but lets it stand, assuming his readers will know the true story.
74 tn Grk “Jesus said to them.”
75 tn Or “I came from God and have arrived.”
76 tn Grk “For I.” Here γάρ (gar) has not been translated.
77 tn Grk “from myself.”
78 tn Grk “that one” (referring to God).
79 tn Grk “you cannot hear,” but this is not a reference to deafness, but rather hearing in the sense of listening to something and responding to it.
80 tn Grk “my word.”
81 tn The word “people” is supplied in the translation to clarify that the Greek pronoun and verb are plural.
82 tn Many translations read “You are of your father the devil” (KJV, ASV, RSV, NASB) or “You belong to your father, the devil” (NIV), but the Greek preposition ἐκ (ek) emphasizes the idea of source or origin. Jesus said his opponents were the devil’s very offspring (a statement which would certainly infuriate them).
83 tn Grk “the desires of your father you want to do.”
84 tn Grk “That one” (referring to the devil).
85 tn Grk “he does not stand in the truth” (in the sense of maintaining, upholding, or accepting the validity of it).
86 tn Grk “Whenever he speaks the lie.”
87 tn Grk “he speaks from his own.”
88 tn Grk “because he is a liar and the father of it.”
89 tn Or “because I tell you.”
90 tn Or “can convict me.”
91 tn Or “of having sinned”; Grk “of sin.”
92 tn Or “if I tell you.”
93 tn Grk “who is of.”
94 tn Grk “to God hears” (in the sense of listening to something and responding to it).
95 tn Grk “you do not hear” (in the sense of listening to something and responding to it).
96 tn Grk “you are not of God.”
97 tn Grk “the Jews.” See the note on this term in v. 31. Here the phrase refers to the Jewish people in Jerusalem (“Judeans”; cf. BDAG 479 s.v. ᾿Ιουδαῖος 2.e) who had been listening to Jesus’ teaching in the temple courts (8:20) and had initially believed his claim to be the Messiah (cf. 8:31). They had become increasingly hostile as Jesus continued to teach. Now they were ready to say that Jesus was demon-possessed.
98 tn Grk “answered and said to him.”
99 tn Grk “Do we not say rightly.”
100 tn Grk “and have a demon.” It is not clear what is meant by the charge Σαμαρίτης εἶ σὺ καὶ δαιμόνιον ἔχεις (Samarith" ei su kai daimonion ecei"). The meaning could be “you are a heretic and are possessed by a demon.” Note that the dual charge gets one reply (John 8:49). Perhaps the phrases were interchangeable: Simon Magus (Acts 8:14-24) and in later traditions Dositheus, the two Samaritans who claimed to be sons of God, were regarded as mad, that is, possessed by demons.
101 tn Grk “I do not have a demon.”
102 tn “Yet” is supplied to show the contrastive element present in the context.
103 tn Grk “I am not seeking.”
104 tn Grk “my glory.”
105 tn Grk “who seeks.”
106 tn Or “will be the judge.”
107 tn Grk “Truly, truly, I say to you.”
108 tn Grk “If anyone keeps.”
109 tn Grk “my word.”
110 tn Grk “he will never see death forever.” The Greek negative here is emphatic.
111 tc ‡ Important and early witnesses (Ì66 א B C W Θ 579 it) lack the conjunction here, while other witnesses read οὖν (oun, “therefore”; Ì75 D L Ψ 070 Ë1,13 33 Ï lat). This conjunction occurs in John some 200 times, far more than in any other NT book. Even though the most important Johannine papyrus (Ì75) has the conjunction, the combination of Ì66 א B for the omission is even stronger. Further, the reading seems to be a predictable scribal emendation. In particular, οὖν is frequently used with the plural of εἶπον (eipon, “they said”) in John (in this chapter alone, note vv. 13, 39, 48, 57, and possibly 41). On balance, it is probably best to consider the shorter reading as authentic, even though “Then” is virtually required in translation for English stylistic reasons. NA27 has the conjunction in brackets, indicating some doubt as to its authenticity.
112 tn Grk “the Jews.” See the note on this term in v. 31. Here, as in vv. 31 and 48, the phrase refers to the Jewish people in Jerusalem (“Judeans”; cf. BDAG 479 s.v. ᾿Ιουδαῖος 2.e) who had been listening to Jesus’ teaching in the temple courts (8:20) and had initially believed his claim to be the Messiah (cf. 8:31).
113 tn Grk “said to him.”
114 tn Grk “you have a demon.”
115 tn “Yet” has been supplied to show the contrastive element present in the context.
116 tn Grk “If anyone keeps.”
117 tn Grk “my word.”
118 tn Grk “will never taste.” Here the Greek verb does not mean “sample a small amount” (as a typical English reader might infer from the word “taste”), but “experience something cognitively or emotionally; come to know something” (cf. BDAG 195 s.v. γεύομαι 2).
119 tn Grk “he will never taste of death forever.” The Greek negative here is emphatic.
120 tn Questions prefaced with μή (mh) in Greek anticipate a negative answer. This can sometimes be indicated by using a “tag” at the end in English (here the tag is “are you?”).
121 tn Grk “Jesus answered.”
122 tn Grk “is nothing.”
123 tn The word “people” is not in the Greek text, but is supplied in English to clarify the plural Greek pronoun and verb.
124 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “Yet” to indicate the contrast present in the context.
125 tn Grk “If I say, ‘I do not know him.’”
126 tn Grk “I keep.”
127 tn Grk “his word.”
128 tn Or “rejoiced greatly.”
129 tn What is the meaning of Jesus’ statement that the patriarch Abraham “saw” his day and rejoiced? The use of past tenses would seem to refer to something that occurred during the patriarch’s lifetime. Genesis Rabbah 44:25ff, (cf. 59:6) states that Rabbi Akiba, in a debate with Rabbi Johanan ben Zakkai, held that Abraham had been shown not this world only but the world to come (this would include the days of the Messiah). More realistically, it is likely that Gen 22:13-15 lies behind Jesus’ words. This passage, known to rabbis as the Akedah (“Binding”), tells of Abraham finding the ram which will replace his son Isaac on the altar of sacrifice – an occasion of certain rejoicing.
130 tn Grk “Then the Jews.” See the note on this term in v. 31. Here, as in vv. 31, 48, and 52, the phrase refers to the Jewish people in Jerusalem (“Judeans”; cf. BDAG 479 s.v. ᾿Ιουδαῖος 2.e) who had been listening to Jesus’ teaching in the temple courts (8:20) and had initially believed his claim to be the Messiah (cf. 8:31). They have now become completely hostile, as John 8:59 clearly shows.
131 tn Grk “said to him.”
132 tn Grk ‘You do not yet have fifty years” (an idiom).
133 tn Grk “And have.”
134 tn Grk “Truly, truly, I say to you.”
135 tn Grk “before Abraham was.”
136 sn I am! is an explicit claim to deity. Although each occurrence of the phrase “I am” in the Fourth Gospel needs to be examined individually in context to see if an association with Exod 3:14 is present, it seems clear that this is the case here (as the response of the Jewish authorities in the following verse shows).
137 tn Grk “they took up.”
138 sn Jesus’ Jewish listeners understood his claim to deity, rejected it, and picked up stones to throw at him for what they considered blasphemy.
139 tc Most later witnesses (A Θc Ë1,13 Ï) have at the end of the verse “passing through their midst, he went away in this manner” (διελθὼν διὰ μέσου καὶ παρῆγεν οὕτως, dielqwn dia mesou kai parhgen {outw"), while many others have similar permutations (so א1,2 C L N Ψ 070 33 579 892 1241 al). The wording is similar to two other texts: Luke 4:30 (διελθὼν διὰ μέσου; in several