John 8
1 But Jesus went to the mount of Olives.
But Jesus went [with us disciples] to Olive [Tree] Hill [and we stayed near there that night].
2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came to him; and he sat down and taught them.
Early the next morning, we returned to the Temple [courtyard]. Many people gathered around Jesus, so he sat down to teach them.
3 And the scribes and the Pharisees bring [to him] a woman taken in adultery, and having set her in the midst,
Then men who taught the [Jewish] laws and some of [SYN] the Pharisee [religious group] brought a woman to him. She was seized {[They] had [arranged to] seize her} while she was having sex with a man who was not her husband. They made her stand up in front of the group [that was listening to Jesus].
4 they say to him, Teacher, this woman has been taken in the very act, committing adultery.
Then they said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was seized {[we] seized this woman} while she was having sex with a man who is not her husband.
5 Now in the law Moses has commanded us to stone such; thou therefore, what sayest thou?
Moses commanded us in the laws that [he gave us] that we should throw stones at such women [and kill them]. So what do you say [we should do]?”
6 But this they said proving him, that they might have [something] to accuse him [of]. But Jesus, having stooped down, wrote with his finger on the ground.
They asked this question as a trap so that they could accuse him. [If he said that they should not kill her, they would shame him for disobeying the law of Moses. If he said that they should kill her, they could accuse him to the Roman governor]. But Jesus bent down and wrote something on the ground with his finger.
7 But when they continued asking him, he lifted himself up and said to them, Let him that is without sin among you first cast the stone at her.
While they continued to question him, he stood up and said to them, “Whichever one of you has never sinned can be the first one to start throwing stones at her.”
8 And again stooping down he wrote on the ground.
Then he stooped down and wrote [some more] on the ground.
9 But they, having heard [that], went out one by one beginning from the elder ones until the last; and Jesus was left alone and the woman standing there.
After they heard what he said, those [who were questioning him] went away, one by one, the older ones first [and then the younger ones, knowing they were all sinners]. Finally only Jesus was there, along with the woman.
10 And Jesus, lifting himself up and seeing no one but the woman, said to her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? Has no one condemned thee?
Jesus stood up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one said you must die for your sin?”
11 And she said, No one, sir. And Jesus said to her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
She said, “No, sir, no one.” Then Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go [home] now, and do not continue your sinful [life] any longer!”]
12 Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world; he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Jesus spoke to the people again. He said, “I am [like] a light [MET] for [all the people in] [MTY] the world. [Just like a light reveals what has been in the darkness] [MET], [I reveal God’s truth to them]. Those who walk in the darkness [are unaware of what is around them]. But those who become my disciples will always be aware [of God’s truth] [MET]. They will have my light [which shows them how to have eternal] life.”
13 The Pharisees therefore said to him, Thou bearest witness concerning thyself; thy witness is not true.
So the Pharisees said to him, “You are just telling about yourself! [Since there is no one else to verify these things that you say about yourself], [we] do not [need to accept that] what you say is true.”
14 Jesus answered and said to them, Even if I bear witness concerning myself, my witness is true, because I know whence I came and whither I go: but ye know not whence I come and whither I go.
Jesus replied, “Even if I were the [only one to] say these things about myself, what I say is true, because I know that I came from [heaven], and I know that I am going [back to heaven]. But you do not know where I came from or where I am going.
15 Ye judge according to the flesh, I judge no one.
You judge people according to human standards. [The reason] that I am [here is] not (to condemn people/to say that I will punish people) [for their sins].
16 And if also I judge, my judgment is true, because I am not alone, but I and the Father who has sent me.
But if I did judge [people], what I decided would be correct, because I am not the [only] one [who will decide those things]. I and the one who sent me will both decide.
17 And in your law too it is written that the testimony of two men is true:
It is written {[Moses] wrote} in your law that if [at least] two people testify that [some event has happened], [people should consider] that what they say is true.
18 I am [one] who bear witness concerning myself, and the Father who has sent me bears witness concerning me.
I am telling you about myself, and the other one who is telling you about me is [my] Father who sent me. [So you should believe that what we declare is true].”
19 They said to him therefore, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye know neither me nor my Father. If ye had known me, ye would have known also my Father.
Then they asked him, “[If you have a] father whom [we can question about you], where is he?” Jesus replied, “You do not know [who] I [really am]. If you knew who I [really am], you would know who my Father is also.”
20 These words spoke he in the treasury, teaching in the temple; and no one took him, for his hour was not yet come.
He said these things when he was in the Temple [courtyard], near the place where the people put their offerings. [This was also very close to the place where the Jewish council met]. But no one seized him to arrest him, because it was not yet time [MTY] [for him to suffer and die].
21 He said therefore again to them, I go away, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sin; where I go ye cannot come.
Jesus also said to them, “I [will soon be] going away. Then [at the end of your life] you will seek me, but you will die [without God forgiving] your sins. Where I will go, you will not be able to come.”
22 The Jews therefore said, Will he kill himself, that he says, Where I go ye cannot come?
So the Jewish [leaders] said among themselves, “Is he going to kill himself? Is that the reason that he said, ‘Where I go, you will not be able to come’?”
23 And he said to them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above. Ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
But Jesus continued by saying to them, “You were born here in this world, but I came from heaven. You belong to those who are opposed to God [MTY]. I do not belong to them.
24 I said therefore to you, that ye shall die in your sins; for unless ye shall believe that I am [he], ye shall die in your sins.
I told you that you will die [without God forgiving] your sins. If you do not believe that I am [who I say that I am], you will die [without God forgiving] your sins.”
25 They said therefore to him, Who art thou? [And] Jesus said to them, Altogether that which I also say to you.
So they said to him, “You! Who do you think you are?” Jesus said to them, “Ever since I began [teaching], I have been telling you who I am!
26 I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but he that has sent me is true, and I, what I have heard from him, these things I say to the world.
I could judge you and say that [you are guilty of] many things. But instead, [I will say only] what the one who sent me tells me to say. [What he says] is true, and I tell the people in the world [MTY] what I have heard from him.”
27 They knew not that he spoke to them of the Father.
They did not understand that he was talking about his Father [in heaven].
28 Jesus therefore said to them, When ye shall have lifted up the Son of man, then ye shall know that I am [he], and [that] I do nothing of myself, but as the Father has taught me I speak these things.
So Jesus said, “I am the one who came down from heaven, but when you lift me up [on a cross to kill me], you will know who I am. You will also know that I do not do anything with my own [authority]. Instead, I say just what [my] Father has taught me.
29 And he that has sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, because I do always the things that are pleasing to him.
He is the one who sent me, and he helps me. Because I always do the things that please him, he has never abandoned me.”
30 As he spoke these things many believed on him.
As Jesus was saying these things, many people believed that he [was] ([from God/the Messiah]).
31 Jesus therefore said to the Jews who believed him, If ye abide in my word, ye are truly my disciples;
Then Jesus said to the Jews who now said they believed in him, “If you continue to [live in accordance with] my message, you will truly be my disciples.
32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.
Then you will know [God’s] truth, and as a result of [your believing his] truth, he [PRS] will free you [from being controlled by the one who has made you his slaves].”
33 They answered him, We are Abraham's seed, and have never been under bondage to any one; how sayest thou, Ye shall become free?
They replied to him, “We are descendants of Abraham. We have never been anyone’s slaves. So why do you say [we will] be freed [from being someone’s slaves]?”
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say to you, Every one that practises sin is the bondman of sin.
Jesus replied, “Listen carefully to what I am going to tell you. All those who continue to sin are [forced to obey] their sinful desires [MET], [just like] a slave [is forced to obey his master].
A slave is not a permanent member of a family. But a son is a member of a family forever. [Similarly, you say you are members of God’s family because you are descendants of Abraham, but really, because you are like slaves of your sinful desires, you are no longer permanent members of God’s family]. (aiōn g165)
36 If therefore the Son shall set you free, ye shall be really free.
So if you allow me to free you, you will truly be free.
37 I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word has no entrance in you.
I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. But you are trying to kill me because [you are not] allowing [PRS] my message to continue [to change] your inner being.
38 I speak what I have seen with my Father, and ye then do what ye have seen with your father.
I am telling you what I saw when I was with [my] Father. But you do the things that you have heard from your father.”
39 They answered and said to him, Abraham is our father. Jesus says to them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham;
They replied to him, “Abraham is our ancestor.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s descendants, [your character would be like Abraham’s character, and] you would do [good] things like Abraham did.
40 but now ye seek to kill me, a man who has spoken the truth to you, which I have heard from God: this did not Abraham.
I have been telling you the truth that I heard from God, but you are trying to kill me. Abraham did not do things like that.
41 Ye do the works of your father. They said [therefore] to him, We are not born of fornication; we have one father, God.
No! You are doing the things that your [real] father does.” They said to him, “[We do not know about you, but] we are not illegitimate children. And [spiritually], we have only one Father. That is God, and you do not know who your father is!”
42 Jesus said to them, If God were your father ye would have loved me, for I came forth from God and am come [from him]; for neither am I come of myself, but he has sent me.
Jesus said to them, “If God were your father, you would love me, because I came from God, and now I have come here [to this world]. My coming was not (because I [appointed] myself/with my own [authority]). He sent me.
43 Why do ye not know my speech? Because ye cannot hear my word.
(And I will tell you why you do not understand what I say./Do you know why you do not understand what I say?) [RHQ] It is because you do not want to accept my message.
44 Ye are of the devil, as [your] father, and ye desire to do the lusts of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks falsehood, he speaks of what is his own; for he is a liar and its father:
You belong to your father, (the devil/Satan), and you desire to do what he wants. He has [caused people to become] murderers from the time when [people] first [sinned]. He has abandoned [God’s] truth because he is a liar by his nature. Whenever he lies, he is speaking according to his [nature], because he is a liar and is the one who originates [MET] all lies.
45 and because I speak the truth, ye do not believe me.
But because I tell you the truth, you do not believe me!
46 Which of you convinces me of sin? If I speak truth, why do ye not believe me?
[Since I have never sinned], (none of you can show that I have sinned./can anyone among you show that I have sinned?) [RHQ] So, since I tell you the truth, (there is no good reason for your not believing me!/why is it that you do not believe me?) [RHQ]
47 He that is of God hears the words of God: therefore ye hear [them] not, because ye are not of God.
Those who belong to God habitually obey God’s message. You do not belong to God, so you do not obey his message.”
48 The Jews answered and said to him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan and hast a demon?
The Jewish [leaders] [SYN] replied to him, “(We are certainly right by saying that you [believe what is false as] the Samaritans [do]!/Are we not right by saying that you [believe what is false as] the Samaritans [do]?) [RHQ] And that (a demon/an evil spirit) [controls] you!”
49 Jesus answered, I have not a demon; but I honour my Father, and ye dishonour me.
Jesus replied, “A demon does not [control] me! I honor my Father, and you do not honor me!
50 But I do not seek my own glory: there is he that seeks and judges.
I am not trying to honor myself. There is someone else who desires [to honor me], and he is the one who will judge [whether it is I who am telling the truth or whether it is you who are telling the truth].
51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If any one shall keep my word, he shall never see death. (aiōn g165)
But the truth is that anyone who obeys what I say will never die!” (aiōn g165)
52 The Jews therefore said to him, Now we know that thou hast a demon. Abraham has died, and the prophets, and thou sayest, If any one keep my word, he shall never taste death. (aiōn g165)
Then the Jewish [leaders] [SYN], [thinking that he was talking about ordinary death and not about spiritual death], said to him, “Now we are sure that a demon [controls] you! Abraham and the prophets died [long ago]! But you say that anyone who obeys what you teach will never die! (aiōn g165)
53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, who has died? and the prophets have died: whom makest thou thyself?
(You are certainly not greater than our ancestor Abraham!/Do you think you are greater than our ancestor Abraham?) [RHQ] He died, and all the prophets died, so who do you think you are [by saying something like that]?”
54 Jesus answered, If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing: it is my Father who glorifies me, [of] whom ye say, He is our God.
Jesus replied, “If I were honoring myself, that would be worthless. My Father is the one who you say is your God. He is the one who honors me.
55 And ye know him not; but I know him; and if I said, I know him not, I should be like you, a liar. But I know him, and I keep his word.
Although you do not know him, I know him [and have a close relationship with him]. If I said that I did not know him, I would be a liar like you are. But I know him, and I obey what he says.
56 Your father Abraham exulted in that he should see my day, and he saw and rejoiced.
Your ancestor Abraham was happy when he thought about what I would [do during] my life [MTY]. [It was as though] he saw that, and was happy.”
57 The Jews therefore said to him, Thou hast not yet fifty years, and hast thou seen Abraham?
Then the Jewish [leaders] [SYN] said to him, “You are not 50 years old yet! So (you certainly did not see him!/how could you have seen him?) [RHQ] [Because he died long ago]!”
58 Jesus said to them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
Jesus said to them, “The truth is that I existed before Abraham was born!”
59 They took up therefore stones that they might cast [them] at him; but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple, [going through the midst of them, and thus passed on.]
So, [because they were very angry about Jesus thus saying that he] ([had eternally existed/was equal with God]), they picked up stones to throw at him [to kill him]. But [Jesus] caused them not to be able to see him, and he left the Temple courtyard.
