John 8
1 But Jesus went [with us disciples] to Olive [Tree] Hill [and we stayed near there that night].
2 Early the next morning, we returned to the Temple [courtyard]. Many people gathered around Jesus, so he sat down to teach them.
3 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 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 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 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 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 Then he stooped down and wrote [some more] on the ground.
9 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 Jesus stood up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one said you must die for your sin?”
11 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 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.”
Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world: the one following me can not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of the life.
13 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.”
Then the Pharisees said to Him, Thou art testifying concerning thyself; Thy testimony is not true. And Jesus responded and said to them,
14 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.
If I testify concerning myself, my testimony is true; for I know whence I came, and whither I go. You know not whence I come, or whither I go.
15 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].
You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.
16 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.
If I judge, my judgment is true; because I am not alone, but I and the One having sent me.
17 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.
And it has been written in our law, that the testimony of two men is true.
18 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].”
I am the one testifying concerning myself, and the Father having sent me, testifies concerning me.
19 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.”
Then they said to Him, Where is thy Father? Jesus responded; You know neither me nor my Father; if you knew me, you would also know my Father.
20 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].
He spoke these words in the treasury, teaching in the temple: and no one arrested Him; because His hour had not yet come.
21 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.”
Then He again said to them, I go away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin: whither I go you are not able to come.
22 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’?”
Then the Jews were saying, Whether will He kill Himself, because He says, Whither I go away, you are not able to come?
23 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.
And He said to them, You are from beneath; I am from above: you are of this world; I am not of this world.
24 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.”
Therefore I said to you, that you shall die in your sins: for if you may not believe that I am He, you shall die in your sins.
25 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!
Then they said to Him, Who art thou? And Jesus said to them, Even that which I also speak to you from the beginning.
26 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.”
I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you; but the One having sent me is true; those things which I heard with Him, these I speak to the world.
27 They did not understand that he was talking about his Father [in heaven].
They did not know that He spoke to them concerning the Father.
28 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.
Then Jesus said, When you may lift up the Son of man, then you shall know that I am He, and I do nothing of myself, but as the Father has taught me, I speak the same things.
29 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.”
Truly the One having sent me is with me; He has not left me alone; because I always do those things which are pleasing to Him.
30 As Jesus was saying these things, many people believed that he [was] ([from God/the Messiah]).
He speaking these things, many believed on Him.
31 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.
Then Jesus said to the Jews, who believed on Him, If you may abide in my word, you are truly my disciples;
32 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].”
and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33 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]?”
They responded to Him, we are the seed of Abraham, and have never been in bondage to any one: How do You say, that you shall be free?
34 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].
Jesus responded to them, Truly, truly, I say unto you, That every one doing sin is the slave of sin.
35 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)
But the slave abides not in the house forever; the Son abides forever. (aiōn g165)
36 So if you allow me to free you, you will truly be free.
If therefore the Son may make you free, you shall be free indeed.
37 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.
I know ye are the seed of Abraham; but you seek to kill me, because my word has no place in you.
38 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.”
Whatsoever I have seen with the Father I speak: you therefore are doing the things which you heard with your father.
39 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.
They responded and said to Him, Abraham is our Father. Jesus says to them, If you were the children of Abraham, you would do the works of Abraham.
40 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.
But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard with God: Abraham did not this.
41 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!”
You are doing the works of your father. They said to Him, We are not born of fornication; we have one Father, God.
42 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.
Jesus said to them; If God were your Father, you would love me: for I came out from God, and I return; for I have not spoken from myself, but He sent me.
43 (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.
Wherefore do you not understand my speech? Because you are not able to hear my word.
44 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.
You are of your father the devil, and you wish to do the lusts of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and stood not in the truth, because there was no truth in him. When he may speak a lie, he speaks of his own: because he is a liar, and the father of the same.
45 But because I tell you the truth, you do not believe me!
And because I speak the truth, you do not believe me.
46 [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]
Which one of you convicts me concerning sin? If I speak the truth, why do you not believe me?
47 Those who belong to God habitually obey God’s message. You do not belong to God, so you do not obey his message.”
The one being of God hears the words of God: on account of this you do not hear, because you are not of God.
48 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!”
The Jews responded and said to Him, Do we not truly say that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?
49 Jesus replied, “A demon does not [control] me! I honor my Father, and you do not honor me!
Jesus responded, I have not a demon; but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me.
50 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].
But I do not seek my own glory: there is One seeking and judging.
Truly, truly, I say unto you, if any one may keep my word, he may never see death. (aiōn g165)
52 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)
The Jews said to Him, Now we know that thou hast a demon. Abraham and the prophets are dead; and thou sayest, If any one may keep my word, he may never taste death. (aiōn g165)
53 (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]?”
Whether art thou greater than our father Abraham, who died? and the prophets died: whom do you make yourself?
54 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.
Jesus responded, If I may glorify myself, my glory is nothing: my Father is the one glorifying me; whom you say, that, He is our God;
55 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.
indeed you do not know Him: but I know Him. If I may say, I know Him not, I will be a liar like you: but I know Him, and I keep His word.
56 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.”
Abraham, our father, rejoiced that he might see my day; he saw it, and was glad.
57 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]!”
Then the Jews said to Him, You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?
58 Jesus said to them, “The truth is that I existed before Abraham was born!”
Jesus said unto them, Truly, truly, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
59 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.
Then they took up stones that they might cast at Him: and Jesus was hidden, and departed out from the temple.
