The Word Am I

The Gospel According to St. John

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 8 -

1
But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2
Early in the morning He went back into the temple courts.(a) All the people came to Him, and He sat down to teach them.
3
The scribes and Pharisees, however, brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before them
4
and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.
5
In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. So what do You say?”
6
They said this to test Him, in order to have a basis for accusing Him. But Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with His finger.
7
When they continued to question Him, He straightened up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.”
8
And again He bent down and wrote on the ground.
9
When they heard this,(b) they began to go away one by one, beginning with the older ones, until only Jesus was left, with the woman standing there.
10
Then Jesus straightened up (c) and asked her, “Woman, where are your accusers?(d) Has no one condemned you?”
11
“No one, Lord,” she answered. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.”

Jesus the Light of the World

(1 John 1:5–10)
12
Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
13
So the Pharisees said to Him, “You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not valid.”
14
Jesus replied, “Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is valid, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you do not know where I came from or where I am going.
15
You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.
16
But even if I do judge, My judgment is true, because I am not alone; I am with the Father who sent Me.(e)
17
Even in your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.(f)
18
I am One who testifies about Myself, and the Father, who sent Me, also testifies about Me.”
19
“Where is Your Father?” they asked Him. “You do not know Me or My Father,” Jesus answered. “If you knew Me, you would know My Father as well.”
20
He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts, near the treasury. Yet no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.
21
Again He said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for Me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.”
22
So the Jews began to ask, “Will He kill Himself, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”
23
Then He told them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
24
That is why I told you that you would die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
25
“Who are You?” they asked. “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied.
26
“I have much to say about you and much to judge. But the One who sent Me is truthful, and what I have heard from Him, I tell the world.”
27
They did not understand that He was telling them about the Father.
28
So 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 exactly what the Father has taught Me.
29
He who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.”

The Truth Will Set You Free

(2 John 1:4–6)
30
As Jesus spoke these things, many believed in Him.
31
So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples.
32
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33
“We are Abraham’s descendants,” they answered. “We have never been slaves to anyone. How can You say we will be set free?”
34
Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
35
A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son belongs to it forever.
36
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
37
I know you are Abraham’s descendants, but you are trying to kill Me because My word has no place within you.
38
I speak of what I have seen in the presence of the Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”
39
“Abraham is our father,” they replied. “If you were children of Abraham,” said Jesus, “you would do the works of Abraham.
40
But now you are trying to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing.
41
You are doing the works of your father.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they declared. “Our only Father is God Himself.”
42
Jesus 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, but He sent Me.
43
Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to accept My message.
44
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
45
But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me!
46
Which of you can prove Me guilty of sin? If I speak the truth, why do you not believe Me?
47
Whoever belongs to God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

Before Abraham Was Born, I Am

48
The Jews answered Him, “Are we not right to say that You are a Samaritan and You have a demon?”
49
“I do not have a demon,” Jesus replied, “but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.
50
I do not seek My own glory. There is One who seeks it, and He is the Judge.
51
Truly, truly, I tell you, if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death.”
52
“Now we know that You have a demon!” declared the Jews. “Abraham died, and so did the prophets, yet You say that anyone who keeps Your word will never taste death.
53
Are You greater than our father Abraham? He died, as did the prophets. Who do You claim to be?”
54
Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory means nothing. The One who glorifies Me is My Father, of whom you say ‘He is our (g) God.’
55
You do not know Him, but I know Him. If I said I did not know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know Him, and I keep His word.
56
Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see My day. He saw it and was glad.”
57
Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?”
58
“Truly, truly, I tell you,” Jesus declared, “before Abraham was born, I am!(h)”
59
At this, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple area.(i)

Footnotes

(a)8:2 Literally the temple; also in verse 20
(b)8:9 NE, BYZ, and TR include and were convicted by their conscience,
(c)8:10 NE, BYZ, and TR include and saw no one but the woman.
(d)8:10 WH and NA where are they
(e)8:16 Literally but (it is) I and the Father who sent Me; NE but (it is) I and the One who sent Me
(f)8:17 See Deuteronomy 19:15.
(g)8:54 WH and TR Your
(h)8:58 Literally before Abraham was, I am!
(i)8:59 BYZ and TR include going through the midst of them, and so He passed by.
1
but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2
Now very early in the morning, he came again into the temple, and all the people came to him. He sat down and taught them.
3
The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman taken in adultery. Having set her in the middle,
4
they told him, “Teacher, we found this woman in adultery, in the very act.
5
Now in our law, Moses commanded us to stone such women.(a) What then do you say about her?”
6
They said this testing him, that they might have something to accuse him of. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with his finger.
7
But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her.”
8
Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground with his finger.
9
They, when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest, even to the last. Jesus was left alone with the woman where she was, in the middle.
10
Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, “Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?”
11
She said, “No one, Lord.” Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more.” (b)

Jesus the Light of the World

(1 John 1:5–10)
12
Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. (c) He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
13
The Pharisees therefore said to him, “You testify about yourself. Your testimony is not valid.”
14
Jesus answered them, “Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from, and where I am going; but you don’t know where I came from, or where I am going.
15
You judge according to the flesh. I judge no one.
16
Even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent me.
17
It’s also written in your law that the testimony of two people is valid. (d)
18
I am one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me.”
19
They said therefore 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.”
20
Jesus spoke these words in the treasury, as he taught in the temple. Yet no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.
21
Jesus said therefore again to them, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sins. Where I go, you can’t come.”
22
The Jews therefore said, “Will he kill himself, because he says, ‘Where I am going, you can’t come’?”
23
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 said therefore to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am (e) he, you will die in your sins.”
25
They said therefore to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning.
26
I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you. However, he who sent me is true; and the things which I heard from him, these I say to the world.”
27
They didn’t understand that he spoke to them about the Father.
28
Jesus therefore said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing of myself, but as my Father taught me, I say these things.
29
He who sent me is with me. The Father hasn’t left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”

The Truth Will Set You Free

(2 John 1:4–6)
30
As he spoke these things, many believed in him.
31
Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples.
32
You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (f)
33
They answered him, “We are Abraham’s offspring, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How do you say, ‘You will be made free’?”
34
Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin.
35
A bondservant doesn’t live in the house forever. A son remains forever.
36
If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
37
I know that you are Abraham’s offspring, yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you.
38
I say the things which I have seen with my Father; and you also do the things which you have seen with your father.”
39
They answered him, “Our father is Abraham.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham.
40
But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham didn’t do this.
41
You do the works of your father.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God.”
42
Therefore Jesus said to them, “If God were your father, you would love me, for I came out and have come from God. For I haven’t come of myself, but he sent me.
43
Why don’t you understand my speech? Because you can’t hear my word.
44
You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.
45
But because I tell the truth, you don’t believe me.
46
Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?
47
He who is of God hears the words of God. For this cause you don’t hear, because you are not of God.”

Before Abraham Was Born, I Am

48
Then the Jews answered him, “Don’t we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?”
49
Jesus answered, “I don’t have a demon, but I honor my Father and you dishonor me.
50
But I don’t seek my own glory. There is one who seeks and judges.
51
Most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death.”
52
Then the Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, as did the prophets; and you say, ‘If a man keeps my word, he will never taste of death.’
53
Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died. Who do you make yourself out to be?”
54
Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is our God.
55
You have not known him, but I know him. If I said, ‘I don’t know him,’ I would be like you, a liar. But I know him and keep his word.
56
Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it and was glad.”
57
The Jews therefore said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old! Have you seen Abraham?”
58
Jesus said to them, “Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM. (g) ”
59
Therefore they took up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple, having gone through the middle of them, and so passed by.

Footnotes

(a)8:5 ℘ Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22
(b)8:11 NU includes John 7:53 –John 8:11 but puts brackets around it to indicate that the textual critics had less confidence that this was original.
(c)8:12 ℘ Isaiah 60:1
(d)8:17 ℘ Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15
(e)8:24 or, I AM
(f)8:32 ℘ Psalms 119:45
(g)8:58 ℘ Exodus 3:14
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