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John 8:31-59
King James Version
John 8:31-59
King James Version
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
37 I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?
49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.
50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.
51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.
53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
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John 8:31-59
1599 Geneva Bible
John 8:31-59
1599 Geneva Bible
31 [a]Then said Jesus to the Jews which believed in him, If ye continue in my word, ye are verily my disciples,
32 And shall know the truth, and the truth shall [b]make you free.
33 [c]They answered him, We be [d]Abraham’s seed, and were never bond to any man: why sayest thou then, Ye shall be made free?
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily I say unto you, that whosoever commiteth sin, is the (A)servant of sin.
35 And the servant abideth not in the house forever: but the Son abideth forever.
36 If that Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
37 [e]I know that ye are Abraham’s seed, but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your Father.
39 They answered, and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
40 But now ye go about to kill me, a man that have told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
41 Ye do the works of your father. Then said they to him, We are not born of fornication: we have one Father, which is God.
42 Therefore Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, then would ye love me: for I proceeded forth, and came from God, neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
43 Why do ye not understand my [f]talk? because ye cannot hear my word.
44 (B)Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do: he hath been a murderer from the [g]beginning, and [h]abode not in the [i]truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, then speaketh he of his [j]own: for he is a liar, and the [k]father thereof.
45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
46 [l]Which of you can rebuke me of sin? and if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
47 (C)He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
48 [m]Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?
49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil, but I honor my Father, and ye have dishonored me.
50 And I seek not mine own praise: but there is one that [n]seeketh it, and judgeth.
51 [o]Verily, verily I say unto you, If a man keep my word, he shall never [p]see death.
52 [q]Then said the Jews to him, Now know we that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the Prophets: and thou sayest, If a man keep my word, he shall never taste of death.
53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the Prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
54 [r]Jesus answered, If I honor myself, mine honor is [s]nothing worth: it is my Father that honoreth me, whom ye say, that he is your God.
55 [t]Yet ye have not known him: but I know him, and if I should say I know him not, I should be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his word.
56 [u]Your father Abraham [v]rejoiced to see my [w]day, and he [x]saw it, and was glad.
57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily I say unto you, before Abraham was, I [y]am.
59 [z]Then took they up stones to cast at him, but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the Temple: And he passed through the midst of them, and so went his way.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- John 8:31 The true disciples of Christ continue in his doctrine, that profiting more and more in the knowledge of the truth, they may be delivered from the most grievous burden of sin, into the true liberty of righteousness and life.
- John 8:32 From the slavery of sin.
- John 8:33 Some of the multitude, not they that believed: for this is not the speech of men that consent unto him but of men that are against him.
- John 8:33 Born and begotten of Abraham.
- John 8:37 Our wicked manners declare, that we are plainly born of a devilish nature, But we are changed, and made of the household of God, according to the covenant which he made with Abraham by Christ only, apprehended and laid hold on by faith: which faith is known by a godly and honest life.
- John 8:43 Or, language: as though he said, you do no more understand what I say, than if I spake in a strange and unknown language to you.
- John 8:44 From the beginning of the world: for as soon as man was made, the devil cast him headlong into death.
- John 8:44 That is, continued not constantly, or remained not.
- John 8:44 That is, in faithfulness, and uprightness, that is, kept not his creation.
- John 8:44 Even of his own head, and of his own brain or disposition.
- John 8:44 The author thereof.
- John 8:46 Christ did thoroughly execute the office, that his Father enjoined him.
- John 8:48 The enemies of Christ make their bravery for a while, but the Father will appear at his time to revenge the reproach that is done unto him in the person of his son.
- John 8:50 That is, that will revenge both your despising of me, and of him.
- John 8:51 The only doctrine of the Gospel apprehended by faith, is a sure remedy against death.
- John 8:51 That is, he shall not feel it: for even in the midst of death, the faithful see life.
- John 8:52 Against them which abuse the glory of the Saints, to darken Christ’s glory.
- John 8:54 There is nothing farther off from all ambition than Christ, but his Father hath set him above all things.
- John 8:54 This is spoken by manner of [a grant]: as if he had said, Be it so, let this report which I give of myself, be of no force: yet there is another that glorifieth me, that is, that honoreth my Name.
- John 8:55 There is no right knowledge of God, without Christ, neither any right knowledge of Christ without his word.
- John 8:56 The virtue of Christ showed itself through all former ages in the Fathers, for they saw in the promises, that he should come, and did very joyfully lay hold on him with a lively faith.
- John 8:56 Was very desirous.
- John 8:56 A day is a space that a man liveth in, or doeth any notable act, or suffereth any great thing.
- John 8:56 With the eyes of faith, Heb. 11:13.
- John 8:58 Christ as he was God, was before Abraham: and he was the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world.
- John 8:59 Zeal without knowledge, breaketh out at length into a most open madness: and yet the wicked cannot do what they list.
John 8:31-59
New International Version
John 8:31-59
New International Version
Dispute Over Whose Children Jesus’ Opponents Are
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching,(A) you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”(B)
33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants(C) and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”
34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.(D) 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.(E) 36 So if the Son sets you free,(F) you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me,(G) because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence,(H) and you are doing what you have heard from your father.[a]”(I)
39 “Abraham is our father,” they answered.
“If you were Abraham’s children,”(J) said Jesus, “then you would[b] do what Abraham did. 40 As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me,(K) a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God.(L) Abraham did not do such things. 41 You are doing the works of your own father.”(M)
“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”(N)
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me,(O) for I have come here from God.(P) I have not come on my own;(Q) God sent me.(R) 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil,(S) and you want to carry out your father’s desires.(T) 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.(U) 45 Yet because I tell the truth,(V) you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says.(W) The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
Jesus’ Claims About Himself
48 The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan(X) and demon-possessed?”(Y)
49 “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50 I am not seeking glory for myself;(Z) but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”(AA)
52 At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed!(AB) Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham?(AC) He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”
54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself,(AD) my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.(AE) 55 Though you do not know him,(AF) I know him.(AG) If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word.(AH) 56 Your father Abraham(AI) rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it(AJ) and was glad.”
57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”
58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born,(AK) I am!”(AL) 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him,(AM) but Jesus hid himself,(AN) slipping away from the temple grounds.
1599 Geneva Bible (GNV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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