John 8

King James Version

Full text for John Chapter 8

1¶ Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.

2And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

3And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

4They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

5Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

6This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with [his] finger wrote on the ground, [as though he heard them not].

7So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, ‹He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.›

8And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

9And they which heard [it], being convicted by [their own] conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, [even] unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

10When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, ‹Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?›

11She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, ‹Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.›

12¶ Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, ‹I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.›

13The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.

14Jesus answered and said unto them, ‹Though I bear record of myself, [yet] my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.›

15‹Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.›

16‹And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.›

17‹It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.›

18‹I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.›

19Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, ‹Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.›

20These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.

21¶ Then said Jesus again unto them, ‹I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.›

22Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.

23And he said unto them, ‹Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.›

24‹I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am [he], ye shall die in your sins.›

25Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, ‹Even [the same] that I said unto you from the beginning.›

26‹I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.›

27They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.

28Then said Jesus unto them, ‹When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am [he], and [that] I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.›

29‹And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.›

30As he spake these words, many believed on him.

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.›

33They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

34Jesus 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.›

39They 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.

42Jesus 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.›

48Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?

49Jesus 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.›

52Then 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.

53Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?

54Jesus 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.›

57Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?

58Jesus said unto them, ‹Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.›

59Then 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Jesus, teaching in the temple, is presented with a woman taken in adultery by the scribes and Pharisees, who seek to trap him. He challenges her accusers, stating, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her," leading them to depart. Jesus then declares himself the "light of the world" and engages in a profound discourse with the Jews concerning his divine origin, the nature of truth, and freedom from sin, culminating in his assertion, "Before Abraham was, I am."

Medium Summary

The chapter opens with Jesus teaching in the temple, where scribes and Pharisees bring a woman caught in adultery, demanding her stoning according to Mosaic law, hoping to accuse Jesus. Jesus stoops to write on the ground, and when pressed, declares, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her," causing her accusers to depart convicted. He then forgives the woman, admonishing her to "sin no more." Following this, Jesus proclaims himself the "light of the world," leading to a contentious debate with the Pharisees about his testimony and divine origin. He asserts his judgment is true because he is not alone, but with the Father, and that he is "from above" while they are "from beneath." He further teaches that belief in him is essential to avoid dying in sins and that the truth makes one free from the bondage of sin, contrasting those who are Abraham's seed with those who are children of the devil. The chapter concludes with Jesus declaring his eternal existence, "Before Abraham was, I am," prompting the Jews to attempt to stone him.

Long Summary

John chapter 8 begins with Jesus returning to the temple after spending the night on the Mount of Olives, where he teaches the people. During his teaching, the scribes and Pharisees bring a woman caught in the act of adultery, placing her before Jesus to test him, asking if she should be stoned according to Moses' law. Jesus, stooping to write on the ground, eventually challenges them with the profound statement, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." Convicted by their consciences, her accusers depart one by one, leaving Jesus alone with the woman. He then asks if anyone has condemned her, and upon her negative reply, declares, "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." Subsequently, Jesus proclaims himself the "light of the world," promising that those who follow him will have the "light of life." This declaration sparks a heated debate with the Pharisees, who question his self-testimony. Jesus defends his witness, asserting its truthfulness because he knows his origin and destination, unlike them, and that his judgment is true because he is not alone, but with the Father who sent him. He further distinguishes himself by stating, "Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world," emphasizing that they will die in their sins if they do not believe in him. Jesus clarifies that he speaks what he has heard from the Father, and many believe him. He then instructs those who believe that continuing in his word will make them his true disciples, leading them to know the truth which will make them free. When they claim never to have been in bondage, Jesus explains that "whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin" and that only the Son can make them truly free. The discourse intensifies as Jesus asserts his connection to the Father and accuses them of seeking to kill him, revealing their true spiritual paternity, stating, "Ye are of your father the devil." He describes the devil as a murderer and a liar from the beginning. The Jews accuse Jesus of being a Samaritan and having a devil, but Jesus denies it, honoring his Father. He promises that whoever keeps his saying "shall never see death," leading the Jews to again accuse him of having a devil and being greater than Abraham. Jesus responds by stating his Father honors him, and that Abraham rejoiced to see his day. Finally, Jesus declares his eternal pre-existence, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am," which provokes the Jews to take up stones to cast at him, but Jesus hides himself and departs from the temple.

Core Concepts

  • Forgiveness and JudgmentJesus demonstrates divine mercy by forgiving the woman caught in adultery, while simultaneously challenging her accusers to examine their own sinfulness, thus shifting the focus from legalistic condemnation to personal conviction and grace.
  • Jesus as the Light of the WorldJesus declares himself the source of spiritual illumination, promising that those who follow him will not walk in darkness but will possess the 'light of life,' guiding them out of ignorance and sin.
  • Truth and Freedom from SinJesus teaches that adherence to his word leads to knowing the truth, and this truth liberates individuals from the bondage of sin, contrasting spiritual freedom with mere physical lineage.
  • Divine Origin and AuthorityJesus repeatedly asserts his unique relationship with God the Father, emphasizing that he is 'from above,' sent by the Father, and that his testimony and judgment are true because they are rooted in this divine connection.
  • Spiritual PaternityJesus sharply distinguishes between those whose spiritual father is God, characterized by love for him and hearing his words, and those whose father is the devil, characterized by a desire to kill him and a propensity for lies.
  • The 'I Am' DeclarationJesus makes a profound claim of eternal pre-existence and divine identity by stating, 'Before Abraham was, I am,' directly linking himself to the divine name revealed to Moses and asserting his timeless nature.