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John Chapter 8

New Testament Gospel 59 Verses

What is John 8 about?

The theological Gospel — seven signs, the "I AM" declarations, and the proof that Jesus is the eternal Son of God. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1but 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 the Pharisees bring a woman taken in adultery; and having set her in the midst,
4they say unto him, Teacher, this woman hath been taken in adultery, in the very act.
5Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such: what then sayest thou of her?
6And this they said, trying him, that they might have [whereof] to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground.
7But 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 with his finger wrote on the ground.
9And they, when they heard it, went out one by one, beginning from the eldest, [even] unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the midst.
10And Jesus lifted up himself, and said unto her, Woman, where are they? did no man condemn thee?
11And she said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said, Neither do I condemn thee: go thy way; from henceforth sin no more.
12Again therefore Jesus spake unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.
13The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest witness of thyself; thy witness is not true.
14Jesus answered and said unto them, Even if I bear witness of myself, my witness is true; for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye know not whence I come, or whither I go.
15Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.
16Yea and if I judge, my judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
17Yea and in your law it is written, that the witness of two men is true.
18I am he that beareth witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
19They said therefore unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye know neither me, nor my Father: if ye knew me, ye would know my Father also.
20These words spake he in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man took him; because his hour was not yet come.
21He said therefore again unto them, I go away, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sin: whither I go, ye cannot come.
22The Jews therefore said, Will he kill himself, that 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.
24I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for except ye believe that I am [he], ye shall die in your sins.
25They said therefore unto him, Who art thou? Jesus said unto them, Even that which I have also spoken unto you from the beginning.
26I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you: howbeit he that sent me is true; and the things which I heard from him, these speak I unto the world.
27They perceived not that he spake to them of the Father.
28Jesus therefore said, 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 the Father taught me, I speak these things.
29And he that sent me is with me; he hath not left me alone; for I do always the things that are pleasing to him.
30As he spake these things, many believed on him.
31Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, If ye abide in my word, [then] are ye truly my disciples;
32and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33They answered unto him, We are Abraham`s seed, and have never yet been in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
34Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin.
35And the bondservant abideth not in the house for ever: the son abideth for ever.
36If therefore the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
37I know that ye are Abraham`s seed: yet ye seek to kill me, because my word hath not free course in you.
38I speak the things which I have seen with [my] Father: and ye also do the things which ye heard from [your] father.
39They answered and said unto him, Our father is Abraham. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham`s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
40But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I heard from God: this did not Abraham.
41Ye do the works of your father. They said unto him, We were 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 came forth and am come from God; for neither have I come of myself, but he sent me.
43Why do ye not understand my speech? [Even] because ye cannot hear my word.
44Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and standeth 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 thereof.
45But because I say the truth, ye believe me not.
46Which of you convicteth me of sin? If I say truth, why do ye not believe me?
47He that is of God heareth the words of God: for this cause ye hear [them] not, because ye are not of God.
48The Jews answered and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon?
49Jesus answered, I have not a demon; but I honor my Father, and ye dishonor me.
50But I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.
51Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my word, he shall never see death.
52The Jews said unto him, Now we know that thou hast a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my word, he shall never taste of death.
53Art thou greater than our father Abraham, who died? and the prophets died: whom makest thou thyself?
54Jesus answered, If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing: it is my Father that glorifieth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God;
55and ye have not known him: but I know him; and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be like unto you, a liar: but I know him, and keep his word.
56Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad.
57The Jews therefore said 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 born, I am.
59They took up stones therefore to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.
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What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“Jesus went unto the Mount of Olives.] Which lay eastward of Jerusalem, about a mile from it; hither Christ went on the evening of the last day of the feast of tabernacles; partly to decline the danger, and avoid the snares the Jews might lay for him in the night season; having been disappointed and confounded in the daytime; and it may be for the sake of recreation and diversion, to sup with his dear friends Lazarus, Martha, and Mary, who lived at Bethany, not far from this mount; and chiefly for private prayer to God, on account of himself as man, and for his disciples, and for the spread of his Gospel, and for…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“THE WOMAN TAKEN IN ADULTERY. (Joh 8:1-11) Jesus went unto the Mount of Olives--This should have formed the last verse of the foregoing chapter. "The return of the people to the inert quiet and security of their dwellings (Joh 7:53), at the close of the feast, is designedly contrasted with our Lord's homeless way, so to speak, of spending the short night, who is early in the morning on the scene again. One cannot well see why what is recorded in Luk 21:37-38 may not even thus early have taken place; it might have been the Lord's ordinary custom from the beginning to leave the brilliant misery of the city every…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“Mount of Olives - The mountain about a mile directly east of Jerusalem. See the notes at Matthew 21:1. This was the place in which he probably often passed the night when attending the feasts at Jerusalem. The Garden of Gethsemane, to which he was accustomed to resort John 18:2, was on the western side of that mountain, and Bethany, the abode of Martha and Mary, on its east side, John 11:1. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 5
“Moses hath commanded us to stone such - If they spoke accurately, this must have been a woman, who, having been betrothed to a husband, had been guilty of this crime before the marriage was completed; for such only Moses commanded to be stoned. He commanded indeed that other adulteresses should be put to death; but the manner of death was not specified. Deu 22:23. John 8:6”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 3
“8:3 The teachers of religious law were Jewish scholars who specialized in knowing the Old Testament law and the oral traditions that interpreted the law.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“Mat 21:1; Mar 11:1, Mar 13:3; Luk 19:37 John 8:2”
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