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28 Jesus therefore said to them, When ye shall have lifted up the Son of man, then ye shall know that I am [he], and [that] I do nothing of myself, but as the Father has taught me I speak these things.

29 And he that has sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, because I do always the things that are pleasing to him.

30 As he spoke these things many believed on him.

31 Jesus therefore said to the Jews who believed him, If ye abide in my word, ye are truly my disciples;

32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.

33 They answered him, We are Abraham's seed, and have never been under bondage to any one; how sayest thou, Ye shall become free?

34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say to you, Every one that practises sin is the bondman of sin.

35 Now the bondman abides not in the house for ever: the son abides for ever.

36 If therefore the Son shall set you free, ye shall be really free.

37 I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word has no entrance in you.

38 I speak what I have seen with my Father, and ye then do what ye have seen with your father.

39 They answered and said to him, Abraham is our father. Jesus says to them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham;

40 but now ye seek to kill me, a man who has spoken the truth to you, which I have heard from God: this did not Abraham.

41 Ye do the works of your father. They said [therefore] to him, We are not born of fornication; we have one father, God.

42 Jesus said to them, If God were your father ye would have loved me, for I came forth from God and am come [from him]; for neither am I come of myself, but *he* has sent me.

43 Why do ye not know my speech? Because ye cannot hear my word.

44 Ye are of the devil, as [your] father, and ye desire to do the lusts of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks falsehood, he speaks of what is his own; for he is a liar and its father:

45 and because I speak the truth, ye do not believe me.

46 Which of you convinces me of sin? If I speak truth, why do ye not believe me?

47 He that is of God hears the words of God: therefore ye hear [them] not, because ye are not of God.

48 The Jews answered and said to him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan and hast a demon?

49 Jesus answered, I have not a demon; but I honour my Father, and ye dishonour me.

50 But I do not seek my own glory: there is he that seeks and judges.

51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If any one shall keep my word, he shall never see death.

52 The Jews therefore said to him, Now we know that thou hast a demon. Abraham has died, and the prophets, and thou sayest, If any one keep my word, he shall never taste death.

53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, who has died? and the prophets have died: whom makest thou thyself?

54 Jesus answered, If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing: it is my Father who glorifies me, [of] whom ye say, He is our God.

55 And ye know him not; but I know him; and if I said, I know him not, I should be like you, a liar. But I know him, and I keep his word.

56 Your father Abraham exulted in that he should see my day, and he saw and rejoiced.

57 The Jews therefore said to him, Thou hast not yet fifty years, and hast thou seen Abraham?

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

59 They took up therefore stones that they might cast [them] at him; but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple, [going through the midst of them, and thus passed on.]

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28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up[a] the Son of Man,(A) then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.(B) 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone,(C) for I always do what pleases him.”(D) 30 Even as he spoke, many believed in him.(E)

Dispute Over Whose Children Jesus’ Opponents Are

31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching,(F) you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”(G)

33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants(H) 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.(I) 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.(J) 36 So if the Son sets you free,(K) you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me,(L) because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence,(M) and you are doing what you have heard from your father.[b](N)

39 “Abraham is our father,” they answered.

“If you were Abraham’s children,”(O) said Jesus, “then you would[c] do what Abraham did. 40 As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me,(P) a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God.(Q) Abraham did not do such things. 41 You are doing the works of your own father.”(R)

“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”(S)

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me,(T) for I have come here from God.(U) I have not come on my own;(V) God sent me.(W) 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,(X) and you want to carry out your father’s desires.(Y) 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.(Z) 45 Yet because I tell the truth,(AA) 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.(AB) 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(AC) and demon-possessed?”(AD)

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;(AE) 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.”(AF)

52 At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed!(AG) 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?(AH) He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”

54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself,(AI) my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.(AJ) 55 Though you do not know him,(AK) I know him.(AL) If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word.(AM) 56 Your father Abraham(AN) rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it(AO) 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,(AP) I am!”(AQ) 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him,(AR) but Jesus hid himself,(AS) slipping away from the temple grounds.

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Footnotes

  1. John 8:28 The Greek for lifted up also means exalted.
  2. John 8:38 Or presence. Therefore do what you have heard from the Father.
  3. John 8:39 Some early manuscripts “If you are Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then