Worship With Us Sunday School10 AM Sunday Morning11 AM Sunday Evening4 PM Thursday Night7 PM
1377 S 20th St, Louisville, KY 40210 Contact
True Words Baptist Church — Revelation 21:5
BOOK 43 OF 66 · GOSPELS · KING JAMES BIBLE

John 8

John book home•Chapter 8 of 21•59 verses
Search John
Aa  Reading settings
Text size
Reading width
Track chapter:
Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study
REVIEWED OVERVIEW

John 8 Overview

Jesus teaches in the temple as controversies over sin, witness, freedom, fatherhood, and identity intensify. He declares Himself the Light of the world, promises that those who continue in His word will know truth that makes them free, exposes the murderous unbelief of opponents claiming Abraham as father, and culminates with the divine claim, ‘Before Abraham was, I am.’

JohnBook
8Chapter
59Verses
GospelsDivision

Before you read John 8

Coming from

John 7 ended with sharp division over Jesus and failed attempts to arrest Him. John 8 carries that conflict into sustained argument over who He is and who truly belongs to God.

In this chapter

The chapter moves from light and witness to the difference between physical descent and spiritual allegiance, ending with Jesus claiming existence before Abraham in language His hearers understand as blasphemously exalted.

Leads into

John 9 gives a living illustration of light and blindness: Jesus heals a man born blind, while the healed man grows in understanding and hostile religious leaders become more entrenched.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The earliest textual history of the woman-taken-in-adultery passage (7:53–8:11) is complex; the KJV includes it, and TWBC uses the KJV text. Interpretive confidence should distinguish the canonical text being read from separate textual-critical discussions without letting the controversy dominate the chapter.

Verses 31–32 concern discipleship and freedom through continuing in Jesus’ word. They should not be made to contradict the Gospel’s repeated teaching that eternal life is received at the point of belief.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Jesus is the Light of the world

Following Him means not walking in darkness but having the light of life.

Physical ancestry does not guarantee spiritual likeness

Jesus challenges men who claim Abraham while seeking to kill the One sent by God.

Sin enslaves

Whoever commits sin is described as the servant of sin, and the Son alone gives real freedom.

Jesus exists before Abraham

His ‘I am’ declaration reaches beyond ordinary human chronology and contributes to John’s presentation of His deity.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Exodus 3:14

Jesus’ ‘I am’ language strongly recalls the divine self-identification revealed to Moses.

Genesis 15:6

Abraham’s faith provides essential background to claims about being truly Abraham’s children.

Romans 6:16–23

Paul later develops slavery-to-sin and freedom themes in Christian sanctification.

1 John 2:3–6

John later connects continuing in Christ’s word with fellowship and obedient discipleship, distinct from merely stating how eternal life is received.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not use ‘continue in my word’ to add perseverance as a condition for receiving eternal life

Jesus addresses those identified as believers and describes disciple-freedom that grows through continuing.

Do not treat Jewish ethnicity itself as evil

Jesus confronts specific unbelieving opponents and their conduct; the Gospel is not permission for antisemitism.

Do not reduce ‘I am’ to a casual statement of age

The attempted stoning shows His audience understood the claim as extraordinary.

Read John 8 watching for…

Jesus’ repeated use of light and truth language.

The difference between physical descent from Abraham and doing Abraham’s works.

The slavery-and-freedom discussion.

The escalating claims about fatherhood.

The final ‘Before Abraham was, I am’ declaration and response.

TWBC REVIEW STANDARD

Plain language. Scripture first. Fact distinguished from inference. No filler. No fake certainty. Designed to help you read the Bible itself.

Chapter outline5 sections
1-11Jesus refuses to condemn the woman brought in adultery and tells her to sin no more12-20Jesus declares himself the light of the world and speaks of the Father who sent him21-30Jesus warns that unbelief will leave people in their sins and says many believed31-47Jesus says true disciples continue in his word and exposes the slavery of sin48-59Jesus answers accusations, claims honor from the Father, and says before Abraham was, I am
1

Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.

2

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

3

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

4

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

5

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

6

This 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.

7

So 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.

8

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

9

And 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.

10

When 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?

11

She 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.

13

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

14

Jesus 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.

19

Then 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.

20

These 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.

22

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

23

And 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.

25

Then 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.

27

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

28

Then 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.

30

As 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.

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.

STUDY THIS VERSE

John 8:36

Back to verse ↑

Cross References

Cross-reference storage is active. This passage does not yet have curated references loaded.

Related TWBC Resources

The Scripture resource graph is active. Sermons, Bible Overviews, courses, questions, and studies can attach here without changing the Bible text.

My Note

Sign in to keep private notes and personal verse tags.

Sign in →