True Discipleship and Freedom
John 8:31-41
John.8.31 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ελεγεν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- ουν: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- προς: PREP
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- πεπιστευκοτας: VERB,perf,act,part,acc,pl,m
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- Ιουδαιους·Εαν: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- υμεις: PRON,nom,pl,2
- μεινητε: VERB,pres,act,subj,2,pl
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- λογω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- εμω: PRON,dat,sg,1
- αληθως: ADV
- μαθηται: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- εστε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
Parallels
- John 15:7-8 (verbal): Uses similar language of abiding in Jesus' word (or Jesus abiding in believers) and links that abiding to bearing fruit as the proof of true discipleship.
- John 8:32 (structural): Immediate continuation of 8:31—promises that abiding in Jesus' word leads to knowing the truth and experiencing freedom, clarifying the outcome of true discipleship.
- John 13:35 (thematic): States another criterion by which Christians are recognized as Jesus' disciples—mutual love—parallel to 8:31's concern for what proves genuine discipleship.
- 1 John 2:3-5 (verbal): Links knowledge of Christ with obedience to his commandments and preservation of his word in the believer—echoes the idea that keeping Jesus' word is the mark of truly knowing/being his disciple.
- James 1:22 (thematic): Demands that believers be 'doers of the word' not merely hearers; thematically parallels John 8:31's emphasis that remaining in Jesus' word produces authentic discipleship expressed in obedient living.
Alternative generated candidates
- Jesus therefore said to the Jews who had believed in him, 'If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.'
- Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples."
John.8.32 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- γνωσεσθε: VERB,fut,mid,ind,2,pl
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- αληθειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- αληθεια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- ελευθερωσει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
Parallels
- John 8:36 (structural): Immediate literary continuation: Jesus links knowing the truth to being freed by the Son—'If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.'
- John 14:6 (verbal): Jesus' self-identification as 'the way, the truth, and the life' makes 'truth' personal—knowing the truth = knowing Jesus himself.
- John 16:13 (verbal): The 'Spirit of truth' who guides into all truth connects the promised revelation/knowledge of truth to the Spirit's work among disciples.
- 2 Corinthians 3:17 (thematic): Associates the presence of the Lord/Spirit with freedom—reflects the New Testament theme that true freedom accompanies the Spirit's truth-revealing work.
- Galatians 5:1 (thematic): Paul's proclamation that 'for freedom Christ has set us free' echoes John's link between truth, Christ, and liberating freedom in the believer's life.
Alternative generated candidates
- 'And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'
- "And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
John.8.33 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- απεκριθησαν: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,pl
- προς: PREP
- αυτον·Σπερμα: PRON,acc,sg,m + NOUN,nom,sg,n
- Αβρααμ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εσμεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- και: CONJ
- ουδενι: PRON,dat,sg,n
- δεδουλευκαμεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,pl
- πωποτε·πως: ADV + ADV
- συ: PRON,nom,sg,2
- λεγεις: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- οτι: CONJ
- Ελευθεροι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- γενησεσθε: VERB,fut,mid,ind,2,pl
Parallels
- John 8:34-36 (structural): Immediate continuation: Jesus answers their claim by explaining the kind of slavery he means (slavery to sin) and declares that the Son sets people free, directly addressing the exchange in 8:33.
- Galatians 3:7-9 (thematic): Paul insists that 'those of faith are the children of Abraham,' countering the idea that ethnic descent from Abraham alone secures covenant standing—paralleling Jesus' challenge to a purely genealogical claim.
- Romans 4:11-13 (thematic): Paul argues the promise to Abraham and his 'seed' rests on faith and the promise, not on the law or physical lineage, reinforcing the distinction between biological descent and covenantal blessing implied in John 8:33.
- Romans 6:16-18 (thematic): Uses the slave/metaphor to contrast being enslaved to sin with being set free to righteousness—paralleling Jesus' language about slavery and the offer of true freedom.
- Genesis 15:6 (allusion): Abraham 'believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness,' establishing the scriptural background that covenant status is granted by faith rather than mere ethnic descent, which underlies the dispute in John 8:33.
Alternative generated candidates
- They answered him, 'We are Abraham's descendants and have never been enslaved to anyone—how can you say that we will be set free?'
- They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone—how can you say, 'You will be set free'?'"
John.8.34 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Απεκριθη: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους·Αμην: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- αμην: PART
- λεγω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- οτι: CONJ
- πας: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- ποιων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- αμαρτιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- δουλος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- αμαρτιας·: NOUN,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- John 8:36 (structural): Immediate continuation: contrasts being a 'slave of sin' with the Son who makes people free—direct structural and theological follow-up to v.34.
- Romans 6:16 (thematic): Paul uses the same slavery imagery: whoever one obeys is one's master—if one yields to sin, one becomes a slave to it (linking obedience, sin, and slavery).
- Romans 7:14 (verbal): Paul explicitly says he is 'sold under sin' (or 'sold into slavery to sin'), a close verbal parallel to Jesus' identification of people as slaves of sin.
- 2 Peter 2:19 (thematic): Speaks of those promised 'freedom' who are themselves 'slaves of corruption'—echoing the contrast between promised freedom and actual bondage to sin.
- Galatians 5:1 (thematic): Paul's appeal to 'stand fast in the freedom' Christians have received contrasts the state of freedom with the prior/besetting condition of bondage (implicitly including slavery to sin).
Alternative generated candidates
- Jesus replied, 'Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.'
- Jesus replied, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.
John.8.35 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- δουλος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ου: PART,neg
- μενει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- οικια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- εις: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- αιωνα·ο: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- υιος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- μενει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- εις: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- αιωνα: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- John 8:34 (structural): Immediate context: v.34 states 'whoever commits sin is a slave (δοῦλος) of sin,' setting up the contrast in v.35 between the temporary status of a slave and the permanent status of the Son.
- John 8:36 (structural): Immediate follow‑up: v.36 continues the argument—if the Son frees you, you will be truly free—linking the Son's eternal dwelling to liberation from slavery to sin.
- Galatians 4:1-7 (verbal): Paul contrasts the status of a child/ward and a son, culminating in v.7 ('you are no longer a slave, but a son'), using the same slave/son household language to describe change of status in Christ.
- Romans 8:15-17 (thematic): Speaks of adoption as sons by the Spirit and inheritance with the Son—echoing the Johannine theme that the Son's abiding implies filial status and eternal belonging, unlike slavery.
- Romans 6:6-7 (thematic): Contrasts slavery to sin with being freed through union with Christ's death and life; thematically parallels John 8's distinction between remaining a slave and the Son's enduring, freeing presence.
Alternative generated candidates
- 'A slave does not remain in the house forever; the Son remains forever.'
- A slave does not remain in the household forever; the Son remains forever.
John.8.36 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εαν: CONJ
- ουν: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- υιος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- ελευθερωση: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,sg
- οντως: ADV
- ελευθεροι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- εσεσθε: VERB,fut,act,ind,2,pl
Parallels
- John 8:32 (verbal): Same discourse: Jesus links knowing the truth with true freedom—'the truth will make you free' leading into the claim that the Son makes people free.
- Galatians 5:1 (verbal): Paul echoes the motif that Christ has set believers free: 'For freedom Christ has set us free,' stressing the liberty secured by Christ.
- Romans 8:2 (thematic): Speaks of the 'law of the Spirit of life' freeing believers from the law of sin and death—theological parallel to freedom effected by the Son.
- 2 Corinthians 3:17 (verbal): 'Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty' connects the presence of God's Spirit/Jesus with the reality of spiritual freedom.
- Isaiah 61:1 (see Luke 4:18) (allusion): Prophetic mission language—'to proclaim liberty to the captives'—which Jesus applies to his own mission, framing his work as bringing liberation.
Alternative generated candidates
- 'So if the Son sets you free, you will be truly free.'
- So if the Son sets you free, you will be truly free.
John.8.37 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οιδα: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,sg
- οτι: CONJ
- σπερμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- Αβρααμ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εστε·αλλα: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- ζητειτε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- με: PRON,acc,sg,1
- αποκτειναι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- οτι: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- λογος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- εμος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ου: PART,neg
- χωρει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
Parallels
- John 8:39 (verbal): Immediate context: the challengers claim to be Abraham's children, and Jesus replies that genuine children of Abraham would do Abraham's works — directly engaging the same claim of descent.
- John 8:40 (verbal): Close parallel thought: reiterates the charge that Jesus is being opposed with the intent to kill him despite their Abrahamic descent.
- John 8:44 (thematic): Explains motive: Jesus attributes their hostility and murderous intent to spiritual kinship with the devil, 'a murderer from the beginning,' linking unbelief in his word with murderous hostility.
- John 10:31-33 (structural): Similar scene of hostile reaction: Jewish leaders pick up stones to kill Jesus in response to his speech about his relationship to the Father — parallels the lethal opposition to his words/claim.
- Acts 7:51-52 (thematic): Stephen's indictment echoes the charge: members of Israel claim the patriarchs yet resist and kill God's messengers, including 'the Righteous One,' paralleling the tension between Abrahamic identity and persecution of God's representative.
Alternative generated candidates
- 'I know that you are Abraham's offspring; yet you seek to kill me, because my word has no place in you.'
- I know that you are Abraham's offspring. Yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you.
John.8.38 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- α: PRON,nom,sg,n
- εγω: PRON,nom,sg,1
- εωρακα: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,sg
- παρα: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- πατρι: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- λαλω·και: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- υμεις: PRON,nom,pl,2
- ουν: CONJ
- α: PRON,nom,sg,n
- ηκουσατε: VERB,aor,act,ind,2,pl
- παρα: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- πατρος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ποιειτε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
Parallels
- John 8:28 (verbal): Uses nearly identical language — Jesus: 'I do nothing on my own; as my Father taught me, I tell these things,' paralleling Jesus' claim that his words come from the Father.
- John 12:49–50 (verbal): Jesus explicitly says he does not speak on his own but speaks what the Father commanded him to say, emphasizing the origin of his words.
- John 5:19 (thematic): Jesus explains the Son can do nothing by himself but only what he sees the Father doing — parallels dependence of Jesus' words/actions on the Father.
- John 7:16–18 (verbal): Jesus insists his teaching is not his own but from the One who sent him and contrasts divine origin with human motives, echoing the claim that his speech comes from the Father.
- John 14:10 (thematic): 'The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority... the Father who dwells in me does his works' — connects Jesus' speech and action as originating in the Father.
Alternative generated candidates
- 'I speak to the world what I have seen from my Father; you do what you have seen from your father.'
- I speak what I have seen with my Father; you do what you have seen with your father.
John.8.39 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Απεκριθησαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- και: CONJ
- ειπαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτω·Ο: PRON,dat,sg,m
- πατηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- Αβρααμ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- λεγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους·Ει: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- τεκνα: NOUN,acc,pl,neut
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- Αβρααμ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εστε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- εργα: NOUN,nom,pl,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- Αβρααμ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εποιειτε·: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
Parallels
- Galatians 3:7-9 (thematic): Paul teaches that ‘those who are of faith are sons of Abraham,’ linking true Abrahamic descent to faith and its fruit rather than mere biological lineage—echoing Jesus’ insistence that being Abraham’s children means doing Abraham’s works.
- Matthew 3:9 (verbal): John the Baptist warns against relying on physical descent with the rebuke ‘Do not presume to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our father”’; parallels Jesus’ confrontation of claims to Abrahamic status based solely on ancestry.
- Romans 4:1-3 (thematic): Paul’s discussion of Abraham’s righteousness being counted by faith (not by works) provides a theological contrast to Jesus’ appeal to the ‘works of Abraham,’ highlighting different emphases on what authentic Abrahamic identity entails.
- John 8:41-44 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same dialogue: Jesus challenges his interlocutors about their claim to Abraham, accusing them of doing the works of their true father (contrasted with Abraham), reinforcing the same argument about identity and behavior.
- James 2:21-24 (thematic): James cites Abraham’s willingness to act (e.g., offering Isaac) to show that faith is demonstrated by works—paralleling Jesus’ demand that those who claim Abraham as father must show the deeds that correspond to that relationship.
Alternative generated candidates
- They said to him, 'Abraham is our father.' Jesus said to them, 'If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works of Abraham.'
- They answered him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham.
John.8.40 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- νυν: ADV
- δε: CONJ
- ζητειτε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- με: PRON,acc,sg,1
- αποκτειναι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- ανθρωπον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- αληθειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- λελαληκα: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,sg
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- ηκουσα: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- παρα: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου·τουτο: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- Αβρααμ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εποιησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- John 8:28-29 (verbal): Jesus explicitly says he speaks what he has heard from the Father (cf. 'I heard from God' in v.40), showing continuity of claim to divine source and authority.
- John 8:39-44 (thematic): Immediate literary parallel in the same dialogue: Jesus contrasts the audience's deeds and paternity with Abraham's, echoing the verdict 'Abraham did not do this' in v.40.
- John 7:16-17 (verbal): Jesus insists his teaching is not his own but from the one who sent him—parallel claim that his words come from God and reveal truth (cf. 'told you the truth... heard from God').
- John 10:31-33 (thematic): The Jewish leaders pick up stones to kill Jesus for his claims (statement of divine commission/identity), paralleling v.40's report that they seek to kill him for speaking truth from God.
- Acts 7:52 (thematic): Stephen's indictment that the Jewish leaders persecuted and killed God's prophets echoes the theme of rejecting and attempting to kill one who speaks God's word, as in John 8:40.
Alternative generated candidates
- 'But now you seek to kill me—a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things.'
- But now you seek to kill me—a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This Abraham did not do."
John.8.41 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- υμεις: PRON,nom,pl,2
- ποιειτε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- εργα: NOUN,nom,pl,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- πατρος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- ειπαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτω·Ημεις: PRON,dat,sg+PRON,nom,pl
- εκ: PREP
- πορνειας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ου: PART,neg
- γεγεννημεθα·ενα: VERB,perf,mp,ind,1,pl+NUM,acc,sg,m
- πατερα: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- εχομεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- θεον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- John 8:39 (verbal): Earlier in the same dialogue the opponents claim a paternal relationship ("Abraham is our father"), showing a recurring insistence on lineage/parentage in response to Jesus’ challenge.
- John 8:44 (thematic): Jesus’ counter-claim that they have the devil for a father forms a direct antithesis to their assertion that God is their one Father, contrasting true vs. false paternity.
- John 8:47 (structural): This verse sets up the epistemic test of divine sonship—those who belong to God hear his words—undermining the opponents’ claim to God as Father based on their refusal to accept Jesus’ teaching.
- Matthew 3:9 (allusion): John the Baptist warns against presuming Abrahamic parentage as a basis for standing with God ("Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’"), echoing Jesus’ critique of relying on lineage rather than true relationship.
- Romans 8:14-16 (thematic): Paul’s contrast between those led by the Spirit who are children of God and false or merely nominal claims to sonship parallels the Johannine dispute over who genuinely belongs to God versus merely claiming God as Father.
Alternative generated candidates
- They answered him, 'We were not born of sexual immorality; we have one Father—God.'
- They replied, "We were not born illegitimately; we have one Father—God."
Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
They answered him, We are Abraham's offspring and have never been enslaved to anyone; how can you say that you will be made free?
Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. Now the slave does not remain in the house forever; the Son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
I know that you are Abraham's descendants; yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you.
I speak what I have seen with the Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.
They answered him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said to them, If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill me — a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did.
You do the works of your father. They said to him, We were not born of immorality; we have one Father — even God.