John 8:13

John 8:13, in plain English

The Pharisees push back: You are just talking about Yourself. That does not count as valid testimony. They think they have found a loophole.

Why it's here

In Jewish law, you needed at least two witnesses to establish truth. The Pharisees are saying Jesus' claims about Himself do not meet that standard.

Who's speaking

The Pharisees challenge Jesus' authority to make claims about Himself.

Where it sits in the story

They think the rules disqualify Jesus. But Jesus is about to explain that He has a witness they never considered: the Father Himself.

The scholarly reading

The Pharisees challenge Jesus on legal grounds: His self-testimony (su peri seautou martureis) is not valid (alēthēs) according to the principle that a person's testimony about himself lacks independent verification.

Language and setting

This objection references the legal principle stated in Deuteronomy 19:15 requiring two or three witnesses. Jesus Himself had acknowledged this principle in John 5:31, but now explains how it is fulfilled.

Voice

The Pharisees raise a procedural objection to Jesus' self-testimony, challenging its legal validity.

Significance

The Pharisees try to disqualify Jesus on a technicality: self-testimony is inadmissible. But Jesus is about to show them that His testimony has a second witness they have been ignoring all along.

11“No one, Lord,” she answered.

12Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”

13So the Pharisees said to Him, “You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not valid.”

14Jesus replied, “Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is valid, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you do not know where I came from or where I am going.

15You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.

Read all of John 8 — A woman caught in adultery, a claim to be the light of the world, and a statement so audacious the crowd picks up stones: before Abraham was, I am.