John 8:48-59

Before Abraham Was, I Am

48 The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and ¹have a demon? ”

49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but ²I honor my Father, and you dishonor me.

50 Yet ³I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge.

51 Truly, truly, ⁴I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never ⁵see death. ”

52 The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! ⁶Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet ⁷you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never ⁸taste death. ’

53 ⁹Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be? ”

54 Jesus answered, ¹⁰“If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. ¹¹It is my Father who glorifies me, ¹²of whom you say, ‘He is our God. ’ ^[a]

55 But ¹³you have not known him. ¹⁴I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be ¹⁵a liar ¹⁶like you, but I do know him and I keep his word.

56 ¹⁷Your father Abraham ¹⁸rejoiced ¹⁹that he would see my day. ²⁰He saw it and was glad. ”

57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham? ” ^[b]

58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, ²¹I am. ”

59 So ²²they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.