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.

Cross References 22

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Some manuscripts your God
  • [b]. Some manuscripts has Abraham seen you?
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.