GNT John 8:30 Tau/ta auvtou/ lalou/ntoj polloi. evpi,steusan eivj auvto,nÅ

NAS John 8:30 As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him. lalou/ntoj lale,w (circ. ptc. gen. absolute/p/a/gm-s; "As He spoke/communicated"; the Genitive absolute denotes attendant circumstances of which the subject is not grammatically part of the sentence) auvtou/ auvto,j (npgm3s; "He") Tau/ta ou-toj (near dem. pro./an-p) polloi. polu,j (adj.-nm-p; "many") evpi,steusan pisteu,w (viaa--3p) eivj (pa) auvto,nÅ auvto,j (npam3s)

GNT John 8:31 :Elegen ou=n o` VIhsou/j pro.j tou.j pepisteuko,taj auvtw/| VIoudai,ouj( VEa.n u`mei/j mei,nhte evn tw/| lo,gw| tw/| evmw/|( avlhqw/j maqhtai, mou, evste

NAS John 8:31 Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, o` VIhsou/j (d.a. + n-nm-s) ou=n (infer. conj.) :Elegen le,gw (viIPFa--3s) pro,j (pa) VIoudai/oj (adj.-am-p) tou.j o` pepisteuko,taj pisteu,w (subs. ptc./PF/a/am-p; "those who had believed") auvtw/| auvto,j (npdm3s) "If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; VEa.n eva,n (part. intro 3rd class cond.; "If") u`mei/j su, (npn-2p) mei,nhte me,nw (vsaa--2p; "might abide/dwell/stay/remain/to set up residence") evn (pL) tw/| o` evmw/|( evmo,j (d.a. + possess. adj.--Lm1s; "My own/what is mine") tw/| o` lo,gw| lo,goj (d.a. + n-dm-s) evste eivmi, (vipa--2p) avlhqw/j (adv.; "truly/in reality") maqhtai, maqhth,j (n-nm-p) mou, evgw, (npg-1s)

GNT John 8:32 kai. gnw,sesqe th.n avlh,qeian( kai. h` avlh,qeia evleuqerw,sei u`ma/jÅ

NAS John 8:32 and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. " kai, (cc) gnw,sesqe ginw,skw (vifm--2p; "you will know/figure out for yourselves") th.n h` avlh,qeian( avlh,qeia (d.a. + n-af-s; "the truth/reality/what is really real") kai, (cc) h` avlh,qeia (d.a. + n-nf-s) evleuqerw,sei evleuqero,w (vifa--3s; "will make free/liberate/ unbind/deliver or release from bondage by power of another"; used 7x) u`ma/jÅ su, (npa-2p)

1. As Jesus was articulating the known POG regarding His Person and mankind to the Pharisees, John now notes that there were many from the assembled multitude that came to believe in Him for salvation.
2. That these are true believers is seen in the phrase, "believe in Him", which follows the same construction of Joh.1:12; 3:16,18; 4:39; 6:40 and 7:31.
3. John’s use of the genitive absolute in the phrase, "As He spoke these things" denotes the attendant circumstances of His confrontation with the Pharisees, as a separate scenario from the many believing in Him.
4. It has a nuance of irony and could be rendered, "In spite of conflicting opposition by the Pharisees during Jesus’ presentation of truth to them, there were those who still came to believe in Him.
5. It is an insertion by John to extend the irony of –V regarding truth as Jesus implied in vs.28 to the irony of +V who hears the truth, while providing a clear contrast.
6. As noted, -V rejects the truth no matter what evidence of knowledge concerning the POG they may apprehend in life.
7. In vs.30, John provides the counter effect of +V regarding truth and that is that in spite of even open hostility presented in contradiction of truth by those who are not convinced of it; +V will not be deterred in their acceptance of the truth.
8. John via implication, builds on the very premise of Christ’s teaching in 6:44 and that it is the truth that God uses to "draw" men to Him.
9. In spite of all the –V that is of this world and operating under human viewpoint darkness in contradiction to the truth, there are true seekers who are +V who will not let the darkness dissuade them from the truth.
10. This verse points to the principle that a reason for defending and explaining the truth against those who would attack or take issue with the truth that you represent, is that certain others who are not yet convinced can hear the truth.
11. Not that most, or even any, will ultimately believe, but this provides the opportunity for them to hear and evaluate the issues.
12. It points to the principle that sometimes the truth is made all the more clear when presented against the backdrop of human viewpoint lies.
13. Again, we see via this gospel a lesson concerning God’s plan as it relates to men i.e., the issue for men is their expression of volition (freewill; to choose for or against the truth concerning the POG).
14. Those who are +V will ultimately choose to accept the truth when heard, those who are –V will reject it, no matter what evidence of support for it has been provided.
15. The fact that there are others listening in to Jesus’ interchange with the Pharisees, reminds the readers that this event is still taking place on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles and that the multitude is still gathered.
16. In vs.31, John notes that the intent of Jesus teaching is now redirected away from the Pharisees, as brought out by the inferential conjunction, "therefore".
17. The entire phrase, "Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him" denotes that He recognized the +V expressed within the surrounding multitude (Joh.2:24-25) and therefore has changed the focus of His conversation to relate specifically to them.
18. The imperfect of the verb, "was saying" denotes an ongoing discourse of this nature of which John records a specific section that relates to the intent and purpose of the remainder of this chapter.
19. And that intent and purpose is to continue to expose the unrighteous nature behind which –V operates.
20. There are many commentators who reject the notion that Jesus is now speaking to true believers because of the unfolding hostility of the responses to Him (vss.33-41) and the fact that Jesus is clearly addressing unbelievers in vs.44, if not sooner (vss.34ff).
21. These interpreters do not wish to accept the fact that because one expresses +V for Ph₁ salvation that it does not mean they automatically will remain +V regarding Ph₂ doctrine.
22. These that propose this premise that all believers will pan out in time, are suggesting a principle tantamount to Calvin’s doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. See Doctrine of Election and Calling and Doctrine of Reversionism
23. The fact is that most that do believe in Christ will not continue to purse His word in Ph₂ demonstrating that they are not trustworthy disciples of Him. 1Cor.9:24
24. Other commentaries try to make those who "believed Him" to be those who believed that He was the kingly messiah of 7:41, but still rejected Him as God and Savior.
25. However, this view mangles the force of the present tense of the verb, "you are/keep on being" as it relates to the listeners at hand of being true disciples.
26. The force of this verb denotes something that they already are and contextually Jesus is providing doctrine that maintains that status quo.
27. Hence, that the individuals of 7:41 have not believed Him for salvation removes them as possible recipients of Jesus’ teaching now.
28. That Jesus is indeed now addressing believers is made clear with the perfect tense of "believed" that denotes their previous act of faith carries with it the ongoing existing results of Ph₁ salvation.
29. The picture of the scenario at hand reflects the following:

1. Jesus now directs the focus of His teaching to the many who have accepted His words of E.L.
2. They are some of the Jews present, but not all of the assembly, including the ever present Pharisees.
3. Just as there are these who accept the teaching of His Person, there are still the vast majority of Jews present who remain in unbelief.
4. Therefore, even though the doctrine Jesus now articulates is meant to edify the believers present, all present hear Him and the response John records is representative of the crowd overall, not just those who had believed.
5. The question the interpreter must ask then is why John intentionally uses grammar that contextually denotes that the response of the crowd is inclusive of at least some (if not all) of the believers now being addressed in vs.33, "They answered Him.."?
6. The answer is that he does so by design to point to the underlying, but yet real issue at hand, volition.
7. That the responses are perpetrated by those who are –V, is made clear as the focus of Jesus’ counter remarks progressively zero in on unbelievers who are obviously –V. Cp. vss.37, 40,44
8. In our verses, Jesus articulates Ph₂ doctrine necessary to render believers as maintaining +V after salvation.
9. Those who do not heed His teaching by definition then are –V as believers.
10. That even the believers that Jesus is now addressing are viewed by John grammatically as incorporated or absorbed into the negative responses of the crowd overall points to the principle that –V is –V, whether it is applied to an unbeliever or believer.
11. This points to the fact that believers who are -V operate under the same spiritual darkness of their pre-salvation days and thus volitionally are viewed on the same level as their unbelieving counter-parts. Eph.2:1-3 cp. 5:6-9; Heb.4:6-7 that denotes there are believers who do not manifest Ph₂ +V and fail to make the MAJG/"rest" because of their disobedience; 1Pet.1:14
12. Furthermore, that John absorbs these believers responsively into the mass of the negative unbelieving crowd further clarifies the picture of the religious reversionism of Israel he portrayed in chapter 7 by denoting the overall volitional makeup of the Jews during Christ’s ministry.
13. And that is even though many came to believe in Him for salvation Ph₁, that was basically the extent of +V manifested during His ministry and even those Jews did not remain +V and reverted back to a negative volitional state.
14. It is a subtle picture of how God views the –V of believers as being "partners" to their unbelieving counter-parts absorbed into the massive sea of negative mankind. Phil.3:17-19
15. The very essence of this scenario points to the reality concerning the cosmos, i.e., the predominate viewpoint concerning God expressed in the world is human viewpoint hostility to the truth perpetuated by –V under the STA.
16. Again, that John grammatically refers to the crowds response of vss.31-32 in such a generic way that denotes believers are part of the response, points to the fact that –V is the predominate force ruling Israel at the time and pictures humanity in the A/C. Joh.1:10-11
17. And the transition by Christ as to whom He directs His comments (ultimately to the unbelievers) points to the bottom-line reality behind –V (vs.44).

1. That indeed volition is the key issue is made clear in the 3^rd class condition of Jesus’ opening phrase, "If you abide in My word".
2. The 3^rd class condition assumes an apodosis/conclusion of the "if" hypothesis that "maybe you will or maybe you won’t".
3. As Jesus addresses these new converts, He first and foremost points out that they continue to have a choice with regard to His teaching.
4. And that choice centers on their attitude concerning BD as believers.
5. That they do continue to have a choice insinuates that there are those who do not remain +V and is the basis for John to include them in the negative response Jesus immediately encounters in vs.33.
6. But aside from whatever they may do regarding the teaching, that they have made the SAJG, the issue now before them is their Ph₂.
7. The word "abide" has the nuance of taking up residence of a permanent/continuous nature and hence to abide, remain or dwell.
8. The singular use of "word" is to be viewed as a collective singular to denote all of the doctrine that Jesus articulates.
9. His "word" then equals the POG as represented by Him.
10. The fact that it is "My/Jesus’" word denotes that it is His complete Person that the POG evolves around.
11. That He possesses the POG denotes that one cannot effectively acquire the entire realm of BD apart from aligning up with all that Jesus represents.
12. To "abide in My word" is to reflect loyalty to His Person by accepting the truth and making the truth a part of your life and order the conduct of your life by it.
13. This is the distinction between a +V believer or a –V believer.
14. He then gives the concluding result of a positive response to this premise in the final clause, "then you are truly disciples of Mine".
15. That a positive response produces disciples in reality implies that a negative response produces pseudo-disciples.
16. This does not mean that those who manifest –V as believers have in any way lost their salvation, only that as children of God, they are not obedient followers of their heavenly Parent. See Doctrine of Eternal Security and Doctrine of Reversionism
17. To be a real disciple of Christ then, is not to hear a teacher who articulates the truth and agree only with the basic tenets of the teaching, while rejecting the details.
18. Jesus recognizes that Ph₁ salvation is merely "the beginning" of the truth for those who had believed and now points out the requirement necessary for them to fully exploit the truth.
19. A genuine disciple of Christ is one who seeks to take all the teaching in part and as a whole and stick with it over the course of their lives.
20. True disciples accept the teaching of the teacher and make it the basis for their faith and lifestyle.
21. In vs.32, Jesus states the future compound consequences for those who remain faithful listeners adhering to the POG and that is, "you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free".
22. The middle future verb "shall know/ginw,skw", denotes that sufficient information will be provided for those who are +V in Ph₂ in order for them to figure or sort out for themselves what the POG entails.
23. This is the nature of truth that most in history have denied i.e., that being that truth commends itself to +V and that every positive soul is able to come to a realization and understanding of that which is true concerning God’s plan.
24. Webster defines truth, as that which conforms to reality, characterized by a constant, faithful, loyal conformity to what is actual or real.
25. Jesus continues to make truth an issue in this passage as He refers to it in vss.40,44,45 and 46.
26. Since Jesus is Light, He is the truth, fulfilled the truth and taught the truth, and therefore anyone who willingly and truly wants to understand all that He is and represents, to that degree receives the truth, which activity is a natural and fundamental part of being a student of His.
27. Veracity/truth is an attribute of God.
28. Therefore, God is the ultimate truth and is the source of all that is true or real in the universe. Joh.3:33; 17:3; Rom.3:4
29. Hence, anything that proceeds from God must by definition conform to the truth of God.
30. Those who are of the truth will come to know the truth, orient to it and thus align with the absolute truth that exists in the universe.
31. The axiom/self-evident truth that will evolve from knowing and embracing the truth is related in a term of freedom.
32. Freedom is defined as exemption or liberation from slavery, imprisonment or restraint, or from the power and control of another.
33. What is inferred in the final clause, "and the truth shall make you free", is that orientation to the truth over a period of time will cause one to be made free from the domination of their current state of existence in this world.
34. In a very real sense God desires people to be free and provided volition/free will as the ultimate freedom in the universe.
35. Satan, on the other hand, desires to enslave men to his viewpoint and extract obedience and worship from them.
36. The introduction of the STA in the human race affords Satan the necessary avenue to promote his forms of slavery on mankind.
37. Orientation to the truth over the course of one’s life provides the deliverance necessary to escape the rule of Satan and the STA, which enables one to be free.
38. To suggest that freedom implies all rejection of all authority is a faulty conclusion and leads to the concept of license/permissive rights and is actually the abuse of freedom under God’s permissive will.
39. The Divine irony that Jesus is pointing out is that men who enslave themselves to the Divine viewpoint become free, while those who reject the Word of God and opt for human viewpoint remain slaves under the STA and domain of darkness.
40. The reality is that mankind only has two choices of systems to adhere to, either unrighteousness or absolute righteousness
41. Jesus makes clear that through the inculcation of BD one is freed from their unrighteousness state of:

1. Slavery to the STA. vs.34
2. Slavery to Satan. vs.44

1. The truth of God in Christ liberates men, while false doctrine, human viewpoint, the STA, etc., are only "jailers" keeping them enslaved in their thinking.
2. The order of events in vss.31-32 are not to be taken lightly:

1. Loyalty to the teaching of the POG is the first and most important issue.
2. This demonstrates the reality that one is indeed a student of Jesus and is +V.
3. Consistency in doctrine leads to a full understanding/evpi,gnwsij of the realities of God’s plan.
4. This process will eventuate in the believer living under true freedom that is available to all.

71. See Doctrine of Freedom.

GNT John 8:33 avpekri,qhsan pro.j auvto,n( Spe,rma VAbraa,m evsmen kai. ouvdeni. dedouleu,kamen pw,pote\ pw/j su. le,geij o[ti VEleu,qeroi genh,sesqeÈ

NAS John 8:33 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's offspring, and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; avpekri,qhsan avpokri,nomai (viad--3p; ref. the multitude assembled) pro,j (pa) auvto,n( auvto,j (npam3s) evsmen eivmi, (vipa--1p) VAbraa,m (n-gm-s; gen. of relationship; "Abraham's/of Abraham) Spe,rma spe,rma (n-nn-s; "seed/offspring/children/racial descendants") kai, (cc) pw,pote\ (adv.; "ever/at any time/yet") dedouleu,kamen douleu,w (viPFa--1p; "have been enslaved/subjected to another"; used 27x) ouvdeni. ouvdei,j (card. adj./dm-s; "to not even one/to no one or anyone") how is it that You say, 'You shall become free'?" pw/j (interr. adv.; "how?"; "is it" supplied for English grammatical sense) o[ti (conj.; intro. indir. disc.; "that") su, (npn-2s) le,geij le,gw (vipa--2s) genh,sesqeÈ gi,nomai (vifd--2p; "you all will become") VEleu,qeroi evleu,qeroj (adj--nm-p; "free/cease to be a slave/free man"; used 23x, noun from the verb "free" in vs.32)

1. The opening phrase, "They answered Him", is not confined only to the new believers Jesus has just addressed, but is inclusive of others assembled.
2. It becomes obvious that the circle of Jesus’ detractors widens during this interchange as He ultimately focuses in on unbelievers in vss.37ff.
3. It is perfectly logical that those who believed were not grouped all in one spot, but would be spread out in the crowd and therefore when Jesus was speaking to them in vss.31-32, He would be facing the whole crowd.
4. That John does include these new believers as a part of the response points to the fact that even believers can be negative and blind to the spiritual realities of BD.
5. It points to the reality that the fallacious ideas produced by the religious reversionism of their past that has become engrained in their thinking, must be jettisoned before any advancement spiritually can be realized.
6. And this reality will not be realized until these new believers are willing to acclimate to the authority of their Teacher and stop taking issue with His teaching based on their STA human viewpoint understanding of the teaching.
7. These believers represent the opposite of positive believers who are to be quick to hear and slow to speak. Jam.1:19
8. The Jews responded to Jesus along the lines of His preceding remark regarding freedom.
9. Their immediate response denotes the STA racial and national arrogance and pride that the Jews operate under as they make claim, "We are Abraham’s offspring, and have never yet been enslave to anyone".
10. Their statement denotes the united stand of misplaced national patriotism exuded by Israel corporately and held by believers and unbelievers alike.
11. They correctly point out that they are the genetic descendants of Abraham.
12. Anyone who knew anything about Scripture recognized the importance of Abraham and the unique nature of the covenant and promises that God made to the patriarch concerning his descendants. Gen.12:1-3; 17:1-8, 19-21
13. This denotes the maximum import that they placed strictly upon their racial heritage and by implication states that since they are Jews from Abraham, then they automatically have superiority before God and man.
14. The second part of their statement, "and have never yet been enslaved to anyone", demonstrates the skewered political views they have assimilated regarding themselves as a nation and peoples in history.
15. Their statement is in light of the political bondage Israel has experienced to include:

1. Egyptian slavery. Exo.1:8-14
2. The dispersion of the northern kingdom, Israel, into the hands of the Assyrians in 721 BC. 2Kgs.17:1-6
3. The dispersion of the southern kingdom, Judah, into the hands of the Babylonians in 586 BC. 2Kgs.24:10-20; 25:1ff
4. Their existing vassalage under Roman rule.

1. That the crowd denies that they themselves (they/We being the subject of their statement) are enslaved denotes that they do not consider their existing political state on the same level as those of the Exodus and the previous dispersions of Israel.
2. Therefore, their statement reflects the fact that they do not consider themselves nationally on the same level of spiritual dereliction, as that of their predecessors might reveal.
3. The fact that they still possess some measure of freedom under Roman authority and that they are still in the land, they are arrogantly blind to the reversionism the nation under Judaism really is spiritually.
4. It implies that they perceived any previous bondage that Israel fell into was due to the fact that Israel was remiss in keeping the Law, a situation that Judaism denies they are currently engaged in.
5. It reflects the arrogance that Israel has embraced under their legalistic approach to the Law that in their eyes is added security before God in keeping the Law.
6. Thus, where Israel has failed in the past regarding the Law, we now are successful.
7. It reflects that they consider themselves to be what Abraham was all about and because God has not given them to total bondage of Rome and applied the 5^th cycle of discipline upon them, proves that point.
8. They consider themselves to be righteous representatives as a people and nation of the Abrahamic covenant, therefore they are not truly under any bondage and Rome is only a "test", which will be proven in their eyes when Messiah comes and establishes His kingdom forever.
9. Their thinking reflects the misplaced allegiance they bestow upon themselves as a people and nation and the true spiritual blindness they possess concerning themselves, Israel, Messiah and God’s plan.
10. They truly reflect the arrogance that has been established through the legalism of Judaism i.e., as the Jewish nation of Abraham, we are God’s custodians and keepers of the Law and therefore are the only way of salvation for mankind and hence, God would never enslave us.
11. Their statement denotes the blindness of those who fail to recognize that a legalistic approach to God’s plan is just as spiritually derelict/destitute before God as disregarding commandments in the Law and will take them down the same path as their "liberal" counterparts. Deu.28:14 "and do not turn aside from any of the words which I command you today, to the right or to the left to go after other gods to serve them."
12. Therefore, even the obvious national discipline they currently are under is unrecognized as DD and Rome is only undeserved suffering and has no real control over their destiny.
13. Because this is engrained in their thinking, it is no wonder they incredulously ask, "how is it that You say, ‘You shall become free’?"
14. Because negative Israel corporately continues to adhere to false doctrine under a legalistic and thus non-spiritual religious system, they can only relate to Jesus’ words of freedom on a physical plane as it relates to them as a peoples and nation.
15. And then how can anyone insinuate that they are anything less than free, since they are God’s chosen people and are destined to rule forever.
16. Because of the spiritual blindness of their –V and STA’s, they fail to recognize their current state as a nation before God entering into the final phase of national discipline in Deu.28:49-68 (esp. vss.64ff).
17. And that they are on the verge of this destruction and currently enslaved will be proven when push comes to shove and Rome demonstrates they do rule Israel in 70 AD.
18. The Jews are a perfect example of –V’s denial of reality that surrounds them, believer and unbeliever alike.
19. Israel’s history is one that documents that God’s favor is procured by a spiritual relationship with Him and His blessing is contingent upon obedience to His rule.
20. When nations comply they are blessed with freedom (Deu.28:1-14); when they rebel against God, especially those culpable to His word, political enslavement and ultimate destruction will be the consequence. Deu.18:15ff
21. Vs.33 points to the false and deluded assurance of self-righteousness that is produced through an adherence to a legalistic approach to BD.
22. Those that approach God’s word in this fashion are just as blind in their sin to the spiritual realities of God’s plan as any liberal approach that is advanced.
23. God’s word is clear that sin is disobedience to His commandments and that disobedience can come in the form of taking away or adding to His plan. Deu.4:2; 12:32

GNT John 8:34 avpekri,qh auvtoi/j o` VIhsou/j( VAmh.n avmh.n le,gw u`mi/n o[ti pa/j o` poiw/n th.n a`marti,an dou/lo,j evstin th/j a`marti,ajÅ

NAS John 8:34 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. o` VIhsou/j( (d.a. + n-nm-s) avpekri,qh avpokri,nomai (viad--3s) auvtoi/j auvto,j (npdm3p) VAmh.n avmh,n (double part.; "Truly, truly/dogmatically") le,gw (vipa--1s) u`mi/n su, (npd-2p) o[ti(conj. intro. indir. disc.) pa/j (adj.--nm-s; viewed as a collective singular; "everyone/all men") o` poiw/n poie,w (adj. ptc./p/a/nm-s; "who commits/does/practices") th.n h` a`marti,an a`marti,a (d.a. +n-af-s; "the sin") evstin eivmi, (vipa--3s) dou/loj (n-nm-s; "a slave/servant") th/j h` a`marti,ajÅ a`marti,a (d.a. + n-gf-s)

GNT John 8:35 o` de. dou/loj ouv me,nei evn th/| oivki,a| eivj to.n aivw/na( o` ui`o.j me,nei eivj to.n aivw/naÅ

NAS John 8:35 "And the slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. de, (cc) o` dou/loj (d.a. + n-nm-s) ouv (neg. +) me,nei me,nw (vipa--3s; "does not remain/abide/dwell" same as vs.31) evn (pL) th/| h` oivki,a (d.a. + n-dL-s; "the house"; used 93x; of a literal home; used to denote God's residence, His kingdom/heaven - Joh.14:2; in the OT it is used to denote Israel as a nation - Exo.16:31; 19:3; 40:38, et al) eivj (pa +) to.n o` aivw/na( aivw,n (d.a. + n-am-s; lit. "into the ages/forever") o` ui`o,j (d.a. + n-nm-s) me,nei me,nw (vipa--3s) eivj (pa +) to.n o` aivw/naÅ aivw,n (n-am-s)

GNT John 8:36 eva.n ou=n o` ui`o.j u`ma/j evleuqerw,sh|( o;ntwj evleu,qeroi e;sesqeÅ

NAS John 8:36 "If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. eva,n (conj.; "If"; 3rd class cond.) ou=n (infer. conj.) o` ui`o,j (d.a. + n-nm-s) evleuqerw,sh|( evleuqero,w (vsaa--3s; "might make free/ liberate/set free from previous enslavement") u`ma/j su, (npa-2p) e;sesqeÅ eivmi, (vifm--2p; "you yourselves will be") evleu,qeroi evleu,qeroj (adj.--nm-p; "free men/peoples") o;ntwj (adv.; "indeed/truly/in reality as opposed to pretended, fictitious or false")

1. Jesus addresses the crowds statement in reverse order by relating to their question and comment of enslavement first (vss.34–36) and their heritage second (vss.37ff).
2. His response in vss.34–36, while relating to the fictitious political freedom that the crowd implies it enjoys, first and foremost addresses the spiritual reality of freedom that He was referring to in vs.32.
3. He does so to point out that the real issue behind freedom (or non-freedom) is based on one’s spiritual condition, which in turn effects Israel’s political freedom as a nation.
4. How He answered them then, is not by documenting or taking issue with their political history of oppression, but to point out the more important principle that is the true cause of human enslavement.
5. For the student of God’s word to clearly interpret and understand Jesus’ teaching in these three verses, he/she must observe the following:

1. As noted, a transition in Jesus’ teaching takes place that places emphasis doctrinally from believers to unbelievers.
2. It becomes clear that in vs.37, while language is used that can secondarily be applied to –V believers, the primary emphasis is towards the unbelievers who are of their "father" as noted in vs.38
3. In addition, Jesus communicates at a level that not only obviously clarifies the spiritual intent of His words regarding freedom in vs.32, but also responds to the Jews false view concerning the present political state of Israel.
4. That He addresses their level of thinking in this regard is brought out by the verb "avpokri,vomai/answered" in vs.34.
5. Volition is the doctrinal principle that underwrites what Jesus is teaching about in vss.31-32.

1. A summary outline of these 3 verses reveals the scope of the above observations.

1. Vs.34 has doctrinal teaching that is equally applicable to the whole crowd, believers and unbelievers alike.
2. It establishes the spiritual framework necessary for true freedom to be realized by Israel.
3. Vs.34 also implies the –V of Israel corporately.
4. Vs.35 reveals the consequences of their –V nationally and the alternative provided.
5. While it reveals a political reality concerning Israel, it retains the overall spiritual overtone of Jesus teaching regarding freedom.
6. Vs.36 condenses the entire concept of freedom into the one alternative provided for in vs.35
7. While Jesus’ teaching in vs.36 still has secondary application to the believers, it is stated in such a way as to primarily address the unbelievers, completing the transitional emphasis contextually.

1. He prefaces His doctrinal assertion in vs.34 with the double amen in the phrase, "Truly, truly, I say to you", which has the force of extreme import to the matter at hand.
2. He then succinctly wraps the issue of freedom under the Doctrine of the STA/OSN as He states, "everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin".
3. The phrase "everyone who commits/does/practices" groups together into one perspective all and any of them who engages in the act of sin and the entire phrase could be translated simply, "the sinner".
4. Though not translated in the NAS, both nouns for "sin" are singular and have the definite article and is literally translated, "the sin".
5. Jesus’ use of the word in this regard points to the fact that any specific sin that one may engage in (pick one) comes from one specific singular source of sin, the STA.
6. In other words, His words could be rendered, "everyone who commits the sin (whether of unbelief, lying, adultery, stealing, fear, jealousy, legalism/traditions of men, etc.) is a slave (no d.a. with this noun) of the sin or sin nature".
7. Paul expounds upon this principle in Rom.6:6,12-23; 7
8. Jesus’ words can be applied to all who are assembled to include believers and unbelievers alike.
9. For unbelievers, they are both positionally and experientially in complete bondage to the STA due to their sin of unbelief.
10. For believers, though they are emancipated positionally (Rom.8:15), they revert back to slavery experientially by not effectively applying R_B and aligning with the truth (Rom.6:16-18).
11. In both cases, the slave-master is the STA.
12. In both cases, that one perpetuates this state of bondage reflects –V.
13. His statement is the axis of His transition of expounding doctrine from strictly the believers of vss.30-31 to include the unbelievers.
14. It serves to point out that true freedom for Israel is dependent upon spiritual freedom and that freedom cannot be recognized until the issue of sin is dealt with both positionally and experientially.
15. Contrary to the pseudo-freedom Israel claims for themselves as a people, Jesus asserts that they remain in bondage, for who among them has not committed or continues to commit sin?
16. For the unbelievers, their sin is obvious, for the believers it points to their continued adherence to the religious reversionism of Judaism and every sin that that system perpetuates.
17. His statement is designed to force them to evaluate their freedom from the spiritual perspective, because only then can they re-evaluate their political and national views.
18. Until they recognize that they continue individually and as a nation to engage in disobedience to God’s word, they will remain blind to their current situation.
19. Not until their "spiritual blinders" are removed will the "physical blinders" be removed. Mat.13:13 cp. Mar.4:10-12 with regard to Jesus’ teaching in Israel.
20. In vs.35, Jesus uses a parabolic prophecy and application regarding the Jews as He states, "And the slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever".
21. The slave refers to the Jew who is enslaved to the ISTA of vs.34, either believer or unbeliever.
22. The house refers to their standing before God as a nation, which represents an earthly extension of the kingdom of God/POG.
23. That the emphasis of His parable is on the house of Israel (a title for Israel as a peoples or nation; Exo.16:31; 19:3; et al) is clearly insinuated, since there is an abiding of the slave in the house, only that it is temporal and not forever.
24. The son represents the Son of God, Christ, who is the true owner via relationship to the Father, of the slave and the house.
25. This parable draws attention to the difference between a slave who works in a particular house and the freeborn son.
26. It is this verse that ties in the correlation of the spiritual condition of Israel with their political condition as a nation.
27. It follows the same teaching of Christ in the parable of the vineyard in Luk.20:9-18
28. As Jews in the land, the reality is that their existence is only temporary and conditional upon their obedience or disobedience to the owner of the house.
29. This is in contrast to the Son of God who in coming of age inherits the house and has full authority over the household.
30. It is only through His Person that the house continues to exist.
31. That the Son does remain forever denotes the fulfillment of the covenants with Israel upon the Lords return and establishment of His earthly kingdom.
32. Since Israel continues to choose to operate under –V and their STA’s, as those responsible for carrying out the duties within the house, then their tenure as servants of the house is discontinued.
33. And the proof that they are –V and disobedient to God is seen in their removal from the house in the dispersion of Israel in 70 AD.
34. Because of the corporate –V of Israel at the 1^st advent, they are enslaved to their STAs, which facilitates their removal from the land per their covenant with God as outlined in Deu.28:15ff
35. Therefore, that Israel looses her station in the house due to their bondage to the STA, the only alternative is to find favor with the freeman of the house that guarantees its future existence and establishment.
36. And the future existence of the house is revealed dispensationally via the Church, the final period of the Age of Israel and the Millennial Age.
37. Hence, the continued spiritual overtone maintained in the parable.
38. While the house emphasizes Israel’s state nationally and geographically, it implies that the house also exists abstractly and thus spiritually forever via the POG, which is fulfilled dispensationally.
39. That Jesus is the premier focus of freedom, He makes clear in vs.36, "If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed".
40. It is vs.36 that completes the transition of Jesus’ focus of speaking to both believers and unbelievers, with language now pointed primarily to the unbelievers.
41. While the political issue of Israel as a nation is resolved due to their corporate –V and enslavement to the STA in vs.35, the question and issue must revert back to the spiritual requirement for any those who would like to remain on at the house forever.
42. The only way that the Jews can remain in the house forever, is if the Son that abides forever will grant them freedom spiritually from the STA.
43. The 3^rd class condition, "If the Son shall make you free" denotes that:

1. Christ has the prerogative and authority over the household as He sees fit.
2. His authority is conditional upon fulfilling first the requirements necessary to absolve the issue of the STA.
3. It is the fulfillment of His mission as Messiah spiritually that grants him authority over the house physically.
4. There is a change of the volitional status of negative, as reflected contextually via Israel nationally, to +V.

1. Spiritually, Christ as +R and minus the STA, is the freeman that has the power to grant freedom to those enslaved to the STA due to His work on the cross.
2. Only by acknowledging Him as Lord and Savior can one become free spiritually.
3. Until the SAJG, we are hopelessly enslaved to the STA and spiritual death.
4. As of the SAJG, we are officially declared Christ’s freemen. 1Cor.7:22; Gal.5:1
5. Even though the Jews will loose their status as a nation due to their corporate -V, the alternative is to accept the freedom that Christ can offer and retain a future position in God’s eternal house.
6. Since those who have already believed have secured this freedom, the +V now in view is only that necessary for the unbelievers making the SAJG.
7. Only then will the pretended freedom that these Jews view themselves as having as a nation become reality and "you will be free indeed".
8. True freedom is not determined by one’s political or social condition per se, but is the result of spiritual principles.
9. As of salvation, we are free to serve and glorify God, no matter what the overall condition of the house dispensationally may be in. Rev.2-3
10. Salvation produces another potential slave-master via the IHS ministries (2Cor.3:17), enslaving men to righteousness. Rom.6:19-20
11. The message is, spiritual freedom rules all physical freedoms.
12. This principle is validated universally today, by noting that the least oppressed and most physically free nations are those with the most +V operating under Divine principles. Ex. Great Britain and the U.S.
13. Applications:

1. The believer who returns to live under the STA subjects themselves to the same slavery as their unbelieving counterpart. Rom.7:23
2. Many believers have a skewed and distorted impression of their standing before God and the relative freedom that they enjoy.
3. These are those who are still dominated by the STA and living under a form of slavery all the while proclaiming their freedom.
4. This in turn can produce a blind patriotism nationally, while all the while the nation is quickly advancing under the 5 cycles of national discipline.
5. All believers will be set free experientially in Ph₃, a day that the adjusted believer eagerly anticipates. Rom.8:19-25

GNT John 8:37 oi=da o[ti spe,rma VAbraa,m evste\ avlla. zhtei/te, me avpoktei/nai( o[ti o` lo,goj o` evmo.j ouv cwrei/ evn u`mi/nÅ

NAS John 8:37 "I know that you are Abraham's offspring; oi=da (viPFa--1s) o[ti (conj. indir. disc.) evste\ eivmi,(vipa--2p) VAbraa,m (n-gm-s; gen. of relationship) spe,rma (n-nn-s; "seed/offspring") yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. avlla, (strong adv.; "but/yet") zhtei/te, zhte,w (vipa--2p; "you all keep on seeking"; denotes a comparison of the physical heritage to something spiritual in nature) avpoktei/nai( avpoktei,nw (comp. inf./a/a-; "to kill") me evgw, (npa-1s) o[ti (causal conj.) o` evmo,j (d.a. + adj--nm1s; "My own/that which I possess") o` lo,goj (d.a. + n-nm-s) ouv (neg. +) cwrei/ cwre,w (vipa--3s; "make room for/to have a space or room in which to put something"; the idea is the Word of Christ does not fit in them, therefore denoting their failure of accepting it/"has no place"; used 10x) evn (pL) u`mi/nÅ su, (npd-2p)

GNT John 8:38 a] evgw. e`w,raka para. tw/| patri. lalw/\ kai. u`mei/j ou=n a] hvkou,sate para. tou/ patro.j poiei/teÅ

NAS John 8:38 "I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; lalw/\ lale,w (vipa--1s; "I speak/communicate/articulate") a] o[j (rel. pro./an-p; "the things which") evgw, (npn-1s) e`w,raka o`ra,w (viPFa--1s; "have seen spiritually to include a experiential perception") para, (pAbl; "with/from/in the presence of"; "My" supplied) tw/| o` patri. path,r (d.a. + n-Ablm-s) therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father." ou=n (infer. conj.) u`mei/j su, (npn-2p) kai, (adjunct.; "also") poiei/teÅ poie,w (vipa--2p; "do/perform?) a] o[j (rel. pro./an-p; "the things which") hvkou,sate avkou,w (viaa--2p; "you heard") para, (pAbl; "from"; "your" supplied) tou/ o` patro.j path,r (d.a. + n-Ablm-s)

1. With the issue about freedom and the true nature of slavery out of the way, Jesus now acknowledges and addresses their claim of Abrahamic heritage.
2. While He acknowledges their genetic relationship in the words, "I know that you are Abraham’s offspring", it is their spiritual relationship that is a whole other question.
3. The Jews believed that physical descent from Abraham in part made one a child of God.
4. Jesus proceeds to point out to them that a physical relationship does not guarantee anyone anything in the spiritual realm. Joh.1:13a
5. The Jews supposed that what made Abraham great before God was some genetic quality, a quality that they assume they too possess, since they are his racial descendants.
6. However, the reality of why Abraham was great before God was not His genetics, it was his positive volition towards the truth.
7. Like all believers, Abraham had to overcome his genetic STA grid in order to excel spiritually.
8. The Jews had many great spiritual men in their history such as Moses, Jacob, etc., whose names they liked to throw around, and as such developed a tremendous racial arrogance, assuming that the genetic factor made them great also.
9. Their failure to grasp the nature of the flesh and the fact that genetics does not make one anything before God (except to render one spiritually dead) added to the blindness of their own need for His grace.
10. To delineate the error of their conceived notions regarding their racial heritage, Jesus shows a stark contrast of difference in the spirit that animates from them compared to the great men in their history.
11. He does so by citing their hostility towards Him in the most graphic terms, "yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you".
12. The basis for their hostility towards Jesus is pinned squarely on their hostility towards His teaching/message.
13. "My word" is to be viewed as a collective singular and refers to the entirety of His teaching, beginning with the most important fact of their need for salvation Ph₁ and hence the need to believe in Him.
14. Beyond that, His teaching dealt with every issue necessary to spiritual life and well being.
15. The fact that no room has been made in them denotes a total rejection of His teaching and re-establishes that that the intent of Jesus’ statement now is directed towards the unbelievers of the crowd.
16. They therefore rejected the basic premise of His teaching as well as the particulars regarding the CWL.
17. They in turn welcomed legalistic Judaism and congratulated themselves on their fortunate place in the plan of God, all the while rejecting and resenting the very Messenger of God.
18. This points out the "rule of thumb" that the religious reversionism of Judaism/Israel operated under and the true hostility towards God that emanated from it.
19. When one resents and rejects the teaching of God’s emissary, they will eventually find fault with the messenger, since most people would not allow themselves to admit that their hostility is actually directed towards God Himself.
20. Certainly, religious types are the worst (or best, however you look at it) at this.
21. In vs.38, Jesus once again points out that His doctrinal precepts do not originate with Himself in the clause, "I speak the things which I have seen with My Father".
22. The verb "have seen" is a perfect tense and points out that Jesus has seen the details of doctrine in the past and has a perfect view of these issues at the present time.
23. It also points out that He would have to be with the Father in the past in order to see what the Father has seen. Joh.6:46
24. It is another obvious claim by Jesus to His Deity, which the Jews in view rejected.
25. Jesus in essence, claims an unbroken relationship and fellowship with the father and makes this the basis for His actions and teaching.
26. He then contrasts His teaching with their actions, "therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father".
27. While Jesus is simply communicating the truth of Divine viewpoint, because they are –V adhering to gross religious reversionism, the have become engaged in a murderous plot to eliminate Him.
28. This verse again brings into full focus the unbelievers of the crowd, as it is their STA’s that are promoting His murder, though it does not negate entirely any –V believer(s) who by principle alone support the unbelievers as Jesus enemies.
29. Further, He contrasts their father and His Father.
30. The switch between what He has seen and what they have heard indicates that His revelation is superior to theirs with regard to the two fathers who are in view.
31. Jesus actually knew His Father and had seen Him, the Jews did not know their father and are merely following his suggestions.
32. It is clear that Jesus is teaching that His Father is God and that their father is Satan.
33. This passage, as well as what follows, destroys the human viewpoint myth that there exists a worldwide brotherhood of man under the One Father, God.
34. It teaches that men who are lost and unregenerate have a spiritual relationship with Satan, the god of this world, and that they pursue his agenda that He communicates to them.
35. Further, it secondarily teaches that it is his system of belief that is the underwriter for all activities perpetuated by the STA, whether of the unbeliever or believer.
36. Satan gets his agenda through to people is various ways, but the entire cosmic system is an expression of his perverted genius, as he seeks to control and manipulate mankind via their –V and STA’s, to do his will.
37. In essence, men will serve God or Satan, and you will be influenced by the viewpoint of one or the other.
38. The Jews teach us that when a people (or individual) gets away from sound BD, they are capable of the worst crimes, like murder.
39. Being slave to the ISTA led to the single worst crime of the Jewish people, murder of their Messiah.
40. People given time and opportunity through their STA’s are capable of anything imaginable.
41. And what is true for unbelievers, again is the case for believers under their STA’s.
42. Had His word found a place in them, instead of hatred and jealousy, there would have been the honor due Him.
43. If BD is being excluded from within you, you too can pull a stunt shocking to the less discerning.
44. Doctrine within is the only stopper of the STA.
45. Once you capitulate to the STA, you are capable of anything.
46. Jesus states that His teaching of BD that evolves around the need of reconciliation/ peace between man and God reflects the character of His Father and their activities of hostility reflect the character of their father.

GNT John 8:39 VApekri,qhsan kai. ei=pan auvtw/|( ~O path.r h`mw/n VAbraa,m evstinÅ le,gei auvtoi/j o` VIhsou/j( Eiv te,kna tou/ VAbraa,m evste( ta. e;rga tou/ VAbraa.m evpoiei/te\

NAS John 8:39 They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." VApekri,qhsan avpokri,nomai (viad--3p) kai, (cc) ei=pan le,gw (viaa--3p) auvtw/|( auvto,j (npdm3s) VAbraa,m (n-nm-s) evstinÅ eivmi, (vipa--3s) h`mw/n evgw, (npg-1p) ~O path,r (d.a. + n-nm-s) Jesus *said to them, "If you are Abraham's children, (corrected) you would do the deeds of Abraham. o` VIhsou/j( (d.a. + n-nm-s) le,gei le,gw (vipa--3s) auvtoi/j auvto,j (npdm3p) Eiv (conj. intro. 1st class cond.; "If") evste( eivmi, (vipa--2p) tou/ o` VAbraa,m (d.a. + n-gm-s) te,kna te,knon (n-nn-p; "children") evpoiei/te\ poie,w (viIPFa--2p; "you would do") ta. to, e;rga e;rgon (d.a. + n-an-p; "the deeds/works") tou/ o` VAbraa,m (d.a. + n-gm-s)

GNT John 8:40 nu/n de. zhtei/te, me avpoktei/nai a;nqrwpon o]j th.n avlh,qeian u`mi/n lela,lhka h]n h;kousa para. tou/ qeou/\ tou/to VAbraa.m ouvk evpoi,hsenÅ

NAS John 8:40 "But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, de, (cc; "But") nu/n (adv.; "now/at the present/as it is") zhtei/te, zhte,w (vipa--2p) avpoktei/nai avpoktei,nw (comp. inf./aa-; "to kill") me evgw, (npa-1s) a;nqrwpon a;nqrwpoj (n-am-s) o[j (rel. pro./nm1s; "who") lela,lhka lale,w (viPFa--1s; "has told/articulated") u`mi/n su, (npd-2p) th.n h` avlh,qeian avlh,qeia (d.a. + n-af s) which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do. h]n o[j (rel. pro./af-s; "which truth") h;kousa avkou,w (viaa--1s) para, (pAbl; "from/along side") tou/ o` qeou/\ qeo,j (d.a. + n-gm-s) tou/to ou-toj (near dem. pro./an-s; "this thing"; ref. to murder plot) VAbraa,m (n-nm-s) ouvk ouv (neg. +) evpoi,hsenÅ poie,w (viaa--3s)

GNT John 8:41a u`mei/j poiei/te ta. e;rga tou/ patro.j u`mw/nÅ

NAS John 8:41a "You are doing the deeds of your father." u`mei/j su, (npn-2p) poiei/te poie,w (vipa--2p; "keep on doing") ta. to, e;rga e;rgon (d.a. + n-an-p; "the deeds") u`mw/nÅ su, (npg-2p) tou/ o` patro.j path,r (d.a. + n-gm-s)

1. The Jews understand the gist of Jesus’ final words in vs.38 as stating that their relationship with Abraham is somehow void, as they once again answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father".
2. Jesus now articulates as to what aspect of their relationship with Abraham is non-existent, as He said to them, "If you are Abraham’s children, you would do the deeds of Abraham".
3. The first class condition of the phrase, "If you are Abraham’s children", again acknowledges their racial claim of heritage.
4. However, His apodosis/conclusion in the follow up phrase, "you would do the deeds of Abraham", regards the reality of their racial tie as unacceptable in and of itself.
5. Though they have a physical affinity to Abraham, that’s as far as it goes, as He points out that they have no spiritual affinity to him as is evident in what they have been doing.
6. In other words, He notes that their actions are in contradiction and opposition to the very individual of whom they claim as a standard for their position before God both individually and as a nation.
7. Observation: No matter what people may say, it is the application of individuals that reveal what standard or system by which they truly operate under. Jam.2:19
8. While these Jews may believe the physical covenants of Abraham and the role of the Jews as a people, they do not have any inclination of the spiritual aspects of the covenants as Jesus again points out, But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me.
9. The evidence is clear that they are in spiritual contradiction to Abraham, as corporately in unbelief, the Jews are plotting to murder their very own Messiah.
10. And to eliminate any rationalization these unbelieving Jews may promote in their rejection of His claim as Messiah as reason to murder Him, He simply refers to His humanity as He states, "a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God".
11. The true indictment against them is their hostility towards anyone who is a messenger of truth, Jesus’ office of Messiahship and claim as God aside.
12. Jesus places Himself in the same category of all men who have been persecuted and martyred for their stand for the truth.
13. He points to the true issue of the spiritual alliance of –V and that is antagonism to the truth, no matter whom it is communicating or adhering to it. 1Thess.2:14-15 cp. Mat.23:34-37; Luk.11:37-54 esp. vss.48-52
14. Even if they only view Jesus as a man, the bottom-line result remains and that is, He is a man that speaks only the truth and that is what they are seeking to annihilate.
15. The fact that Jesus says that He hears the truth from God is in contrast to the spiritual authority that He claims the Jews adhere to in vs.38.
16. It is the hostility they are exuding towards the message and messenger of God that voids any spiritual relationship with Abraham, as Jesus states, "this Abraham did not do".
17. In contrast to the –V confronting Jesus now, Abraham was a man who made all the adjustments to the truth of God and he did not do so by rejecting the Divine viewpoint when he heard it. Gen.26:5
18. As Abraham was +V and did not resent the truth, he was favorably disposed towards any that were positive and spoke the truth.
19. While he may have failed on occasion and even boldly, he always bounced back.
20. But even with an STA, one thing he never did was persecute those who spoke the truth to him.
21. It is the actions of Abraham welcoming the WOG that his present descendants are not so constituted.
22. Rather, their actions make it clear as to their spiritual heritage as He states in vs.41a, "You are doing the deeds of your father".
23. It is inconsistent to assume that one is properly oriented to God and at the same time reject His message and messenger.
24. Therefore, their rejection of the truth of BD reflects the true paternity affecting their actions and a father of whom, a family likeness exists that is obvious.
25. While Jesus does not specifically state in verse 38 or here exactly who their father is, He does say enough for a person to discern that He does not have Abraham in view.

GNT John 8:41b ei=pan auvtw/|( ~Hmei/j evk pornei,aj ouv gegennh,meqa\ e[na pate,ra e;comen to.n qeo,nÅ

NAS John 8:41b They said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God." ei=pan le,gw (viaa--3p) auvtw/|( auvto,j (npdm3s) ~Hmei/j evgw, (npn-1p) ouv (neg. +) gegennh,meqa\ genna,w (viPFp--1p; "were not born/begotten") evk (pAbl; "of/from the source of") pornei,aj pornei,a (n-gf-s; "fornication/sexual immorality" i.e., "of bastard progeny"; used 25x; from pornoj (harlot/whore) and that from pernhmi (to sell; a woman who sells her body for sexual uses) e;comen e;cw (vipa--1p) e[na ei-j (card. adj./am-s; "one") pate,ra path,r (n-am-s) "even" supplied to.n o` qeo,nÅ qeo,j(n-am-s)

1. The Jews immediately respond to the truth of Jesus comments with a knee-jerk protest against His denial that they were truly Abraham’s children.
2. That they have totally missed the spiritual significance of His words, Jesus makes clear in vs.43.
3. Their protest therefore, re-enforces the view that they considered their racial heritage as an all important factor for them as a people in having a relationship with God as they said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, God".
4. It is clear that they think Jesus is challenging their racial legitimacy, while implying that because they are not true racial Jews, they have no relationship with God.
5. Jesus however never denied their racial claim (as arrogant as it was), only their spiritual affinity.
6. Because they are spiritually blind, they take His words out of context, while projecting their own religious conclusions that their relationship with God stood on the premise of their race.
7. This is the force of the clause, "we have one Father, God".
8. They take heated issue with Jesus questioning their lineage because in their thinking, it was God who established the Jews as a race and by race alone, He has to be their Father.
9. After all, wasn’t it God who said, "Israel is My son, My firstborn" and "For I am a father to Israel". Exo.4:22; Jer.31:9
10. Therefore, how dare Jesus even imply in any sense that anything beyond their racial heritage effects their paternal standing before God.
12. The sense of their words therefore reflect:

1. We are pure racial Jews of Abraham and are not bi-products of any other gentile race.
2. As it was God that established our race through Abraham, our Father of necessity has to be God.
3. This fact alone supercedes any deeds we may engage in as a race (vs.39b) and these deeds cannot in and of themselves remove our paternal standing.

1. The problem with their claim to be children of God is the absence of regeneration.
2. It is their failure to understand that to be a true or complete Jew, one must not only be in the racial line of Abraham, but must also follow his spiritual footsteps. Rom.4:12
3. As with Abraham, any of his offspring too must acquire the righteousness of God.
4. Abraham was racially born a Semitic gentile in Ur of the Chaldeans (Gen.11:27-28; 15:7) and did not become a Hebrew until after he believed. Gal.3:8 (denotes that the gospel was presented to Abraham beforehand as a gentile and therefore Abraham became a believer first, then the covenant of Gen.12:3 was made)
5. Therefore, that Abraham became a separate race was conditioned upon his spiritual orientation to God and his racial heritage in and of itself was not the issue.
6. This is how Abraham is able to be the father of both Jews and gentiles. Gal.3:9
7. Because of the Jews unwillingness to orient to the WOG, especially the gospel Ph₁, they remain spiritual bastards. Cp. Heb.12:8
8. These people boasted in the flesh, not in the Spirit.
9. Therefore, their boast was in vain, rejecting God’s Son and His word.
10. Paul taught this same principle of distinction between the true Jew and the racial Jew in Rom.9:6-13, 30-33.
11. The Jews thought Jesus was calling them racial bastards, but in fact He was calling them spiritual bastards as a race.
12. A couple of additional points germane to the Jews thinking and comments, though not strictly part of the interpretation include:

1. Later in Jewish history as reflected in the Talmud, Jesus’ birth was strongly questioned and it was circulated that He was the son of an illicit relationship by Mary.
2. Racial heritage was constantly at the forefront with the Jews as both the Jews and Samaritans questioned each others racial background and an ongoing battle was quite active at this point in their history. Joh.4:9; 8:48
3. That the Jews generally excepted that Jesus was from Galilee (Joh.7:41), a dispute over His heritage would be easy propaganda to initiate.

GNT John 8:42 ei=pen auvtoi/j o` VIhsou/j( Eiv o` qeo.j path.r u`mw/n h=n hvgapa/te a'n evme,( evgw. ga.r evk tou/ qeou/ evxh/lqon kai. h[kw\ ouvde. ga.r avpV evmautou/ evlh,luqa( avllV evkei/no,j me avpe,steilenÅ

NAS John 8:42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me; o` VIhsou/j( (d.a. + n-nm-s) ei=pen le,gw (viaa--3s) auvtoi/j auvto,j (npdm3p) Eiv (conj. intro. 2nd class cond.; "If"; the apodosis assumes the fact of conclusion as being contrary to reality; "If....and it is not") o` qeo,j (d.a. + n-nm-s) h=n eivmi, (viIPFa--3s) u`mw/n su, (npg-2p) path,r (Pred.n-nm-s) hvgapa/te avgapa,w (viIPFa--2p; "you would love"; ref. to Divine love) a;n (particle used in second class condition to indicate that otherwise something could or would happen if this were true/reality; not translated in the English) evme,( evgw, (npa-1s) for I proceeded forth and have come from God, ga,r (explan. conj.; "for") evgw, (npn-1s; "I Myself") evxh/lqon evxe,rcomai (viaa--1s; "came) kai, (cc) h[kw\ (vipa--1s; "keep on arriving/keep on being present"; Lit. "I came and am presently here"; translated "proceeded forth and came") evk (pAbl) tou/ o` qeou/ qeo,j (d.a. + n-Ablm-s) for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me. ga,r (continued explanatory conj. "for") evlh,luqa( e;rcomai (viPFa--1s; "I came" +) ouvde, (adv.; "not even/and not/but not") avpV avpo, (pg; with the genitive = "through"; +) evmautou/ (reflex. pro./gm1s; "Myself"; translated "on My own initiative") avllV avlla, (strong advers.) evkei/noj (remote dem. pro./nm-s; "that One"; ref. God the Father) avpe,steilenÅ avposte,llw (viaa--3s; "sent with a commission") me evgw,(npa-1s)

GNT John 8:43 dia. ti, th.n lalia.n th.n evmh.n ouv ginw,sketeÈ o[ti ouv du,nasqe avkou,ein to.n lo,gon to.n evmo,nÅ

NAS John 8:43 "Why do you not understand what I am saying? dia, (pa; "because of" +) ti, ti,j (indef. pro./an-s; "what thing"; idiom of an interrogative statement; "because of what or Why?") ouv (neg. +) ginw,sketeÈ ginw,skw (vipa--2p; "do you not understand/not figure out") th.n h` evmh.n evmo,j (d.a. + a--af1s; "My own/that which is mine") th.n h` lalia.n lalia, (d.a. + n-af-s; "the speech"; emphasizes the manner of speech or the way what is being communicated is revealed; here the "spiritual" manner of what Jesus was saying or His spiritual "language") It is because you cannot hear My word. "It is" supplied o[ti (causal conj.) ouv (neg. +) du,nasqe du,namai (vipd--2p; "are not able/cannot") avkou,ein avkou,w (compl. inf./pa-; "to hear") to.n o` evmo,nÅ evmo,j (d.a. + a--am1s+) to.n o` lo,gon lo,goj (d.a. + n-am-s; "My word that I possess"; the spiritual aspect of Jesus' speech that is of necessity from whence He comes)

1. Jesus now takes issue with the Jew’s distorted read on their paternal standing before God as He said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me".
2. Though they relate their relationship to a physical tie, Jesus in contrast relates to the spiritual qualifications necessary.
3. As He has already pointed out that they do not resemble their physical father Abraham (vs.40), He now points out that they do not demonstrate that they exude the quality necessary to resemble God the Father either.
4. The term father as used by Jesus throughout this section emphasizes the moral or ethical relationship and the fact that children are generally expected to manifest like or similar qualities.
5. The relationships in view then must be based on the principle of righteousness as the predominate link of heritage.
6. The second class condition of "If God were your Father", demands a negative conclusion, "and He is not".
7. The Greek particle "a;n (an)" that is not translated in the English, sets up the missing ingredient that renders this negative conclusion as a matter of reality/truth because otherwise, "you would love Me".
8. Jesus’ choice of verb "to love/avgapa,w", denotes true love prescribed by God necessary for the individual to identify his/her own person as a child of God.
9. It is this love that is Divine in nature governed by +R and is a reflection of the individuals intrinsic quality of attitude/thinking towards God being expressed in one’s obedience to His word. Joh.14:15,23,24; 15:10; 1Joh.5:3
10. Apart from the expression of Divine love from the individual, whatever other love they may express is hypocritical in nature. Rom.12:9
11. As all love is an expression of what is within a person and these Jews are void of it, Jesus now points to the internal/soulish state of the Jews that is the cause of their overt actions of hostility He described in vss.37-41a.
12. He points to the principle that one’s actions (or lack of) reveals the real you.
13. And that they reject the premise of all that Jesus has said (the emphasis Jesus placed upon His actions in vss.37,38,40) they reveal that they have no true relationship with God.
14. Otherwise, if they were true children of God, they would recognize Him as the unique Son of God and believe all that He says.
15. In other words, how dare they insinuate that they are of God’s family when they manifest no love for His very presence as revealed in "Me".
16. That they cannot identify His Person as God in the flesh and thus a direct "offspring" of God, reveals that they are not from the same spiritual lineage of the Father’s family.
17. This is the force behind Jesus’ following explanation, "for I proceeded forth and have come from God".
18. A literal translation of this clause is, "for I came and remain present from the source of God".
19. Both verbs, "I came/proceeded forth" and "remain present/have come" are governed by the prepositional phrase "from God".
20. His statement reflects that His Deity proceeded forth from God (under the doctrine of eternal generation) and that the current state of affairs of His whole Person that stands before them is equally there from God.
21. His continuing explanation, "for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me", once again denotes the Father’s Divine commission placed upon His uniquely begotten Son at the 1^st advent.
22. It is a reaffirmation that His very presence stands upon the Plan of God to save mankind.
23. Only in the Son’s uniqueness as God-man could salvation be effectuated and the principles of E.L. and regeneration through the imputation of God’s +R be realized for the world.
24. Had these Jews understood these doctrines concerning His Person, they would have loved Him.
25. However, without the hereditary spiritual link of +R, they are without the basis to express Divine love.
26. In essence, Jesus has stated that the reason they do not love Him and thus are not part of God’s family, is because of their rejection of His whole Person, which is rejection of God’s plan of salvation for them.
27. In vs.43, Jesus articulates the bottom underlying cause spiritually for their rejection of His Person and God’s plan for them.
28. He does so by proposing the logical question that would arise from the Jews misunderstanding of what He has been articulating all along, "Why do you not understand what I am saying?"
29. He then immediately provides the answer Himself as He states, "It is because you cannot hear My word".
30. The real picture of what He is articulating here is seen in the contrast between the word "lalia,/saying/speech/language" and the noun "lo,goj/word".
31. The term "speech/language" denotes the way one expresses himself, the vocabulary and inflection that reflects the thought of the speaker and thus is used of dialect or speech that indicates where one is from.
32. The term "word" emphasizes the content or all the subject matter contained within the speech.
33. It is His speech that betrays His heavenly origin and indicates the spiritual nature of its expression.
34. That it is spiritual speech reflects that the content too of necessity must be spiritual in subject.
35. The reason that they were not able to comprehend the language and subject matter is because they were not able to hear with their spiritual ear.
36. Their hearing equates to their soulish means of perception.
37. That they rejected the "content/My word" prevented them from understanding the spiritual significance of all that Jesus was saying.
38. It points to the negative volition that rendered them deaf spiritually.
39. His fundamental message that He was from God and was there per the Father’s Divine will, and their rejection of that rendered them incapable of grasping His communication.
40. While they were hearing physically, they could not hear spiritually. Mat.13:13-17
41. Jesus makes the principle extremely clear, -V cannot penetrate the teaching of Bible Doctrine. Cp. Isa.6:9-10; Jer.5:21; 6:10; 1Cor.2:14
42. 2Tim.4:4 makes it clear that it is by choice that men reject the truth.
43. It is not that these men are intellectually inferior, or incapable of mentally grasping what Jesus is saying, it is due to their unwillingness to accept it as from God.
44. While His outward speech was audible in their earthly dialect, it was constantly being misunderstood in its heavenly dialect.
45. This is the judgment placed upon –V when it hears the truth.
46. Because they are –V, they filter what is said through the STA and nothing gets through in a pure form.
47. For these Jews, they filtered everything through their distorted religious grid.
48. And for the unbelieving Jews, because they refuse to believe the truth regarding Christ, there is not the necessary act to facilitate regeneration and the imputation of +R and therefore are incapable of loving Him.
49. And less John’s readers forget, there are believers in this crowd that under their –V, the same principle applies and they too are failing to grasp the spiritual significance behind all that Jesus is saying.
50. Only the positive has true spiritual illumination of God’s plan. Joh.7:17 cp. Mat.11:25-30; 1Cor.2:12-13; Rev.2:7
51. Because the Jews are –V, they cannot manifest God’s love that is an inherent "marking" of His +R and of any that are from God via God the Holy Spirit. Rom.5:5; 15:30; Gal.5:22
52. That they are –V and God is not their Father, as manifested in their attitudes and actions towards Jesus, leaves only one viable option as to their true paternal heritage spiritually as Jesus makes clear in vs.44.

GNT John 8:44 u`mei/j evk tou/ patro.j tou/ diabo,lou evste. kai. ta.j evpiqumi,aj tou/ patro.j u`mw/n qe,lete poiei/nÅ evkei/noj avnqrwpokto,noj h=n avpV avrch/j kai. evn th/| avlhqei,a| ouvk e;sthken( o[ti ouvk e;stin avlh,qeia evn auvtw/|Å o[tan lalh/| to. yeu/doj( evk tw/n ivdi,wn lalei/( o[ti yeu,sthj evsti.n kai. o` path.r auvtou/Å

NAS John 8:44 "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. u`mei/j su, (npn-2p) evste. eivmi, (vipa--2p) evk (pAbl; "of/from the source of") "your" supplied tou/ o` patro.j path,r (d.a. +n-Ablm-s) tou/ o` diabo,lou dia,boloj (d.a. + adj. of apposition-Ablm-s; "the devil/the slanderer/the lying accuser"; title for Satan used 37x) kai, (cc) qe,lete qe,lw (vipa--2p; "you keep on willing/wanting/wishing" +) poiei/nÅ poie,w (compl. inf./pa-; "to do/perform") ta.j h` evpiqumi,aj evpiqumi,a (d.a. + n-af-p; "the desires/cravings"; in a bad sense means "lusts/evil desires"; used 38x; has the nuance of a natural urge designed to forcefully control one's thinking or actions and without restraint can be destructive; from the verb quw - to rage or seethe; used of swollen rivers with raging torrents of water; used of the sea tossed about during a storm; it refers to one's more base desires or passions, such as a dog salivating after food) u`mw/n su,(npg-2p) tou/ o` patro.j path,r (d.a. + n-gm-s) He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. evkei/noj (remote dem. pro./nm-s; "He/that one") h=n eivmi, (viIPFa--3s) avnqrwpokto,noj (n-nm-s; "a murderer"; used 2x; an old and rare word found in writings of Euripides from anqrwpoj - man and kteivw - to kill; literally "a mankiller" ) avpV avpo, (pAbl) avrch/j avrch, (n-Ablf-s; "a beginning"; no d.a.) kai, (cc) ouvk ouv (neg. +) e;sthken( i[sthmi (viPFa--3s; "does not stand") evn (pL) th/| h` avlhqei,a| avlh,qeia (d.a. + n-Lf-s) o[ti (causal conj.; "because") ouvk ouv (neg. +) e;stin eivmi, (vipa--3s; "there is not") avlh,qeia (n-nf-s) evn (pL) auvtw/|Å auvto,j (npLm3s) Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies. o[tan (conj. of time; "Whenever/when") lalh/| lale,w (vspa--3s; "he might speak") to, yeu/doj( (d.a. + n-an-s; "the lie/the falsehood"; the antonym of truth; used 10x) lalei/( lale,w (vipa--3s) evk (pAbl) tw/n o` ivdi,wn i;dioj (d.a. + adj.-Abln-p; "one's own things/one's private or personal possessions"; here contextually with reference of the Devil's own nature/desires") nature supplied o[ti (causal conj.; "because/for") evsti.n eivmi, (vipa--3s) yeu,sthj (n-nm-s; "a liar"; used 10x) kai, (cc) o` path,r (d.a. + n-nm-s) auvtou/Å auvto,j (npgn3s; "of it"; reference "of lying")

1. Jesus now makes the explicit identification of their spiritual kinship as He states, "You are of your father the devil".
2. Jesus is clearly now directing His comments to the unbelievers of the crowd, completely zeroing in on them.
3. He is also clearly drawing the distinction between Himself being from God and not of this world, to those unbelievers in front of Him, who are from below and will die in their sins. Vss.23-24
4. Jesus employees one of the many nicknames for Satan, the devil/o` dia,boloj, as it’s meaning of "slanderer or one who attacks another with falsehood or lies" provides the antithesis to the context of the truth from God that explains salvation, as Jesus has been articulating.
5. Satanology reveals the following concerning this fallen angel:

1. He was created in total perfection, with maximum BD and great beauty. Eze.28:12
2. Therefore, he was created righteous and without a sin nature. Eze.28:15
3. He was clothed in great glamour (Eze.28:13) and was capable of making great music (Isa.14:11).
4. For an undetermined period of time, he remained obedient and sinless (Eze.28:15; "From the day you were created, Until unrighteousness was found in you").
5. During this pre-fall period of time, God made him the most privileged of the angels. Eze.28:14 cp. vs.16
6. His pre-fall titles include:

1. Lucifer, not in the bad sense as referred to today, which is from the Hebrew, lleyhe , meaning "cause to shine/light-bearer". Isa.14:12
2. Son of the morning. Isa.14:12
3. The Anointed Cherub who Covers/Guards. Ez.28:14,16

1. Though he was created sinless, he was created with the potential to sin; that is with volition.
2. This is revealed in the post-fall manifesto/declaration of his five, "I wills" of Isa.14: 13-14.
3. Satan’s original sin was the MAS of pride. Eze.28:17
4. God, who created him with volition and beauty, knew he would sin, but was not culpable for it i.e., God did not cause him to sin and thus was not liable for his actions.
5. His original sin corrupted his wisdom (Eze.28:17) and he acquired his own sin nature.
6. This brought judgment upon him causing his demotion from the throne room (Eze.28:16 cp. Luk.10:18), and a sentence to the Lake of Fire (Mat.25:41).
7. During this process, Satan went into open revolt getting 1/3 of all the angels to follow him, who also received the same judgment to the Lake of Fire. Rev.12:4
8. That Satan objected to the verdict and appealed is seen by the fact that the verdict is not carried out until the close of man’s history. Rev.20:7-10
9. Man and his history is designed to shut Satan’s mouth by demonstrating that a lower creature with volition will choose for God and under adverse conditions.
10. Satan’s appeal then, centers on the issue of who is culpable for the actions of freewill, the creation or the Creator.
11. Since men through procreation can choose to escape the rulership of spiritual death and the STA, proves that the creator does not govern one’s choices, but that freewill is independently controlled by the creation itself and is an authority unto itself.
12. To ask why God would create knowing that some wills would manifest evil is moot, because otherwise there would be no creation. Isa.45:8-10 (Do we not think that God would have created in such a way as to avoid the presence of evil if at all possible? Of course He would of, just as He would have provided salvation through another means other than sacrificing His own Son. Gal.3:21.)
13. After Satan’s fall and the creation of man, he was permitted to tempt man in the garden and like Satan, man fell.
14. Satan provided the external temptation leading to Adam’s original sin in violation of Gen.2:17.
15. At the moment Adam ate of the fruit, he died spiritually and developed a sin nature.
16. Adam’s OSN is passed on to his progeny via genetic engineering through procreation.
17. So whenever a baby is born, God imputes AOS to the IOSN/STA producing spiritual death. Rom.5:12 See Doctrine of the STA/OSN
18. Upon Adam’s fall, Satan became the ruler of this world through mankind’s STA and lusts that mirrors Satan’s. Act.26:18; Col.1:13 cp. Eph.2:1-3
19. Therefore, all men are from birth the spiritual heirs of the Devil.
20. Other post-fall names and titles given to the Devil include:

1. Satan, meaning adversary, denoting he is in opposition to God. Mat.4:10; et al
2. The Evil One, denoting he is its primary source and promoter. Joh.17:15; Mat.13:19,28; 2Thes.3:3
3. The Serpent, denoting his craftiness. Gen.3:1,2,4,13,14; 2Cor.11:3
4. The Dragon, denoting that he is the dangerous but seldom seen monster dwelling in the sea of humanity, who will ultimately be slain. Rev.12:3,4,7,9, et al
5. Leviathan, an alternate term using a great water dwelling creature to personify Satan. Job 41:1
6. Roaring Lion, denoting his power and ability to kill. 1Pet.5:8
7. The Enemy/Opponent, denoting his attack against the righteous. 1Pet.5:8
8. Belial, meaning worthless and denoting the vanity/futility of his actions. 2Cor.6:15
9. Angel of Light, denoting his infiltration and counterfeit of BD. 2Cor.11:14
10. Beelzebub, meaning "the lord of flies" and denotes that he is the prince of all demons. Mat.12:24
11. Prince of this World, denoting that he is the author of the cosmic system of beliefs. Joh.12:31; 16:11
12. The God of this World, denoting his attempts of usurping God’s authority. 2Cor.4:4
13. Prince of the Power of the Air, denoting he is engaged in spiritual warfare. Eph.2:2
14. Father of all lies. Joh.8:44
15. The Deceiver. Rev.12:9
16. The Tempter. 1Thess.3:5
17. Prince of Tyre, denoting he is ultimately behind all unrighteous rule. Eze.28:12
18. The Spirit, denoting he is the invisible but real force behind all disobedience to BD. Eph.2:2
19. The Accuser, denoting he acts as prosecution against all believers. Rev.12:10

1. It is in the sense that Satan seduced the original parents of corporate mankind into a sinful condition that would reproduce a race of genetically sinful offspring, that Jesus could proclaim to these unbelievers, that they are from the source of/evk their father, the devil.
2. And the overt evidence that they indeed are spiritually linked to him is seen through their own STA activities, as Christ proclaims, "and you want to do the desires of your father".
3. It is their volition that perpetuates the unbroken action of their lust grids to copy their spiritual parent as made clear by the present active indicative of the verb "you want/qe,lw/keep on willing or desiring", the same verb used to express the free-will of humanity. Cp. the noun "will/qe,lhma" regarding Jesus’ human will, Joh.5:30; the negative use of the verb denoting the unbelieving Jews of 5:40; the combined use of both the verb and the noun denoting positive volition in 7:17.
4. The present tense of the verb denotes the linear action of their volition ascribing to the lusts of their own STAs in compliance with the spiritual generator of the STA, Satan.
5. John uses the present tense again in his writings to articulate this same principle of the unbroken rulership of the STA being the mark of unbelievers versus believers in 1Joh.3:9, where he uses the term "sin" as technical for the STA, just as Jesus has done previously in vs.34.
6. Whereas in 1Joh.3:9, John emphasizes the unbroken action of the STA rulership with the verb "poie,w/to do, perform, practice", Jesus in our verse denotes that the carrying out of the STAs desires/lusts is dependent upon one’s choice to subscribe to it.
7. This is brought out in the Greek in Jesus’ use of the verb "poie,w/to do", as a complimentary infinitive, which completes the meaning of the verb "keep on wanting/willing".
8. It is a direct statement by Christ that control of the sin nature over the individual is a result of one not volitionally willing to overrule its dictates and demands.
9. For the unbelievers of life, they not even once break/separate volitionally from the STA rule over their lives, through recognizing their state of sin and need for salvation in an exercise of faith in Christ. Joh.16:8-9
10. They do not engage into any momentary or even long-term lapse of the STA, but rather, they totally and persistently capitulate to it for the entirety of their lives carrying out the desires of the "will" of their father, the Devil.
11. And for any astute believer in the crowd, by application they would realize that yielding to the STA under momentary or long-term lapse is nothing more than realigning themselves to the desires of their original parent.
12. As Jesus has made clear, their moral kinship and affinity for their father is overtly manifested by their seeking to bring about His murder in their antagonism and hostility towards the truth that He represents. Cp. vss.37,40
13. Therefore, He then draws the parallel between their attitudes and actions with that of Satan’s as He states, "He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him".
14. It is obvious that Satan’s lusts are not strictly confined to only two sins any more than the present unbelievers sin natures are only guilty of two sins.
15. Jesus emphasis here is by design to show the all-encompassing cause and effect of what Satan represents and perpetuates and its manifestation, as seen in these Jews.
16. Jesus compound description of Satan as being a murderer and not standing in the truth reflects spiritually his assassin character and posture towards God.
17. Jesus first establishes the effect evolving around the principle of death, as He denotes Satan as a murderer, which is indicative/characteristic of his spiritual posture.
18. Jesus emphasizes the effect first to emphasize that men must first deal with the effect of being his spiritual progeny. Joh.16:8-10
19. He then embellishes upon the cause of his spiritual stance/attitude in the remainder of the verse as it relates to truth versus lies.
20. The actual Greek word for "murderer" is avnqrwpokto,noj meaning manslayer or man-killer.
21. Jesus states that he entered this status at some point by the use of the phrase "from a beginning".
22. One cannot help to overlook Jesus play on the word "beginning/avrch,".
23. In vs.25, He applied it to Himself with the definite article relating its concept to eternal life, which He has to offer.
24. That is compared to its use here without the definite article to denote the temporal and thus ending nature of what Satan has to offer.
25. The question is, "When did the devil commit his first murder of man"?
26. The answer is found in the Garden of Eden and the temptation and fall of Adam and Eve.
27. As noted, Satan provided the external temptation and thus was the means through which Adam and Eve came to sin in the garden. Gen.3:1-6
28. His attack was skillfully planned and executed as he deceived the woman, the weaker vessel, through the serpent and convinced her to eat of the forbidden tree and to sway her husband to do likewise.
29. At the point of their disobedience, God’s promise of Gen.2:17 immediately took affect as both Adam and Eve died spiritually, was judged in their flesh via a genetic alteration reflecting their disobedience, known as the sin nature, which has incorporated into it the death gene.
30. Not until many years later, did they die physically; for Adam some 930 years later. Gen.5:5
31. Since Adam’s genetics are passed on to each and every one of his progeny, all who possess the STA must be judged with the same result of spiritual death. Rom.5:12,14
32. So, in one action, Satan effectively murdered Adam and all of his descendants.
33. He continues to manifest his murderous character through his progeny, such as Cain, by the physical activity of murder. 1Joh.3:12
34. And that these Jews manifest the same murderous inclination as their father demonstrates that are of his spiritual lineage i.e., they too have sin natures.
35. The second description of Satan, "and does not stand in the truth", introduces the spiritual posture of Satan that bridges the effect of his actions to the cause of his evil.
36. The Greek word "stand/i[sthmi" in a good sense carries with it a nuance of one’s spiritual alliance as manifested in their adherence and application of BD. 1Cor.16:13; Gal.5:1; Phi.1:27; 4:1; 2The.2:15
37. The imperfect use of this verb with the negative denotes the historical rejection by Satan in the spiritual world towards God’s revelation of Himself in the sphere of truth.
38. The word truth, refers to that which is absolutely true in every way while corresponding to what it purports to be.
39. It equates to reality and points to God’s absolute veracity/honesty as manifested in His words. 2Sam.7:28; Psa.119:60; Joh.17:17
40. That it has the definite article points to the entirety of the POG.
41. Therefore, that Satan’s spiritual posture towards the word of God is described in a negative term, denotes that the driving force between his murderous actions and the cause of those actions is due to his volitional attitude toward God as being –V, as ascertained by his 5 "I wills". Isa.14:13-14
42. The proof that Satan’s stance was in spiritual opposition to God’s veracity is again seen in the scene at the Garden of Eden, when he employees deceit as the weapon of craft towards the weaker vessel in his strategy to murder our first parents. Gen.3:13 cp. 1Tim.2:14
43. And that deceit came in the form of a lie. Gen.3:4-5 cp. 2:16-17
44. Jesus then explicitly states that the cause of Satan’s action to murder, driven by his –V, is based on his rejection of God’s word as He states, "because there is no truth in him".
45. The fact that there is no definite article with the noun truth in this clause denotes the negation of even any single principle of truth.
46. It denotes that all truth of God’s word is absent in his character.
47. If God has an opinion on any matter, and He does, Satan’s opinion will never agree with the Divine assessment.
48. Even basic matters of establishment principles that an unbeliever might agree with, are rejected by Satan.
49. It denotes a complete saturation of opposition towards the Divine viewpoint.
50. Satan has not made it his objective to find out what is correct and to line himself up with it; rather he is opposed to every reality of God and His plan.
51. Satan was aware of the issues of God (Eze.28:12), His essence, His sovereign will, etc., but opted to reject all Divine revelation in lieu of his own viewpoint and opinion on these issues.
52. He cannot be trusted in any area, and even when he might employ the Scriptures in his twisted arguments he is merely attempting to twist the truth to suit his evil ends. Mat.4:1-11
53. For every principle of Divine viewpoint, Satan has a corresponding lie, counterfeit or contradiction that he believes, espouses and promotes.
54. Jesus, by using the devil as the premier example of operation –V makes it clear that the cause/antecedent/motivation that constitutes one as being negative rests on the foundation of their willing desire to reject BD.
55. Satan’s attack towards God was a direct attack towards His veracity, which is tied directly into God’s +R, as pictured in Cain’s murder of his brother Able. 1Joh.3:12
56. By reversing the emphasis Jesus places in this sentence, the cause and effect can be clearly seen:

1. The cause of all that Satan is, is based on his rejection of truth.
2. This facilitated the necessary attitude to render him as negative and in opposition to God and his plan denoting it is volition that bridges cause to the effect.
3. Satan became the extreme example of –V rejecting all of God’s plan, and in total opposition to it.
4. That God is the author of life, and Satan is completely opposed to Him, of necessity makes him a proponent of death.
5. Therefore, the effect of his –V in rejection of God’s plan is the self-generating action of one who seeks to bring death to any who potentially can line up with God.

1. And the same principles apply to these unbelievers Jesus is addressing i.e., as long as they continue to reject the truth, they render themselves as –V and staunch proponents of death as authored by their father the devil.
2. Satan’s rule then is one of death and he is constantly on the prowl seeking those he can murder. 1Pet.5:8
3. He is especially postured against +V who stand for God’s +R and employs many agents of murder through their –V and STAs’. Rev.13:7,15; 17:6 (of Catholicism); 18:24 (of the USA) cp. Mat.23:34-35,37; Jam.5:1-6
4. He was behind Jesus’ murder using agents to carry it out. Gen.3:15 cp. 1The.2:15
5. In vs.44c, Jesus presents the method of operation that Satan uses in his agenda of promoting death.
6. He does so by describing Satan as the antonym of truth as He states, "Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar, and the father of lies".
7. The noun "lie" has the definite article and literally is "the lie" and denotes that whatever and whenever he speaks, it is in a way that seeks to render the integrity of God’s plan or any part of it as bogus.
8. His methodology in attacking God’s plan is to try and prove that God is not total truth and he does so by communicating and establishing his own viewpoint in opposition to it.
9. One can condense the sense of what specifically is "the lie" that Satan speaks, and that is again by deferring to his actions in the Garden of Eden.
10. When the woman proclaims that God said they would die if they ate of the tree, Satan responds with "the lie" that they would not die, but God had an ulterior motive behind his prohibition to do so. Gen.3:3-5
11. In essence, Satan’s attack was that God was a liar and therefore not +R.
12. This points to the fact that Satan has determined that to effectively attack God, he must test every minute detail of His veracity and integrity in seeking to render Him less than +R.
13. Hence, everything that Satan speaks evolves around his agenda to disprove God’s word in any form or fashion possible.
14. This is the force behind the phrase; "he speaks from his own nature".
15. While the supplied NAS term nature generically reflects his character, literally the plural of "his own" is translated "the things that he possesses".
16. This denotes that at such times that he speaks, while in essence calling God a liar, the content of his message is derived from his inner satanic viewpoints, resources and opinions, in his attack against God.
17. It is a reflection of the combining of Satan’s –V in rejection of the truth that reveals his true character, since the mouth only utters what fills the soul. Pro.15:28b; Mat.12:34; 15:18
18. Therefore, it is because of his nature to reject God’s word that he is a liar.
19. This points to the principle that –V operating under their STAs are in essence in denial of truth and in turn perpetuate this strategy of Satan against God in their adherence to the cosmic systems of belief.
20. And this is the force of the final phrase that Satan is "the father of lies".
21. This bestowed title upon him indicates that lying began with him and becomes the modus operandi of all that have a spiritual affinity to him.
22. Just as spontaneously as God utters truth, and He can speak nothing else (Heb.6:18), Satan delivers his lies to mankind out of his warped psyche.
23. And those of mankind that reject the Divine viewpoint, starting with Christ being the Savior of mankind, in turn fall for Satan’s lies aligning themselves up with him.
24. John teaches that children of God are identified by their love and pursuit of the truth, while children of the devil are equally obvious by their refusal to accept the truth. 1Joh.4:5-6
25. Jesus makes it more than clear that Satan can never be said to promote truth.
26. And the evidence is clear that whom the individual aligns themselves with, Satan or God, will be manifested in the rejection of or adherence to BD.
27. Verse 44 summarized:

1. Vs.44a points out:

1. All of mankind is of their spiritual heritage the devil and all unbelievers maintain that heritage as status quo.
2. This is evidenced via sin activity produced by the individual STA, which is a reflection of their spiritual father.

1. Vs.44b points out:

1. All unbelievers perpetuate and manifest the cause and resultant effect of their father’s ambitions.
2. The ultimate result of their actions only promotes death to themselves and others whom they seek to embrace in time.
3. Their spiritual posture towards God’s plan is negative volition, which is the driving force of all that they do and hence operate under the same authority as Satan.
4. The bottom underlying cause of their –V and promotion of death is due to their rejection of BD.
5. This repudiation equals rejection of the sum total of God’s plan for salvation.

1. Vs.44c points out:

1. The unbelievers MO in life reflects hostility towards God, which reflects Satan’s MO.
2. Their attack comes in the form of what they say.
3. Their speech disregards God’s plan for salvation and fails to articulate it truthfully.
4. They in essence regard God as a liar and a lesser authority than themselves.
5. This reflects what’s truly in their souls.
6. This points back to the nature of -V and rejection of BD resulting in death.
7. Since they reject God’s plan, they of necessity must conform to an alternate cosmic system of belief, which is false.
8. They as their father are branded as liars in God’s eyes, since they adhere to the primary cause of this phenomenon, the father of lies.

1. The reality is, is that Satan and all who don’t break from his rule will meet the same fate of eternal death in the LOF.
2. Applications:

1. As believers, we are free to defer to our original father at any time. Joh.8:31 "...If you abide in My word...." denoting maybe you will or maybe you won’t.
2. We do so every time we capitulate to the desires of our STA.
3. When we do capitulate, we experience temporal and operational death. Rom.6:13; 7:9-11; Jam.2:26; Jud.12
4. This is a reflection of volitional weakness and rejection of the imperatives to not sin.
5. That no believer is perfect (Ecc.7:20), denotes the spiritual struggle the +V must maintain throughout their life fighting the salivation of the flesh.
6. The battle can be won through the inculcation of BD.
7. Those that reject BD to include any portion of it, in essence call God a liar and they themselves lie.
8. The believer must recognize that the focus of Satan’s attack towards men comes in the form of distorting/adulterating God’s word (2Cor.4:2) and that distortion includes false teaching of God’s word in churches. 2Cor.11:13-14
9. That Satan’s hmvwpt lies produce death denotes that actions "speak louder than words" and shows that lack of applying BD we know states that it is not true.
10. That it is the truth of BD that is the forefront of Satan’s attack should renew our appreciation why God exalts His word even above His name. Psa.138:2

GNT John 8:45 evgw. de. o[ti th.n avlh,qeian le,gw( ouv pisteu,ete, moiÅ

NAS John 8:45 "But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. de, (conj.) o[ti (causal conj.) evgw, (npn-1s) le,gw( (vipa--1s) th.n h` avlh,qeian avlh,qeia (d.a. + n-af-s) ouv (neg. +) pisteu,ete, pisteu,w (vipa--2p; "you do not believe") moiÅ evgw, (npd-1s)

GNT John 8:46 ti,j evx u`mw/n evle,gcei me peri. a`marti,ajÈ eiv avlh,qeian le,gw( dia. ti, u`mei/j ouv pisteu,ete, moiÈ

NAS John 8:46 "Which one of you convicts Me of sin? ti,j (interr. pro./nm-s; "Which one") evx evk (pAbl) u`mw/n su, (npAbl-2p; Lit. "Who from among you") evle,gcei evle,gcw (vipa--3s; "convicts/exposes/convince someone of their error"; same as 3:20; cp. 16:8) me evgw, (npa-1s) peri, (pg; "concerning") a`marti,ajÈ a`marti,a (n-gf-s; "sin"; w/out d.a.; denotes any sin or sin in general) If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? eiv (part. intro. 1st class cond.; "If" (and I do)) le,gw( (vipa--1s) avlh,qeian avlh,qeia (n-af-s) dia, (pa + ) ti, ti,j (interr. pro./an-s; "on account of what or why?") u`mei/j su, (npn-2p) ouv (neg. +) pisteu,ete, pisteu,w (vipa--2p) moiÈ evgw,(npd-1s)

GNT John 8:47 o` w'n evk tou/ qeou/ ta. r`h,mata tou/ qeou/ avkou,ei\ dia. tou/to u`mei/j ouvk avkou,ete( o[ti evk tou/ qeou/ ouvk evste,Å

NAS John 8:47 "He who is of God hears the words of God; o` w'n eivmi, (d.a. + subs. ptc./p/a/nm-s; "He who is/the one being") evk (pAbl) tou/ o` qeou/ qeo,j (d.a. + n-Ablm-s) avkou,ei\ avkou,w (vipa--3s) ta. to, r`h,mata r`h/ma (d.a. + n-an-p; "the words") tou/ o` qeou/ qeo,j (d.a. + n-gm-s) for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God." dia, (pa +) tou/to ou-toj (near dem. pro./an-s; "for this reason") u`mei/j su, (npn-2p) ouvk ouv (neg. =) avkou,ete( avkou,w (vipa--2p) "them" supplied o[ti (causal conj.) ouvk ouv (neg. +) evste,Å eivmi,(vipa--2p) evk (pAbl) tou/ o` qeou/ qeo,j (d.a. + n-Ablm-s)

1. After Jesus establishes that which constitutes the premier of –V as seen in the devil, He once again relates to the cause of –V.
2. He establishes Himself as the contrast to –V as He states, "But because I speak the truth".
3. He denotes that +V is characterized by their love for the truth.
4. As has been implied before, what one speaks reveals what’s in their souls.
5. Jesus doesn’t say, "although or when or if" I speak the truth, but it is because He speaks the truth that is the basis for their rejection of His Person and their –V and the fact that "you do not believe Me".
6. It is the truth and one’s attitude towards it that effectively separates –V and +V.
7. He makes it extremely clear that –V refuses to hear the truth and thus believe it.
8. To believe, here in context, is tantamount to inhale faith equating to saving faith:

1. Inhale faith is faith at the point of intake of BD. Gal.3:5; Heb.4:2
2. Saving faith is inhale faith with Jesus Christ as the object of faith. Joh.3:15-18
3. Exhale faith is the expression of inhale faith of the believer at the point of application of BD. Heb.13:7 cp. Jam.2:17,20,26
4. There is also misplaced faith. 2Thess.2:11
5. Bible doctrine is the body of what is believed and called "the faith". Eph.4:5; 1Tim.4:1

1. By rejecting Jesus’ teaching, these Jews demonstrated their allegiance to their father the devil whose spiritual posture is rejection of the truth.
2. It is the continued unbelief of –V that binds them to their spiritual parent.
3. And in so doing, they became even more susceptible to Satan’s lies. Cp. 2Thess.2:7-12
4. Again, the principle has been made clear; the determination as to whether one is +V or –V is demonstrated by their attitude with respect to BD.
5. Observation: People who refuse to line themselves up with an adjusted local church teaching the truth are –V and just flat don’t want to exercise faith in the pure truth, in toto, of BD.
6. In vs.46, Jesus proposes two questions to the Jews.
7. The nature of His questions provides the very mix necessary for the normal person to exercise faith i.e., factual evidence/proof followed by the reasoning/common logic of intellectual honesty.
8. His first question is in the form of a challenge and is staggering in its implications as He asks, "Which one of you convicts me of sin?"
9. His question is nothing less than a declaration of his perfect sinlessness. 2Cor.5:21
10. Jesus alone could make such a challenge and claim and amazingly these men respond with no exposure of any sin on the part of Jesus.
11. It is not that they did not think He was a sinner (Joh.9:24), but the challenge demands that they bring forward a proof of charge that would be acknowledged by God.
12. Though silence regarding His challenge substantiates His claim, the real force behind His challenge is the assurance of presentation behind His claim, denoting words stemming from a calm demeanor and perfectly clear conscience.
13. Jesus knew that before the Father He was absolutely and perfectly clean in every regard from any act of sin overtly, mentally and verbally.
14. That His conscience was perfectly clear provides a tremendous power in His stand in the angelic conflict.
15. It is the conscience given to men that is the evidence and proof of the validity of the truth regarding God. Rom.2:15
16. The conscience is programmed with God’s norms and standards being the mechanism for each honest individual to ascertain that they are sinners and less than +R.
17. While even +V believers cannot have an absolutely clear conscience in every area due to the I/STA and personal sinning, they can and are exhorted to have a "good conscience". 1Tim.1:5
18. And it is the truth of BD that validates the "good conscience". 1Tim.1:19
19. So Jesus uses the evidence of the conscience validated by BD to provide the force and confidence behind His challenge. 1Pet.3:16
20. And no one with clear conscience validated by BD can render opposition.
21. His second question then evokes the logical conclusion to His first question, as He asks, "If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me?"
22. The first class condition, "If I speak truth", demands a positive response, "and I do".
23. Its affirmation draws upon the force of Jesus’ 1^st question and claim of sinlessness.
24. In other words, if He is sinless and He is, then of necessity everything He communicates must be the truth.
25. Therefore, for any intellectually honest person claiming to seek the truth, the purely logical reaction would be to believe what He says.
26. However, since they continue to not believe Him, then the only logical conclusion one can come to regarding them, is that they reject and choose their own viewpoint over the truth not because of misunderstanding or lack of evidence, but because they are negative.
27. This is the only reason why anyone hears the truth and rejects it.
28. It is of no matter whether even one as Jesus, who is the perfect teacher and sinless in every way that proclaims the truth, -V will find a way to reject it or rationalize it someway.
29. Observation: Just think of all the excuses people can come up with to dismiss the teaching of truth from a teacher that is fallible.
30. In vs.47, Jesus directly ties in the concept of volition as it pertains to one’s spiritual relationship.
31. The clause, "He who is of God hears the words of God" denotes those who are positive and truly have a relationship with God.
32. He notes that the hallmark evidence of those who are positive is the simple fact that they hear the truth when it is spoken and recognize it as such.
33. And the fundamental problem for these unbelieving Jews is that they are –V, aligning themselves spiritually to their father the devil, and for this reason you do not hear God’s words, because you are not of God.
34. They fail to align themselves with the truth of Jesus’ teaching manifesting that the source of their approach to BD is from other than volition that gravitates to the veracity of God. Joh.6:44 (God draws men via the revealing of Himself in truth.)
35. It points to the fact that truth taught cannot be clearly/effectively understood without a willingness on the part of men to have a relationship with God, on His terms.
36. And it is God who is consistently seeking men/women with that volitional propensity necessary to qualify them before Him as "seekers/keepers" of the truth. 1Chro.28:9; Psa.14:2; Psa.139:23; Joh.4:23
37. First and foremost, those who do not establish a relationship with God through faith in Christ will never comprehend the true teaching of BD. 1Cor.2:14
38. Rather, their spiritual inclinations are reflective of their true father.
39. Like him, they hate Divine viewpoint and love falsehood and lies.
40. The catch 22 for these and for all who are negative is that the very truth that is taught by Jesus, which could deliver them from their plight, is rejected through their negative volition.
41. For the one who humbles him or herself, sufficiently manifesting +V necessary to come to Christ for salvation, the door is open to understand the entire realm of BD.
42. Though this passage does not deal with the –V believer, application of volition in that regard maintains in principle status quo of Jesus’ teaching.

GNT John 8:48 VApekri,qhsan oi` VIoudai/oi kai. ei=pan auvtw/|( Ouv kalw/j le,gomen h`mei/j o[ti Samari,thj ei= su. kai. daimo,nion e;ceijÈ

NAS John 8:48 The Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?" oi` o` VIoudai/oi VIoudai/oj (d.a. + adj-nm-p) VApekri,qhsan avpokri,nomai (viad--3p) kai, (cc) ei=pan le,gw (viaa--3p) auvtw/|( auvto,j (npdm3s) h`mei/j evgw, (npn-1p +) Ouv (neg. +) le,gomen le,gw (vipa--1p; "Do we not say") kalw/j (adv. "rightly/appropriately") o[ti (conj. intro. indir. disc.) su, (npn-2s) ei= eivmi, (vipa--2s) Samari,thj (n-nm-s; "Samaritan") kai, (cc) e;ceijÈ e;cw (vipa--2s) daimo,nion (n-an-s; "a demon/demon-possessed")

GNT John 8:49 avpekri,qh VIhsou/j( VEgw. daimo,nion ouvk e;cw( avlla. timw/ to.n pate,ra mou( kai. u`mei/j avtima,zete, meÅ

NAS John 8:49 Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. VIhsou/j( (n-nm-s) avpekri,qh avpokri,nomai (viad--3s) VEgw, (npn-1s) ouvk ouv (neg. +) e;cw( (vipa--1s) daimo,nion (n-an-s) avlla, (strong adv.) timw/ tima,w (vipa--1s; "honor/place appropriate value upon according to what is due"; same as 5:23) mou( evgw, (npg-1s) to.n o` pate,ra path,r (d.a. + n-am-s) kai, (cc) u`mei/j su, (npn-2p) avtima,zete, avtima,zw (vipa--2p; "dishonor/to treat shamefully"; the antithesis of honoring; used 7x) meÅ evgw,(npa-1s)

GNT John 8:50 evgw. de. ouv zhtw/ th.n do,xan mou\ e;stin o` zhtw/n kai. kri,nwnÅ

NAS John 8:50 "But I do not seek My glory; there is One who seeks and judges. de, (cc) evgw, (npn-1s) ouv (neg. +) zhtw/ zhte,w (vipa--1s; "do not seek") mou\ evgw, (npg-1s) th.n h` do,xan do,xa (d.a. + n-af-s; "glory/exalted reputation/praise") e;stin eivmi, (vipa--3s; "there is") o` (dnms; governs both ptc's. +) zhtw/n zhte,w (subs. ptc./p/a/nm-s; "the One seeking") kai, (cc) kri,nwnÅ kri,nw (subs. ptc./p/a/nm-s; "the One judging")

GNT John 8:51 avmh.n avmh.n le,gw u`mi/n( eva,n tij to.n evmo.n lo,gon thrh,sh|( qa,naton ouv mh. qewrh,sh| eivj to.n aivw/naÅ

NAS John 8:51 "Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death." avmh,n (part. +) avmh,n (part.) le,gw (vipa--1s) u`mi/n( su, (npd-2p) eva,n (part. intro. 3rd class cond.; "if") ti.j (indef. pro./nm-s; "anyone") thrh,sh|( thre,w (vsaa--3s; "keeps/guards/protects/attend to carefully") to.n o` (dams; +) evmo.n evmo,j (attrib.adj--am1s; "My/that which is one's possession") lo,gon lo,goj (n-am-s) ouv mh, (double neg.; "in no way" +) qewrh,sh| qewre,w (vsaa--3s "might see/to observe as a spectator/one who is considered a party to the event at hand") eivj (pa +) to.n o` aivw/naÅ aivw,n (d.a. + n-am-s; "into the ages" hence, "never") qa,naton qa,natoj (n-am-s; "death")

1. Just as obvious that it is to the readers of vss.44-47, so it is to the unbelieving Jews fielding Jesus’ remarks that His words directed to them are condemning and derogatory in nature.
2. However, there is no denying that they did not fully understand Him, or the teaching He was articulating.
3. The hardcore evidence Jesus provided that their spiritual heritage was tied to Satan was designed to point out that mankind is by nature in need of salvation and freedom from satanic rule.
4. And that that freedom can only be realized by exercising intellectual honesty accepting the truth regarding the matter.
5. In fact, the sense of vss.45-47 has an overture of supplication/appeal to the listeners to simply employ common sense discernment.
6. However, Jesus’ comments are taken by these Jews as nothing more than a direct slam against their race and theological adherence.
7. This points to the true hostility of –V in their rejection of truth, and that is not only do they not comprehend the spiritual message of truth, but they misconstrue the intent of the message as nothing more than a direct attack against them. Joh.7:7; 15:18-19 cp. 17:14
8. However, the reality is that those who proclaim truth, even to those hostile to it, only have their best spiritual interest in mind.
9. That they did understand the condemning aspect of Jesus’ words, howbeit apart from its true intent, they emotionally answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?"
10. That they cannot effectively refute Jesus’ message and comments about them; they resort to simply a game of name-calling.
11. This is a common denominator of people that cannot refute the truth communicated and very often happens when what is said goes against them.
12. Their attack is not designed in any way imaginable to provide insight to the situation, but only reflects their true nature.
13. The Jews reflect their "natural/STA" viewpoint by seeking to degrade Jesus in the very way they think He is degrading them with the terms of, "Samaritan" and "demon-possession".
14. The Jews considered the Samaritans to be racial bastards and not of the pure seed of Abraham, as they perceived they were. Cp. class notes Joh.4:7-9,20
15. That the Jews and Samaritans did not get along due to racial and theological differences is well documented.
16. They used the term in a derogatory way to infer one as irregular or heretical in opposition to the true representation of the nation of Israel.
17. There inference of Jesus having a demon was nothing more than a direct attack against what they considered His spiritual character.
18. It has a nuance of one they considered to be mentally deranged and obviously in opposition to God.
19. It is a charge they will continue to use as a primary character assassination tool. Joh.8:52; 10:20
20. Putting the two charges together indicated that they perceived Jesus not to be a true representative of Abraham and theologically unorthodox due to demon activity causing His particular form of insanity.
21. This again reflects the physical emphasis the Jews placed upon their racial heritage and that they were completely engrained in their theological reversionism, rejecting any insinuations that main-line Judaism might be wrong.
22. The present tense of the phrase, "Do we not say rightly" reflects an ongoing attitude and approach to Christ accepted by the outspoken unbelieving Jews, as previously expressed in 7:20.
23. In stark contrast to the angry emotional outbreak of the Jews towards Jesus, He calmly answered them simply, "I do not have a demon".
24. He does not allow Himself to be dragged into their STA delirium and rather presents Himself in a demeanor one would not expect from someone demon-possessed and insane.
25. This is a perfect opportunity for the Jews to reconsider His previous challenge of being without sin in vs.46 and points to the reality that indeed He was "tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin". Heb.4:15
26. For one to attack another in sin anger is certainly an easy time for the recipient to react in a manner just as inappropriate.
27. No one enjoys being verbally insulted and abused, especially when they are innocent, and the normal response is to retort in kind.
28. Jesus does not do this, and in fact, doesn’t even address their accusations that He was a Samaritan, a charge so ludicrous as to simply be ignored.
29. His omission of it also points to the reality of all that He has been speaking of and that is physical race is not the issue, but one’s spiritual relationship, as He iterates that "I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me".
30. The strong adversative "avlla,/but" denotes the stark contrast of spiritual perceptions between the Jews and Jesus.
31. This conjunction produces the real force of His speech and that is, "you all can think what you want about Me spiritually, but the fact remains that all that I do honors God and all that you do disgraces Him".
32. Jesus’ practicing of honoring the Father is about as far removed from demon-possession as one could possibly get.
33. The term "honor" reflects Christ’s total recognition and acceptance of who and what God is by paying tribute to the value/eminence due His essence and attributes.
34. And the proof that Jesus truly honors His Father is seen in His unceasing willingness to speak only truth, while maintaining God’s perfect standard of righteousness, in order to perpetuate unbroken fellowship with Him. Vss.46 cp. 28b-29
35. That they dishonor One whom has made it His life’s work to glorify God points out that those that are –V and opposed to truth view things regarding BD in a exceedingly different light.
36. While Jesus understood that a real spiritual relationship with God was dependent upon His humble obedience and acclimation to His plan, they approached God in arrogance based on their genetic race, rejection of truth and legalistic approach to God’s plan.
37. And the proof of their adulterated approach in seen in their dishonoring of Jesus at every turn, expressing verbally and overtly their hostile and disdainful MA.
38. Their hatred and dishonoring of Jesus will reach its zenith when they successfully execute their plot to murder Him.
39. This contrast of approach to God shows the inconsistency of someone that claims that they are oriented to God and pursuing the truth and all the while rejecting the Divinely sent representative.
40. The same principle is still operative today, as people reject the truth of BD and hold to their religion or human viewpoint and rejecting/hating the one who represents the truth.
41. The code of conduct that God demands from adjusted +V believers is to apply "double" honor to those whom He has established as authorities and communicators of BD in the RCC for the local church. 1Tim.5:17
42. By honoring the communicator/P-T that is honoring the Father, the believer in turn honors the Father and reveals their soul appreciation for the full value of the truth, upon which even the name of God stands. Psa.138:2
43. It reflects a solid understanding of all that God has done to ensure that +V are presented with the truth, by applying the proper respect to the representative commissioned by God, to accurately reflect what God stands for to those allotted his charge. 1Pet.5:1-4 cp. Heb.13:17
44. For the individual to honor the communicator that honors the Father, a volitional focus towards the truth is manifested in such a way that reflects that their eyes are truly on God, not man.
45. This is the irony of God utilizing human messengers of His word and that is that those who honor them by orienting to their teaching are truly honoring God.
46. That Jesus’ real concern is not how man considers Him that is the issue at hand, but God, is the force of the clause in vs.50, "I do not seek My glory".
47. This clause denotes that His fidelity to the POG for Him is not anything He considers to be forfeited or compromised.
48. He truly is not interested in what they, or others might think of Him; He is only interested in faithfully proclaiming all with which He has been entrusted.
49. Being concerned with what others think of Him would be tantamount to "seeking His own glory".
50. Christ, as the perfect example, points to a reality regarding all communicators of BD i.e., there is a sense in which revealers of truth must come to the point where they do not hold their own reputations dear to themselves.
51. They must fearlessly represent God’s word in the face of possible rejection, hostility and false or malicious misrepresentations.
52. They reflect the attributes necessary to ascertain whether they as communicators are truly honoring the Father.
53. And this is seen in their true humility before God and orientation to His authority by faithfully teaching the truth in their ministry, no matter who or what the truth may go against, to include themselves.
54. That Jesus does not seek His own glory reveals the total contrasting approach to God of One who is +V versus one who is –V.
55. His number 1 priority in life is not exaltation by men, but to be exalted by whom He honors.
56. It is vs.50b that reveals Jesus’ reasoning behind His attitude in life, because "there is One who seeks and judges".
57. He clearly understands that all men ultimately will answer to the Father and He will administer any vindication due them.
58. The term "seeks" as applied to God denotes what He is looking for in accordance with His sovereign will.
59. That Jesus uses this term applied both to Himself and God denotes that the common denominator of volition is the connecting force between God and man.
60. The term "judges" denotes the effectual separating action of conflict in accordance with what God seeks.
61. That these two participles are used together contextually points to the reality that what God continuously seeks and judges in time is volition.
62. While Jesus disclaims that any seeking on His part is of a negative nature, by implication He is stating that it is positive.
63. In other words, He is not a negative seeker of God, rather a positive seeker.
64. Therefore, what God seeks in time is +V and in His identification of it effectuates a judgement by separating all +V from –V. Cp. Joh.3:18-21
65. In a world governed by evil, God is consistently searching for +V to separate them from the judgment that comes upon all that remain –V. Rom.8:28-30
66. Again, that volition is the key issue is brought out by the 3^rd class condition in vs.51, "Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word", denoting maybe they will or maybe they won’t.
67. Jesus’ emphatic assertion of the double avmh,n points to the gravity of the ramifications of one’s choice in life regarding God and in what category of volition He regards them in His seeking and judging.
68. The word "keeps" means literally "to guard/attend to carefully" and denotes that what one is in charge of or possesses is considered to be of utmost value.
69. That it is His word that is commissioned for one to "guard" denotes Jesus overall message that He is the avenue of eternal life/+R for men to have a relationship with God. Joh.8:12-47
70. Its force is tantamount to the belief that one has in His person for salvation is considered to be supremely precious to life.
71. The aorist tense of "keeps" denotes a one-time action of faith for salvation.
72. The adjective of choice by Jesus, "evmo,j/My" points to what He possesses or has acquired as it relates to God’s word.
73. It denotes that Jesus personally perfectly possesses the entire the realm of BD and because He is without sin (vs.46) places Him in the position to be the avenue of +R and E.L.
74. That it is eternal life in focus is seen in the remainder of His exhortation and promise that if anyone does consider His word of that importance, thus effectuating belief in Him, then he shall never see death.
75. The death in view contextually is the second death, eternal destruction in the lake of fire apart from the presence of God.
76. It is eternal death that is the negative result of the separation of volition effectuated in time.
77. While Jesus puts a positive spin on His declaration that those who are positive will never see eternal death, the opposite is true for those who do not heed His words.
78. The force of the verb, "never see" denotes that those who do make the SAJG will not in any way even be a party to the experience of eternal condemnation.
79. The irony is that these men have rejected and despised the very One on whom they had to believe, manifesting a volitional action that will result in judgment of eternal separation from God, whom they profess to serve.

GNT John 8:52 ei=pon auvtw/| oi` VIoudai/oi( Nu/n evgnw,kamen o[ti daimo,nion e;ceijÅ VAbraa.m avpe,qanen kai. oi` profh/tai( kai. su. le,geij( VEa,n tij to.n lo,gon mou thrh,sh|( ouv mh. geu,shtai qana,tou eivj to.n aivw/naÅ

NAS John 8:52 The Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; oi` o` VIoudai/oi( VIoudai/oj (d.a. + adj.-nm-p) ei=pon le,gw (viaa--3p) auvtw/| auvto,j (npdm3s) Nu/n (adv.; "Now/right now at the present as opposed to past") evgnw,kamen ginw,skw (viPFa--1p) o[ti(cc; indir. disc.) e;ceijÅ e;cw (vipa--2s) daimo,nion (n-an-s) VAbraa,m (n-nm-s) avpe,qanen avpoqnh,|skw (viaa--3s; "died") kai,(cc) oi` o` profh/tai( profh,thj (d.a. + n-nm-p) also supplied; and You say, 'If anyone keeps My word, he shall never taste of death.' kai, (ch) su, (npn-2s) le,geij( le,gw (vipa--2s) VEa,n (part. intro. 3rd class cond.) ti.j (indef. pro./nm-s) thrh,sh|( thre,w (vsaa--3s; " might keep") mou evgw, (npg-1s; not a direct quote; compared to pronoun evmo,j/one's possession, that Jesus used in vs.51 denotes that the Jews do not consider His word as given to Him by God and a true possession with the ability to impart, but only as a personal conjecture supposed by His own opinion ) to.n o` lo,gon lo,goj (d.a. + n-am-s) ouv mh, (double neg. +) geu,shtai geu,omai (vsad--3s; "to taste as in food/experience"; denotes a physical experience; another change of words, Jesus said "might see" in vs.51) eivj (pa +) to.n o` aivw/naÅ aivw,n (d.a. + n-am-s; "never") qana,tou qa,natoj (n-gm-s)

GNT John 8:53 mh. su. mei,zwn ei= tou/ patro.j h`mw/n VAbraa,m( o[stij avpe,qanenÈ kai. oi` profh/tai avpe,qanon\ ti,na seauto.n poiei/jÈ

NAS John 8:53 "Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died? mh, (particle used as a neg. interr.; intro. a question expecting a negative answer; "Surely not") su, (npn-2s) ei= eivmi, (vipa--2s) mei,zwn me,gaj (comp. adj.-nm-s; "greater than") h`mw/n evgw, (npg-1p) tou/ o` patro.j path,r (d.a. + n-gm-s) VAbraa,m( (n-gm-s) o[stij (rel. pro. indicating a definite person/nm-s; "which very one or person") avpe,qanenÈ avpoqnh,|skw (viaa--3s; "died") The prophets died too; whom do You make Yourself out to be?" oi` o` profh/tai profh,thj (d.a. + n-nm-p) avpe,qanon\ avpoqnh,|skw (viaa--3p) kai, (adjunct. use; "also") ti,na ti,j (interr. pro./am-s; "whom/what person or thing") poiei/jÈ poie,w (vipa--2s; "do you make/are you making") seauto.n seautou/ (reflex. pro./am2s; "yourself") to be? supplied

1. It becomes apparent that the anger of the crowd escalates the more doctrine Jesus continues to articulate to them.
2. Observation: Like this principle isn’t true when you attempt to drive the truth home to religious reversionists holding on to their "sacred cows".
3. In their minds, it’s not enough for Him to equate them with being sons of Satan, but now He has the audacity to dogmatically claim He has power over death.
4. Therefore, the Jews fairly explode at this seeming doubly absurd attempt by Jesus to undermine their theological views and intellect and now in their thinking, this outrageous comment proves their point as they said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon".
5. The word "now" indicates that this claim to have power over death is the final proof they needed to be fully convinced about His spiritual status.
6. Because they are natural men that fail to understand the nature of the STA and spiritual death, they again stumble over His words and can only relate them on a physical plane.
7. They immediately cite precedence via their theological grid that Abraham died, and the prophets also.
8. In their attempt to uphold their skewed Biblical views, they point out that even Abraham, with all of his spiritual greatness and unique relationship with God, is in the grave.
9. And even beyond one recognized by all to be the greatest of the patriarchs of the Jewish race, what about the rest of the prophets that died too?
10. Their thinking is clear; if the prophets and even the corporate head of the Jewish race Abraham, who all received Divine revelation and were faithful in speaking the word of God themselves could not escape death, where do you get off that your word can do any better?
11. Their spiritual blindness to Jesus’ words and rejection of the spiritual connotation is revealed as they repeat back to Him, "and You say, "If anyone keeps My word, he shall never taste of death".
12. Though it is subtle, their quote is not an exact quote, with their changes reflecting:

1. They do not consider Jesus’ view on the plan of God as it relates to His word as anything more than a personal opinion as seen in the change of the word "My" from evmo,j (vs.51) to simply the pronoun evgw,.
2. This shows their theological failure to understand (and thus reject) that E.L. must come from One who possesses the entire realm of BD perfectly and sinlessly.
3. Their view of spirituality is confined to only physical realities (a form of idolatry), rather than the correct view being vice versa, and hence have adopted a hyper-literalists approach to the interpretation of Scriptures.
4. That they view the OT in this way is seen in their change of words in the phrase "never see death" (vs.51) to "never taste of death".
5. Though both Greek words, "see/qewre.w" and "taste/geu,omai" have a nuance of physical participation, the verb "see" also has the added nuance of perception, whereas the verb "taste" is strictly a physical function of an afferent impulse.
6. It denotes that the only way the Jews theologically equate to death is in the strict physical sense and they have no perception at all of its spiritual ramifications.

1. The Jews in their regurgitation of what Jesus said, reveal their true ignorance regarding the nature of the STA and God’s plan for salvation, while subtly manipulating what He said to fit within their own theological views.
2. They again provide a perfect example of how religious reversionists will take the truth of BD taught, analyze it with their own erroneous views and then attempt to interpret it accordingly.
3. By doing so, they can "color" the teaching to a shade of misrepresentation so "innocently" imperceptible that those who were napping during the teaching and not listening to every word, could easily be taken in.
4. Through their own failure to GAP the truth and incorporating their own devious human viewpoint twists, they make Jesus out to say something He is not saying.
5. And on the surface, they present to themselves and others around them a picture of His teaching and claim that appears ludicrous and impossible and could only be emanated from one that is demon-possessed.
6. In vs.53, the Jews reemphasize their interpretation of His words regarding death and challenge His integrity of them as they state, "Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too".
7. The particle mh, translated "Surely not", in the emphatic position, denotes that a response to their inquisition has already been pre-determined by them as being negative.
8. It denotes that they are completely committed to their preconceived religious human viewpoint luggage regarding what Jesus was saying and are not willing to apply objectiveness to His words at any level.
9. Instead of investigating the matter, or quizzing Him as to whether or not He was speaking of physical death, they rather demand from Him an explanation as to "whom do You make Yourself out to be?"
10. And this is where the real irony of all that is currently being said appears i.e., even though they misread what He was saying and apply it to physical death, they are coming to the right conclusion.
11. And that is, He is claiming to be someone much greater than Abraham and the prophets and in their eyes that could be only One, God.
12. Even though this is a claim that they were not willing to consider or accept at any level, the message of the word that Jesus has been teaching about has still gotten through their thick spiritual skulls.
13. This proves once again that the truth is revealed, and even –V come to a realization of it, but are –V because they reject it. Cp. Rom.1:20-23 (not in class notes – Mat.22:14)
14. They already understood His claims of equality with God (vss.23-24), of speaking nothing but truth (vss.40b,45,46b), claims of being sinless (Joh.8:56), and now He has power over death?
15. What other conclusion could the listener come too?
16. So like the Pharisees who knew that Jesus was hinting that He was God (cp.vs25), the multitude has quickly gathered this same conclusion, and now they too are pressing Him to just come out and say it or prove it, if indeed that’s the implication.
17. In their STA anger, they are now pushing the issue, which they have already determined to be false, for more ammunition in their thinking to condemn Him as totally crazy and spiritually blasphemes.
18. The challenging question comes with a two-fold attack against Christ in that He could respond to it in two ways, i.e., verbally or overtly.
19. A verbal response is straightforward and would include an explicit declaration that indeed He is God.
20. To come right out and say He is God, in light of the determined rejection of Him by the crowd, would be catering to their STA’s demand and serve no further purpose other than self-exaltation.
21. Another less considered, but still possible and very real way that He could respond, is to overtly manifest His Deity in a way that would unequivocally answer Who He is.
22. This aspect is tantamount to tempting Christ to break kenosis (Kenosis is taken from Phil.2:7, from the verb keno,w/to empty out, and denotes Christ’s state of humility in His humanity as God at the 1^st advent, of not "tapping" into or exercising His Deity in order to avoid/escape any pressures or tests demanded by God for His niche, placed upon His humanity via temptation, etc., in order to maintain full obedience and compliance with the Father’s will for His Person and ministry, cp. vs.8.), by responding in such a fashion as to remove all doubts in their minds that indeed He is God.
23. For Christ to utilize His Deity in such a fashion would again be tantamount of glorifying Himself before men, a temptation that He refuses to succumb to, as He proclaims following in vs.54.

GNT John 8:54 avpekri,qh VIhsou/j( VEa.n evgw. doxa,sw evmauto,n( h` do,xa mou ouvde,n evstin\ e;stin o` path,r mou o` doxa,zwn me( o]n u`mei/j le,gete o[ti qeo.j h`mw/n evstin(

NAS John 8:54 Jesus answered, "If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; VIhsou/j( (n-nm-s) avpekri,qh avpokri,nomai (viad--3s) VEa,n (part. 3rd class) evgw, (npn-1s) doxa,sw doxa,zw (vsaa--1s; "might glorify") evmauto,n( evmautou/ (reflex. pro./am1s; "Myself") mou evgw, (npg-1s; "My") h` do,xa (d.a. + n-nf-s) evstin\ eivmi, (vipa--3s) ouvde,n ouvdei,j (card. adj./nn-s; "nothing/of no account") it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, 'He is our God'; e;stin eivmi, (vipa--3s; "it is") mou evgw, (npg-1s) o` path,r (d.a. +n-nm-s) o` doxa,zwn doxa,zw (d.a. + adj. ptc./p/a/nm-s; "who glorifies") me( evgw, (npa-1s) o]n o[j (rel. pro./am-s; "Whom") u`mei/j su, (npn-2p) le,gete le,gw (vipa--2p) o[ti (intro. indir. disc. not transtlated "that") evstin( eivmi, (vipa--3s) h`mw/n evgw, (npg-1p) qeo.j qeo,j (n-nm-s)

GNT John 8:55 kai. ouvk evgnw,kate auvto,n( evgw. de. oi=da auvto,nÅ ka'n ei;pw o[ti ouvk oi=da auvto,n( e;somai o[moioj u`mi/n yeu,sthj\ avlla. oi=da auvto.n kai. to.n lo,gon auvtou/ thrw/Å

NAS John 8:55 and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; kai, (cc) ouvk ouv (neg. +) evgnw,kate ginw,skw (viPFa--2p; "have not come to know") auvto,n( auvto,j (npam3s) de, (ch) evgw. evgw, (npn-1s) oi=da (viPFa--1s) auvto,nÅ auvto,j (npam3s) and if I say that I do not know Him, I shall be a liar like you, but I do know Him, and keep His word. ka'n (enclitic use of kai and ean; 3rd class; "and if") ei;pw le,gw (vsaa--1s) o[ti (conj. indir. disc.) ouvk ouv (neg. +) oi=da oi=da (viPFa--1s) auvto,n( auvto,j (npam3s) e;somai eivmi, (vifm--1s; "I will be") yeu,sthj\ (n-nm-s; "a liar"; same as 8:44) o[moioj(a--Pred.nm-s; "like/similar/resembling") u`mi/n su, (npd-2p) avlla, (strong adv.) oi=da (viPFa--1s) auvto.n auvto,j (npam3s) kai, (cc) thrw/Å thre,w (vipa--1s; "keep watch over/guard") auvtou/ auvto,j (npgm3s) to.n o` lo,gon lo,goj (d.a. + n-am-s)

GNT John 8:56 VAbraa.m o` path.r u`mw/n hvgallia,sato i[na i;dh| th.n h`me,ran th.n evmh,n( kai. ei=den kai. evca,rhÅ

NAS John 8:56 "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." u`mw/n su, (npg-2p) o` path,r (d.a. + n-nm-s) VAbraa,m (n-nm-s) hvgallia,sato avgallia,w (viam--3s; "rejoiced exceedingly"; same as 5:35) i[na (cc; denotes purpose of Abraham's rejoicing) i;dh| o`ro,w (vsaa--3s; "might see") th.n h` evmh,n( evmo,j (d.a. + possess. adj--af1s; "My/ what is mine") th.n h` h`me,ran h`me,ra (d.a. + n-af-s) kai, (cc) ei=den o`ra,w (viaa--3s) kai, (cc/ch) evca,rhÅ cai,rw (viapass.--3s; "was made glad/happy")

1. As stipulated in the preceding analysis, Jesus refrains from manifesting His Deity to cater to the present intimidation tactic and challenge proposed by these negative Jews.
2. In addition, He refrains also from coming right out and saying that He is God.
3. To do either in the face of the temptation placed before Him by these negative Jews would:

1. Cater to their STA demands by proclaiming explicitly that He is God.
2. That they reject His implicit claims denotes that to explicitly claim He is God would serve no further purpose of spiritual advancement for these people and thus fall into a category of bragging, or self-exaltation.
3. In fact, it seems that most of the time His references to His Divine nature in the gospels, when spoken to –V, are implicit.
4. This does not mean He never explicitly acknowledged Himself as God to –V as Joh.10:33 cp.36 records, as well as at the final inquisition by Caiaphas just before crucifixion. Mat.26:63 cp. 57; Luk.22:70-71
5. In addition, He did not refrain from explicitly declaring His Deity to +V nor denied His existence as the 2^nd member of the Godhead when espoused by those who excepted this reality. Joh.11:4 cp.27; Mat.:16:16-17
6. This points to the fact that Jesus knew that all that were +V and heard His teaching would put 2 and 2 together and understand His inferences while coming to saving faith.
7. It further illustrates that it was never the intent for Jesus to hide this fact, but rather that His humanity was perfectly sensitized to the Father’s will in all things to include even how He communicated to others.
8. He never taught or communicated to others with any intent to "please" men, only to serve and please God.
9. Because He was perfectly tuned into the Father’s will for His ministry under true humility, He knew exactly when, where and in what manner He was to communicate to those in His periphery.
10. In correlation to His humility, to manifest His Deity overtly in this situation would be in violation of His kenosis and thus succumbing to that aspect of temptation.
11. His restraint in both areas combined, within context, points to the fact that God never caters to the STA either verbally or overtly.
12. This act of omission of both parts by Jesus denotes that true humility before God cannot cater to sin or the STA even of others and in fact must be in line with God’s perfect will for one’s life.

1. Jesus knew that to succumb to the demand of the STA on its own "turf" is nothing more than capitulating to the temptation(s) they are promoting and He refused to do that.
2. Rather, He answered the intent and force of their question, "whom do You make yourself out to be?", by providing the underlying ramifications of violating the principle of humility under kenosis or otherwise by stating, "If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing".
3. He fully understood that to respond to the demands of –V that blatantly reject the truth and only seek to take issue with Him would be of no spiritual gain and profit nothing in advancing God’s plan, other than an attempt to physically prove Himself verbally or otherwise.
4. He knew that proof of His claims was spiritually based and that God would provide all physical evidence necessary to substantiate those claims.
5. No matter how they might withstand Jesus and attack Him personally, He never let them goad Him into acting apart from the Father’s will.
6. Jesus fully understood that His mission was to glorify the Father and not Himself and to wait upon the Father to glorify Him at the proper time.
7. This is the force of the final clause of vs.54b, "it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God’".
8. The fact that He always waited upon the Father to exalt Him makes Him our example of the principle of faith-rest and waiting of God to vindicate us in His time.
9. The purpose of Christ at the first advent was not to glorify Himself, but to glorify the Father; it was the Father’s work to glorify the Son.
10. He was so certain of this that He consistently refers to God as His Father, an implicit claim of equality with God that the Jews understood. Joh.5:18
11. And again, an irony can be seen in that it is the same God of the OT that the Jews profess to have a relationship with.
12. But the reality is, the God they profess is theirs, they are totally ignorant of as He states in vs.55a, "and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him".
13. It is a statement that in essence declares that any familial relationship with God is based on knowledge of Him.
14. The nuance of "to know" contextually equates to lucid spiritual knowledge of the truth of His plan regarding mankind that is so accepted as fact that at least intellectually, it is manifested in one’s adherence to it.
15. And that these Jews only equate God’s plan on a physical level apart from its spiritual realities, they are totally ignorant of God’s demand for +R in order for one to have a relationship with Him.
16. Their present state of unbelief precludes any true knowledge of God since the plan of God is, and always has been, accessed by the condition of faith in His revelation. Rom.3:22-23,28; 4:1-6; 5:1; et al
17. The Jews believed that genetic descent from Abraham guaranteed them a place with God; a myth that Jesus has debunked.
18. There has not been one time in the past when these people in view could honestly say that they knew and understood God, their exaggerated claims notwithstanding.
19. For all their talk about their spiritual heritage and their marvelous relationship with God, they lack any sort of true knowledge of the Holy One of Israel.
20. Jesus’ quote of Isa.29:13 in Mat.15:8-9 perfectly expresses the present situation of that which He is speaking.
21. Though they constantly are "Bible thumping" saying how much they love and know God, they approached His word with their own legalistic STA terms and conditions, eisegeting/reading into God and His plan and thus have produced a man-made God.
22. They in essence have usurped His Sovereignty and proclaim their human viewpoint on equal status with Him.
23. For Jesus it was the total opposite, as He never infringed upon the authority of Divine revelation, and only spoke and acted in accordance to the truth. Joh.8:45 cp. 5:19,30
24. This is why He could claim to know Him, an assertion that is truthful, legitimate and necessary.
25. If He was to respond to the other extreme to the crowd by backing off in any way what He has been saying about Himself and His unique relationship with the Father, He would engage in another kind of sin.
26. This is the force behind vs.55b, "and if I say that I do not know Him, I shall be a liar like you, but I do know Him, and keep His word".
27. These verses point out that Jesus walked a perfect balanced line doctrinally.
28. As He taught these people the truth about His unique person and relationship with God, He never entered into the realm of pride or self-glorification nor a realm of compromise or "watering down" the message He was commissioned to deliver.
29. The sin of vs.54 would be to capitulate to STA demands and engage in a self-motivated gain, while the reverse sin of vs.55 would be to fail to teach the doctrines related to His unique Person out of fear or some other motive that would then make Him a liar.
30. He must state clearly and unequivocally that He is the Son of God while all the time avoiding the sins of pride or miscommunication of the facts.
31. For Jesus to "downplay" His stand would be tantamount to a reticence of communicating the truth and by His silence would infer that He was not what He said He was.
32. This failure to stand for the truth in turn would make Him a liar, just like these Jews.
33. It points to the fact that by omission of proclaiming the truth in principle is saying that you are in agreement with or regard the arguments of those opposing the truth as superior to that for which you stand.
34. Observation: The balance for how to deal with people along these lines comes with much prayer and spiritual insight of BD.
35. Observation: There are times, and appropriately so, that the believer is to not engage in "casting pearls before swine". Mat.7:6
36. It was Jesus’ ministry as Messiah at the 1^st advent to fully explain the Father (Joh.1:18) and thus Himself before Israel via a teaching ministry and it was God’s will for Him with this crowd to continue to articulate Himself and not cower to their hostility towards Him.
37. That the truth of BD is indeed the foremost issue in one’s relationship with God is clearly seen as Jesus reiterates that His knowledge of Him is in conjunction with keeping His word.
38. This denotes the importance Jesus placed upon His relationship with God and the knowledge of BD that He possessed was of the highest value to Him personally in application as Messiah and Savior of mankind.
39. In other words, He clearly understood His role and niche as Messiah and that His relationship with the Father in fully completing His plan as the Christ, was dependent upon not only knowledge, but of perfect execution of that knowledge.
40. He knew that it was the perfect combination of the inculcation and application of BD in His humanity that maintained the hypostatic union and His role as Messiah status quo.
41. Jesus earlier stated that He always did the things that are pleasing to Him. Joh.8:29
42. In order for God to provide salvation to men, it was necessary for Him to condescend as God the Son into a human body that would sinlessly and perfectly execute the POG to become the +R necessary to be sacrificed on behalf of men
43. And only a human soul perfectly positive, understanding fully the Doctrine of the Importance of Bible Doctrine that could effectuate the POG in that regard.
44. And Jesus fully understands that it is His Person that is commissioned to do so.
45. Therefore, at no time could He deny Himself and His place in the POG or else He would render Himself less than what God demanded of Him.
46. Observation: The adjusted communicator is to never present himself to others in such a way that promotes himself above the superiority of God’s commission for them nor are they to ever deny in anyway their place within that commission i.e., you are what you are according to grace and BD, no more, no less.
47. And that He clearly recognized His Person as Messiah, it is of no wonder that He states in vs.56, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad".
48. He again acknowledges their genetic link to Abraham, a fact that He never denied.
49. What He has been suggesting all along is that they are not linked to Abraham spiritually, as they thought they were.
50. The term, "My day" has cause some debate in interpretation.
51. Some commentaries desire to make Christ’s day the coming rapture or Messianic age (depending on the dispensational propensity) based on such passages as Phi.1:6,10; 2:16.
52. However, contextually Jesus is clearly speaking of His present existence between Himself and these unbelieving Jews.
53. Therefore, the more natural interpretation contextually makes His day as technical for the 1^st advent.
54. The question then is, in what way did Abraham see the 1^st advent.
55. Obviously, Jesus is not speaking physically since Abraham has long since died and was not present in any way at the 1^st advent.
56. What He is referring to is that Abraham saw the Messiah through the eyes of doctrine and faith from a distance of some 1900 years.
57. He believed that one day, the promised One would come based on the revealed word of God.
58. The verb "to see/o`ra,w" also has the nuance of an experiential involvement within the spiritual perception.
59. This points to the fact that by type, Abraham’s offering up of Isaac was an event that clearly showed to Abraham experientially that Messiah would fulfill all the promises of salvation as verified through the principle of resurrection. Heb.11:17-19
60. Such knowledge caused him to rejoice when he considered that from his genes One would arise who would provide blessing for all the families of the earth. Gen.12:1-4
61. The principle is that if Abraham was so preoccupied with Christ, albeit long before He was present, to induce a rejoicing and +H within, then why would these men be so hostile and opposed to the very One Abraham saw?
62. In addition, that Jesus’ presence on earth was the source of +H for Abraham, then of necessity He really must be greater than Abraham since the lesser is blessed by the greater. Heb.7:7
63. And that Abraham could only see His day through Divine revelation points to the necessity that faith in the truth of BD is the only way that these Jews will spiritually see His day for what it is in the POG.

GNT John 8:57 ei=pon ou=n oi` VIoudai/oi pro.j auvto,n( Penth,konta e;th ou;pw e;ceij kai. VAbraa.m e`w,rakajÈ

NAS John 8:57 The Jews therefore said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" oi` o` VIoudai/oi VIoudai/oj (d.a. + adj. used substantively-nm-p) ou=n (infer. conj.) ei=pon le,gw (viaa--3p) pro.j pro,j (pa) auvto,n( auvto,j (npam3s) e;ceij e;cw (vipa--2s; "You have) ou;pw(adv.; "not yet/still not") Penth,konta (card. adj./an-p; "fifty") e;th e;toj (n-an-p; "years") kai, (cc) e`w,rakajÈ o`ra,w (viPFa--2s; "you have seen") VAbraa.m VAbraa,m (n-am-s)

GNT John 8:58 ei=pen auvtoi/j VIhsou/j( VAmh.n avmh.n le,gw u`mi/n( pri.n VAbraa.m gene,sqai evgw. eivmi,Å

NAS John 8:58 Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am." VIhsou/j( (n-nm-s) ei=pen le,gw (viaa--3s) auvtoi/j auvto,j (npdm3p) VAmh,n avmh,n (double part.) le,gw (vipa--1s) u`mi/n( su, (npd-2p) pri,n (adv. with force of conj. of time; "before") VAbraa,m (n-am-s) gene,sqai gi,nomai (adv. of time inf./ad-; "to come to existence/ was born") evgw. evgw, (npn-1s) eivmi,Å eivmi, (vipa--1s)

GNT John 8:59 h=ran ou=n li,qouj i[na ba,lwsin evpV auvto,n\ VIhsou/j de. evkru,bh kai. evxh/lqen evk tou/ i`erou/Å

NAS John 8:59 Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus (corrected) was hidden, and went out of the temple. ou=n (infer. conj.) h=ran ai;rw (viaa--3p; "they picked up/lifted up") li,qouj li,qoj (n-am-p; "stones/rocks) i[na (conj. purpose; "in order to") ba,lwsin ba,llw (vsaa--3p; "might cast/throw") evpV evpi, (pa; "at/upon") auvto,n\ auvto,j (npam3s) de, (ch) VIhsou/j (n-nm-s) evkru,bh kru,ptw (viap--3s; "was hidden/concealed/to be covered up in secret"; used 18x) kai, (cc) evxh/lqen evxe,rcomai (viaa--3s; "went out from") evk (pAbl) tou/ to, i`erou/Å i`ero,j (adj.-Abln-s; "the temple")

1. Based on Jesus’ preceding remark of vs.56, "The Jews therefore said to Him, ‘You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?’"
2. Holding true to the blindness of their –V and filtering His words only on a physical plane, they respond with even more incredulity than previous.
3. And again, they rework His words and place it within their own framework of understanding and attack against Him, as they reverse what He said about Abraham seeing Him and apply it to Jesus seeing Abraham.
4. As the Jews fall deeper and deeper into emotional anger in their confrontation with Jesus, they no longer try to exude even a facade of appearing that they are listening to exactly what He is saying.
5. Rather, they blatantly now place His words into a context to specifically serve and feed their STA hostility towards Him.
6. Observation: When people operate out of sin anger towards the truth, their emotions take over and they will show no regard in trying to understand what is truly being said by the opposite party.
7. They take Jesus’ words and make them mean that He was claiming to be a contemporary of Abraham’s and physically alive with him.
8. Their comment about Jesus’ age is not to be taken as a chronological note regarding His exact age.
9. Luk.3:23, makes it clear that He was about 30 years old when He began His public ministry.
10. Some three years have now elapsed being Sept/Oct 32AD, making Him just turned 34 years old, dating His birth on Sept. 11, 3BC.
11. It would be remiss for the interpreter to make a chronological note from statements that come from Jesus’ enemies in a hostile setting such as this.
12. Chronology is be based on verifiable dates that come from contexts designed to deal with chronology.
13. The current context has nothing to do with chronology and is designed to ridicule the stupidity of what the Jews claim Jesus is saying.
14. It points to the physical fact of age and that is an age group appearance in the median of adulthood not clearly definable, but yet recognizable as not to exceed a specific age.
15. This is the force of the phrase, "You are not yet".
16. Their viewpoint is that Abraham was born some 20 centuries earlier and You are not even a half-century old, how could You logically claim to be contemporaneous with him?
17. Jesus responds to the ridicule of them in a calm but yet dogmatic manner with a patented assertion of doctrinal truth.
18. And not based on their physical views, but on a spiritual reality regarding His Person as He said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am".
19. Jesus’ use of the double "amen/avmh,n" was His normal addressing of others to emphasize the extreme importance of what He was about to say.
20. He uses two different Greek words to emphasize the difference between Himself and every other person on the planet, to include the patriarch, Abraham.
21. The verb "gi,nomai/translated ‘was born’" means "to come into being/existence"; the word "eivmi," means "to have existence".
22. He is clearly stating that before Abraham even began to exist that He was already alive/existing.
23. It is as clear a statement expressed from His Deity that He is Deity as anyone could make without explicitly stating that He is God.
24. He again utilizes the phrase "I am" that He has used at least twice before in recent conversation (vss.24,28) that is equivalent to the Hebrew, "Yahweh/from the "to be" verb hyh meaning the "Self-existing One", a title of God, coined by God. Exo.3:14
25. He is using language here that only could be true of God and not of any man.
26. It was a statement that to those listening that was sufficiently clear and readily understandable of His claim of equality with God.
27. And a statement of such force that their anger and hostility can no longer be controlled to simply verbal aggression, but now manifests itself overtly as "therefore they picked up stones (readily accessible as history denotes that construction on the temple continued until 64AD) to throw at Him".
28. In their thinking, Jesus has clearly now made a statement tantamount to nothing more than blaspheme.
29. Because they are negative and their religious reversionistic ideals have no room for a Messiah that is in hypostatic union as God-man, Jesus can be no more that a demon-possessed lunatic deserving of death.
30. Though the premise of stoning blasphemers is in compliance with the Law (Lev.24:16), even this crime was only to be carried out after due process, just as any aspect of the Law.
31. But what occurs here is a STA "lynch" mob mentality of hatred seeking to express itself just like their father Satan, who was a murderer from the beginning. Joh.8:44
32. This points to the nature of the STA in that when given full reign, it does not operate rationally and will even express itself in an obvious self-condemning way.
33. They bypass the Law by taking the law into their own hands, rationalizing that they have heard enough to pass a valid sentence and execute that sentence.
34. But, it is not God’s will or timing for Jesus to end His ministry in this fashion or undergo this form of testing as He was hidden, and went out of the temple.
35. The verb translated "hid himself" in the NAS is actually passive in form and should be translated "was hidden".
36. It denotes an outside agent responsible for hiding Him.
37. The Father obviously protected His Son in the midst of the enemy camp and overruled any STA activities that would conflict with the Father’s will for His ministry.
38. While one may argue that Jesus could have "tapped" His Deity here to help Himself and thus broke kenosis, it can equally be argued that even if He did use His Deity, (the passive tends to discredit that, as He is seen as one Person in hypostatic union), it was not for the purpose of escaping temptation of testing benefiting Himself, but to benefit the continuation of the Father’s plan to complete His ministry.
39. So, Jesus exits the temple and is removed from impending disaster unharmed.
40. Whether He was concealed among people who were there in large numbers, or whether God simple caused Him to be invisible to their eyes, is not stated.