Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 5:31

"If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true." — John 5:31 (ASV)

Because the authority of Jesus was questioned by his critics, he summoned witnesses to vouch for him. “Witness” or “testimony,” whether verb (GK 3455) or noun (GK 3456), is a common word in this gospel, occurring thirty-three times. This term is used to describe the attestation of Jesus’ character and power. Jesus gives five specific sources of testimony about himself.

Jesus discounts his own witness here, admitting that it is “not valid” (because under Jewish law the self-testimony of any person was not accepted in court). On another occasion, however, he said, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going” (8:14). The apparent contradiction can be resolved because the statement in ch. 5 is based on legal grounds whereas that in ch. 8 is based on personal knowledge. In consideration of Jesus’ essential truthfulness, his witness concerning himself is sound, though in legal process it would not be admitted.