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The Pharisees therefore said to him, "You testify about yourself. Your witness is not valid."
Verse Takeaways
1
A Legalistic Objection
Commentators explain that the Pharisees' objection was not primarily about truth, but about legal procedure. According to rabbinic rules of evidence, a person's testimony about themselves was not considered legally valid without a second witness. They were attempting to dismiss Jesus' claim on a technicality.
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John
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11
18th Century
Presbyterian
Thou bearest record of thyself. You are a witness for yourself, or in your own case. See John 5:31. The law required two witnesse…
Of thyself (περ σεαυτου). This technical objection was according to the rules of evidence among the rabbis. "No man can give witne…
19th Century
Anglican
You bear record of yourself; your record is not true.—Better, You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true<…
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Baptist
Therefore they said to him, You bear record of yourself, your record is not true. Jesus answered and said to them, Though I bear record of myse…
As usual, the Pharisees challenged Jesus’ claims. Legally a testimony concerning oneself would be unacceptable because it would presumably be biase…
16th Century
Protestant
The Pharisees therefore said. They present as an objection what is commonly said: that no one should be trusted when speaking in their own…
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17th Century
Reformed Baptist
The Pharisees therefore said to him On account of his declaring himself the light of the world: these were either th…
Christ is the Light of the world. God is light, and Christ is the image of the invisible God. One sun enlightens the whole world; so does one Chris…
13th Century
Catholic
The Evangelist has presented Christ as teaching; now he shows two things. First, he shows the power this teaching has to give light. Seco…
