Did Jesus Witness For Himself?
Skeptics and critics have alleged that Jesus’ words in the gospel of John contradict about whether or not Jesus witnessed for himself. Did Jesus witness for himself?
ALLEGED CONTRADICTION:
“According to the Gospel of John, what did Jesus say about bearing his own witness?
(a) “If I bear witness to myself, my testimony is not true” (John 5:31)
(b) “Even if I do bear witness to myself, my testimony is true” (John 8:14)”
What Jesus was referring to in John 5:31? Was he saying that if he witnessed for himself his testimony wasn’t true?
At John 8:13, “the Pharisees said to him, you testify on your own behalf, so your testimony cannot be verified” (NAB). The Pharisees were referring to the Mosaic Law principle. But, in reality, they thought he was either a liar or a lunatic.
“If I were to testify in my own behalf, my testimony cannot be verified” (John 5:31 NAB). “Here, Jesus is not suggesting that His testimony is false, but rather that according to Jewish legal standards, a self-testimony alone would not be accepted as valid. This statement sets the stage for Jesus to introduce other witnesses to His identity and mission, such as John the Baptist, His works, the Father, and the Scriptures. This aligns with the broader biblical narrative where God often provides multiple confirmations of His truth, as seen in the prophetic tradition and the fulfillment of prophecy in Christ.”-–Bible Hub Study Bible
“One witness alone shall not stand against someone in regard to any crime or offense that may have been committed; a charge may stand only on the testimony of two or three witnesses” (Deuteronomy 19:15 NAB). This is the Mosaic Law principle that Jesus and the Pharisees were referring to at John 5:31.
Jesus offered the Pharisees a third alternative – he was telling the truth! “Even if I do testify on my own behalf, my testimony can be verified, because I know where I came from and where I am going” (John 8:14 NAB). Jesus qualified his response by, “IF I do testify on my own behalf”.
Jesus, in John chapter 8, responded even further that his confirming “other witness” was his “Father,” saying that they, together, were “two witnesses” (John 8:16-18 NIV).
Jesus, in John chapter 5, then introduces other witnesses in his behalf: (1) John the Baptist (John 5:32-35; (2) Jesus’ “works” (John 5:36); (3)“the Father” (John 5:37,38); (4) “the scriptures” (John 5:39).
Did Jesus witness for himself? Yes, he did, because he told the “truth” (John 14:6), but he also had more than sufficient confirming testimony from other powerful witnesses.
We have seen from examining the scriptures in depth, and in context, that John 5:31 and John 8:14 do not contradict.
2 thoughts on “Did Jesus Witness For Himself?”
BA1: Skeptics and critics have alleged that Jesus’ words in the gospel of John contradict about whether or not Jesus witnessed for himself. Did Jesus witness for himself?
GW1: You said “contract.” Is that what you meant. Your statements here are very confusing.
BA1: “According to the Gospel of John, what did Jesus say about bearing his own witness?
(a) “If I bear witness to myself, my testimony is not true” (John 5:31)
GW1: What makes you think this is Jesus talking? Any person can make a claim about themselves and the claim will be true or false.
BA1: (b) “Even if I do bear witness to myself, my testimony is true” (John 8:14)”
GW1: What makes you think this is Jesus talking? Any person can make a claim about themselves and the claim will be true or false.
BA1: What Jesus was referring to in John 5:31? Was he saying that if he witnessed for himself his testimony wasn’t true?
GW1: Not necessarily.
BA1: At John 8:13, “the Pharisees said to him, you testify on your own behalf, so your testimony cannot be verified” (NAB). The Pharisees were referring to the Mosaic Law principle. But, in reality, they thought he was either a liar or a lunatic.
GW1: I this case the Pharisees were correct. A person cannot say “My statement is true because I say it is true.” That is circular. Jesus may have been neither lying nor delusional, but honestly mistaken.
BA1: “If I were to testify in my own behalf, my testimony cannot be verified” (John 5:31 NAB). “Here, Jesus is not suggesting that His testimony is false, but rather that according to Jewish legal standards, a self-testimony alone would not be accepted as valid.
GW1: This is correct.
BA1: This statement sets the stage for Jesus to introduce other witnesses to His identity and mission, such as John the Baptist, His works, the Father, and the Scriptures. This aligns with the broader biblical narrative where God often provides multiple confirmations of His truth, as seen in the prophetic tradition and the fulfillment of prophecy in Christ.”—Bible Hub Study Bible
GW1: But God does not exist. I have proven this with many arguments, in which you have found no error. A person cannot legitimately say “God is my witness.” Even Hitler said something like this.
BA1: One witness alone shall not stand against someone in regard to any crime or offense that may have been committed; a charge may stand only on the testimony of two or three witnesses” (Deuteronomy 19:15 NAB). This is the Mosaic Law principle that Jesus and the Pharisees were referring to at John 5:31.
GW1: But this is not modern law. Now we use not only Reports, but also Recordings and Remnants.
BA1: Jesus offered the Pharisees a third alternative – he was telling the truth! “Even if I do testify on my own behalf, my testimony can be verified, because I know where I came from and where I am going” (John 8:14 NAB). Jesus qualified his response by, “IF I do testify on my own behalf”.
GW1: No, Jesus’ claims are not true just because he says they are. For example, Jesus asserted that God exists, and we know that is false.
BA1: Jesus, in John chapter 8, responded even further that his confirming “other witness” was his “Father,” saying that they, together, were “two witnesses” (John 8:16-18 NIV).
GW1: Nonsense. God does not exist to be a witness. If he did exist, he would testify at every trial since he would see everything. Duh.
BA1: Jesus, in John chapter 5, then introduces other witnesses in his behalf: (1) John the Baptist (John 5:32-35; (2) Jesus’ “works” (John 5:36) ;(3)”the Father” (John 5:37,38); (4) “the scriptures” (John 5:39).
GW1: Of these, only John the Baptist could be a witness.
BA1: Did Jesus witness for himself? Yes, he did, because he told the “truth” (John 14:6).but he also had more than sufficient confirming testimony from other powerful witnesses.
GW1: Witness of what? We have no writings from Jesus. We don’t even have any writings of anyone who observed Jesus during his life.
BA1: We have seen from examining the scriptures in depth, and in context, that John 5:31 and John 8:14 do not contradict.
GW1: They appear contradictory to me. “…my testimony is not true” (John 5:31) contradicts “…my testimony is true.” (John 8:14) (Also, the Gospel According to John is the most unreliable of the four Gospels.)
BA1: Skeptics and critics have alleged that Jesus’ words in the gospel of John contradict about whether or not Jesus witnessed for himself. Did Jesus witness for himself?
GW1: You said “contract.” Is that what you meant. Your statements here are very confusing.
BA—Correction of typing error made.
BA1: “According to the Gospel of John, what did Jesus say about bearing his own witness?
(a) “If I bear witness to myself, my testimony is not true” (John 5:31)
GW1: What makes you think this is Jesus talking? Any person can make a claim about themselves and the claim will be true or false.
BA–Because John 5:19 begins a long uninterrupted section of Jesus speaking, beginning with, “Jesus answered and said to them . . . “.
BA1: (b) “Even if I do bear witness to myself, my testimony is true” (John 8:14)”
GW1: What makes you think this is Jesus talking? Any person can make a claim about themselves and the claim will be true or false.
BA—Because John 8:14 begins another long section of Jesus talking, with the same words, “Jesus answered and said to them . . . “.