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John 8 · a question people ask

The Pharisees told Jesus, "Your testimony is not valid" (8:13). Hadn't he said something like that himself?

In the text

In John 5 he said, "If I testify about myself, my witness is not valid. It is another who testifies about me" (5:31-32). Here he says, "Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from, and where I am going" (8:14), and "I am one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me" (8:18). In the Greek, valid in 5:31 and 8:13 and true in 8:14 are the same word, and witness in 5:31 and testimony in 8:13-14 are the same noun (tap valid). These notes set the two chapters side by side and don't fit them together.

The verses

““If I testify about myself, my witness is not valid. It is another who testifies about me. I know that the testimony which he testifies about me is true.”
John 5:31-32 · World English Bible
“The Pharisees therefore said to him, “You testify about yourself. Your testimony is not valid.” Jesus answered them, “Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from, and where I am going; but you don’t know where I came from, or where I am going.”
John 8:13-14 · World English Bible
“It’s also written in your law that the testimony of two people is valid. I am one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me.””
John 8:17-18 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of John 8

John 8: The light of the world

When the Pharisees told Jesus, "Your testimony is not valid" (8:13), and he answered, "my testimony is true" (8:14), valid and true were the same Greek word. And when they asked how they would be made free (8:33), he answered, "everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin" (8:34).

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Last reviewed October 1, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions