Christians: Can you explain this biblical contradiction?

Question

"If Jesus bears witness of himself his witness is true"
John 8:14

"If I bear witness of myself it is not true."
John 5:31

Answer 1

Wow- what a fat pitch. Ready for the home run???

Taken in context (which you are not doing) these verses actually say the EXACT SAME THING!!! Jesus is saying that his testimony all by itself is invalid - in the Jewish custom of having two witnesses to make testimony truth. He is also saying that God is the second witness to his testimony.

No contradiction here - nice try.

Answer 2

in John 8:14 Jesus says 'even if I bear witness of myself, it is true, because I know where I have come from ... but you do not." In context, he says this after he has told the crowds about the Holy Spirit (John 7:38 - the story about the temple police and the woman caught in adultery are interpolations to the narrative). In other words Jesus speaks with the Holy Spirit but the crowd does not understand about the Holy Spirit. John 5:31 is followed by John 5:32 - 'But there is another who testifies on my behalf' - namely (in the context of John 5 30-38) the Spirit who comes from the Father.

so, as Capitalctu said, no contradiction, if you read the verses in context. have a great day!
I see by the time I got my answer up some others had answered as well. Good job all! by the way, one does not need to be Christian to read a text and understand its plain meaning in context.

Answer 3

Here in John 5:31 Jesus' testimony about himself required the support of all God's revelation. Otherwise it would have been unacceptable.

In John 8:14 Jesus made two points in reply. 1st, He was qualified to bear testimony, whereas the Pharisees were not; and He knew both His origin and His destination, whereas they knew neither.

Read also 16-18 for the second point " But if I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father who sent me"

The 2nd point was that His testimony was not unsupported. The Father was with Him, so He and the Father were two witnesses required by the Law ( Deut 17:6, 19:15 ) Jesus is always aware of His mission ( see John 4:34 )

Answer 4

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

Context: Jesus was teaching them the importance of multiple witnesses of His ministry, witnesses including John the Baptist, the fulfillment of prophecies through Jesus's works and deeds, and the witness of the Father Himself.

John 8:13-14:
"13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.
14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go."

Context: The Pharisees were trying to trap him with the same thing you are. How could Jesus testify of himself? What validity could such a testimony, without witnesses have? Jesus answered by saying basically, "yes, I AM testifying of myself in this case, but what I am saying is the truth." And then He goes on to explain that others, including God the Father have also testified of him.

It's all about the context......

Answer 5

meat.... LOL what contradiction?

He is continuing a speach of how He can do nothing of His own self, but how He is doing the Will of the Father NOT His own...Then, He says in John 5:31: " If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true."....THEN He continues to explain it 32) there is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witneseth of me is true. 33)Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto truth. 34)But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved 35) He was a burning and shining light; and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. 36) but I have greater witness than that of John..." and so on.

He was explaining something...do you not do that yourself? Have you not written to someone and had someone stop and focus on one thing you said and not read the rest which would have saved them a lot of grief if they had read it? LOL Has happened to me MANY times....

In John 8:14, Jesus was answering the Pharicees previous statement...and you take it out of context :)
"Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for *I know whence I came, and whither I go; but *ye cannot tell where I came, and whither I go" KJV [*imagine bold letters & underline for emphasis please ]

"I" know..."YE" cannot Goes back to what He said in John 5:31 doesn't it. :) Here He's just saying that the ONLY person whom knows what the other is thinking or going to do is that person himself...so, that person knows what is true or false about THEMSELVES... except for God, whom DOES "know"....as for the rest, you will have to read on in the Bible :)

Peace be with you :)

Answer 6

There's no contradiction there, since Jesus is not the "I" of John 5:31.

That's sorta like saying
"My sister wears dresses"
and
"I don't wear dresses"

Those statements are both true....

Answer 7

Christ is the son of god he led a perfect life! god is unable to lie so everything he would say would be true. we on the other hand have tendencies to lie to suit ourselves saved and sinner alike. it is our nature and the greatest battle man fights is with himself. so any witness god bears is perfect and true, any witness man bears is always jaded to appeal to our self worth.

Answer 8

Not valid for legal reasons, even if one is telling the truth. One could not be their own witness regarding a legal matter.

.

Answer 9

oh! not another biblical contradiction! that's so cliché man!