John 5:31
31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. (KJV)
John 8:18
18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. (KJV)
According to these scriptures, Jesus was a false witness, right?
2007-10-01 18:32:37 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Well, having read all the christians preceding my answer, I only have one comment.
How does it feel?
This is the tactic used by far too many christians when defending their faith or condemning a lil' ol' atheist like me to eternal fire.
I find it hilarious, nicely done Sara
2007-10-02 01:10:11 · answer #1 · answered by JerseyRick 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
What?!?!? You are seriously taken these verses out of context! Our Lord, defending His Messianic claims before Jews who denied those claims, accepts the biblical rule of evidence, which required "two witnesses"; (Joh_8:17); (Num_35:30); (Deu_17:6). A paraphrase of verse (Joh_5:31) would be: "If I bear witness of myself you will say my witness is not true."
He applies this to the case in hand (Joh_8:18): I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me bears witness of me. Behold two witnesses! Though in human courts, where two witnesses are required, the criminal or candidate is not admitted to be a witness for himself; yet in a matter purely divine, which can be proved only by a divine testimony, and God himself must be the witness, if the formality of two or three witnesses be insisted on, there can be no other than the eternal Father, the eternal Son of the Father, and the eternal Spirit. Now if the testimony of two distinct persons, that are men, and therefore may deceive or be deceived, is conclusive, much more ought the testimony of the Son of God concerning himself, backed with the testimony of his Father concerning him, to command assent; (see 1John 5:7, 1John 5:9-11). Now this proves not only that the Father and the Son are two distinct persons (for their respective testimonies are here spoken of as the testimonies of two several persons), but that these two are one, not only one in their testimony, but equal in power and glory, and therefore the same in substance.
2007-10-02 01:42:49 · answer #2 · answered by prismcat38 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No.
At John 5:31, Jesus plainly acknowledged that the testimony of a single person was insufficient to prove a matter conclusively. The context makes that rather obvious; here it is from a modern translation:
(John 5:31-38) If I alone bear witness about myself, my witness is not true. There is another that bears witness about me, and I know that the witness which he bears about me is true. ...Also, the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. You have neither heard his voice at any time nor seen his figure; and you do not have his word remaining in you
Interestingly, it is the very concept of "bearing witness" that proves that Jehovah and Jesus absolutely MUST be two distinct persons. Jesus reminded certain Jewish troublemakers that the Jewish law required judges to accept the testimony of two distinct persons, but the word of just one testifier was insufficient.
(Deuteronomy 19:15) At the mouth of two witnesses or at the mouth of three witnesses the matter should stand good. [See also Deut 17:6]
When the Pharisees tried to protest that Jesus' claim to be "the light of the world" must be rejected as the claim of a single person, Jesus reminded them that a distinct, separate person confirmed Jesus' own testimony:
(John 8:17-19) Also, in your own Law it is written, ‘The witness of two men is true.’ I am one that bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.”
Clearly, such clear logic on Jesus' part would have been significantly muddied if Jesus himself were also claiming to be God. The Jews knew that Jesus never taught that he was God, but rather that Jesus was a separate and distinct person, the Son of God.
Jesus himself is spoken of as a Witness. Just like his first-century apostles and his modern-day disciples, Jesus was and is a proud and courageous Witness of Jehovah.
(Revelation 1:5) Jesus Christ, “the Faithful Witness
Learn more:
http://watchtower.ca/e/ti/index.htm?article=article_05.htm
2007-10-02 06:59:37 · answer #3 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
oh my! you are so very very clever...
John 5:31 “If I alone bear witness about myself, my witness is not true. 32 There is another that bears witness about me, and I know that the witness which he bears about me is true. 33 YOU have dispatched men to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 However, I do not accept the witness from man, but I say these things that YOU may be saved. 35 That man was a burning and shining lamp, and YOU for a short time were willing to rejoice greatly in his light. 36 But I have the witness greater than that of John, for the very works that my Father assigned me to accomplish, the works themselves that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father dispatched me. 37 Also, the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. YOU have neither heard his voice at any time nor seen his figure; 38 and YOU do not have his word remaining in YOU, because the very one whom he dispatched YOU do not believe.
John 8:’ 18 I am one that bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” 19 Therefore they went on to say to him: “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered: “YOU know neither me nor my Father. If YOU did know me, YOU would know my Father also.” 20 These sayings he spoke in the treasury as he was teaching in the temple. But no one laid hold of him, because his hour had not yet come.
You have some problems with syntax and context.
Perhaps, if you were to finish your GED, you might perchance grasp the understanding.
2007-10-02 01:42:59 · answer #4 · answered by Tim 47 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus was simply saying that He does not bear witness alone and that if He did bear witness alone than perhaps it would only be viewed as 'one-sided' or biased. But this is only my understanding of it, then again I do not believe in the Trinity and this is an only one example of why.
The leaders at this time where looking to catch him blaspheming the word of God, so Jesus had to be very, very careful answering their questions. Perhaps this had great bearings on his answers.
2007-10-02 01:47:19 · answer #5 · answered by Jaye16 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hope you didn't attend the grammar classes properly.
You didn't see the 'if' clause. If he bears witness of himself it is not true. But as he didn't bear witness, he is true. Only Father god bore witness of him.
He said, I am the truth and the life and the way. So leave your ways, commit to Jesus your life and lead a good life. God will guide you.
2007-10-02 01:42:31 · answer #6 · answered by maranatha 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wrong Sara.........
Jesus said if He (alone) bear witness of Himself, the witness is not true, but there must be someone else beside Himself alone who bear witness about Him.
5:32 But there is someone else who testifies on my behalf, and I know that what he says about me is true
The witness of more than 1 human is legal.
2007-10-02 01:47:29 · answer #7 · answered by Si semut 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wrong. did you read the whole chapter?
First read the whole chapter and then come back and ask that question. You can't just take one verse out of context and expect to know what is truly being said and why.
2007-10-02 01:42:58 · answer #8 · answered by jenx 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He is saying that if only he said that he was the son of god, that wouldn't make it true! But he is saying that his father says it too! Like if you say Ur sexy; that doesn't really mean anything, but if like Mrs. America said u were sexy, that would mean a lot!
2007-10-02 01:41:46 · answer #9 · answered by Nikich 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Read this version it explains it clearly.
31If I alone testify in My behalf, My testimony is not valid and cannot be worth anything.
32There is Another Who testifies concerning Me, and I know and am certain that His evidence on My behalf is true and valid.
2007-10-02 01:40:34 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋