God’s Word Translation
John 8:31
31So Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, “If you live by what I say, you are truly my disciples.
John 8:31 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
- New International Version (NIV)To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
- English Standard Version (ESV)So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
Context of John 8:31
29Besides, the one who sent me is with me. He hasn’t left me by myself. I always do what pleases him.” 30As Jesus was saying this, many people believed in him. So Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, “If you live by what I say, you are truly my disciples. 32You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33They replied to Jesus, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and we’ve never been anyone’s slaves. So how can you say that we will be set free?”
Read all of John 8John 8:31 word by word
Ἔλεγεν οὖν ὁ Ἰησοῦς πρὸς τοὺς πεπιστευκότας αὐτῷ Ἰουδαίους· ἐὰν ὑμεῖς μείνητε ἐν τῷ λόγῳ τῷ ἐμῷ, ἀληθῶς μαθηταί μού ἐστε,Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
- saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Jesusὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
- toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- thoseπιστεύωpisteuō · to trust (in)G4100
- JewsἸουδαῖοςIoudaios · JewG2453
- on himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- Ifἐάνean · ifG1437
- yeσύsu · youG4771
- continueμένωmenō · to stayG3306
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- myἐμόςemos · mineG1699
- wordλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
- are yeεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- disciplesμαθητήςmathētēs · discipleG3101
- indeedἀληθῶςalēthōs · trulyG230
Cross-references for John 8:31
- John 6:66Jesus’ speech made many of his disciples go back to the lives they had led before they followed Jesus.
- John 15:4Live in me, and I will live in you. A branch cannot produce any fruit by itself. It has to stay attached to the vine. In the same way, you cannot produce fruit unless you live in me.
- 1 Samuel 12:14If you fear the Lord, serve him, obey him, and don’t rebel against what he says, then you and your king will follow the Lord your God.
- Matthew 24:13But the person who endures to the end will be saved.
- Acts 13:43When the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas. Paul and Barnabas talked with them and were persuading them to continue trusting God’s good will.
- Acts 14:22They strengthened the disciples in these cities and encouraged the disciples to remain faithful. Paul and Barnabas told them, “We must suffer a lot to enter God’s kingdom.”
- Acts 26:22“God has been helping me to this day so that I can stand and testify to important and unimportant people. I tell them only what the prophets and Moses said would happen.
- Romans 2:7He will give everlasting life to those who search for glory, honor, and immortality by persisting in doing what is good. But he will bring
- Romans 11:22Look at how kind and how severe God can be. He is severe to those who fell, but kind to you if you continue to hold on to his kindness. Otherwise, you, too, will be cut off ⌞from the tree⌟.
- Colossians 1:23This is on the condition that you continue in faith without being moved from the solid foundation of the hope that the Good News contains. You’ve heard this Good News of which I, Paul, became a servant. It has been spread throughout all creation under heaven.
- 1 Timothy 2:15However, she ⌞and all women⌟ will be saved through the birth of the child, if they lead respectable lives in faith, love, and holiness.
- 1 Timothy 4:16Focus on your life and your teaching. Continue to do what I’ve told you. If you do this, you will save yourself and those who hear you.
- 2 Timothy 3:14However, continue in what you have learned and found to be true. You know who your teachers were.
- Hebrews 3:14After all, we will remain Christ’s partners only if we continue to hold on to our original confidence until the end.
- Hebrews 8:9It will not be like the promise that I made to their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of Egypt. They rejected that promise, so I ignored them, says the Lord.
- Hebrews 10:38The person who has God’s approval will live by faith. But if he turns back, I will not be pleased with him.”
Commentaries on John 8:31
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 31If ye continue in my word - Or, in this doctrine of mine. It is not enough to receive God's truth - we must retain and walk in it. And it is only when we receive the truth, love it, keep it, and walk in it, that we are the genuine disciples of Christ.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 31If ye continue in my word - If you continue to obey my commandments and to receive my doctrines. Then are ye - This is the true test of Christian character. John 14:21; “he that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me.” See John 2:4; John 3:24; 2 John 1:6. In this place Jesus cautions them against too much confidence from their present feelings. They were just converted - converted by a single sermon. They had had no time to test…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 30-36Verses 30-36 Such power attended our Lord's words, that many were convinced, and professed to believe in him. He encouraged them to attend his teaching, rely on his promises, and obey his commands, notwithstanding all temptations to evil. Thus doing, they would be his disciples truly; and by the teaching of his word and Spirit, they would learn where their hope and strength lay. Christ spoke of spiritual liberty; but carnal hearts feel no other grievances…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 31-32Discipleship involves more than just knowing who Jesus is. It also requires obeying his teachings (3:36; 14:15, 21, 23; 15:10). Because Jesus is the truth, knowing him helps a person understand what is true and what is false (14:6). set you free: The truth frees a person from darkness, lies, and sin.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 31-3331-33. Then said Jesus to those Jews who believed, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed, &c.--The impression produced by the last words of our Lord may have become visible by some decisive movement, and here He takes advantage of it to press on them "continuance" in the faith, since then only were they His real disciples (compare Joh 15:3-8), and then should they experimentally "know the truth," and "by the truth be made…Read the comment
Topics related to John 8:31
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on John 8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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