John 8:18 (GNV)

Passage

I am one that beare witnes of my selfe, and the Father that sent me, beareth witnes of me.

Nearby Context

John 8:16 And if I also iudge, my iudgement is true: for I am not alone, but I, and the Father, that sent mee.

John 8:17 And it is also written in your Lawe, that the testimonie of two men is true.

John 8:18 I am one that beare witnes of my selfe, and the Father that sent me, beareth witnes of me.

John 8:19 Then saide they vnto him, Where is that Father of thine? Iesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor that Father of mine. If ye had knowen me, ye should haue knowen that Father of mine also.

John 8:20 These wordes spake Iesus in the treasurie, as hee taught in the Temple, and no man layde handes on him: for his houre was not yet come.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "beare", "witnes", "selfe", "father", "sent", and "beareth". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "beare" and "witnes", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 17's "And it is also written in your..." into verse 19's "Then saide they vnto him Where is...", so "beare" and "witnes" belong inside that flow. In John context, the local focus is the identity of Jesus, new birth, eternal life, and belief and unbelief.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "beare" and "witnes" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.