John 5:31

Translations

King James Version (KJV)

If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.

American King James Version (AKJV)

If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.

American Standard Version (ASV)

If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.

Basic English Translation (BBE)

If I gave witness about myself, my witness would not be true.

Webster's Revision

If I testify concerning myself, my testimony is not true.

World English Bible

"If I testify about myself, my witness is not valid.

English Revised Version (ERV)

If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.

Clarke's John 5:31 Bible Commentary

If I bear witness - If I had no proof to bring of my being the Messiah, and equal to God, common sense would direct you to reject my testimony; but the mighty power of God, by which I work my miracles, sufficiently attests that my pretensions are well founded.

Bishop Pearce gives a different turn to this verse, by translating it interrogatively, thus: "If I only bear witness of myself, is not my witness true? i.e. is it, on that account, not true? In John 8:14, he says, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true. And in John 8:18, he says, I am one that bear witness of myself."

Barnes's John 5:31 Bible Commentary

If I bear witness of myself - If I have no other evidence than my own testimony about myself.

My witness - My testimony; my evidence. The proof would not be decisive.

Is not true - The word "true," here, means worthy of belief, or established by suitable evidence. See Matthew 22:16; "We Know that thou art true" - that is, worthy of confidence, or that thou hast been truly sent from God, Luke 20:21; John 8:13, John 8:17. The law did not admit a man to testify in his own case, but required two witnesses, Deuteronomy 17:6. Though what Jesus said was true John 8:13, John 8:17, yet he admitted it was not sufficient testimony alone to claim their belief. They had a right to expect that his statement that he came from God would be confirmed by other evidence. This evidence he gave in the miracles which he performed as proof that God had sent him.

Wesley's John 5:31 Bible Commentary

5:31 If I testify of myself - That is, if I alone, (which indeed is impossible,) my testimony is not valid.

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