John 8:17

It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.

{G2532} It is {G1125} also {G1161} written {G1125} in {G1722} your {G5212} law {G3551}, that {G3754} the testimony {G3141} of two {G1417} men {G444} is {G2076} true {G227}.

And even in your Torah it is written that the testimony of two people is valid.

Even in your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.

Yea and in your law it is written, that the witness of two men is true.

In John 8:17, Jesus continues His discourse with the Pharisees in the Temple, challenging their accusations that His self-testimony is invalid. Having just declared His divine origin and authority in the preceding verses, He now appeals to a foundational principle of Jewish law to validate His claims.

Context

This verse is part of a larger debate between Jesus and the Jewish leaders regarding His identity and authority. Following His declaration, "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12), the Pharisees challenge His testimony, arguing that if He testifies concerning Himself, His testimony is not true (John 8:13). Jesus counters by asserting that even if He bears witness of Himself, His witness is true because He knows where He came from and where He is going (John 8:14). In John 8:17, He strategically refers to "your law," acknowledging their legal framework to demonstrate that even by their own standards, His testimony is valid.

Key Themes

  • Legal Validation: Jesus cites a well-established principle from the Mosaic Law found in Deuteronomy 17:6 and Deuteronomy 19:15, which stipulated that a matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. By referring to "your law," Jesus is demonstrating that even under their own legal system, His testimony is corroborated.
  • Divine Corroboration: While the Pharisees imply Jesus' testimony is singular, He prepares to reveal that He is not alone in His witness. The "two men" principle is a prelude to His declaration in the next verse that He and the Father are the two witnesses (John 8:18), thus fulfilling the legal requirement on a divine level.
  • Truth and Authority: This verse underscores Jesus' absolute commitment to truth and His willingness to engage with His adversaries on their own terms, even as He transcends human limitations. His authority is not merely self-proclaimed but also deeply rooted in the divine law that the Jewish leaders claimed to uphold.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "your law" (Greek: ho nomos hymōn) is significant. Jesus uses "your" rather than "our" or "the" law, subtly highlighting that the Pharisees, despite their adherence to the law, were failing to recognize its ultimate fulfillment in Him. The word "testimony" (Greek: martyria) refers to evidence or witness. In the New Testament, this often carries a profound spiritual meaning, signifying a divine witness to truth, as seen in Jesus' own life and teachings.

Practical Application

The principle of two witnesses speaks to the importance of corroboration and reliability. In matters of faith, the truth of God's word is not based on a single testimony but is consistently affirmed throughout Scripture, by the Holy Spirit, and by the transforming power of the Gospel in lives. For believers, this verse reinforces the confidence we can have in Jesus' claims, knowing that His testimony is not only true but divinely validated. It also reminds us to seek multiple sources of truth and to be careful in accepting claims without proper corroboration, aligning with the wisdom found in Proverbs 11:14.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Deuteronomy 19:15

    One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

  • Deuteronomy 17:6

    At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; [but] at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.

  • Matthew 18:16

    But if he will not hear [thee, then] take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

  • Hebrews 10:28

    He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

  • Galatians 3:24

    Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

  • 2 Corinthians 13:1

    ¶ This [is] the third [time] I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

  • Galatians 4:21

    ¶ Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?

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