Limitless Word
Which of you can prove Me guilty of sin? If I speak the truth, why do you not believe Me?
John 8:46 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?
  • KJV Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
  • NKJV Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me?
  • NASB Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me?
  • NLT Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me?

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Jesus challenges anyone to convict him of sin, and asks why they still disbelieve the truth he speaks. His sinlessness leaves their unbelief without excuse.

Overview

No one can charge Jesus with sin, a claim verifying his perfect righteousness. If he is sinless and truthful, their refusal to believe is inexcusable and self-condemning. His unique blamelessness undergirds the gospel, for only a sinless Savior can bear the sins of others as the spotless Lamb of God.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 11

  • Heb 4:15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.
  • John 16:8And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:
  • 2 Cor 5:21God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
  • Mark 11:31They deliberated among themselves what they should answer: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’
  • John 14:30I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming, and he has no claim on Me.
  • Matt 21:25What was the source of John’s baptism? Was it from heaven or from men?” They deliberated among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’
  • John 15:10If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.
  • 1 Pet 2:22“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.”
  • John 8:7When they continued to question Him, He straightened up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.”
  • Heb 7:26Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
  • John 18:37“Then You are a king!” Pilate said. “You say that I am a king,” Jesus answered. “For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.”

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — John videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on John 8:46YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on JohnMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.

How John 8:46 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.