Limitless Word
Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
John 8:46 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?
  • BSB Which of you can prove Me guilty of sin? If I speak the truth, why do you 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 have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
  • John 16:8And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
  • 2 Cor 5:21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
  • Mark 11:31And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
  • John 14:30Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
  • Matt 21:25The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?
  • John 15:10If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
  • 1 Pet 2:22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
  • John 8:7So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
  • Heb 7:26For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
  • John 18:37Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth 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.