In John 5:31 Jesus says, "If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid." Then in 8:14 we read, "Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid." I don't understand this validity statement. -- Esron (Santa Barbara)
In the scriptures, testimony was not accepted unilaterally; it had to be backed up by witnesses (Deuteronomy 17:6, 19:15; Matthew 18:16, 20; 2 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Timothy 5:19; Hebrews 10:28). In John 5, Jesus' testimony was seconded not only by John the Baptist (5:32-33) but also by Jesus' own ministry (5:36) and the Father himself (5:37). In John 8:14, Jesus soon qualifies his statement in verse 18; his Father seconds Jesus' testimony. The sense of John 8, then, is "Even if I appear to be offering unilateral testimony, I am not, since I come in the authority of the Father, who has clearly spoken about me and my ministry."
So, then, there is no contradiction.
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