JOHN 7:53-8:11

Q: Why does my Bible have these verses in parentheses?

This passage is one of the most interesting in the New Testament for textual critics. Textual criticism is a field of study that is behind all Bible translations. Since all Scripture was hand-copied for generations, inevitable accidental or purposeful errors crept into some manuscripts. Fortunately, the vast majority of these differences in readings are minor. These verses in John constitute an exception in that it is a fairly large passage.

Textual critics utilize external and internal evidence to determine which readings are likely to be original and which ones came at a later date. I will summarize the findings of the United Bible Society regarding these verses in question (from Bruce Metzger's A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament).

Regarding external evidence: the overwhelming number of early manuscripts in Greek or other languages do not contain this passage; the early Church Fathers never quote from this passage; when this passage does appear, it is often located in various places within John's Gospel and even in Luke's Gospel; and often when it does appear, it is marked with asterisks to note that it is dubious.

The main internal evidence against this passage is that it employs a style and vocabulary which differ from those of John.

However, Metzger concludes, “At the same time the account has all the earmarks of historical veracity. It is obviously a piece of oral tradition which circulated in certain parts of the Western church and which was subsequently incorporated into various manuscripts at various places.”

Unfortunately, in this case it is hard to give a definitive answer. The structure of the section in which this passage appears (John 7-8) can be diagrammed as follows:

1. Opposition between Jesus and evil in the world (7:1-13)

        2. Jesus is sent from God (7:14-36)

                3. Jesus as the Living Water (7:37-52)

                3'. Jesus as the Light of the World (8:12-20)

        2'. Jesus sent from the Father (8:21-30)

1'. Opposition between Jesus and sons of the Devil (8:31-59)

This symmetrical 6-part chiasm becomes a symmetrical 7-part chiasm if the disputed passage is added right in the middle. So the overall symmetry of John 7-8 is not affected either way by this passage.

The next thing to look for is whether this passage really fits into the context of John 7-8 since within all the other major sections of John, there are similarities between the various numbered sub-sections. Using that criterion, the disputed passage fares better than one would expect. One can detect several echoes of the particular details, themes and even specific words found in the undisputed passages in this section:

“At dawn he came again to the temple” (8:1) // “I am the light of the world” (8:12)

Jesus teaches the people at the temple (7:28; 8:2b,20)

Pharisees make pronouncements concerning the law (7:49-51; 8:3-5)

The law comes from Moses (7:19a,23; 8:5)

No one keeps the law (7:19b; 8:7)

Attempts to execute supposed lawbreaker (7:1,19-20,25; 8:3-5,40)

No one lays hand on supposed offender (7:44; 8:9-10)

Jesus stands up to speak (7:37; 8:7)

Jesus teaches concerning right judgment (7:24; 8:7-11,16)

The presence of witnesses (8:4,17-18)

“Where is he?” (7:11) // “Where are they?” (8:9) // “Where is your father?” (8:19)

The Jews as sinners (8:7,24,33-34)

Jesus acting as judge (8:5-11,26)

Jesus frees sinners (8:10-11,36)

Jews appeal to Patriarchs (8:5,33,52-53)

“adultery” (8:3) // “fornication” (8:41)

“Has no one condemned you?” (8:10) // “Which of you convicts me of sin?” (8:46a)

An attempt to stone someone in the vicinity of the temple (8:2,5,59)

 

So perhaps the last chapter has not yet been written concerning this subject.