Was it right for Jesus to bear witness of Himself? Does that invalidate His testimony? The gospel of John seems to say both yes and no. Does it contradict itself on this matter? Let’s take a look:
- Not true: John 5:31-32, “If I alone bear witness of Myself, My testimony is not true. 32 “There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the testimony which He bears of Me is true.”
- Is true: John 8:14, “Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true; for I know where I came from, and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from, or where I am going.”
In John 5:31, the context is Jesus speaking about how He depends upon the Father and how He is seeking the will of the Father. John 5:30-32 says, “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 31If I alone bear witness of Myself, My testimony is not true. 32There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the testimony which He bears of Me is true.”
The word “alone” is not in Greek but is included in the NASB translation, though not the NIV or KJV. Contextually, Jesus is not speaking as one alone, but as one dependent on the Father and that His judgments are true because He does the will of the Father. Jesus is reflecting on the Old Testament law that didn’t allow the testimony of one person to condemn another to death. Two witnesses were needed to establish the fact:
- Deut. 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.”
- Matthew 18:16, “…in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.” See also 2 Cor. 13:1; Heb. 10:28.
In John 5:31, Jesus said that if He testified about himself, His witness is not true. He was probably referencing Deut. 19:15 which says that truth is set up by two or more witnesses. This is why the NASB and the ESV add “alone” in the translation. The Jews would have understood the O.T. requirement of two or more confirming witnesses to establish a truth. After all, Jesus was speaking to them (John 5:18ff ). Jesus then says in verse 32 that there is another who testifies about Him. He is confirming Deut. 19:15. Also, don’t forget that in the previous verses the Father had already born witness of Jesus by giving Him authority (John 5:27). Therefore, His testimony is true because He is not testifying about Himself alone. Furthermore, He then adds that there was another witness (v. 32), presumably the Holy Spirit whom He mentions later on (John 15:26). In John 8:14 Jesus said that even if He does bear witness of Himself, His witness is true. He is not contradicting what He said in John 5:31. He is simply stating that even if he does testify about Himself, it’s true whether or not they have a second witness. After all, He is God in flesh (John 1:1, 14; Col. 2:9)
