And the Truth Shall Set You Free
John 8:31-33: "...and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
When is freedom “Freedom”, and when is it something else in a Hegelian dialect that is more like a “bait and switch” to make you want a solution to a problem that is worse than the original problem?
And for that matter, when is “truth” “TRUTH”?
We know that TRUTH WILL Set You Free.
What is the purest truth?
John 8:31-33
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
31 Jesus then said to those Jews who believed in him,[a] “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone.[b] How can you say, ‘You will become free’?”
(a) 8:31 Those Jews who believed in him: a rough editorial suture, since in Jn 8:37 they are described as trying to kill Jesus.
(b) 8:33 Have never been enslaved to anyone: since, historically, the Jews were enslaved almost continuously, this verse is probably Johannine irony, about slavery to sin.
Johanninee Irony
In the Book of John, we see John’s style and rhetoric is that of dramatic irony.
They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. And you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion, for you do not regard a person’s status.
They came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion. You do not regard a person’s status but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?”
They posed this question to him, “Teacher, we know that what you say and teach is correct, and you show no partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.
And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.
because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him.
God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth.”
You belong to your father the devil and you willingly carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
The TRUTH
Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Seek the Truth of God in Christ Jesus, for
Jesus IS the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
WHAT I REALLY THINK
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