Contradictions and Paradoxes in John 5:31

Check out Contradictions Catalog of John 5:31 for the comprehensive list of verses that contradicts John 5:31. Some key contradictions and paradoxes are described below.

According to the author of the book, John, Jesus explains that if He talks about Himself without anyone else agreeing or supporting what He says, then people might not believe it's true. This means that it's important to have others who know and can confirm what He is saying is real.

John 5:31: If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.

Contradiction with John 8:14

In this verse, Jesus asserts that even if He bears witness of Himself, His witness is true, contrasting with His earlier statement in John 5:31 that His witness wouldn't be true if He alone bore witness.

John 8:14: Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, [yet] my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.

Contradiction with John 5:32

Here, Jesus indicates there is another who bears witness of Him, suggesting external validation, yet previously He noted self-testimony wouldn't be valid outside such corroboration he attests to in this verse.

John 5:32: There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.

Paradox #1

This verse might seem to contradict other parts of the Bible where Jesus talks about the validity and truth of His testimony. In some verses, Jesus emphasizes that His words are true and trustworthy on their own, while in this verse, it sounds like He is saying that His testimony alone isn't valid. This could cause confusion about whether Jesus's statements are inherently true or if they require validation from external sources.

Paradox #2

The potential contradiction with John 5:31 might relate to issues of self-testimony. In this verse, Jesus implies that if He testifies about Himself, it might not be valid. This seems to conflict with other passages where Jesus' self-testimony is accepted as true and authoritative, such as John 8:14, where He states that His testimony is valid. This can create a perceived inconsistency regarding the reliability of self-testimony.

Paradox #3

John 5:31 might seem to have a contradiction because it suggests that a person's testimony about themselves may not be valid or trustworthy on its own. However, elsewhere in the Bible, the testimony of Jesus is presented as true and trustworthy, even when he speaks about himself. This can create a tension between the idea of needing external validation for one's claims and the belief in Jesus's inherent truthfulness.

Paradox #4

John 5:31 might seem contradictory because it suggests that if Jesus testifies about Himself, His testimony is not valid. However, in John 8:14, Jesus states that His testimony is valid even if He testifies about Himself. This could appear inconsistent at first glance.

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