John 8:32
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Study Note
Study Note
Jesus's declaration 'you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free' is addressed to Jews who had 'believed in him' (verse 30), yet Jesus immediately challenges the adequacy of their faith. In Johannine theology, 'truth' (aletheia) is not primarily propositional but personal — Jesus claims to be 'the truth' in 14:6 — making freedom a consequence of relationship with him. The audience's response — 'we are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves' — reveals a misunderstanding: Jesus speaks of moral and spiritual slavery to sin (verse 34). The verse's wide cultural use as a motto for academic and press freedom represents a legitimate but partial reading that extracts the principle of truth-as-liberating from its specifically christological Johannine context.
Other Translations
and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
and the truth shall make you free.'
And you will have knowledge of what is true, and that will make you free.
Cross References
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord:
Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words …
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto …
And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean …
And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye …
And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, …