John 10

1 With absolute certainty, I say to you, he that does not enter into (the rest which the Father has prepared for them inside of) the sheepfold (so that they might cease from all their works) through the door (the One the Father has sent, the express image of His person, the light of the world), but (tries to) climb up some other way (is blind and in darkness), (and will never find rest but continue in) the same (way that) is a thief and a robber (stripping men naked and robbing them of their goods).

 

2 But (most certainly) the One that (came down from heaven has) entered (into the Father's rest first, showing the way by which, all must enter) in by the door (He is the light of the world), (He) is the shepherd of the sheep.

 

3 To Him the doorkeeper (the Spirit) opens the door (so that all might see God is Father) and (so that) the sheep hear His voice: and He calls His own sheep by (His) name and leads them out (of the darkness).

 

4 And when He brings them out as His own sheep (His own kind), He goes before them (as their shepherd, a lamp unto their feet and a light unto their way), and the sheep follow Him (into resting in the Father’s life): because they know His voice.

 

5 And (the voice of) a stranger they will not follow but will flee from him: because they do not recognize the voice of strangers (as their shepherd).

 

6 This parable Jesus spoke to them (about the Father): but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.

 

7 Then Jesus said again to them, with absolute certainty, I say to you, I am (the light of the world) the door of the sheep.

 

8 All that ever came before Me (were in darkness) and are thieves and robbers, (which can only rob men of their inheritance): but the sheep did not hear them.

 

9 I am the door (the true light which lights every man that comes into the world): if any man enters in (to His life by Me), he will be saved (from death) and will go in and out and find (food and rest in His) pasture.

 

10 The thief comes (as the voice of the stranger, to accuse them, that because of death, they are not the sons of God) intending to kill, steal, and to destroy (their lives): I am come (the light of the world) so that they might have (the) life (that overcomes the death and corruption in the world and its accusation) and have that life more abundantly (where they lack no good thing pertaining to His life and Godlikeness).  

 

11 I am (come to reveal the Father’s heart) the good shepherd: the good shepherd (who) lays down His life for the sheep.

 

12 But he that is a hired servant, and not the shepherd, the sheep are not his own, so when he sees the wolf coming, he leaves the sheep, and flees: and the wolf catches them, and scatters the sheep.

 

13 The hired servant flees (to save his own life), because he is a hired servant and does not care for the (life of the) sheep (over his own life).

 

14 I am (come in My Father’s name), the good shepherd, and I know My sheep, and I am known by My own sheep.

 

15 As the Father knows (and is in) Me, even so do I know (and am in) the Father: and My life do I lay down for the (life of the) sheep.

 

16 And I have other sheep (whom I love), that are not from this fold: these other sheep I must also bring into the fold, and they (also) will hear My voice (and they that hear will live), and there will be one-fold, and One Shepherd. (In this He spoke of the Gentiles).

 

17 Therefore, does the Father love Me because I lay down My life (for the life of the sheep) so that in taking it back again (I might make a way for all to eat from the tree of life and be raised up to the same life and immortality they see in Me).

 

18 No man takes My life from Me, but I have the (power and) authority (over all flesh as the son of man) within Myself to lay it down, and the (power and) authority (as the Son of God, the seed of God’s incorruptible life) to take it back up again. This is the commandment (of eternal life) which I received from My Father (who is in Me).

 

19 There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.

 

20 And many of them said, He has a demonic spirit and is insane; why do you listen to him?

 

21 Others said, these are not the words of someone that has a demonic spirit. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?

 

22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication (the festival of lights), and it was winter.

 

23 And Jesus was walking in the temple in Solomon's porch.

 

24 Then the Jews circled round about Him, and said to Him, how long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, then tell us plainly.

 

25 Jesus answered them, I (have) told you, and you do not believe (Me): the works that I do in My Father's name, they testify of Me (that I am of the Father).

 

26 But you do not believe (Me), because you are not of My sheep, as I have said to you.

 

27 My sheep hear My voice (as the Father’s voice), and I know them (and they know Me), and they follow Me:

 

28 And I give unto them eternal life (because just as the Father has life in Himself, so also has He given Me, the Son, to have life in Myself), and they (who receive it) will never perish, neither will any man pluck them out of My hand.

 

29 That which My Father has given Me is greater than all (that I may give eternal life to whomever I will), and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand.

 

30 (For) I and My Father are One.

 

31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him.

 

32 Jesus answered them, many good works have I shown you from My Father; for which of those works do you stone Me?

 

33 The Jews answered him, saying, for a good work we do not stone you; but for blasphemy; and because you, being a man, make yourself God.

 

34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, You are gods?

 

35 If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be altered (or undone);

 

36 You say of the One whom the Father has sanctified (set apart) and sent into the world, “You blaspheme”; because I said, I am the Son of God?

 

37 If I do not do the works of My Father, (then) do not believe Me.

 

38 But if I do (the works of My Father), even though you do not believe Me, believe the works (which testify that I am of the Father): so that you may know, and believe, that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.

 

39 Therefore they sought again to take Him: but He escaped out of their hand,

 

40 And went away again (to Bethany) beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized, and there He stayed.

 

41 And many that came to Him, and said, John performed no (signs wonders and) miracles: but all the things that John spoke of this man were true.

 

42 And many believed upon Him there.