John 8:23 Meaning and Explanation
“And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus draws the dividing line: they are from beneath, of this world; he is from above, not of this world.
What Does John 8:23 Mean?
Jesus answers their scoffing by naming the gulf between them. Two origins meet in that temple court: theirs, from beneath, formed by the present world and its way of judging; and his, from above, from the Father who sent him. Their incomprehension is not a failure of intellect but of birthplace.
The words echo what he told Nicodemus — except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). And the gulf he names is the gulf he came to bridge: the one from above descended precisely so that those from beneath might become children of God (John 1:12). The line between of this world and not of this world is not fixed at the cradle; it is crossed at Christ.
John 8:23 in the Original Language
kosmos (κόσμος), 'world' -- the present order of things, humanity arranged apart from God.
Frequently Asked Questions About John 8:23
What does John 8:23 mean?
Jesus draws the dividing line: they are from beneath, of this world; he is from above, not of this world.