Quote:
Originally Posted by Raptor
No neccesarily. It was a complex audience, composed of different kinds of people.
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In the beginning of John 8 it may have been a complex audience but by verse 30, Jesus' focus narrows instead of broadening.
John 8:30-31
As he was saying these things,
many believed in him.
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him
Notice the shift to the audience to
the Jews who had believed in Him. After this verse there is no indication that the audience changes.
John 8:32-33
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”
The
they in verse 32 clearly refers to the audience in verse 31
the Jews who had believed him. To suggest otherwise would be committing eisegesis. The conversation between Jesus and the Jews who believed in him continues in such a manner until Jesus declares they are of their father the devil in verse 44.
This is nothing out of the ordinary as there are accounts of people who had superficial belief in Jesus and later fell away.
John 2:23-25
Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and
believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. He did not need any testimony about mankind,
for he knew what was in each person.
Just like in John 8, Jesus did not trust himself to people who
believed in his name.
He knew what was in each person, meaning he knew their hearts reflected their father the devil and they were not truly born again believers just like in John 8.
This also reminds me of the infamous verse which foreshadows the great apostasy during the end times of self professed believers who will take the mark of the beast to save their own life:
John
6:66
After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.
A true disciple will continue walking with Jesus. If someone decides to no longer follow Jesus, they are not his sheep.
John 10:27-28
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Someone who is not a sheep of Jesus does not belong to him and will not inherit eternal life.