# John 5.46-47

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-05-06 | updated: 2026-05-06 -->

**Book:** [John](/codex/john-the-apostle/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 44. <span class="rl-speech">How can ye believe, who receive glory one of another, and the glory that cometh from the only God ye seek not?</span> 45. <span class="rl-speech">Think not that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, on whom ye have set your hope.</span>
>
> **46. <span class="rl-speech">For if ye believed Moses, ye would believe me; for he wrote of me.</span> 47. <span class="rl-speech">But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?</span>** (John 5:44-47, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 44. <span class="rl-speech">How can you believe, who receive glory from one another, and you don’t seek the glory that comes from the only God?</span> 45. <span class="rl-speech">“Don’t think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you, even Moses, on whom you have set your hope.</span>
>
> **46. <span class="rl-speech">For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote about me.</span> 47. <span class="rl-speech">But if you don’t believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”</span>** (John 5:44-47, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 44. <span class="rl-speech">How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?</span> 45. <span class="rl-speech">Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.</span>
>
> **46. <span class="rl-speech">For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.</span> 47. <span class="rl-speech">But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?</span>** (John 5:44-47, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 44. <span class="rl-speech">how are ye able, ye, to believe, glory from one another receiving, and the glory that [is] from God alone ye seek not?</span> 45. <span class="rl-speech">'Do not think that I will accuse you unto the Father; there is who is accusing you, Moses, in whom ye have hoped;</span>
>
> **46. <span class="rl-speech">for if ye were believing Moses, ye would have been believing me, for he wrote concerning me;</span> 47. <span class="rl-speech">but if his writings ye believe not, how shall ye believe my sayings?'</span>** (John 5:44-47, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** John the Apostle (traditionally) / narrator + Jesus's direct teaching
- **Audience:** later Christian audience (high-Christological emphasis; against early gnosticism)
- **Location:** first-century Palestine (events); possibly Ephesus (composition)
- **Time period:** events c. 26-33 AD (3-Passover chronology); composed c. AD 85-95

## Theological reading

## Key words

- [G4100 - pisteuo](/codex/g4100-pisteuo/), *pisteuo* (Strong's G4100). Also appears in: [Matthew 18.6](/codex/matthew-18-6/), [Mark 15](/codex/mark-15/), [Mark 16.16-18](/codex/mark-16-16-18/).

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.

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## Quoted in

**Arguments and defeaters:**

- [Christians Not Under Mosaic Law](/codex/christians-not-under-mosaic-law/), via [John 5.46](/codex/john-5-46/)
- [Cumulative Case for the Deity of Christ](/codex/cumulative-case-for-the-deity-of-christ/)
- [OT vs NT God Objection Defeater](/codex/ot-vs-nt-god-objection-defeater/)
- [Sabbath Breaking Stoning Objection Defeater](/codex/sabbath-breaking-stoning-objection-defeater/), via [John 5.39-47](/codex/john-5-39-47/)

**Concepts:**

- [Atheism](/codex/atheism/)
- [Documentary Hypothesis](/codex/documentary-hypothesis/)
- [Jesus Said](/codex/jesus-said/), via [John 5](/codex/john-5/)
- [Mosaic Authorship of the Pentateuch](/codex/mosaic-authorship-of-the-pentateuch/)
- [Mosaic Law](/codex/mosaic-law/), via [John 5.46](/codex/john-5-46/)
- [Old Testament Witness to the Deity of Christ](/codex/old-testament-witness-to-the-deity-of-christ/)
- [OT Authorship and Prophetic Tradition](/codex/ot-authorship-and-prophetic-tradition/)
- [OT vs NT God Objection](/codex/ot-vs-nt-god-objection/)

**Lexicon:**

- [G4100 - pisteuo](/codex/g4100-pisteuo/), via [John 5.46](/codex/john-5-46/)

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