World English Bible · Under Rome
John 6
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After these things, went away to the other side of , which is also called the . A great multitude followed him, because they saw his signs which he did on those who were sick. went up into the mountain, and he sat there with his . Now , the feast of the , was at hand. therefore, lifting up his eyes and seeing that a great multitude was coming to him, said to , "Where are we to buy bread, that these may eat?" He said this to him, for he himself knew what he would do. answered him, "Two hundred worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may receive a little." One of his , , brother, said to him, "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these among so many?" said, "Have the people sit down." Now there was much grass in that place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. took the loaves, and having given thanks, he distributed to , and to those who were sitting down, likewise also of the fish as much as they . When they were filled, he said to his , "Gather up the broken pieces which are left over, that nothing be lost." So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves, which were left over by those who had eaten. When therefore the people saw the sign which did, they said, "This is truly the who comes into the world." therefore, perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, withdrew again to the mountain by himself. 16When evening came, his went down to the sea. They entered into the boat, and were going over the sea to . It was now dark, and had not come to them. The sea was tossed by a great wind blowing. When therefore they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they saw walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were afraid. But he said to them, "It is I. Don't be afraid." They were willing therefore to receive him into the boat. Immediately the boat was at the land where they were going. On the next day, that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except the one in which his had embarked, and that hadn't entered with his into the boat, but his had gone away alone. However, boats from came near to the place where they ate the bread after had given thanks. When therefore saw that wasn't there, nor his , they themselves got into the boats and came to , seeking . When they found him on the other side of the sea, they asked him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" answered them, "Most certainly I tell you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Don't work for the food which perishes, but for the food which to , which will give to you. For has sealed him." They said therefore to him, "What must we do, that we may work the works of ?" answered them, "This is the work of , that you in him whom he has sent." They said therefore to him, "What then do you do for a sign, that we may see and you? What work do you do? Our fathers ate in . As , 'He gave them bread out of to eat.'" therefore said to them, "Most certainly, I tell you, it wasn't who gave you the bread out of , but gives you the true bread out of . For the bread of is that which comes down out of and gives life to the world." They said therefore to him, ", always give us this bread." said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will not be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But I told you that you have seen me, and yet you don't . All those whom gives me will come to me. He who comes to me I will in no way throw out. For I have come down from , not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. This is the will of who sent me, that of all he has given to me I should lose nothing, but should raise him up at the last day. This is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him should have ; and I will raise him up at the last day." The therefore murmured concerning him, because he said, "I am the bread which came down out of ." They said, "Isn't this , the son of , whose and mother we know? How then does he say, 'I have come down out of '?" Therefore answered them, "Don't murmur among yourselves. No one can come to me unless who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up in the last day. in , 'They will all be taught by .' Therefore everyone who hears from and has learned, comes to me. Not that anyone has seen , except he who is from . He has seen . Most certainly, I tell you, he who believes in me has . I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate in and they . This is the bread which comes down out of , that anyone may eat of it and not . I am the living bread which came down out of . If anyone eats of this bread, he will live . Yes, the bread which I will give for the life of the world is my ." The therefore contended with one another, saying, "How can this man give us his to eat?" therefore said to them, "Most certainly I tell you, unless you eat of and drink his , you don't have life in yourselves. He who eats my and drinks my has , and I will raise him up at the last day. For my is food indeed, and my is drink indeed. He who eats my and drinks my lives in me, and I in him. As the living sent me, and I live because of , so he who feeds on me will also live because of me. This is the bread which came down out of —not as our fathers ate and . He who eats this bread will live ." He said these things in the , as he taught in . Therefore many of his , when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying! Who can listen to it?" But knowing in himself that his murmured at this, said to them, "Does this cause you to stumble? Then what if you would see ascending to where he was before? It is who gives life. profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are , and are life. But there are some of you who don't ." For knew who they were who didn't , and who it was who would betray him. He said, "For this cause I have said to you that no one can come to me, unless it is given to him by ." At this, many of his went back and walked no more with him. said therefore to the twelve, "You don't also want to go away, do you?" answered him, ", to whom would we go? You have the words of . We have come to and know that you are , the Son of the living ." answered them, "Didn't I choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?" Now he spoke of , the son of , for it was he who would betray him, being one of the twelve.
A public domain modern English translation, free to read and share. Notes and cards are EKLI’s own.
Christians read this chapter differently
- Does God choose us, or do we choose God? · John 6:37-44
- What happens at the Lord's Supper? · John 6:51-58
Every view at its strongest, with who holds it and what it has to answer for.
The world at this moment · Under Rome, 63 BC to AD 100 ›
Judea as a client kingdom and then a province. Roads, garrisons, taxes, crucifixion, and a common Greek language that let a message travel the empire faster than any before it.
- Rome
- The republic tears itself apart in civil war and comes out as an empire under Augustus. What follows is two centuries of relative peace across the whole Mediterranean, enforced by legions and paid for by taxes, with safe roads and safe sea lanes. Every one of Paul's journeys depends on that.
- Judea
- Governed first through Herod the Great, a client king of enormous ability and enormous brutality who rebuilds the temple into one of the wonders of the ancient world, then directly by Roman prefects. Crucifixion is the standard penalty for sedition and is used often and publicly.
- The wider world
- Greek is spoken from Spain to Syria, which means a letter written in Corinth can be read in Rome without translation. Jewish communities already exist in most major cities, which is where the first Christian preaching lands. Mystery religions, imperial cult, and philosophy all compete in the same marketplace.
- Further afield
- The Han dynasty rules China and trades silk westward along routes that touch the Roman world at second hand. In Britain the Roman conquest begins within a decade of the crucifixion.