Greek Words For Freedom In John 8:36
John 8:36 states, "If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed" [1]. This verse concludes a discourse where Jesus addresses Jews who had believed in him, telling them that if they abide in his word, they will be his disciples, know the truth, and the truth will set them free [4, 8]. The Jews responded by asserting their lineage as Abraham's descendants, claiming they had never been enslaved [8]. Jesus then clarifies that everyone who commits sin is a servant of sin [6].
The concept of "freedom" (Greek: eleutheria) in this passage is central. Augustine of Hippo explains that the word "free" (Latin: liberabit) means "to make free" (liberum facit), just as "he saves" means "he makes safe" [2]. This spiritual freedom is distinct from physical or political liberty. The Jews' misunderstanding stemmed from their focus on their physical heritage and lack of political subjugation, while Jesus was speaking of freedom from the bondage of sin [5, 8].
Several commentators emphasize that this freedom is a liberation from sin's power and guilt. John Gill notes that the Son making one free alludes to customs of adoption or manumission, where a son could free those born enslaved in his father's house [7]. Adam Clarke highlights that "no man is truly free, but he in whose heart the power of sin is destroyed" [5]. This freedom is not merely the absence of external constraint but an internal transformation [5].
The freedom offered by the Son is a profound spiritual reality. It is described as being "free indeed" [1]. This true freedom contrasts with the false liberty promoted by some who promise freedom while themselves being enslaved to corruption [9]. The service of Christ, motivated by love, is presented as perfect freedom [3]. This aligns with other New Testament teachings that believers are freed from sin, the law, and various forms of spiritual bondage [3]. The Son's abiding nature ensures that this freedom is eternal and secure [6].
Sources
- John “If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. -- John 8:36”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 7: Augustine — Homilies on John — CHAPTER VIII. 31-36. (part 2): now is hid from you, and speaks to you. "And the truth shall free you." This word, liberabit [shall free], the Lord hath taken from libertas [freedom]. For liberal [frees, delivers] is properly nothing else but liberum facit [makes free]. As salvat [he saves] is nothing else but salvum facit [he makes safe]; as he heals is nothing else but he makes whole; he enriches is nothing else but he makes rich; so liberat [he frees] is nothing else but liberum facil [he makes free]. This is clearer in the Greek word. (3) For in L”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 7:22: the Lord's freeman-- (Plm 1:16) --rather, "freedman." Though a slave externally, spiritually made free by the Lord: from sin, Joh 8:36; from the law, Rom 8:2; from "circumcision," Co1 7:19; Gal 5:1. Christ's servant-- (Co1 9:21). Love makes Christ's service perfect freedom (Mat 11:29-30; Gal 5:13; Pe1 2:16).”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — ON THE WORDS OF THE GOSPEL, JOHN VIII. 31, "IF YE ABIDE IN MY WORD, THEN ARE YE TRULY MY DISCIPLES," ETC. (part 2): founded upon a rock."[4] What then is to continue in the word of God, but not to yield to any temptations ? The reward, what is it ? "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall free you." Bear with me, for ye perceive that my voice is feeble;[5] assist me by your calm[6] attention. Glorious reward! "Ye shall know the truth." Here one may haply say, "And what doth it profit me to know the truth?" "And the truth shall free you." ”
- John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on John 8:32: Ye shall know the truth - Shall have a constant experimental knowledge of its power and efficacy. And the truth shall make you free - It was a maxim of the Jews, "That no man was free, but he who exercised himself in the meditation of the law." No man is truly free, but he in whose heart the power of sin is destroyed, and who has received the Spirit of adoption, through which he cries, Abba! Father! See Rom 8:15. The bondage of sin is the most grievous bondage; and freedom from its guilt and influence is the greatest liberty.”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 7: Augustine — Homilies on John — CHAPTER VIII. 31-36. (part 8): that we should not love sin; and hope, that we should not be distrustful of the remission of sin. "Every one," He says, "that committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever." What hope, then, have we, who are not without sin? Listen to thy hope: "The Son abideth for ever. If the Son, therefore, shall make you free, then shall ye be free indeed." Our hope is this, brethren, to be made free by the free One; and that, in setting us free, He may make us His servants. For we were the ”
- John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 8:33: If the Son therefore shall make you free,.... Alluding to the custom of adoption by the sons or brethren in the family, which obtained in Greece, called "the adoption of brethren", as Grotius, and others have observed; or rather to a custom among the Romans, of a son's making free after his Father's death, such as were born slaves in his house. Such a case as this is supposed (h); "a man having a son or a daughter by his maidservant, that which is born of her, since of a servant, is without doubt a servant: wherefore if he (the son) should say, this is my natural brot”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 7: Augustine — Homilies on John — CHAPTER VIII. 28-32. (part 11): I have been exhorting you, brethren, to this in such words, because the freedom of which our Lord Jesus Christ speaks belongs not to this present time. Look at what He added: "Ye shall be my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free." What means that--"shall set you free"? It shall make you freemen. In a word, the carnal, and fleshly-minded Jews--not those who had believed, but those in the crowd who believed not--thought that an injury was done them, because He said to them, "The ”
- 2 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Peter 2:19: promise . . . liberty--(Christian)--These promises are instances of their "great swelling words" (Pe2 2:18). The liberty which they propose is such as fears not Satan, nor loathes the flesh. Pauline language, adopted by Peter here, and Pe1 2:16; see on Pe1 2:16; (compare Pe2 3:15; Rom 6:16-22; Rom 8:15, Rom 8:21; Gal 5:1, Gal 5:13; compare Joh 8:34). corruption--(See on Pe2 2:12); "destroyed . . . perish . . . corruption." of whom--"by whatever . . . by the same," &c.”