Poznacie prawdę, a prawda was wyzwoli. Związek między Janowymi koncepcjami prawdy i wolności w świetle J 8,31-36

The Johannine phrase you will know the truth and the truth will set you free (Jn 8:32) is one of the best known epigrams to be mined from the biblical text. Regrettably, its frequent use in a multitude of sermons, talks and printed media demonstrates that the usual, everyday application of this saying in fact has no basis in the Johannine context within which it was originally written. Instead, its common use today is rooted in a modern, essentially philosophical, perception of the two key concepts: truth and freedom. This inquiry into the Johannine context of the quote demonstrates that (1) the truth denotes the revelation of God, whose fullness is expressed in the incarnation of the Son, Jesus Christ, the “Truth”; and (2) freedom can be understood both negatively (freedom from) and positively (freedom to). According to the first meaning, it is liberation from the diabolic bondage of sin (meant as unbelief) and death, while the latter sense refers to entering into mystical communion with the triune God, finding its ultimate expression in the notion of eternal life. Jesus, presenting himself as a bestower of freedom (8:32.36), sets himself in the place of God, a Liberator par excellence, and attributes to himself the prerogatives of the Torah. In fact, for Jesus’ contemporaries, exemplified in his dialogue with the figure of the Jews (8:31), the offspring of Abraham (8:33), the pre-existing Torah was believed to have the effect of setting man free.