“Testimony” (martyria) / “Testify” (martyreō) in the Johannine Tradition
47 occurrences in John’s Gospel; 17 in John’s letters.
Note: the form martyrion, “witness” (noun, the person who witnesses), strangely never appears in the Johannine tradition.
John 1:7-8 [John] came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.
John 1:15 (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”)
John 1:19 This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
John 1:32 And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.
John 1:34 And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.”
John 2:25 and needed no one to testify about anyone; for [Jesus] himself knew what was in everyone.
John 3:11 [Jesus said to Nicodemus,] “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony.
John 3:26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing, and all are going to him.”
John 3:28 You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him.’
John 3:32-33 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony. Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified this, that God is true.
John 4:39 Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I have ever done.”
John 4:44 (for Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in the prophet’s own country).
John 5:31-39 [Jesus said,] “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. 32There is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that his testimony to me is true. 33You sent messengers to John, and he testified to the truth. 34Not that I accept such human testimony, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36But I have a testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father has given me to complete, the very works that I am doing, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. 37And the Father who sent me has himself testified on my behalf. You have never heard his voice or seen his form, 38and you do not have his word abiding in you, because you do not believe him whom he has sent. 39You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf.
John 7:7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify against it that its works are evil.
John 8:13-14 Then the Pharisees said to him, “You are testifying on your own behalf; your testimony is not valid.” Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid because I know where I have come from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.
John 8:17-18 In your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is valid.
John 8:18 I testify on my own behalf, and the Father who sent me testifies on my behalf.”
John 10:25 Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me;
John 12:17 So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify.
John 13:21 After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.”
John 15:26-27 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.
John 18:23 Jesus answered, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?”
John 18:37 Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”
John 19:35 (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.)
John 21:24 This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true.
1 John 1:2 this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us —
1 John 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world.
1 John 5:6-11 This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth. 7There are three that testify: 8the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three agree. 9If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. 10Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has [testified] concerning his Son. 11And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
3 John 1:3 I was overjoyed when some of the friends arrived and testified to your faithfulness to the truth, namely how you walk in the truth.
3 John 1:6 they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on in a manner worthy of God;
3 John 1:12 Everyone has testified favorably about Demetrius, and so has the truth itself. We also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true.
